tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49025644892394859222024-02-20T03:04:44.083-08:00What Does the Bible Say? Conundrums & ControversyConniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-11019215569345744162023-08-26T11:03:00.005-07:002023-08-26T11:03:32.782-07:00Daniel 9's Treaty. Whose Is It Really?<p> Most Christians who believe in a
pre-millennial coming of the Lord, believe in the seven-year period
of the 70<sup>th</sup> week of Daniel's prophecy. Most of these also
believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, but even those who don't
believe pre-trib, do believe that what kicks off this seven-year
period is a treaty that is signed between the antichrist and the
people<b>/</b>countries he represents, and Israel. It is expected
that part of this treaty will be the allowing of a temple to be
erected on the temple mount. Pre-tribbers believe either that this
will immediately be followed by the rapture, or that the rapture will
immediately precede it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But what if it does not happen like
that? Will people then not believe that they are in Daniel's 70<sup>th</sup>
week? I can hear someone saying, how else could it possibly happen?
There <i>has </i>to be a seven-year
treaty. If there isn't, then the tribulation has not begun.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The
one thing about prophecy is that it is often somewhat lacking in
specific details or is a little vague, giving room for multiple
scenarios. I believe it is important to consider all possibilities,
so as to recognize the truth and not be deceived when it occurs, and with that in
mind, I want to present an alternative theory. To do that, one must
go to the chapter that gives us this information. Daniel 9:24-27
tells us the following:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Seventy
weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint
the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going
forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two
weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in
troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be
cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall
come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one
week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he
shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that
determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">God
has determined. What does that mean? It means that God has
irrevocably promised, covenanted, or decreed something. He has
covenanted with Himself that something He has stated will happen and
nothing will prevent it from happening. So, what has God determined?
He has promised or covenanted to give Israel seventy “weeks.” The
word “shabua” means a period of seven of either days or years.
In this case, Daniel had been praying to the Lord asking what would
happen next to God's people, as he had read Jeremiah which had said
that God was going to take back all the seventh year Sabbath years
that Israel had neglected, which amounted to seventy years, as they
had ignored the Sabbath year for apparently four hundred ninety
years, as God was taking back seventy of them. That is determined by
simple math since the Sabbath year occurs once every seven years. Seventy times seven is four hundred and ninety. So, they had not kept
God's Word in this particular matter for four hundred and ninety
years. And now those seventy years of punishment were about to end,
and Daniel was wondering what was next for them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Now
interestingly, God tells Daniel that He has determined or is
covenanting with Himself to give them seventy weeks or four hundred
ninety more years in which He will deal with them as a nation to
finish up what He has begun - to redeem them in such a way that
they never stray again, to fulfill the prophecies, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness which will commence with the millennial
reign of Christ. Oddly enough, it is the same number of years that
they were guilty of not keeping Sabbath years. If there is a reason
for this number being the same, I have not discovered what it might
be. For the sake of this article though, it is not necessary that we
know. We know that the seven “weeks” refers to a week of years
and not days, as 1) this was the context of the prayer and 2) God
gives parameters that can only be fulfilled by these weeks being
weeks of years. He begins these four hundred and ninety years at the
giving of the decree for Israel to go back and rebuild Jerusalem.
There are several theories as to which particular decree this refers,
but again, that is not the subject of this article, so I will not
spend time going over that. They are not that many years apart. What is important is that from this
decree until the Messiah comes and is cut off or killed, there are
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, or sixty-nine weeks altogether. This
is four hundred and eighty-three years of those promised four hundred
and ninety years. So that leaves seven years left to be fulfilled.
Then we are told that the temple will be destroyed (which happened in
AD 70) by the people of the prince who will come, (in this case it
was the Romans) and there will continue to be wars and desolations
until the end of the war. As to which war He refers, since all of
this ends at the Lord's Second Coming, one could say it is the war
between God and Satan.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The
next thing we are told is that “he” will confirm (or strengthen)
the covenant with many for one week. So, this week is still future, as
it has not occurred yet. The normal interpretation of this is that
the word “he” refers to a future prince of the Romans, (as they
destroyed the temple) which people assume to be the antichrist, but
does it? Or was it merely identifying that the people who would
destroy the temple would be working on behalf of the antichrist, who
has had numerous incarnations as leaders of the heads of the beast which were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia (during Daniel's time when this was given to him), Greece
(whose beast incarnation yet to come was Antiochus Epiphanes who did
desecrate the temple and stop the sacrifices), Rome, (whose people did destroy the temple) and last but not
least, the seventh whom most believe to have been Hitler. The last
incarnation of the beast, who presently resides in the abyss, will be
the one we know as the antichrist.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The
topic of this chapter has been God's relationship with Israel, His
punishment of them, and His covenant with them at Daniel's time. This is the only covenant
mentioned in this chapter before this last verse. Would not a reference to a covenant be a
reference to a covenant mentioned in the text, keeping all this in
context, and not a reference to something which has not been
mentioned before in the text? To strengthen or confirm a covenant
implies that a covenant is already in place. There is nothing in the
text that indicates that a covenant with the antichrist already
exists. That interpretation comes from speculation that there must be
one. And why the specificity of seven years? Why would antichrist
care about a treaty being made for seven years? On the other hand,
God's covenant is not speculation. It is decreed right there in the
text. And it specifically has exactly seven years left on it, hence
the need for a seven-year confirmation since it already exists.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Let's
say for a minute that the “he” is God and see if it fits. God
does have a covenant with Israel that is mentioned in this text. And
it has seven years left on it, which is precisely the amount of time for which this covenant is confirmed or strengthened. God would have to
confirm, re-enact, or strengthen the existing covenant He has already made with Israel to put it into action or start it up
again. While I have to
assume something that is not in the text to believe that antichrist has already had some sort of treaty in place
to make him the “he” that confirms a covenant, I only have to
accept what Scripture tells me to see that God and the covenant He
made with Israel fits this perfectly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Does
that mean I am saying that there will be no treaty? No, that is not
what I am saying at all. It would seem almost essential that there be
some sort of agreement, considering the hostilities between Israel
and the Muslim nations, for a temple to go up on the temple mount.
But here is where I think Satan could use deception to keep people
from realizing that they are in the 70</span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">th</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
week. (Given that Scripture does not teach a pre-trib rapture, they
will still be here – see my blogs on that). If there is a treaty
(and God may use something other than a treaty to erect the temple), it is not
necessarily required by Scripture that it be seven years long, given
that this verse most likely refers to God's covenant, not a covenant
with the antichrist. So, this could be a time of great deception for
Christians who have believed they will not be here.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">An
argument against this being God's covenant is that it says that “he”
will confirm the covenant with “many”. Some take this to mean
many nations, but the Hebrew word simply indicates a great number of
people. God is not making this covenant with just Judah or modern
Israel. He is making this covenant with what we know as the lost
tribes of Israel as well, as God has promised that during this time,
He will bring back Israel which has gone into and is living within the
heathen nations and reunite it with the nation of Judah. (Ez. 37)
This is clearly talking about those from the nation of Northern
Israel who were lost to the heathen nations during the Assyrian
captivity. So, this is a great multitude of people, as it goes far
beyond those we call Jews today, who are numerous enough.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Another
argument that someone might make is that this person who confirms the
covenant is also the one who causes the sacrifices and oblations to
cease midway through the seven years. Again, this is thought to be the
antichrist, but this says it is the person who </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>causes</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
them to cease. What is the real cause behind that action that
antichrist takes? His action is a reaction which has had a
cause. So, what is the cause? We are told the answer in Revelation
12:7-17.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">And
there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not;
neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and
his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of
our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren
is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters
of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the
woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into
the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the
serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that
he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth
helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up
the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was
wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ.”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What
happens when Michael throws Satan out of heaven for good? He comes
down with great wrath to go after Israel, but Israel is delivered by
God (this is also said in Daniel 12:1. “And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children
of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, (great
tribulation) such as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book.” So, Israel (at least those in the Book of Life) is protected from antichrist's holocaust and the rest of what occurs in the 1260 days after the great tribulation is cut short.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If all
of those of Israel whose names are written in the Book of Life are
delivered out of the Satan's hands, who does Satan go after, to kill by his puppet the antichrist? To
those who have the testimony of Jesus, or in other words, Christians.
Christians who overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and loving not
their lives unto death. And how does he do that? First by declaring himself God. 2 Thess. 2:3-4
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as
God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
It is at this time that the sacrifices and oblations will also cease, and
the false prophet insist that everyone get a mark and worship
the beast. Then there will be a time of trouble such as the world has
never seen before. Wholesale slaughter of Christians and anyone who refuses the mark. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">While
here at these last verses, it is important to note the first two
verses that precede them. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto
him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by
spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand.” People were afraid that they had missed the
Second Coming somehow and were now in the Day of the Lord, which they
knew came after the Lord's return. Persecution and martyrdom were common in that age, and it was so bad they thought they must be at the end of time. They are told that the Second
coming when He gathers us to Himself and starts pouring out God's
wrath will not happen until the other things that Paul has told them
will happen first, occur. Specifically, Paul has told them that 1)
there will be an apostasy or falling away from the truth first, and 2) the man of sin is revealed.
How is he revealed? When he sits in the rebuilt temple declaring that
he is God. We know this occurs midway through the seven years, so
clearly our being gathered cannot happen before then, if that is a
sign that we are to see before the Lord returns and gathers us.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So
now, back to who is the cause of all this? Well, ultimately God is,
because He has Michael throw Satan out of heaven. All that happens
after that is a direct result of that action. There is cause and
effect. Satan's revenge, the setting up of the antichrist, and the
wholesale slaughter of Christians, is the result of the cause, God
having Satan thrown out of heaven. So still, there is no reason to
think that the “he” does not refer to God, as He fits the criteria
very nicely. Better than the antichrist, in fact.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
again, why is this relevant or important? Because as I told a dear
friend who is a pre-tribber, if she is wrong in her belief, and that
there is no pre-trib rapture or seven-year treaty by antichrist, then
will she understand that she is in the 70</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">
week, or will she be deceived right until someone comes to drag her
away to be killed during the great tribulation. Or worse, would she
take the mark, thinking that it could not possible be THE mark, as
she was supposed to be out of here, and there was no seven-year treaty. I did hear an evangelist preach to people that since they would be out of here before the mark of the beast came into being, that they need not worry that they could accidentally take it and were free to take anything that they were told to take. Bad advice. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another
sign which people do not understand is the sacrifices. If I am
correct in believing that there is no seven-year treaty with the
antichrist necessary, but still something allows the sacrifices to
begin, people could be deceived and accept that the temple could go
up and the sacrifices begin before the 70</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">
week actually begins, and therefore with no pre-trib rapture, the
abomination would come on them completely unawares.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">God
did give us some insight into timing regarding the sacrifices. It has
to do with the 2300 days in Daniel 8. That is in another article I've
written. For the sake of information and warning, though, when the
sacrifices begin, you will already be in the 70</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">
week, so start preparing for persecution and martyrdom.</span></span></span></p>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-11016554819417960452023-08-07T13:00:00.004-07:002023-08-07T13:00:42.882-07:00Parents, Go to Church. NOT!<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not writing as much on my blog the
past few years, as I am teaching a number of Bible studies weekly,
which keeps me busy and takes away from my writing time, but a local
pastor just posted the following (credit is given to the author) and I just have to respond,
because the premise of the article is so skewed to what should be,
that I couldn't just not say anything. I am going to put my
comments, as you read through the article, in italics.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #272727; font-family: "Noe Display"; font-size: 45pt;">Parents,
Just Go to Church</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.08in; margin-right: 0.08in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">SEPTEMBER
23, 2022 </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/cameron-cole/"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: gotham a, gotham b, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">CAMERON
COLE</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></a></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.08in; margin-right: 0.08in; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">At
a Fortune 500 corporation, many interests and demands consume the
company’s time and resources. How does an executive choose what
opportunities to prioritize? The same is true for Christian parents.
Tremendous resources exist for discipling kids: devotionals,
catechisms, and guides for family worship. Parents are paralyzed when
confronted with all the good options. Where do we start?</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Why
should parents be paralyzed? Where do you start? Seriously? EVERY
Christian should know that there are certain things that a Christian
should be doing for their own walk with the Lord, and they should, by
Scriptural mandate, be doing these things WITH their children as
well. It doesn't require “resources” other than what you should
have at hand. Prayer does not need anything other than just talking
to the Lord. You don't need written prayers or a prayer book. God
doesn't want recitations, He wants you to talk to Him personally. Do
it for yourself, do it with your children, and teach them to do it
for themselves. </i></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Get
a Bible. Preferably the KJV is the most accurate word for word
translation. Most of the others, while more modern in language, are
really nothing more than paraphrases of what are the minority
manuscripts, which have major issues in the original manuscripts. (I
have an article on that in my blog archives.) Reading and studying
the Scripture is a must, as well as prayer. How can you know God if
you don't read what He wrote to tell you about Himself? How can you
grow in knowledge and grace? We need to know God's Word, and by that
I don't mean racing through it to read (or more accurately skim) it
in a year. Take as long as it requires to go through it carefully
verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book, meditating on what
it says, looking up background info on the circumstances and history
of the passage or book you are reading, and learn about God through
that. Most everyone has a computer and historical, archaeological,
geographical, etc. info can be looked up online with a simple
search. Don't worry that you “can't understand everything at the
beginning.” Just start doing it. God promised that the Holy Spirit
would teach us and He is the best teacher you can have. It might take
time, but the more you do it, the more you will find it easier to
understand. Do it for yourself alone, and do it with your children,
teaching them to do the same.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Praise
and worship can be accomplished through the two previous disciplines,
as well as singing praises unto the Lord. Get some hymnals. Get some
CD's. Sing the songs when alone, teach them to and sing them with
your children in family worship. Do all these things daily as much as
possible. </i></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>None
of these disciplines require a plethora of resources. What they do
require is your time and commitment. And that seems to be the problem
with most people. What ARE your priorities? To turn them over to
someone else? The church? The church has been failing for years as
people are walking away in droves. Do not trust your children's
salvation to the church. God gave them to YOU. YOU and you alone are
the one who will stand before God as responsible for what that child
was taught. The church corporation will not stand before God and be
held responsible for them. YOU will.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hear
me when I say this: start by </span></span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">going
to church</span></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Yes, I encourage you to pray with your kids. Read the Bible as a
family. Attempt to have family worship. Use a catechism. These are
all excellent disciplines. But if you can only choose one discipline,
go to church. Make attending corporate </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bring-children-worship/" target="_blank">
top priority</a><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
your family. There’s nothing more positive you can do for your
children than to attend corporate worship at your church every week.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO. This is not the top priority and discipline. To
think that you can toss aside the very mandate that God gave parents
(</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Therefore
shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul......
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou
liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 11:18a,19) </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
foolishness. WE are the ones responsible for bringing up our children
in the Lord, NOT the corporate church. God has nowhere dictated that
we have to attend a weekly service in a church building. Nowhere in
the Bible will you find that mandate. To set aside the Sabbath as
holy (which the Sabbath is Saturday, by the way, not Sunday), yes,
that is a commandment (the commandments show us our sin) that the
church has been ignoring for almost 2,000 years, as it substituted a
day, chosen by man, to live more agreeably with the laws of the
Emperor Constantine when he outlawed Sabbath worship. The Bible says
to keep it holy, not run to a bunch of services on a day that was not
mandated by God to fulfill an obligation. To substitute services that
may or may not be totally apostate in nature, as a replacement for
raising our children in the admonition of the Lord is not going to do
anything for anyone.</span></i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">To
not forsake the interactions of other Christians whether in
fellowship or worship is given as an instruction in Hebrews, but
fellowship and worship are not solely defined by being in a
designated church building on a Sunday morning. They are, these days
with the great apostasy going on, more often found in truth and
spirit in private settings of Bible studies or house churches and
definitely should be daily ongoing in the household of a Christian.
If going to church weekly is your ONLY religious action in your life
and toward your children, I can pretty much guarantee that your
children will walk away from the Lord. Not to mention that your own
spiritual life will not be in very good shape.</span></i></span></span></span></p>
<h3 align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 0.27in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: gotham a, gotham b, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Corporate
Worship Sets the Tone for Life</b></span></span></span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
parent in our church once made a statement that caught me off guard:
“Corporate worship is crucial to my family. It’s the center of
our family’s life.” I know this family. They do family worship as
well, and they read devotions, but this father said corporate worship
is the single biggest priority in his family’s life. Why?</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Yes,
I must ask why also. Should not setting an example of godly Christian
living during the rest of the week be the first priority? Children DO
learn by example, and if you are living like a devil six days and 23
hours of the week, but make it a priority to go to church on Sunday
morning for an hour, what exactly ARE you teaching the children?
Hypocrisy? If church is merely an addition to a daily lifestyle of
teaching the children the disciplines of a Christian faith, then it
adds to and complements the example, but it should not be the ONLY
example and only priority. </i></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
dad’s mentality is consistent with how Scripture prioritizes
corporate worship. God is the center of our lives. In corporate
worship, we make this clear. We receive God’s grace through Word,
sacrament, and prayer. We respond to God’s grace with praise,
thanksgiving, and love. We fellowship with him under his Word and by
his grace. We serve, worship, and flourish out of that communion. In
these ways, corporate worship is the whole Christian life in
distilled and concentrated form.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I
must be reading different Scriptures, because in my Bible, it is our
personal relationship that is the priority. Without that, the rest,
the corporate gatherings are no more than show for public display.
The early churches had major issues with sin, false teachers, and
heresies. The apostles were constantly warning and chastising the
church, which was failing in many aspects, and was addressing that
every individual in that church needed to get on the right track. The
church boils down to the individuals in it. As a corporation, it is
as much a failure as Israel as a nation was. The Church (as opposed
to the church) is comprised not of corporate bodies but of
individuals in and outside of those bodies who are walking with the
Lord. Read the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Be an
overcomer in the midst of the apostate church. Don't look to it to
save your children.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">God
commands his people to meet for worship weekly (</span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Deut.%205%3A12/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #72abbf;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Deut.
5:12</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">; </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Heb.%2010%3A25/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #72abbf;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Heb.
10:25</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">).
It’s not optional or a matter of preference, and this is God’s
mercy toward us. God knows how badly we need the benefits of meeting
together. God doesn’t </span></span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">need</span></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> our
worship. We, on the other hand, desperately need corporate worship to
center and order our lives around the Lord.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The
content of those two verses were already addressed. Keeping the
Sabbath holy means that you don't work or do things that are not God
oriented on Saturday (if you want to be accurate). Family time is
considered a part of that, as you are to teach your children at all
times. Rest is a part of that, as the whole idea was to have a rest
from working for physical and mentals health's sake as well as your
spiritual sake. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath. Meeting with others to fellowship and worship is beneficial
when done in keeping with God's standards, but it does not have to be
on a Sunday (although as long as you are keeping the Sabbath as well,
instead of replacing the Sabbath, there is nothing wrong with it) nor
does it require being in a building designated as a church. Where two
or more are gathered together, Christ is in the midst of them.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As
for Hebrews, the book of Hebrews was written as a response to the
straying into Gnosticism. Many of the people were beginning to go out
to the desert to become hermits (maybe thinking they were emulating
John the Baptist?) and separating themselves from the rest of the
flock. They were told to “not forsake the assembling of themselves
together as was the manner of some.” Yes, those who were totally
cutting themselves off from the Christian community altogether to
live as hermits needed to stop doing it and and go back to gathering
with others of the faith in whatever manner that was available. It
doesn't mention going to a service at a designated building on a
Sunday as a mandate. Do not add to God's Word what He has not said.
Bible studies, social fellowship times, and etc., all qualify as not
forsaking getting together with other Christians. This is taking a
verse totally out of context of what was intended to the original
audience to create a man-made legalistic mandate. Gathering with
like-minded Christians is good and essential for us, but God never
delineated what that gathering constituted. Historically it has been
a church building for a very long time, but it is not the only way.</span></span></span></span></i></p>
<h3 align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 0.27in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: gotham a, gotham b, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It’s
Hard to Get to Church. That’s the Point.</b></span></span></span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing
can prepare you for the labor that is getting small children out the
door to church on a Sunday morning. I don’t know if it’s
spiritual warfare or whiplash from the weekend, but dressing small
kids and loading them into the car is a grind. Even when your kids
are teenagers, there are days they seem to resist just about anything
you suggest. Getting to church is hard. But that’s part of the
value of attending church every Sunday. It sets the tone for the
Christian’s daily struggle to live in personal relationship with
Christ.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daily
fellowship with and service to the Lord involve a purposeful,
deliberate approach. Getting up in the morning to pray and read
Scripture isn’t easy. Praising God in times of pain and sorrow can
be a struggle. Entering conflict, repenting, and engaging in
reconciliation requires effort, purpose, and patience. But however
difficult these endeavors are, we find life and peace as a result.
The intentional effort we make to attend corporate worship each week
reinforces for our kids the patterns of intentionality and endurance
necessary for a fulfilling and fruitful Christian life.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Yes,
daily fellowship and service to the Lord does involve a purposeful
deliberate approach. Which most people are too lazy to do, because
that is exactly what is needed to bring your children up in the Lord.
Those who make a priority of going through the hassle of getting the
children dressed and ready for church to make the obligatory
appearance (is it any worse than getting them ready for school which
is generally even earlier than church?) feel vindicated of their
responsibility to give their children a Christian education at home
themeselves, but it does not vindicate them of that responsibility.
Spending time every day, as the Scripture says, when going here,
going there, doing this, doing that) is much harder than taking them
to (or dropping them off at) church on Sunday. If that is the best a
Christian parent can do, then shame on them. These are eternal lives
with which God has entrusted you.</i></span></span></span></p>
<h3 align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 106%; margin-bottom: 0.27in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: gotham a, gotham b, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Model
Unflinching Commitment to Sunday Worship</b></span></span></span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
I was a kid, we went to church every single week, even on vacation. I
often complained about it (though I liked the donuts they served at
Sunday school). I asked my father, “Why can’t we take a week
off?” My old-school Dad would always reply in the same gruff
Southern drawl, “Son, God gives us seven days a week. We can
sacrifice one morning for him.” The only other “religious thing”
we did in our household was pray at meals. Still, my Dad’s maxim
and our consistent church attendance made a major impression.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>So
the ONLY things of a religious nature that this person experienced
growing up was making it a priority to go to church on Sunday (as if
that is what saves you) and saying grace at the meals. How much did
he actually learn at church in the way of knowledge of God is my
question. Most children I know who have attended church only know a
few Bible stories, and even those they don't usually have accurate.
Several adults (one in her 80's) who had attended church ALL THEIR
LIFE, were surprised when they learned that the David who slew
Goliath was also the King David of Israel. They had no idea he was
the same person. How do you go to church all your life, and not know
this simple fact? What were they teaching there? But the people were
sure they were saved, merely by attending church regularly on Sunday.
Church attendance is not a panacea for our sins. It is not a
replacement for an ongoing relationship with the Lord.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
I left for college, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">this
pattern </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
deeply embedded in my life. I was usually the only person on my hall
who attended church on Sunday, but I’d get up and go. When I
traveled and missed Sunday morning church, I’d go to a campus
service that night.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>So
what was ingrained in this person's mind? A deep love for God and a
desire to study His Word and worship Him in prayer and praise. No. It
was a pattern. A ritual that was embedded in his life. One that he
apparently feels will ensure that he makes it to heaven? Oh, that it
were that easy.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">My
family’s commitment to Sunday worship communicated major truths to
me: God is the center of life. God is worthy of praise and worship.
The Christian life requires sacrifice and discipline. My father
rarely talked to me about spiritual matters; I don’t think he had a
vast vocabulary for such conversations. Still, he modeled the
Christian life well, largely through his unflinching commitment to go
to church every Sunday.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Does
attending church ritually really communicate the idea that God is the
center of life, or does it communicate that the ritual is essential
to make sure you are good with God? Which is it really? How can God
be the center of your life if He is only invited in one hour a week?
He admits that even talking about spiritual matters was non-existent
in his childhood. How do you learn if it is not taught? And is
ritualistically attending a weekly service an actual model for
Christian life? The Muslims do it unflinchingly committed, the
Orthodox Jews do it unflinchingly committed, the Mormons do it
unflinchingly committed, the Catholics do it unflinchingly committed
and many Protestants do it unflinchingly committed. And how many of
them are actually saved? Commitment to a ritual does not translate
into a relationship with God.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;">If
you feel inadequate to lead your kids spiritually, just go to church.
If strategizing about your Christian parenting feels overly
complicated, just go to church. If you’ve been taking a few too
many Sundays off, just go to church. If all of this seems
overwhelmingly difficult, ask God to give you the grace to have this
consistent discipline in your family’s life. Faithful church
attendance can have an eternal influence on your kids.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>If
you feel inadequate to lead your kids spiritually, the for heaven's
sake, get into your Bible and get on your knees, because if you have
been a Christian for any length of time, SHAME ON YOU!!! There is no
excuse. Do not count on the church to teach you God's Word. God said
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” You need to
ask for the Holy Spirit to help you learn and diligently be studying
daily. And share it with your children, even if you are just a
student yourself. God supplies our needs when we act in faith,
believing. Don't just go to church. It isn't wrong to go to church.
It can be a beneficial thing, IF you are attending a church that 1)
preaches the Word undiluted and truthfully, and teaches it in depth,
not with a superficial touch on it, but don't go into it attitude, 2)
has the music of the church, not the music of the world, and isn't
geared toward entertainment or showcasing people who desire to be
“stars” (I have an article about that in my blog archives also)
3) treats prayer as a real necessity and seriously, not as a means of
getting people to share things for the sake of gossip, 4) treats
children as beings who are capable of learning God's Word, not beings
who are incapable of understanding and thus need to be entertained
with games, crafts, snacks, and with a simple Bible story thrown in
for good measure, 5) follows the rules of good worship according to
the Scriptures, not follows the “outpouring of the spirit” chaos
which sometimes is NOT the Holy Spirit at all or treats the service
as a nightclub venue and 6) has real fellowship, not the kind with
cliques or gossip circles. (good luck with that last one.) </i></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
you are doing the disciplines you should be doing for your own
growth, and teaching them daily to your children, then if you find a
church which does the above, even though it might be on the wrong day
of the week as far as being the Sabbath is concerned, by all means,
go. Make it priority, but not the FIRST priority. It comes after your
personal and your family's relationship with the Lord. </span></i></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-family: Charter;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
apostate church today is a part of Babylon. We are called to come out
of Babylon. So if it means that to follow the Lord in truth and
spirit, you have to come out of the apostate churches and worship in
a house church or other type of non-building oriented group, then by
all means, do that. But never, ever think that church is a substitute
for your daily walk with God in the disciplines, or teaching your
children those disciplines on a daily basis. That comes before
attending a service in a designated building, which is not
Scripturally required by God. </span></i></span></span></span>
</p>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-25989499164981395582022-04-22T19:09:00.003-07:002022-04-22T19:09:38.226-07:00The Pre-wrath Rapture Has Major Problems <p>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">People who are
waking up to the fact that the Bible does not teach a pre-trib
rapture, but who find that mid-trib and post-trib do not seem to line
up with Scripture are turning to the more recent (it’s been around
for a few decades) theory of the pre-wrath rapture. I myself made
that change to pre-wrath from pre-trib on my journey to the truth,
but what I find interesting is that the very same fault that
pre-wrath points out about pre-trib, they themselves have. They fail
to see in the flaws in their own theories. And that flaw is that
Scripture does not support it. That they have to ignore certain
Scriptures and reinterpret others to make their theory work.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">There are a number
of problems with the pre-wrath theory that need to be addressed. In
the process of addressing them, hopefully the reader will see where
the rapture truly is found. That is, where Scripture points as you
put all the Scriptures together. If you are expecting pre-trib,
mid-trib, or post-trib, you will be disappointed. Rather than coming
at the Bible with a theory in hand, looking to defend it, the
Scriptures can speak for themselves, if you are willing to listen. As
we go through the problems with pre-wrath, it will be seen what
Scripture has to say.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pre-wrath has many
things right. I think all of the theories have some things right. In
fact, it is those things which helped lead me further on to the
truth. First, the things they have right.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">1) The seven years
is not God’s wrath. Applying wrong terminology leads to wrong
conclusions.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">They prove this by
showing that the Day of the Lord, another name for God’s wrath,
cannot begin before the great tribulation and is not the seven year
week. How is this accomplished? Easily. In the Old Testament there
are dozens of verses which describe the Day of the Lord, but the ones
that really show with total certainty that it cannot happen before
the great tribulation are the following:</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Joel 2:30-31 “And
I will shew 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 the terrible day of the LORD
come.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Acts 2:19-20 “And
I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE that great and notable day
of the Lord come:”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">These verses clearly
and unmistakably state that BEFORE the Day of the Lord comes, BEFORE
God’s wrath, these celestial events must occur. Now while some
ministries are making money off books saying that the four blood
moons were the fulfillment of this prophecy, it doesn’t say that
there will be four blood moons. It says that the sun will go dark and
the moon turned to blood (go dark red) which indicates that these
things will be occurring simultaneously, for solar and lunar eclipses
have been happening for centuries, but they never happen
simultaneously. This is a once in a world’s lifetime type of event.
Not only the eclipses, but there will be earthquakes and stars
falling and the sky rolling up like a scroll. That has not occurred
with blood moons. It is a catastrophic event which literally shakes
the earth, not merely a visual phenomena. Other verses in Isaiah and
other prophets also foretell this devastating event.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">When we get to the
Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, we find Christ talking about this
event. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the
sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars
shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken.” Matt. 2:29. This is the same event spoken of in Joel and
Acts and where does Christ put it? He puts it AFTER the great
tribulation is cut short. Pre-wrath has this teaching very correct in
saying that the Day of the Lord, or God’s wrath does not begin
until some time after the signs that precede it occur. It cannot come
before those signs or God is a liar. As Paul says in Romans 3:4 “God
forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” If man does
not listen to God’s truth, it is he who is the liar. So the Day of
the Lord, God’s wrath, cannot come before the great tribulation. By
Christ’s words it has to come after. We are not appointed to God’s
wrath, but God’s wrath does not come before the great tribulation.
So there is no need to remove people before it.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pre-wrath then
correctly goes to the sixth seal of Revelation and shows that these
very signs are again mentioned. Rev. 6:12-15 “And I beheld when he
had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and
the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as
blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig
tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and
every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the
kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free
man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;”
So God’s wrath cannot come before the sixth seal.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So pre-wrath rightly
concludes that the seven years are not God’s wrath and that God’s
wrath cannot possibly begin until after the great tribulation is cut
short, and these signs have occurred. That also puts it some time
after the sixth seal.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">2) Pre-wrath
correctly states that the great tribulation is Satan’s wrath. Rev.
12:12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is
come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he
hath but a short time.” The great tribulation or “thlipsis” in
Greek, means persecution. Not wrath, which is “orge” or “thumos”
when speaking of God’s wrath. Satan’s wrath is always persecution
of the saints, “thlipsis.” And that is what the great tribulation
is. God states both in the Old and New Testament that He will hand
over the saints (we are the saints) to the antichrist. Daniel 7:25
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall
wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and
laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times
and the dividing of time.” Rev. 13:7 “And it was given unto him
to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was
given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The great
tribulation is Satan’s wrath, not God’s. We are not exempt from
Satan’s wrath or persecution and martyrdom.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">3) Pre-wrath says
that the word “coming” when used in connection with Christ’s
second coming is the word “parousia” which means to come and
remain as a presence, not coming and leaving. They are absolutely
correct on this. That is exactly what it means and that is the word
used every time when speaking of Christ’s coming. When Christ
comes, He is not leaving. He will remain while God’s wrath is
poured out.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Christ cannot come
and leave, for that is not the word used to describe His coming. It
is always a parousia. He will remain because He will be pouring out
God’s wrath from the heavens while He rewards the saints and
prepares for the Marriage of the Lamb.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">4) Pre-wrath teaches
that when Christ comes at the Second Coming, He will resurrect the
dead and rapture those who are alive and remain or in other words,
gather the elect. This is also correct according to Scripture.
Matt.24:30-31 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they
shall see the SON OF MAN COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER
AND GREAT GLORY. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of
a trumpet, and THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT<b> </b>from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Rev. 14:14-16
“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and UPON THE CLOUD ONE SAT
LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN, having on his head a golden crown, and in
his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy
sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the
harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in
his sickle on the earth; AND THE EARTH WAS REAPED.” 1 Cor 15:22-23
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward
THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING.” 2 Thess. 2:1-2 “Now we
beseech you, brethren, by the COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by
OUR GATHERING TOGETHER<b> </b>unto him, That ye be not soon shaken
in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by
letter as from us, as that the DAY OF CHRIST is at hand.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Christ gathers the
elect, who are the saints or us, when He comes at His one and only
coming. And that coming is associated with the Day of Christ aka the
Day of the Lord.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now for some
problems with the pre-wrath position.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">1) The first
mistake, which leads to every other mistake is similar to how
pre-trib makes a mistake. For instance, pre-trib assumes that
tribulation and wrath are the same thing, and since we aren’t
appointed to wrath, we must not be appointed to tribulation. Nothing
could be further from the truth. By mislabeling something or
misunderstanding the context of something and making an assumption,
and ignoring the other verses that would negate that assumption, it
lays a faulty foundation upon which the rest of the things that are
built, will also be false. Two assumptions that pre-wrath make are a)
God’s wrath follows immediately upon the heels of the celestial
signs, so the trumpets are God’s wrath and b) when people react to
those signs it is the same as God making a pronouncement. Neither of
those is true.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">a) The mistake of
the first assumption is understandable, because Christ left out a
whole lot of information at the Olivet Discourse, which He then
provided to John for Revelation. However that is not an excuse to
get it wrong. It was up to us to analyze the further provided
information and create the correct outline of events. Absence of
information in one place, does not mean there is nothing there, when
in another place that information is provided. The linking word
between the celestial signs in Matthew and His Coming is the word
“then,” not “immediately.” “Then” is a chronological
word, meaning that something is after something else, but timing is
not given. It does not necessarily mean immediacy. For instance, as a
teacher, if I were asked what I was doing after school was out, I
could say “Immediately after final exams, there will be a
graduation ceremony, then I will leave on vacation to go to Italy.”
If immediacy was implied by the word “then,” one would assume
that the day after graduation I would be leaving to go to Italy, but
the truth is, I might go shopping for necessities for the trip, I
might have to put my animals in a kennel, check on my elderly parents
to see they have all they need while I am gone, go to a doctor’s
appointment, and do a number of sundry other things before I actually
leave. These other things are not what my colleagues were wanting to
know. They weren’t interested in the details, they were interested
in the big plan for the summer. What was I going to do after school
got out. There are things that must and will take place before I
leave, but they aren’t the important thing. They aren’t the
information for what my colleagues were asking me. The big event is
my trip, so that is all I mention. That is all any of my colleagues
need to know at that point. That was all the disciples needed to know
at that moment. The main signposts of Christ’s coming, not all the
details.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">If one studies the
sixth seal of Revelation and the trumpet judgments that follow, it is
clear that they are a continuation of whatever catastrophic event
happened in the sixth seal (at least up to the demonic hordes). They
are the result of that catastrophe, and should not be separated from
it. They must be fitted in that period of “then” between the
signs and Christ’s coming in the Olivet Discourse. They are the
details. Jesus’ disciples were not ready to hear all of what John
is told. It was neither the time nor the place for that information
to be given. It is up to us to study all of Scripture and line things
up correctly in their proper place. In listening to a popular Youtube
teacher who teaches pre-wrath, she said, “When Jesus wipes away
every one of those seals when that scroll is unrolled, it is going to
be the wrath of God…….. the seals are the wrath of Satan, not
God.” She also says, and I agree, that the trumpets are the seventh
seal. However she was not adjusting her belief to fit what her words
said, for by her own words, the trumpets are the seventh seal (and
part of Satan’s wrath) and those seals have to be wiped away before
God’s wrath can come. Which means that the trumpets must be wiped
away also.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The sealed scroll is
the mortgage on planet earth. In the Law, God gave instructions for
redeeming property. Not only did Christ need to redeem us, which He
did on the cross, He needs to take back the earth from the prince and
power of the air, who is in control of earth, Satan. The cross was
only the first part of the plan. It was the redemption price for us,
but now come the conditions for the rest of the redemption of the
property. We know the world is Satan’s, because he offered it to
Christ during the time of Christ’s temptation. It was his to offer.
Christ will be taking it back, but to do that He has to also redeem
it, as He redeemed us. There is a mortgage and that mortgage has
conditions. It was the custom to write the conditions on the scroll
(in this case front and back) and to write them on the seals
themselves that sealed the scroll, as one could not read the scroll
until it was opened, so to know the conditions, they had to be put on
in a manner where they could be easily read. One seal at a time was
opened and fulfilled before the next seal could be broken. When the
last seal was broken, the property reverted in ownership legally, as
the intention of fulfillment for the last seal was about to occur,
but taking possession could not actually occur until that last seal’s
conditions had been finished. Only a kinsman redeemer could open the
scroll, if the original owner could not meet the conditions. Adam
lost the earth for us, and he could not redeem either himself or the
planet. He could not pay the price. Only Christ has been able to do
that. So only Christ can open the scroll.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">As this lady teacher
says, the seals are the wrath of Satan, not God. All seven of them.
For the mortgage to revert to the owner, the last condition on the
last seal must be completed. That is why it is at the end of the
sixth trumpet that the angel puts a foot on land and sea and says
time will be no longer and it is done. The sixth trumpet is the last
condition. This lady also says that Jesus must wipe away ever one of
those seals and when He does, then the wrath of God can come. Yes,
that is so. But what she misses, is that she is not including the
seventh seal, which she states is the trumpets, as a part of that
wiping away of the seals before the wrath of God can come. The
conditions of the scroll are not met until the six trumpets, which
are the seventh seal are complete. The last trumpet is the trumpet of
God, announcing that is it over, it is not a condition of the seventh
seal. Pre-wrath starts God’s wrath at the seventh seal not at the
seventh trumpet. It cannot be both ways. Either the trumpets are part
of God’s wrath, or they are part of Satan’s. So which is it?
Scripture would seem to indicate that they are part of the conditions
of redeeming the mortgage, not God’s wrath. That will be shown to
be Scriptural further on.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">b) The factor that
makes pre-wrath assume that the trumpets are God’s wrath, is what
the people say during the sixth seal. The world reacts to the
cataclysm by yelling that God’s wrath has come. Rev. 6:15-17 “And
the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free
man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able
to stand?” They take this as a pronouncement that God’s wrath
has come, but is that how it should be taken? People will always say
that God’s wrath has come when something cataclysmic happens. They
make television shows about catastrophes titled, “God’s Wrath.”
And the fact that these signs are to precede the Day of the Lord does
make it seem that God’s wrath must immediately follow, so one can
see why they might assume that. The problem is, that is not where
heaven announces God’s wrath. A further study of Scripture shows
that this assumption is wrong. This is how God’s wrath is
announced. Heaven announces the following:</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 11:18 “And
the nations were angry, and<b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">THY
WRATH IS COME</span>, and the time of the dead, that they should be
judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and
great; and shouldest DESTROY THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 14:19-20 “And
the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine
of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of THE WRATH OF
GOD. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came
out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a
thousand and six hundred furlongs.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 15:1 “And I
saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES; FOR IN THEM IS FILLED UP THE WRATH OF GOD.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 15:6-8 “And
the seven angels came out of the temple, havingTHE SEVEN PLAGUES,
clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with
golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full OF THE WRATH OF GOD, who liveth for
ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory
of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the
temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 16:1 “And I
heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go
your ways, and pour out the vials of THE WRATH OF GOD upon the
earth.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 16:5 “And I
heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which
art, and wast, and shalt be, because THOU HAS JUDGED thus.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 16:7 “And I
heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true
and righteous are THY JUDGMENTS.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 16:13-14 “And
I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the
dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of
the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working
miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole
world, to gather them to the battle of that GREAT DAY OF GOD
ALMIGHTY.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">When God’s wrath
comes, it is announced over and over. It is specified that the
plagues are the wrath of God. Nowhere are the seals or trumpets
announced as being the wrath of God. The only reference to God’s
wrath up until the point it begins is when people are reacting to the
celestial events in the sixth seal and yelling in fear that it must
be the wrath of God. That is not the same as heaven announcing it.
There is a place where heaven starts to announce it. And from that
point on it is announced numerous times as can be seen above.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">2) The next problem
which is another assumption, is that the great multitude that appears
on the sea of glass must be the raptured Christians. For of course
they are said to come out of the great tribulation, and the signs
that precede the Day of the Lord have occurred, so what else could
they possibly be, right?</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">By assuming that the
Day of the Lord has begun, one can only come to that conclusion based
on that assumption. But several things are being ignored. One is that
God’s wrath is not announced by heaven until later, which has
already been shown. Another is that the great tribulation is the
greatest holocaust in the history of the world. More people will be
killed in this persecution than ever before. And who are the people
being killed? We are told who they are. Satan comes down having great
wrath and goes after God’s people. First he goes after the Jews.
Rev. 12:15-16 “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a
flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of
the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his
mouth.” During the great tribulation, Satan will come after the
Jews, the woman, first, but God will not allow him to hurt those
whose names are in the Book of Life, and who are destined to be
spared to go into the millennium. First the 144,000 are protected in
the wilderness. Rev. 12:14 “And to the woman were given two wings
of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her
place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,
from the face of the serpent.” Other Jews are protected as well.
Daniel 12:1 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall
be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even
to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found written in the book.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">It can be seen from
these verses that Satan cannot get at the chosen of Israel, so then
what does he do? He goes after Christians. Rev. 12:17 “And the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.” Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great
words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the
most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
Rev. 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,
and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations.” The saints are handed over to the
antichrist. And he kills them. We know that multitudes will be
killed, because that is what makes it the worst holocaust. And it is
those who will not take the mark and worship the beast who get
killed. Rev. 13:15 “And he had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause
that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
killed.” Those who take the mark will not be hurt. They will be the
majority of people on earth who will continue life as usual. The
people suffering during the great tribulation, the people dying
during the great tribulation are those who refuse to worship him.
Christians.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now when we look at
the fifth seal, and we see the martyrs under the altar, what is said
makes much more sense when we get to the sea of glass. The fifth seal
martyrs are asking when God will start pouring out His vengeance or
wrath. God responds that they must wait for His vengeance, for “it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season,
until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be
KILLED AS THEY WERE, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:11. There are a
multitude of Christians who must be killed, that these martyrs must
wait for, before God pours out His wrath. And then in the next seal,
the great tribulation is cut short, as we see the signs that follow
the great tribulation occurring. Thus the great tribulation is over
and has claimed its last victim. They are all now in heaven. We then
see a great multitude that cannot be numbered standing on the sea of
glass waving palms.. Rev. 7:13-14 “And one of the elders answered,
saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and
whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said
to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The expectation that
a great multitude will be raptured AFTER the great tribulation has
occurred is simply wishful thinking. God has said that He is turning
the saints over to the beast for him to persecute them. He will not
be intervening to protect them. Why? The answer to that comes in the
letters to the churches. Five of the churches are condemned for
various sins. Two churches do not receive condemnation. Of those two,
one is still told that they must suffer martyrdom. The other is the
ONLY church that is promised, to those who have kept His word, have
not denied His name, and kept the word of His patience, that they
will be kept from the hour of temptation (or in Greek it means
putting to the proof or testing) that will come upon the whole world.
Of all the rest, only those who have an ear to hear and overcome will
stand in heaven. Each is promised a reward in heaven IF they
overcome. So what is an overcomer? We are told that in Rev. 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
An overcomer is one who maintains their testimony and loves not their
lives, but will die to overcome Satan and the antichrist. Those on
the sea of glass are those who have overcome and washed their robes
in the blood of the Lamb. Why would they have to do that? We are
told what will happen to the church during the time preceding the
great tribulation. 2 Thess. 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any
means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
There will be a falling away. A great apostasy which has already
begun and has almost destroyed Christianity, especially in the
western world. Just as Israel was punished to be purged and made
right with God, so do Christians need this.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now, once you remove
the assumption that the sixth seal begins the Day of the Lord, you
can see that it makes far more sense that the people on the sea of
glass coming out of the great tribulation are martyrs. That is what
fits with Scripture, not a tremendous multitude being raptured. How
does Paul speak of those who are raptured. “Then those who are
alive and remain” is the phrase he uses. Alive? Remain? Remain
alive from what? If there was a great multitude being raptured, why
would Paul refer to those being raptured in such a way? It is because
they are the remnant of what is left over after the great holocaust.
Those who are still alive and remain after so many have been
martyred.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">3) The pre-wrath
rapture teaches that the rapture occurs at some unknown point in the
middle of the second half of Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week. That is
because they believe the trumpets are part of God’s wrath, and
since the fifth trumpet is five months long, the great tribulation
must be cut short by at least that much, so therefore the rapture
must occur somewhere in the midst of that half of the week. Is that
true? Can Christ come in the middle of the second half of the week?
What does Scripture tell us? Acts 2:34-35 “For David is not
ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto
my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy
footstool.” and Acts 3:20-21 “And he shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive
until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken
by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
These verses tell us that the heavens must receive Christ and He must
sit at the right hand of God until His foes are made His footstool
and the restitution of all things occurs.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So what would make
Satan, the beast, and the false prophet his footstool? When they are
defeated and done ruling. That only happens when Christ defeats the
antichrist by destroying him, and the world reverts to Christ’s
ownership. When does that happen? In 2 Thess. 2:8 we are told what
causes his destruction. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed,
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his coming:” It is Christ’s
coming, His Second Coming that destroys the beast and ends his reign.
So what is the problem? Why can’t that happen partway through the
second half of the week? We know that the antichrist is given
forty-two months or 3 ½ years to reign. Daniel 7:25 (see above) and
Rev. 13:5 both tell us this. “And there was given unto him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him
to continue forty and two months.” So he has a full 3 ½ years to
reign, which brings him to the end of the 70<sup>th</sup> week. That
would mean that Christ cannot come until those 3 ½ years or
forty-two months are over, or his reign would not be forty-two
months. Again, God is not a liar. He would not tell us something
that is not true. Nor should we ignore that information or twist it
to fit our needs.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">When does the
restitution of all things come? That comes when Christ is able to
take possession of the world and becomes the King of this world. When
does that happen? When the conditions of the trumpets are over. When
the angel stands on the sea and land and declares (after the sixth
trumpet) that it is over. Rev. 10:7. And that occurs at the sounding
of the seventh trumpet. Revelation 11:15 “And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms
of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.” The restitution occurs when
the kingdoms of the world become Christ’s and that occurs as the
verse says, at the seventh trumpet when the seventh angel sounds or
blows the trumpet.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So pre-wrath has a
serious problem with putting Christ’s return before the end of the
70<sup>th</sup> week. It cannot come before, by Scripture’s clear
teachings. The antichrist has forty-two months to reign. He is
destroyed by Christ’s coming, so Christ’s coming must come
forty-two months after his reign begins at the abomination of
desolation. There is no getting around it. Only then do Christ’s
foes become His footstool and do things revert back to His ownership.
Only then does His reign begin. And it begins when that seventh
trumpet is blown. So the seventh trumpet is blown at the end of the
70<sup>th</sup> week.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">4) At least one
well-known pre-wrath teacher says that as Israel is promised one more
week out of the seventy weeks God promised, to bring in all of the
things mentioned in Daniel 9: 24 [“Seventy weeks are determined
upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity,
and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision
and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”], Israel cannot be
saved until the very end of that week. Their blindness will not be
lifted until that week is complete and then their transgressions will
be forgiven and reconciliation will be made and the prophecies will
be sealed up. I agree with that, however he does not recognize that
in saying that, he is creating a dilemma for himself, for that
blindness is lifted when Christ returns. There are verses that tell
what happens when Israel gets saved.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Romans 11:25-26 “For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part
is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come
out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from
Jacob:”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">This verse tells us
two things. First, Israel will be blind until the fullness of the
Gentiles comes in. What exactly does that mean - the fullness of the
Gentiles? It means that the age of the Gentiles being God’s
priests, the Church age, has come to and end. So Israel will be
blinded to their Messiah until the Church age is complete and the
last person to be a part of the Bride has been saved. When the Church
age is completed, the Church is raptured. From that point on, the
mantle of priesthood is handed off to Israel for the millennium. The
second thing it tells us is that the One who comes out of Zion, the
Deliverer, Christ, will turn away their sin. So since Christ turns
away their sin, He must return to do so. That is exactly what was
said in Daniel 9:24, that God would bring an end to their sins and
transgressions and bring in everlasting righteousness. But when does
that happen? When the Deliverer comes. The Second Coming.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">That is again shown
to be the case in Revelation 1:7. It is when they see Christ at His
Second Coming that they understand who He is and mourn for their
rejection of Him. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye
shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” And in
Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and
shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
firstborn.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So these verses all
tell us that Israel will not have their blindness lifted and accept
their Savior until they see Him at the Second Coming. They will see
Him when the Church age is over and He returns and raptures what is
left of the Church. Now that is a problem for pre-wrath, for as this
prophecy teacher says, they do not accept Him until that 70<sup>th</sup>
week is finished. As pre-wrath has Christ returning long before the
70<sup>th</sup> week is over, and have Israel’s blindness lifted at
the end of the week, but the reason Israel accepts Him is because
they see Him returning. there is a dilemma for pre-wrath. How can
their blindness be lifted months or more before the end when they see
Him, if their blindness is supposed to be lifted at the end? The only
way it works is for His return to be at the end, so they see Him at
the proper time. It is impossible to be any other way, if we hold to
the truth of Scripture.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">How do we know that
their blindness must be lifted at the end and not simply when Christ
returns? Maybe pre-wrath is wrong about that. The key seems to be,
when does the fullness of the Gentiles that Paul mentions being when
their blindness is lifted, come in? If that can be pinpointed, then
we know when the Church age is over. If we look at Rev. 11:1-2, we
find the following: “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:
and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and
the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is
without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given
unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty and two months.” John is told to not measure the courtyard of
the temple, for it and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the
Gentiles for a period of forty-two months. So why is that important?
Because if we look to Luke and his version of the Olivet Discourse,
we find that he tells us when the Gentiles start to trample it,
therefore we can know when the forty-two months are over. Why that is
important will become obvious when we look at what he says. Luke
21:21-24 “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which
are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the
midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries
enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be
great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they
shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive
into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Luke’s version
parallels Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse. He starts with
the desolation or the abomination of desolation. We know from Daniel
that this is at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week.
Luke then mentions the great tribulation, which he calls the time of
great distress. He also says it is a day of vengeance and wrath, but
we already know that it is not God’s vengeance and wrath, but
Satan’s. Then Luke says that Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the
Gentiles (from the time of abomination) until the time of the
Gentiles is fulfilled. This is another way of saying the fullness of
the Gentiles, which we know is the end of the Church age when
Israel’s blindness is lifted. And when we put that together with
Rev. 11:1-2, we know that it is a period of forty-two months. So the
courtyard and city will be trodden by the Gentiles, beginning at the
abomination of desolation and going until the fullness of the
Gentiles comes and Israel’s blindness is lifted forty-two months
later. That brings us to the end of Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week,
which is exactly where Israel is supposed to be saved. And now we
know that the Church age (fullness of the Gentiles) ends there too.
Are there any other verses that might indicate that the Church age
ends there? Yes, there is.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We are told in Rev.
10:7 “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he
shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he
hath declared to his servants the prophets.”. The mystery of God is
the Church and the gospel - Eph. 6:19, Col 1:26-27. Christ’s
relationship to the Church - Eph. 5:32, and the rapture of the Church
- 1 Cor. 15:51. The mystery of God is finished when? When the seventh
angel begins to sound. And what angel is the seventh angel? It is the
angel that blows the seventh and last trumpet of God. Pre-trib
insists that the last trumpet is not the seventh trumpet, but there
is no valid defense for that statement. Clearly it is. And pre-wrath
must also believe that they are not the same trumpet, for the last
trumpet does not get sounded in the middle of the second half of
Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week. It gets sounded at the end of it.
How can we be sure of that? We’ve already covered some proof texts,
but there are more.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We know that the
abomination starts the second half of the 70<sup>th</sup> week. We
know that the great tribulation follows that, and that the sixth seal
and seven trumpets must come in the second half. So why would the
seventh trumpet in particular coincide with the end of the 70<sup>th</sup>
week, or rather the end of the forty-two months or 1260 days. We
already know that the time of the Gentiles ends forty-two months
after the abomination. And if the seventh angel blows his trumpet
when the mystery of God, the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, that
makes it at the end of forty-two months. We are also told some other
things. Among them, we are told that the two witnesses prophesy for
1260 days. Rev. 11:3 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses,
and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days,
clothed in sackcloth.” When does this occur? It seems to be
connected to the previous two verses which talk about the temple
courtyards and Jerusalem being trodden underfoot. But more
importantly at the end of their 1260 days, the beast kills them. And
it occurs right at the time the seventh trumpet is blown. If their
witness is during the second half and starts at the time of the
abomination, (it can only be the first half or second half of the
70<sup>th</sup> week as it is a 3 ½ year period) it takes us to the
end of the 70<sup>th</sup> week. And since they die at that time, and
the seventh trumpet is blown at that time, then the seventh trumpet
is at the end of the week. This is just one more proof in an already
growing list of proofs.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">5) Finally we have
the huge neon sign that Paul so graciously gave us, that we have all
completely ignored. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.” The argument is that Paul could not know what John would
write, therefore it isn’t the same thing. Paul did not have to know
what John would write. He was under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit and prophesied the truth, whether he had the knowledge that
John was given or not. Paul pointed us, through prophesying it, that
the rapture would occur at the last trumpet. The last trumpet is the
seventh trumpet. And what do we find when we go there?</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rev. 11:15-18 “And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And
the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell
upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O
Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou
hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the
nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto
thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy
name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the
earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was
seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great
hail.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Let’s examine this
passage. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great
voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever
and ever.” The seventh angel blows the seventh and last trumpet
and when he does, the kingdoms of the world revert back to Christ’s
ownership and He takes the kingship away from Satan. The world no
longer is Satan’s. Christ is now King, and His reign will last
forever. “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on
their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We
give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art
to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast
reigned.” Again, it is repeated that now God is magnified, God is
taking the reins and will reign. Satan is now done until he is loosed
at the end of the millennium. Christ does not begin His reign, until
He returns. And this is where His reign begins. So this is where He
returns.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">“And the nations
were angry, and thy wrath is come,” God’s wrath is announced as
having finally come. It would not be announced as coming now, if it
has come several years earlier. God’s wrath, the Day of the Lord
starts after Christ returns and resurrects/raptures the saints. So
Christ is returning now and God’s wrath is beginning now.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">“and the time of
the dead” Resurrected saints are no longer considered the dead.
But these saints at this moment when the seventh trumpet sounds are
still considered dead. It is not speaking of their spiritual lives,
so it must be speaking of their corporeal lives. The resurrection is
about to occur when Christ comes, and now is that time.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">“that they should
be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and
great;” This rewarding is known as the Bema Seat, when the rewards
are given out to the saints for their works. This occurs when they
are resurrected/raptured, when the Lord returns. It does not occur
seven years after a rapture (pre-trib), it does not occur three and
a half years after a rapture, (mid-trib) It does not occur several
years or even a half year after the rapture (pre-wrath) and it cannot
occur before a rapture (post -trib which puts the rapture at the end
of the bowls). It can only happen at the time of the Second Coming,
so if the Bema Seat is at the seventh trumpet, so is the Second
Coming and rapture.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">“and shouldest
destroy them which destroy the earth.” Again, this is speaking of
God’s wrath. He will destroy those who have destroyed the earth in
His wrath. It begins now at the seventh and last trumpet.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">6) All of these
things, and even more which are not listed here, point to the Second
Coming and rapture occurring at the seventh and last trumpet, which
is 3 ½ years after the abomination. But what about the day and hour
problem? Not knowing the hour is obviously an easy thing. Who could
possibly pinpoint the hour of the Lord’s return. And with
twenty-four time zones, it would not be the same for everyone anyhow.
No problem there. What about the day? Well, that partially has the
same problem, for not all of the world is in the same day at the same
time. But apart from that, there are some things that will make
knowing what day it is difficult. First of all, Daniel 7:25 says
that the antichrist will change the times and the laws, which means
the calendar we know will no longer be in use. Then we find out that
these catastrophic events in the trumpets have the effect of moving
the earth out of her orbit into another orbit. Is. 13:13 “Therefore
I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her
place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his
fierce anger.” Is. 24:20a “The earth shall reel to and fro like a
drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage;” With the earth’s
orbit changed, the length of a day can change and the length of the
year will change. Then with all the “nuclear fallout” as it
were, from the trumpet judgments, the ability to know day from night
might be hard to determine, especially if the length of a day has
changed. In Zech. 14:7 we are told what it will be like. “But it
shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor
night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be
light.” Things will be so mixed up and bizarre, we will not know
day from night.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Further, the phrase
“not know the day nor hour” has an idiomatic meaning. When a
couple got betrothed, the groom would go home to his father’s house
and build a room onto the house (or if he could manage it, he would
build a house of his own) for his bride. When it was finished, he had
to have his father’s approval and permission to then go and get his
bride. Even if he knew it was finished, it took the father’s
permission for him to leave, so technically even though he knew when
that would occur and be given, until it was given, he could not state
that he knew. Thus even Christ could not say that He knew, even
though being God Himself, He has to know. He still will need the
Father’s permission.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">It would seem that
pre-wrath has as many problems as pre-trib, yet they do not see them.
Many are already too invested in that theory to let it go. Many just
want to have it both ways, that we would endure the tribulation, but
not be killed during it. The truth is, Satan does not want people
understanding the truth of God’s Word. So he blinds people. I know
it took me ten years to work my way out of the pre-wrath rapture
theory, and I saw problems with it right from the beginning. Satan
will always blind you to the truth unless you sincerely pray to God
asking for it REGARDLESS OF THE COST. That is how much you must
desire the truth for God to open it up to you. And He is gracious not
to overwhelm you, leading you at a pace you can handle to get to that
truth. Truth is a very hard pill to swallow and some simply can’t
swallow it at all. I’ve always preferred a hard truth to a
comfortable lie and yet I apparently could not handle all of the
truth at once. God had to bring me to it slowly, as I had no guide
but His own teachings. This truth is not a common one. I have run
across a very few others who believe it is at the last trumpet, but
in many cases they have conflated the trumpets and bowls having the
bowls end at the last trumpet too. These are post-trib people. There
are many problems which they ignore to do that, but this is not the
article to go into that.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">As an added piece of
information, the spring feasts of God were given to signify the first
coming of the Lord. The fall feasts were given to signify the Second
Coming of the Lord. These feasts do not seem to be known or
understood by Christians, and Jews do not entirely understand them in
light of the coming of the Messiah. I offer an explanation here. The
feast of trumpets is the first feast. There is absolutely no
explanation given by God to explain why He wants them to blow
trumpets on the first day of the seventh month. From the perspective
of eschatology, it appears that they signify the trumpet judgments
which will precede His coming. There are seven trumpets. The Feast is
on the first day of the seventh month. There is a definite
correlation between the trumpets in Revelation and those given by God
in the Law. That key helps us to then understand the next Feast. The
Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">On the Day of
Atonement God had the high priest enter the Holy of Holies and offer
a sacrifice of the blood of a lamb on the mercy seat. It was the day
for which Israel’s sins were atoned. Their sins were placed on the
head of the scapegoat and it was sent into the desert. It is the day
that the Jews expect the Messiah to return and resurrect the dead.
And that is exactly when Christ will return. On the Day of Atonement
for Israel, when they look upon Him whom they have pierced and cry
for Him. But then won’t we know the day? No. Again, the calendar
will be changed, the earth will have been moved out of its orbit, the
moon may not be seen at all, and by God’s calendar reckoning, the
first day of the month is not declared until someone has seen a new
moon, and that will be impossible during this time due to the
problems stated above about night and day being indistinguishable
(probably due to nuclear fallout). If one doesn’t know the first
day of the month, one cannot figure out which day is the tenth (Yom
Kippur).
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Another arrow
pointing to the Day of Atonement is that on the year of Jubilee, the
last trumpet of the year is blown not at the start of the month, but
on the Day of Atonement, announcing the start of the Jubilee year.
When Christ first started His ministry and He entered the synagogue,
He quoted a Scripture. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (the Jubilee
year).” Isaiah 61:1-2a. This Scripture speaks of the Jubilee year
when the Messiah will come and set the captives free. Had Israel
accepted Christ, the Lord’s reign would have begun after His
resurrection, but they didn’t accept Him. He deliberately left off
finishing the verse, because He knew they would reject Him. The rest
of the verse is “and the day of vengeance of our God (Day of the
Lord) ; to comfort all that mourn;” This clearly speaks of the Day
of the Lord, which begins with His Second Coming. He didn’t finish
it, because the real year of Jubilee and the Day of the Lord will be
when He returns. And that will start when the Jubilee year begins, at
the Day of Atonement, when the last trumpet for the year and for the
Church age is blown.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Then comes the Feast
of Tabernacles, a week long feast. Pre-trib makes the case for a
Jewish wedding customarily being celebrated over a week’s time, so
therefore they will be in heaven for seven years. The pre-wrath
teacher (the man, not the lady) scoffed at the idea of a week long
celebration saying it was ridiculous, because a couple wouldn’t
stay in a room for a week. That’s not what they did. There was a
week of celebrating, not hibernating. Both their spring feast and
fall feast last for a week. This is the way God ordered it to be.
And so weddings also do this. With the resurrection/rapture on Yom
Kippur, the tenth, and the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the
Feast of Ingathering, beginning on the fifteenth, it leaves five days
for a Bema Seat judgment (heaven’s time is not our time so five
days is probably more than sufficient) to be followed by a week long
wedding celebration. This week long celebration already is built into
the Jewish calendar. Interestingly, the Jews have a story attached to
the celebration of this ingathering of the harvest of grapes (does
ingathering of a harvest make you think of anything? Do grapes make
you think of anything? Read the end of Rev. 14.). This story has to
do with a wedding celebration. The Jews don’t understand why or how
this story attached itself to the feast or why it is there, but
Christians can easily see why it is there. And in Zechariah 14 we are
told that this celebration (not the Passover, but THIS celebration)
is so important, that if people don’t come to Jerusalem for it, the
entire country they live in will be punished. Why would this week
which to the Jews is just a reminiscence of the forty year wanderings
in the desert or a celebration of the grape harvest be so important?
Possibly because it is the anniversary of the marriage of the Lamb
and His Bride. It is the only feast that God insists on during the
millennium. Does that not seem pertinent?
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Everything in
Scripture points to a last trumpet Second
Coming/resurrection/rapture. And it should occur on the Day of
Atonement at the end of the 70<sup>th</sup> week. But nobody will
know the exact day or hour.
</p>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-90292010812620195072022-04-11T18:32:00.000-07:002022-04-11T18:32:58.600-07:00Mary Worship and Virgin Mary Appearances<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mary Worship and </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Appearances by the “Virgin Mary”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Before beginning this study I feel it is important that I state that this study is not meant to be a slap in the face of Catholics. I am married to a former Catholic and have more Catholic relatives than I can count. I love them dearly, but truth is truth, and anything but the truth will lead us away from God. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">It is with that attitude that I conduct this very controversial subject that is bound to offend many. I am sorry if your feelings are hurt by what you may read, but I do not apologize for the truth of what God's Word says. The only thing that should matter, if we love God, is truth. I pray that the truth will set you free and lead you away from error and back to Yeshua alone, if you believe in the worship of Mary as a means of salvation. What I am putting forth in this study is not personal opinion, nor a bias from an anti-Catholic stand. I am neither Catholic, Protestant, nor any other denomination. I believe in the Bible, and the Bible alone and teach its truths with no respect to any denominational theologies. I do not belong to a church. I fellowship when possible with </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>like-minded</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> believers, who have abandoned the churches and denominations in favor of God's infallible truth. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;">What is presented here is what</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> God</b></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> says about Mary and devotion to her, not this author's personal opinion. What mankind or an institution of mankind says about her is irrelevant in terms of our eternal salvation. Mark 7:7 “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>for</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> doctrines the commandments of men.” We are not to supplant God's commandments with the doctrines and rules of man. Otherwise our worship is in vain. Man and his theories are fallible (even if that man presents himself as the voice of God), God's Word is not, and it is God's Word which shows us the way of salvation. We must put our trust in it and Him. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Anything that contradicts God's clear Word is</b></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>not truth</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>.</b></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> It is a lie and a deception. We must look for, and worship God within, the truth of His Word. John 4:24 “God </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>is</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> a Spirit: and they that worship him</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b> </b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>must worship </b></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>H</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>im</b></span></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> in spirit and </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>in truth</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.” First, we are to worship God, not anybody else, and second, we must worship Him in truth, not with vain traditions of men, or erroneous theologies, or worthless sacrifices. What God wants is obedience to His laws, Word, and instructions more than acts of sacrifice, devotion, veneration, or worship. To do any of these latter things to anyone else is an abomination to Him. It is our faith in God and our obedience to Him that leads to salvation, not all the works, or acts of devotion or contrition, especially to someone other than Him. The following verses explain this from the Old Testament through to the New Testament.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal;">Isaiah 1:11-20 “To what purpose </span><i>is</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” God is saying In this passage that without obedience to His laws or Word, that all the sacrifices, prayers, incense burning, etc., is an abomination to Him. If we want God to hear our prayers and accept our sacrifices, first we must be obedient, which means following the path of salvation that God says we must follow, then we must do things that are good, not evil, but with the right motive, not thinking it will earn us a way into heaven. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"> Justification from our sins comes from faith not works. (justification is not the same as salvation – see my posts at the following sites for more in depth study of justification, salvation, works, and eternal security.) </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2010/07/answer-to-post-comment-of-rev-195.html">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2010/07/answer-to-post-comment-of-rev-195.html</a>, <a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2010/06/revelation-195.html">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2010/06/revelation-195.html</a>, and <a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/08/revelation-31-6-sardis.html">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/08/revelation-31-6-sardis.html</a></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal;">Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">; and that not of yourselves: </span><i>it is</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> the gift of God:</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> Not of works</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> lest any man should boast.” Luke 5:20, “And when he saw their </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, he said unto him, Man, thy </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>sins are forgiven</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> thee.” Luke 7:50 “And he said to the woman, Thy </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> hath </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>saved</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> thee; go in peace.” Luke 18:42 “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> hath</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> saved </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">thee. Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, </span><i>and</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> to turn </span><i>them</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> from darkness to light, and </span><i>from</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>forgiveness of sins</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, and inheritance among them which are </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>sanctified by</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> that is </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>in me</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.” Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth </span><i>to be</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> a propitiation </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>through faith in his blood</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, to declare his righteousness f</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>or the remission of sin</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">s that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>a man is justified by</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:30 “Seeing </span><i>it is</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> one God, which shall </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>justify </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">the circumcision </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>by</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, and uncircumcision </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>through </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.” Romans 4:5 “But to him that</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> worketh not,</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> but </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>believeth on him that justifieth</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> the ungodly, his </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> is counted for righteousness.” Romans 5:1 “Therefore being</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> justified by</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>not justified by the work</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">s of the law, but </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>by </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">the </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>faith</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> of </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Jesus Christ</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">of the law: for </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>by the works </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">of the law </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>shall no flesh be justified</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.” These verses, and many more, tell us that it is faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, Yeshua, that gives us justification. If the reader has referenced my other blog articles above, he will see that justification is not the same as salvation. With no apologies to Protestants who believe in “faith alone” I present the following Scriptures and reference them to the above blog articles also that show that faith alone only gives justification, but does not ensure salvation.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT">The following verses (which are only a few of the many) show us that salvation requires more than justification. James 2:17, 20,24,26 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Again, there are many more verses, too many in fact, to go into here, so I recommend reading the articles listed above.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal;">Getting back to the subject, obedience and faith comes first, and doing good comes as a result. Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>knowledge of God more</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> than burnt offerings.” Again the message is that studying God's Word to understand and know His ways are more important than any devotions or acts of contrition or anything else that we can do. We need to know not only what is right, but what is wrong and avoid that. However, i</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;">f you prefer to trust in man and his traditions and theologies, or to someone other than God, that is your choice, but eternity is a long time to pay for believing in man or another spirit over God.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now to the study. Several centuries after Yeshua was resurrected, Mary started to become an important person in the church. Over the centuries she went from being a person of honor to a person who has essentially supplanted Yeshua as the Savior of the world. Now she is viewed as co-Savior (actually even more savior than co-savior), as a co-mediator between God and man (again she has been elevated to mediator rather than co-mediator), the person to whom prayers can be (and some think preferably) directed, the person who can get you into heaven behind the back of her Son and the Father, and the one who basically tells the Son what to do. We need to examine this doctrine of Mariolotry and see if it is Biblical or totally unscriptural. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The second issue to be addressed is these sightings of Mary. The past few centuries have been ones of multiple appearances of an apparition that has called herself the Virgin Mary. Is it truly Mary, or is it some other spirit impersonating Mary for the purpose of leading people astray? We will look at a number of these appearances and analyze them by the Word of Scripture to see how they stand up under scrutinization. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">We first need to take a look at what the Scriptures say both about Mary, to learn something about her and her importance in the scheme of salvation and the overall plan of God, and how the practice of Mariolotry is carried out to see if it is acceptable according to the Word of God. We will then examine Scripturally what we are told to do when we are confronted with a spirit. Finally we will look at a number of sightings and see how they stand up against Scripture.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our first introduction to Mary is found in Luke (and Matthew) when she is chosen to be the mother of Yeshua. She was espoused to Joseph at the time. The angel Gabriel is sent to announce to Mary the fact that she will be with child by the Holy Spirit. When Mary goes to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who is six months pregnant with John the Baptist, she praises God. It is important that we examine this passage, as it tells us Mary's attitude toward God and how she felt about herself in the scheme of things. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Luke 1:46-55 “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath hewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the might from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mary is praising God and calling Him her Savior. She does not see herself as a savior, but the Lord God as the Savior of Israel, and further, mankind and more specifically herself. She sees herself as being of low estate. She does not exalt herself up to an equal level with God. What human being, who truly believes in God, would dare to be so prideful. The first person to do that was Satan. Look where he ended up. Would Mary dare be so prideful as to magnify herself to the position of Savior or even co-Savior? This does not seem to be her attitude at all. She sees herself as a lowly handmaiden who is as needful of salvation as anybody else. She is aware that all generations will call her blessed, but not because she is important in and of herself. Nobody should think that of themselves. We are only instruments in God's hands and when He blesses someone with great importance in His plans, others look at that person and say how blessed they are to have been chosen by God to have a part in some work for God. In and of ourselves, we are nothing. To bring the Savior into the world was the greatest blessing any woman could have hoped for, and Mary is aware that all would look at her and say how blessed she was to have been chosen for this job. She does not consider that any of this is because she is better than anyone else, or that she plays any part other than simply bringing the Savior into the world. She states that God's mercy is on those who fear him and she fears Him. She also states that those who are full of pride are going to be put down. She would never exalt herself in pride or think that she is worthy of being worshiped. That would go against everything that she was (and incidentally still is) and has been taught, or God would not have chosen her at all to be the mother of His Son. In fact, she <b>knows</b> that <b>God does not tolerate worship of any other than Himself</b>. She knows the law or Torah, and especially the Ten Commandments. We will come back and visit this truth after we finish covering what the Bible says about Mary's life.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Next we see Mary having Yeshua and pondering all the things that are going on and being said about her baby. They have Yeshua circumcised and take him to the temple where Mary is given the prophecy that her heart will be pierced. The wise men come to worship Yeshua (not Mary) and Joseph is warned to take the family and flee to Egypt which they do. After Herod dies, they return to Nazareth to live. Then nothing is mentioned of their lives until Yeshua is of bar mitzvah age, twelve by their reckoning, thirteen by ours. They go to the feast in Jerusalem and go to the temple. The family went as a large family and friend group, and as Yeshua would now be considered a man, they were expecting Him to know what was going on and be with the group when they go home. He remained behind at the temple, and they had to go back to get him. Mary was upset with Him and chastised Him telling Him that His father and she were worried. He gives his mother her first rebuke (and Joseph also). First He asks them why they were looking for him. Did they not realize that he had to begin the task of being about his real Father's work? Part of the rebuke toward Mary was for calling Joseph His father. She knew he was not His real father. He lets them know He has to be about the work He was sent by His real Father to do. They had no clue as to what he was referring. Still, He followed them home, but Mary again pondered all these things in her heart. In spite of the fact that she knew she had carried a baby that was of the Holy Spirit, she still did not seem to fully understand the implications, as she wonders about all these things.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now we jump ahead to Yeshua's ministry. At the first miracle we see that Yeshua and His mother are at a wedding (John 2). The host runs out of wine and Mary comes to Yeshua to have Him do something about it. Some speculate that it was a family wedding, and as it would be a disgrace to the family name to run out of wine at a party like this, she was desperate to find a way to prevent that from happening. Whether that was true or not, she was obviously looking to help the host. Apparently understanding by this time that Yeshua was the Son of God, she was hoping that He would be able to rectify the problem. His response is something that has shocked some, and been highly debated by others. For it seems that He is again rebuking His mother. First He calls her “woman.” In our day and age, that would be a “put you in your place” kind of reference. Whether or not it was in that day, it still seems disrespectful in that He is calling her something other than the respectful title she deserves of “mother.” It is followed by the phrase “what have I to do with thee.” Or if preferred, a direct translation is “what (is that) to me and you.” I do not know Greek idiomatic expressions, so do not know if that is why the translators slightly changed it in the translation. Either way, Yeshua is telling His mother, “No.” He tells her that His time has not yet come. In other words, it is not up to her to decide when He will begin doing that sort of thing, and how dare she try to tell Him what to do. Now that He has given her the rebuke to let her know that if He does do something, it has nothing to do with her asking, He decides, or is told by the Father, that it is indeed time to start His miracles. Knowing that all Scriptures is given by inspiration of God, the very reason for showing this rebuke and His refusal may be to show us that Mary is not in a position to tell the Son of God to do anything. It is not her place, nor her right. This is made quite clear through the two rebukes she has now received at Yeshua's hands. Once when he was twelve, and now again. The fact that He decides to do the miracle is not dependent upon her having asked it of Him. When she tells the servants to do whatever He says, she is showing faith and hoping that He will choose of His own accord to do something. He still could have refused. It is probably her display of faith in giving the servants instructions (and apparently His being told by the Father that His time had indeed come), that causes Him to do it rather than her asking it of Him. The important point here is that it is shown that Mary does not tell Yeshua what to do. It is not her place or right. She is supposed to be in submission. (See my article on a woman's submission to a man). She has stepped way, way over the line of God's rules of authority. Telling a man what to do would be bad enough. Telling God (incarnate) to do something? No. This was more than asking a son to go out and buy some wine. This was a spiritual thing, and women do not have spiritual authority over men.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">In Matthew 13:53-38 (also repeated in Mark 6:1-4) there is a very important passage that is ignored by the Catholic church who believe Mary remained a virgin. The passage deals with Yeshua going back to his home town where he teaches in the synagogue. The context of this is extremely important so that it is not misunderstood. When Yeshua teaches in the synagogue, the reaction of the community is astonishment. They wonder how he could have so much wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures. It must be remembered that these people (indeed nobody at that point) knew that He was the awaited Messiah. To the townspeople, this was merely “the carpenter's son.” As far as they were concerned, he was Joseph's and Mary's son. Then they mention the rest of the family. To the community he was identified as the brother of James, Joses, Simon, and Judas and a couple of sisters who are left unnamed. To repeat, by the people of the town, Yeshua is identified as being the son of Joseph and Mary and the sibling of their other children. <i><b>Mary's</b></i> children. Mary had other children. At least six others minimum, in fact. Possibly more. He had four brothers and at least two sisters. Yeshua then responds to the community's unbelief by saying that a prophet does not get honor from his own town and kin. This verifies that Yeshua has kin, at the very least six siblings. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Another verification of having siblings comes when Yeshua was speaking to some people (Matthew 12:46-50), and His mother and brothers wanted to talk to him, so they were waiting outside the place and sent in word that they wanted to see Him. Someone says to Yeshua that His mothers and brothers are outside and want to talk to Him. His response is to ask who are his mother and brothers. He waves his hand toward the disciples and says that they are His mother and brothers. This passage is often twisted to fit people's chosen beliefs. Instead we are going to look at it straightforward as intended. Again, nobody really understood who Yeshua was. When it says that Mary and His brothers were at the door, and someone told Him that His mother and brothers were at the door, that is exactly what is meant. They all knew Mary and her sons were Yeshua's family. They had no other understanding. Yeshua's answer cannot be retrofitted to the announcement that His family is there to mean that they are not his family, which is what some like to try to do. They try to make it mean that the people at the door were not his siblings, as He indicates that all believers are His family. That is a ridiculous exegesis. The other person was telling Yeshua his family was there. He meant Mary and her other sons. Yeshua on the other hand was indicating that those who believe in Him were His family and that His literal family no longer held the same level of importance in His life, now that He had embarked upon His ministry. He obviously did not mean that His disciples were His literal mother. He was indicating the change in His life away from His family. So again we see that Mary is said to have children, or that Yeshua has brothers.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">In Matthew when Yeshua died, it mentions that Mary Magdalene, and Mary mother of Joses and James, and Zebedees children's mother were there to see the crucifixion. Matthew 28:1 tells us that Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb the morning of the resurrection. Mark 15:49 tells us that Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less, Joses and Salome were at the crucifixion. Mark 15:47, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses watched to see where Yeshua was laid. In Luke 24:10 we are told that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb the morning of the resurrection to properly embalm Yeshua's body. In John 19:25-27 we are told that there were three Mary's at the cross. Mary, Yehsua mother, Mary's sister (whose name was also Mary) who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. The only Mary mentioned at the sepulchre in John is Mary Magdalene. The importance of these Scriptures are twofold. First, we must assume that the Mary, Yeshua's mother is going to be both at the crucifixion and at the tomb for the embalming. He is her son, and her responsibility. So, the Mary who is the mother of James, Joses, and Salome is Mary the mother of Yeshua. We already were told that He has two brothers name James and Joses, and we know He had several sisters. Now we also know the name of one of them. To verify that the Lord had a brother named James, we need only look at Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles say I none, save James the Lord's brother.” So we are again told that Mary the mother of Yeshua has other sons. James eventually becomes an apostle. The second thing of importance is Mary's lack of importance. In fact, Mary Magdalene gets more mention that Mary the mother of Yeshua does. Again, her importance is played down. She was the instrument through which the Messiah came, but other than that, she is not of importance. Not that that was not an important thing, but it did not qualify her to some place of importance that is simply not justified in any way by Scripture.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The last time we see Mary is when they were all awaiting the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” One more time it is mentioned that Yeshua has brothers. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">This then is what we are told about Mary in the Bible. To add to that is a sin against God. To make her be more than she is, is a sin against God. Nowhere in Scripture does it ever say she was conceived without sin. This is a doctrine of man's making. Nowhere does it say she remained a virgin. In fact the Bible, God's inerrant Word, tells us exactly the opposite. She had quite a large family. To make her remain a virgin is again a doctrine of man's making. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now we must go back to what was mentioned when we discussed The Magnificat or Song of Mary when she magnifies the Lord. As mentioned at that time, Mary would never deliberately transgress God's laws. She was a righteous woman, which we know because she was chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. She would not only not transgress God's laws, but she would never, ever, under any circumstances ask us to transgress God's laws in an act of veneration, devotion, or worship of her. She simply would not do it. To understand what it is that she would never, ever, ask us to do, we need to see what God's laws say.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Exodus 20:3-5 “Thou shalt have <i>no other gods before me.</i> Thou s<i>halt not make</i> unto thee <i>any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above</i>, (statues of Mary are a no, no) or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: <i>Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them</i>, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them <i>that hate me</i>” God <i><b>equates</b></i> making an image or likeness of someone or something else (such as a statue of Mary) and then bowing down or kneeling to it (as all good Catholics do to statues of Mary who reverence her) as <i><b>hating Him</b></i>. Did you understand that? Kneeling or bowing before a statue of Mary (or any other saint for that matter) to adore, pray, or light candles is exactly what is being described in this passage. God sees this as <i><b>hatred of Him. </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Worse, it says that he will visit the punishment of this iniquity upon the third and fourth generation of those that do it. Mary would never, never break this commandment. Nor would she ask any of us to damn ourselves in this way. Let us look at more Scriptures about this. </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Leviticus 26:1 “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>any</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>am</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> the LORD your God.”<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">To reiterate, Mary knew these verses, and the ones that will follow. The ones above tell us 1) God will not have anyone or anything other than Himself worshiped. He is a jealous God and will not tolerate us worshiping anything or one other than Him. 2) He does not want us making any images, of any person or thing to which we will kneel to or bow down or pray to. That makes them idols. Once more, to have a statue that you kneel to, pray to, or venerate in any way makes it an idol according to Scripture. Mary would never, ever ask anyone to break God's law in this way. She was a righteous woman.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">A few more verses about idols from the New Testament are relevant. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><tt class="western"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Acts 15:20 </span></span></tt><tt class="western"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“B</span></span></span></tt><span style="font-size:100%;">ut that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>idol</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">s, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>from</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> fornication, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>from</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> things strangled, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>from</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> blood.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Acts 21:25 “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>and</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>things</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> offered to </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>idol</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">s, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 Corinthians 10:14 “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>ido</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>latry</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>idol</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">s. Amen.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">To review, the Bible tells us that images or likeness of anything that is on earth or in heaven that is carved (or painted) and bowed down, kneeled down, or prayed to is an idol. Now back to verses about worshiping anything other than God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">Deuteronomy 8:19 “</span>And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and <b>worship</b> them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Deuteronomy 11:16 “<span style="font-size:100%;">Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">Deuteronomy 17:2-3,5 “If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>ped</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded ….Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. ” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Deuteronomy 30:17-18 “But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land ” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 Kings 11:33 “Because that they have forsaken me, and have </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>ped</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>that which is</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> right in mine eyes, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>to keep</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> my statutes and my judgments, as </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>did</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> David his father.” It should be noted here that Ashtoreth was the “Queen of Heaven.” That name has a long history which I covered in the articles about Mystery Babylon at the following sites. It has a direct connection to Mary having that name.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-1.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-1.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-2.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-2.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-3.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-3.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-4.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-4.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-5.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-5.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><a href="http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-6.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/05/babylonian-mysteries-pt-6.html</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">2 Chronicles 7:19-20 “But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them. Then will I pluck them up by the roots ...”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Psalms 81:9 “There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> any strange god.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Psalms 97:7 “Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> him, all </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>ye</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> gods.” The reference to gods here is the false gods that are actually demonic spirits or fallen angels posing as gods. They are told that they should worship God too, which they once did if they were fallen angels.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Isaiah 2:8 “Their land also is full of idols; they </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Isaiah 48:11 “For mine own sake, </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>even</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> for mine own sake, will I do </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>it</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">: for how should </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>my name</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> be polluted? and</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b> I will not </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>give my glory</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>unto another</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeremiah 1:16 “And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">ped the works of their own hands.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeremiah 13:10 “</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>This evil people, which refuse to hear my words</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeremiah 25:6 “And go not after other gods to serve them, and to </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeremiah 44:19 “And when we burned incense to the </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>queen of heaven</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?” Again the reference to the queen of heaven. If the reader has not read the posts on Babylon, it is really important to go back and do so.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Micah 5:13 “Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> the work of thine hands.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">These are some of the verses with which Mary would have been familiar and obeyed, as she was a very, very righteous woman, or she would not have been chosen to be the mother of our Lord. The following are verses that we have been given by God in the New Testament that continue this law. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>worship</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”<span style="font-family:monospace;"></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><tt class="western"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></tt><tt class="western"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></tt><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">John 4:23 </span><span style="font-size:100%;">“</span><span style="font-size:100%;">But the hour cometh, and now is, when the<i> </i><i><b>true</b></i><i> </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">worshipp</span></i><i>ers</i> shall <b>worship</b> the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to <b>worship</b> him.”</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Acts 19:27 “So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world <b>worshippeth</b>.” The temples of the ancient world that were built for Diana, Astarte, Ashtaroth, you name the goddess, were all renamed to be temples for the veneration of Mary or other female “saints.” Same temples, same pagan carvings on the walls, same candlesticks, etc. Just a different name applied to the entrance. Should Christians be doing this in light of all the Scriptures that have just been quoted?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>worshipped</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i> and served the creature</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (created being) </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>more than the Creator, </i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">who is blessed for ever. Amen. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Colossians 2:18 “</span>Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and <b>worshipping</b> of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,” The voluntary worshiping and humbling of oneself to a heavenly person makes you lose your reward of salvation.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Clearly God has a problem with us worshiping anything or anyone other than Him.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">So now, if you are still with me at this point, I can hear the constant muttering, “but we don't WORSHIP her, we only venerate her, give her devotions, and pray to her so it is all right.” I know this because, as I said at the beginning, I do have a lot of Catholic family, and I do talk to them. This is not the first time I have heard this response. My reply is - really? You do not think you worship her? Shall we look at some definitions to see if that is true or not?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let us start with the definition of veneration as that seems to be the least close in proximity to worship. The following definitions come from multiple sources and may be repetitious at times.</span></p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to hold in deep respect; revere</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to honor in recognition of qualities of holiness, excellence, wisdom, etc.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">profound reverence, respect or awe</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference</span></p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">So far we seem to be okay. It is perfectly all right to hold Mary in respect as a woman of excellence and holiness. She deserves that. Now what are some of the other definitions.</span></p> <ol start="5"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">regard with feelings of respect and reverence, consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Fear: a feeling of profound respect for someone or something.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Idolatry: religious zeal</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">religious zeal, idolatry, or devotion.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">To honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion. </span> </p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now we are not so quite so good. Hallowed means sacred. Mary was a righteous woman, but sacred? Exalt? Should she be exalted above other people? Are we not told to treat people all alike and not regard some as more important than others? James 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” Fear? Why should we fear Mary? She has no power over us. Oh dear, idolatry? To venerate can mean to make someone an idol, in fact idolatry is coupled in both definitions with religious zeal and devotion. Both which seem to accompany the veneration of Mary. And the last one? Not good at all. To honor with a ritual act of devotion? Now we have truly defined how people treat Mary. They do perform ritual acts of devotion to her. So venerating Mary can qualify as an act of devotion. Now to say that someone only venerates Mary does not sound quite Biblically approved. But you say, “Devotion is not the same as worship, so it is all right.” Okay, let's look at the definition of devotion.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">The following are the multiple definitions of devotion that can be found.</p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">An act of religious observance or prayer</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Strong attachment to or affection for a cause, person, etc. marked by dedicated loyalty</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">profound dedication. Consecration</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">earnest attachment to a cause, person</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">the act of devoting; consecration.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment, love, or affection, zeal; especially feelings expressed by acts of worship</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">devoutness</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">acts of devotedness or devoutness, manifestation of strong attachment</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">acts of worship, prayer</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">an act of prayer or private worship</p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">There is no problem with strong affection for a person marked by loyalty, however usually it is for people who are still alive and can benefit from this devotion. Mary cannot. She is in heaven. We do run into problems though with words like “consecrate” which means “give entirely over to a specific person, activity, or cause; vow: dedicate to a deity by a vow or render holy by means of religious rites.” We should not be giving ourselves entirely over to anyone other than God when speaking of our spiritual life. We should not be making vows to anyone but God in our spiritual life. We cannot render Mary holy by any religious rite that we do, anymore than we can make each other holy by a religious rite. The only thing that makes us holy is 1) being cleansed by the blood of Christ, and 2) living a life that is obedient and consecrated to the Lord (not Mary). Finally we see that devotion is marked by acts of worship which include prayer. So devotion manifests itself through acts of worship, one which is prayer (and others which are rites).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">But you argue, “prayer is not an act of worship.” So let us look at the definition of prayer.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Prayer is defined as the following:</p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">the act of communicating with a deity.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">Reverent petition to a deity</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">a fixed text used in praying</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional connection to some greater power in the universe through deliberate intentional practice. (Wow that was a mouthful)</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private.</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">A practice of communicating with one's God</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">a reverent petition made to God, a god, or another object of <b>worship</b></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the act of communion with God, a god, or another object of </span><b>worship, </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">such as in </span><b>devotion, confession, praise, or thankgiving.</b></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">A specially worded form used to address God, a god, or another object of <b>worship</b></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, especially in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">any other form of spiritual communion with a deity</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">the act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God, </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to a Supreme Being</p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT">According to the definitions of prayer, it is a form of communication to God , a god or deity, or another object of <b>worship</b>, in an act of <b>worship </b>that allows the practitioner to offer praise, thanksgiving, petitions, adoration, confession, and contrition. It is clear that prayer is a form of <b>worship</b>. To pray to someone is to offer them <b>worship</b> in the form of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, contrition, etc.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let us get back to idolatry for a moment. The definition of idolatry is the following:</span></p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The worship of images that are not God.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">The worship of any cult image, idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. It is considered a major sin in the Abrahamic religions.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Blindly or excessively devoted or adoring.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The worship of images supposed to represent spirits, gods, or etc.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">an idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. The most prevalent form of idolatry in Bible times was the worship of images that were thought to embody the various pagan deities. </span> </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Blind or excessive devotion to something.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Great devotion or reverence to something other than God.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excessively</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">venerate as an idol</p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">So we see that idolatry, which is strictly forbidden by God is veneration or worship of images that are not God, excessive devotion to something other than God, love unquestioningly and uncritically (this is important later on), or anything that replaces God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let us finish this up with a look at the definition of the word “worship.”</span></p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">an act of religious devotion</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">a feeling of profound love and admiration</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the devotion accorded to a deity or to a sacred object; the religious ceremonies that express this devotion; </span> </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the ardent love of a person</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to honor and adore, especially as a deity</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to participate in religious ceremonies</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">adore, regard with deep or rapturous love</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the paying of religious reverence, as in prayer, praise</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">ardent devotion, adoration</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to honor and love as a deity</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to participate in religious rites of worship</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to perform an act of worship (such as prayer, rites, etc.)</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to show profound religious devotion and respect to</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">adore or venerate (here is that word that seemed so innocuous at first)</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to be devoted to and full of admiration for </span> </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to have or express feelings of profound adoration</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">religious adoration or devotion</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">the formal expression of religious adoration, rites, prayers, etc.</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">admiring love or devotional</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">venerate – regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">veneration – idolatry, religious zeal </span> </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">to honor with a ritual act of devotion </span> </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">show devotion as to a deity</span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">attending religious services</span></p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT">I think if someone does venerate Mary and they are honest with themselves after all these definitions and explanations, they have to admit that they do <i><b>worship </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mary. And God has clearly said that He will not tolerate anyone worshiping anyone or anything other than Himself (and His Son who is part of the Trinity and therefore God also). Mary would never ask people to worship her. She knows that is a sin that is punishable to the third and fourth generation. We have seen that prayer, veneration, acts of devotion, contrition, etc. are all forms of worship. As much as you might want to deny it, the Scriptures are clear, and the definitions confirm it. Mariolotry is a sin. How much do you love God? How much do you want to live in truth? How much do you want to get to heaven? How much is Mary worth to you?</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now we come to other doctrines. 1) That she is a mediatrix or co-mediator. By what right? We are told in 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Mary did not die for our sins. Mary cannot grant us forgiveness of sins. Mary cannot even intervene on our behalf. Remember Yeshua's rebukes? She does not tell Yeshua what to do. She is not the mother of God the Father. She was the very human mother of the incarnate Son of God and was a sinner just as the rest of us are. She needed salvation just as we all do. Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” There is </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>none</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> righteous. That means Mary too. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” None of these verses say, “except Mary.” 2) that she is a redeemer. John 3:16-17 “</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> If all the verses about salvation were to be quoted, not in a single one would anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ be mentioned as being the redeemer. Mary is not a redeemer. She is not even a co-redeemer. She cannot get you into heaven through a back door when Christ would say you cannot come. She is not our escort to heaven. These are man-made traditions and beliefs, not things that were taught by God through the apostles. Paul addresses this fact 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.” To make Mary a co-redeemer or co-mediator or anything else other that simply the human mother of Christ is to accept another gospel. 3) Mary has some authority over Yeshua. We need only look at the three rebukes that she receives in Scripture to see that every time she tried to exercise spiritual authority over Him, He put her in her place and let her know that she was being presumptuous and prideful instead of humbling herself to His spiritual authority. (See my article on women's submissiveness on this blog). She was a righteous woman, but everybody has their moments. And being His mother, she thought that entitled her to certain privileges. He taught her that it did not, and He taught us that it did not entitle her to those privileges. He knew the future and knew what people were going to do regarding her. He had to have the example set forth in Scripture that she did not have this authority so that we could refer to it and not be deceived. To review, the three times she received a rebuke was 1) at the temple when He was twelve and He basically told her that Joseph was not His father, but that God was and He needed to be about His true Father's business. 2) when Mary asked Him to take care of the wine problem and He told her that He was not going to do her bidding, as she was not the boss of Him, as they colloquially say around here. Even though He did do it after, it was not because she asked Him to, but that the Father must have made it clear that it was, as Yeshua had said that His time was not yet come. So the Father had to have told Him that it had. Possibly the timing and the request was such that again, an example of rebuking Mary was put in the Bible for our benefit. 3) the time when she and Yeshua's brothers came and interrupted His work, wanting to talk to Him for some reason. His answer was a rebuke that they really should not be bothering Him when He was about His father's business. They should catch Him at a better time. In none of these instances does she argue back to the rebuke that He is being disrespectful. She takes it. Three rebukes. Is there a special meaning in the fact that she receives three rebukes in Scripture? I don't honestly know. It is enough though to prove that she is not the boss of Christ. 4) Can we pray to Mary for intervention? Yeshua taught us how to pray, and it did not begin with “Our Mother which art in heaven.” I believe we need not go any further with that argument.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now to the history. When and why exactly did Mary come to be important, for she was not thought to be important for some time after Yeshua was resurrected. From what I have been able to ascertain, devotion to Mary goes back to the 2nd century and predates the emergence of a specific Marian liturgical system in the 5th century, following the First Council of Ephesus in 431. The Council itself was held at a church in Ephesus which had been dedicated to Mary about a hundred years before. In Egypt the veneration of Mary had started in the 3rd century and the term Theotokos was used by Origen, the Alexandrian Father of the Church. (</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> ed. note, Origen was a heretic see note * below)</span></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. The earliest known prayer is from the 3</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rd</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> century. By the 5</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> century churches were being dedicated to Mary. As already covered, many Catholics honestly believe that they do not </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">worship</span></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Mary, so their devotion to her is acceptable. It is merely veneration and devotion, not worship, not idolatry. They merely pray to her and adore her, and that they do not exalt her to equality with God. It has already been shown that Mariolotry</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b> is</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> worship and </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><b>is</b></i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> a sin, so we do not need to revisit that. To show that there is approved worship by the Church, we can look to the Seven Sorrows of Mary as an example. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Seven Sorrows of Mary seems to be a popular devotion of the Roman Catholic Church. There is a prayer which consists of meditations on her Seven Sorrows. There is a corresponding devotion to her Seven Joys. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Origen taught the following doctrines, which classifies him as a heretic. He was making the Son inferior to the Father. This teaching was a precursor of Arianism, a 4th-century heresy that denied that the Father and the Son were of the same substance. He spiritualized away the resurrection of the body. He denied hell, speculated about pre-existent souls and world cycles, and turned the history of the Bible into myth by using allegorical interpretation, creating a type of Gnostic Christianity. Gnosticism was a heretical movement that held that matter was evil and the spirit good.</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"> <span style="font-size:100%;">Now we come to the appearances of the spirit who calls itself Mary. Before we actually look at these appearances, we need to see what Scripture tells us to do when confronted with an spiritual apparition, no matter who it says it is.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved, believe not every </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>spirit</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">, but try the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>spirit</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Spirit</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> of God: Every </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>spirit</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>spirit</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that </span></span><i><b>spirit</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The first question that must be asked of all of the appearances of the so-called Virgin Mary is this. Has anyone ever put her to the test and asked these questions? The emphatic answer is “NO!” There is never any question that she is anyone other than whom she says she is. That is the first huge mistake. Had the questions ever been put to her, people might be quite surprised at the answer. It does not matter that she says she is the mother of Christ, or that He is her Son. Satan can quote Scripture better than anyone, and can say anything he wants in the way of twisting the truth, and you have to be really smart and well-versed in your Scriptures to catch him. The people being appeared to are usually children, who have no discernment about all this. Of course Satan is going to go where deception is easy. Had the priests and adults known their Scriptures, they could have prepared the children to respond to her in the appropriate manner at second and consequent sightings, but they did not. Everyone just assumed it was Mary and that the appearance was real. By now, we should suspect that these appearances are not, for we are told that Satan appears as an angel of light, with all lying signs and wonders. 2 Corinthians 11:14 “</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>angel of light</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 “</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” We are told that there will be deception by Satan who transforms himself into an angel of light and he works with lying signs and wonders. Is this not exactly what these appearances have been doing? What about the sun dancing in the sky, which supposedly has happened at Fatima and Knock, Ireland, just to name two places. I do not know if it has happened elsewhere. That “miracle” seems a little similar to the miracle of the false prophet in Revelation 13:13 “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” Satan is capable of great wonders, and so are his demons. We should not immediately assume that a spirit is good simply because it does a miracle. Even if that miracle seems to be a good one. Satan will, for the purposes of deception, do “good” miracles if it leads people away from Christ. He does not care if someone is healed if, in the end, he gets their soul. He will use any method that works. So having said all that, let us now look to some of these appearances.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Our </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lady</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of Guadolupe</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The account published in the 1640s tells how on December 9, 1531, a peasant named Juan Diego saw a vision of a young girl of fifteen or sixteen surrounded by light on the slopes of the Hill of Tepeyac. The young woman asked for a church to be built at that site in her honor, and from what she was saying, Diego assumed she was the Virgin Mary. After telling his tale, the archbishop sent him back with the instructions to ask the young woman for a miracle to prove her claim. She told Diego to gather some flowers, which would have been under normal circumstances impossible, due to the fact that it was winter. He found lots of flowers and took them back to the archbishop in a cloak. When the cloak was opened an imprint of the young woman was on the fabric. Following this, a temple to the mother-goddess was destroyed and a temple built for this new virgin, assumed to be Mary the mother of Christ. The archbishop preached a sermon promoting devotion to the young woman. His stand was answered back by Francisco de Bustamante, head of the colony's Franciscans who gave a sermon expressing his concern that the archbishop was promoting superstition. He said, “The devotion that has been growing in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady, called of Guadalupe, in this city is greatly harmful for the natives, because it makes them believe that the image ….is in any way miraculous.” There are now eight buildings throughout Mexico, America, and the Philippines that have been built purely for the devotion of this Lady of Guadolupe.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let us examine this account. First, a young woman of fifteen or sixteen appeared. While I am not necessarily of the opinion that if we die in old age, we are forced to look like that throughout eternity, I do not believe that Mary has been reduced back to a fifteen or sixteen year old. In fact, in her other appearances, I believe she appears to be twice that age. Why would she keep changing ages? While that is merely observation on my part, I think it begs to be questioned. The next problem is Diego's reaction. It says he “assumes” that she is Mary from things that she says. Apparently she did not identify herself as such, but let him make the assumption. In other words, led him along to make an erroneous assumption that she wanted him to come to. His reaction should have been to ask the questions that we are told to ask of spirits. Instead he comes to the erroneous conclusion that she is Mary. Then she asks something that clearly is unscriptural. She asks that a church be built to honor her. While Diego might not have been grounded enough in the Word of God to know how terribly wrong and sinful this was, the archbishop has no such excuse. He should have sent Diego back to test her, and refused the request, which is so obviously a sin. Instead the archbishop asks for a miracle, the absolutely wrong thing to do, and the wrong way to test a spirit. They are perfectly capable of performing miracles and are more than happy to oblige to lead people astray. She happily complies, as she knows she has them under her charms and can get them to do what she wants. The only one with sense is de Bustamante who recognizes that this is superstition, which comes from the devil and is harmful. Testing this appearance against Scripture and common sense, I think that it can be seen that this was most certainly not Mary. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">In this account Catherine Laboure says that on the night of July 18, 1830 she was awoken when a child's voice called her to the chapel in Paris where she heard the voice of what she assumes to be Mary say to her, “God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary.” On November 27 of that year the apparition returned. Her appearance was described as follows: “she displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a glove, wearing many reings of different colors, most of which shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words (I will simply put the English translation) O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The frame rotated showing a circle of twelve stars, the letter M surmounted by a cross, and the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” crowned with thorns with the “Immaculate Heart of Mary” pierced with a sword. This apparition tells Catherine that this image should be put on medallions for people to wear and that they will gain graces as a result.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Again, there was no testing of this spirit, and again from the accounts it seems that the person simply assumes that it is Mary. This Mary charges Catherine with the task of having the image she sees, imprinted on medallions which people are now supposed to wear for the purpose of gaining graces from her. She is also told that she will be contradicted in this request. At no time is this spirit tested. Again, the request is in violation of God's clear laws, and Catherine is even told to expect to be opposed on this. Of course Satan knows that anyone who knows the Word of God would oppose this clear violation of God's commands. Again, he preys on the ignorance of the person, and counts on their being overwhelmed by being chosen to receive this vision. The sin really lies more with the clergy who permit this and do not point out Scripturally why it is wrong, and go and test the spirit.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lady of Lourdes</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">On February 11, 1858 a small girl appears to Bernadette Soubirous and her sisters, Toinette, and Jeanne Abadie in the Grotto of Massabielle. At first the girls are not believed. They return to the Grotto with holy water as a test that the spirit is not evil. When thrown at the spirit, it does nothing. Bernadette goes into a state of ecstasy or trance. She is told by the apparition to return to the Grotto over the next two weeks. The spirit promises her happiness not in this world, but in the next. The authorities take an interest and forbid Bernadette to ever go to the Grotto again. She goes anyhow and the spirit asks for prayer and penitence for the conversion of sinners. Bernadette is asked to dig in the ground and drink the water from the spring that she finds. The spring becomes a stream and goes from muddy to clean. The water is given to medical patients and miracles begin to be reported. Some miracles are proven to be hoaxes. The authorities and Church become concerned and the Grotto is fenced off with penalties for trespassing. Lourdes becomes a national issue resulting in the involvement of Emperor Napoleon III, who orders the grotto reopened. The Church stays out of the controversy. Bernadette visits the Grotto under the cover of dark and is told that the apparition is the “Immaculate Conception.” Bernadette is again in a trance and is not hurt when her hands are held over a burning candle. On November 17, 1858 the Church launches an investigation. On January 18, 1860 the local bishop declares that the Virgin Mary did appear. All recent Popes have visited this shrine. </span> </p> <p>This time a small girl appears to a young teenager. Whether this apparition continues to appear as a small girl or not, I do not know, but the paintings show the spirit as a lady, not a small girl. So again, why the appearances as a young girl? Next, the spirit does not identify itself for quite a while and when it does, it calls itself the immaculate conception. As we know from Scripture that all are born in sin except our Lord, this is a blatant lie. Mary was not immaculately conceived without sin. This is not Scriptural and this is not Mary. Next, the test is not the questions that God has told us to ask, but the throwing of “holy water.” Nowhere in the Bible is holy water ever mentioned as such, much less conceived of as a test for evil spirits. The only “holy” water that existed at all was the water of purification in the Old Testament, but that was purified by the red heifer's ashes, which no longer exist. Therefore there can be no “holy water” until a red heifer again is sacrificed and burned to get the ashes. The next thing that is of concern is Bernadette's trances. Trances are an occultic practice, not a Christian one. It is during trances that evil or demonic spirits can enter into an individual. The spirit asks for prayers and penitence, something to which nobody is entitled except our Lord. It is an act of worship and nobody but God is entitled to worship. Not only that, she promises conversion of sinners for this worship. God is the only one who can convert a sinner. Again, there is the report of miracles, but some are hoaxes. Neither Christ nor His apostles were ever guilty of hoax miracles. This is not a sign of God. This is not Mary, this is an evil spirit impersonating Mary, just as all the others have been so far. Everything that they ask is in direct violation of God's commands. Mary would never do such a thing. Satan however does.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lady of Pont-main</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">During a war that was being waged near Pont-main on January 17, 1871 the Barbadette family's son Eugene looked into the evening sky and saw a lady appear above the roof of a neighbor. As the townspeople gathered amidst the commotion, the children could see the apparition, but the adults could not. The children see a banner that has a message that seems to not make sense in its entirety. Then a cross appears in her hands and the figure of the crucified Christ appears. Late that night the invasion is stopped and the armistice is signed. On the same evening of the lady's appearance, the Prussian troops stop their advance and the general is reported to have said “We cannot go farther. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible Madonna barring the way.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">As always, there is no test of the spirit, but an acceptance without question, and without identification by the apparition that she is Mary. The closest that these apparitions come is to talk about their Son or in this case to show a crucified Christ. Well, Christ is no longer on a cross, nor does He appear that way. One only need read the Bible (the gospels for His resurrected appearance, and Revelation for His present heavenly and present appearance) to know that Christ does not appear like that. Again, it is to children that this spirit appears. The innocents who do not know what to do or think, but only to believe. The adults, who should know what to do to test this spirit do not, including the sisters (nuns) on the scene. The fact that the general identified this apparition as the “Madonna” (again one should see the articles on Babylon that posted above to see where this term “Madonna” originated), is not any kind of verification. By this time, with the various appearances, people have started to associate a certain look with Mary. Usually blue and white robes, roses, etc. It is always an assumption. The spirit so far has been very careful not to come out and say that she is the mother of Jesus Christ, the incarnated Son of the Living God. She always makes obscure references that imply who she is, but she never really states it. Why is that do you think? Maybe because she is not allowed by God to go that far in her deception. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lady of Pellevoisin</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">In 1876 Estelle Faguette, from Pellevoisin lay dying at the age of 33. After having been told by the doctor she only had a short time to live, she had a visitation by an apparition. This spirit appeared fifteen times to her over the course of time. The first few times her appearance was accompanied by a demon. The spirit tells Estelle that she is the mistress of her son and that he loves her so very much that he will touch even the most hardened hearts to turn to her. She says that she has come to save sinners and that her son will let Estelle live to make her glory known. She shows Estelle her sins and “tells her off severely” (Estelle's words). At a subsequent appearance she tells Estelle that she (Estelle) has set her sins right by self-denial. She tells Estelle that she “holds sway” with her son. She showed Estelle a white scapular with a picture of the sacred heart on it and told her that it should be used in reparation to her son. She also tells Estelle that wherever she goes she should proclaim Mary's glory and not pay any attention to what people say about Estelle doing this. At another vision she tells Estelle that her son can refuse her (Mary) nothing, because he loves her so much. At one visit she tells Estelle that she did not appear because Estelle needed to perform an act of submission and obedience. At one point the spirit tells her that she loves the devotion that the scapular is bringing her. She says that she will pour grace out on those who wear it in devotion to her. These appearances have never been spoken by the Church either for or against it.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">The first few visits are<i><b> accompanied by a demon</b></i>. Wow, what a give away! And nobody questioned this? There are no questions asked of this spirit to test it. Again, if the accounts that are published are accurate, this spirit never really claims to be Mary, but implies it through talking about “her son.” She lets people assume it and then goes from there. This spirit is asking for worship (major sin) by telling Estelle to make her glory known, to make scapulars for people to wear in devotion for her, and tells Estelle she is withholding visits because Estelle needs to perform more acts of obedience and submission to her. Really? Where are we ever told in the Bible to be submissive and obedient to Mary? We are to be obedient to God. Then the spirit claims that her son (whom she implies is Jesus Christ) does whatever she tells him and wants, because he can refuse her nothing, because he loves her so. Really? He had no problem with that when He was here on earth. He rebuked her three times that we know of, and that is only the rebukes that were recorded for our benefit. Why would he have any trouble rebuking her now, especially when she is totally usurping His authority and claiming worship for herself, in clear violation of God's commands. Obviously this is all lies. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Holy Mother of Geitrzwald, Poland</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">In Gietrzwald, Poland on June 27, 1877, coming home from church with her mother, a girl, Justyna, sees a woman in the boughs of a tree. A child (baby Jesus) comes down from heaven to the woman and they both ascend to heaven. The next day, Justyna and her friend Barbara see in the trees a woman on a throne with a baby on her lap, who is holding a ball with a cross on the top of it. They are surrounded by angels. The angels crown the woman. On the third appearance, Justyna asks what the “holy mother” wants and is told to pray the rosary every day. At the next visit the apparition says that she is the Most Holy Virgin Mary Immaculately Conceived. She is asked if the people who come will be healed, and she says that they will after, but they have to pray the rosary. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">As usual, there are no tests applied to verify this spirit. The first problem we see here is apparition that is supposed to be baby Jesus. I hate to disappoint believers in this, but Jesus is no longer a baby. Read your Bible. Jesus is described quite differently both in the gospels after his resurrection, and in Revelation he is described even more differently, and more frighteningly for those who do not love Him. He is no child, and He does not, nor will He ever appear as one. This is a lie concocted by Satan to take worship away from Yeshua and give it to the spirit who calls herself Mary. The angels crown her? Exactly what is that supposed to indicate, that she is queen of heaven? That term is (if you have read the articles on Babylon) an occultic term for the pagan woman in the mother/son spirit combination who is worshiped in pagan religions. She always has a baby on her lap too. Her name is sometimes Astarte, sometimes Isis, etc. She goes by many names, and she always looks like the visions of Mary. Mary was not immaculately conceived. Scripture is very clear on this. She is lying.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Lady of Knock</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">On August 21, 1879, two women from Knock, Ireland were passing the church and saw against the back wall a woman, two men whom they believed to be St. Joseph, St. John, an altar with a lamb and cross, and several angels flying around. Everyone <i>understood</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> her to be the virgin Mary, (and in this account she is called the Queen of Angels). Other villagers saw them too. Some healings are associated with the location. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Again, people </span><i>understood</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> her to be Mary. She did not say she was, and apparently the others were also </span><i>understood</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> to be these people based on various artists versions of what people thought they should look like. There was no testing of these spirits as there never are. And Mary is not the queen of angels. Angels have no queen. Where this unscriptural belief comes from I have no idea. It certainly is not found in the Bible.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our Lady of Fatima</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">On May 1, 1917, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto were near their home in Fatima, Portugal. Lucia saw a woman who she described as being brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light (as pictured in paintings). She also appeared again. The woman told the children to do penance and acts of reparation and make sacrifices to save sinners. The children performed acts of mortification of the flesh. They were also asked to pray the rosary every day saying that it was the key to personal and world peace. The woman also gave the children three secrets. Thousands of people went to the area due to reports of miracles. The children were jailed for essentially disturbing the peace. They were interrogated, trying to get them to reveal the three secrets. The apparition promised a miracle for the last of her appearances. It became known as the “Miracle of the Sun.” A crowd of approximately 70.000 gathered to see. It had been raining, but ceased and the sun was clouded over. Lucia said people should look at the sun. Witnesses said the sun appeared to change colors and rotate like a wheel. The first secret was about a vision of Hell. The second secret was on how to save souls from Hell, convert the world to Roman Catholicism, and bring about world peace. God would do this by establishing world devotion to Mary. She also asks for Russia to be consecrated to her, and if done Russia would be converted and an era of peace would follow. Pope Pius XII did consecrate Russia to her as testified in a letter he wrote on July 7, 1952. “In 1952 the Pope reminded the Russian people and the Stalinist regime that the Virgin Mary was always victorious. 'The gates of hell will never prevail, where she offers her protection. She is the good mother, the mother of all, and it has never been heard, that those who seek her protection, will not receive it. With this certainty, the Pope dedicates all people of Russia to the immaculate heart of the Virgin. She will help! Error and atheism will be overcome with her assistance and divine grace.'” “Lucia said that the Lady emphasized Acts of Reparation and prayers to console Jesus for the sins of the world. Lucia said Mary's words were 'When you make some sacrifice, say 'O Jesus, it is for your love, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary'.'” [quotes from Wickipedia]</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">As usual, no testing of the spirit. Again the <span style="font-style: normal;">spirit does not have to identify itself as by now everybody thinks Mary looks like this, so assumes it is Mary. </span>This vision once again appears as the pictures and drawings of Mary and all the pagan mother goddesses that have been drawn, carved, or painted over the millennia. The children are told to do things </span><span style="font-size:100%;">that are abominable, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">to convert sinners. That is not how people are saved. It is through faith in Jesus Christ, and our bringing the gospel to them, not self mortification of our bodies. Praying the rosary will not bring world peace. Peace will never come until Christ returns. This miracle of the sun (again) is something that does not prove anything except that the spirit has powers. She says that God will bring world peace if everyone devotes themselves to Mary? Has anybody been reading their Bible at all? Nowhere would you ever read in the Bible anything as sacrilegious as this statement. This is vile. This is saying that God wants the world, the entire world to worship Mary. God has clearly stated that He will tolerate nobody but Himself (and His Son who is part of the Trinity) being worshiped. This is a blatant satanic lie by this spirit. If people knew their Scripture, they would immediately know that something is terribly wrong with this spirit. It is most certainly not from God. Another proof is the promise of world peace and conversion of Russia if it is consecrated to Mary. Has that happened? No. Another lie. Why do people not consider that a lie like this is a test that shows it is not from God. God does not lie. And reparation is to be made for sins against Mary? Not against God, but against Mary? When we sin, it is against God, not against Mary. We do not make reparations for sins against her, first because our sins are against God, and second, it is worship of Mary to do so, which is a sin in itself.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lady at Beauraing</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">On November 19, 1932 a spirit appeared to five children in Beauraing. When she appeared the children were thrown to their knees by the spirit. The spirit appeared more than 30 times over time. The children were not believed and doctors had tested the children who were in trances. The spirit tells them that she wants a church built for people to make pilgrimages. She calls herself the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God and tells them she will convert sinners and that they should offer themselves up to her. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Need I repeat that there is no testing of the spirit at this point, as these spirits are never tested as we are instructed to do by God. The children are put in a state of trance, which is an occult practice, and as such is considered an abomination by God. She wants a church built for her (no surprise) and elevates herself with the usual titles. She again promises to convert sinners, something of which she is completely incapable as only the Holy Spirit can do that. And people are supposed to offer themselves up to her, not God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lady of Banneax</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">In 1933 a spirit chose one of eleven children in the town of Banneax to be her mouthpiece. Mariet Beco was looking out in the garden and sees a young woman who is all light and very beautiful. Her immediate response (as usual) is to assume it is Mary. The spirit wants Mariet to come to her, but her mother suspects it is a witch and locks Mariet in. Mariet goes to the window and asks the spirit what it wants. The spirit tells her that she wants a chapel built. (Why am I not surprised) </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">Reader, are you beginning to get the pattern yet? No testing. No identification, but assumption as to the identity, which the spirit plays along with. What is wanted? This time a chapel. It is usually a church and devotion of some kind. In other words, worship. Taking worship<i> away from God</i>. This is her goal. Do you see the truth yet?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">There have been many, many more visions of Mary in numerous venues. Some places that have seen this spirit are Medjugorje, Egypt, Chicago, Vietnam, Rwanda, and Lebanon.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;">If one is truly honest, and truly loves God and His Word, it is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that these apparitions are not Mary the human mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an evil spirit impersonating Mary, defaming her name and honor as a righteous woman who would never, ever ask the blasphemous things that this spirit is asking. It is asking people to worship it above God. It has set itself up as being greater than God and one who tells God what to do. This is exactly what Satan tried to do. This is exactly who is behind these visitations. Satan has always wanted to be higher than God and have people worship him. Most people would never deliberately worship him as satanists do, but if he can trick them into worshiping him by some other way he will. He does not care who it is, as long as it is not God, and this spirit is taking worship away from God. She is telling the world that <i>she</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> will save sinners. She has no ability to do that. She is not God, she did not die for our sins, she is not Mary and she lies. How much proof is needed? I have no more to say, as there is nothing more to say if all of this has not convinced you. May God have mercy on your souls if you have read all this and still want to worship her.</span></span></p>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-68899467370686803112021-05-07T14:47:00.007-07:002021-05-07T15:00:12.571-07:00Dare To Be A Daniel<p>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">How far do we dare
bow to Baal? Is a little genuflecting okay with God? Just a little
to make our lives easier, so that we don’t get hassled? We can
convince ourselves that we are just obeying the government and that
therefore we are in obedience to God, right? Or as the chorus I grew
up singing says, should we dare to be a Daniel?
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Daniel was taken
captive into Babylon as a youth of probably 12-15 years old. He was
barely more than a child. How far might one anticipate a youth of
that age going to honor his values and beliefs, when taken captive by
a nation over which Baal reigned? How much was he willing to
compromise? Unlike thousands today, apparently this young teenager,
and a few others, weren’t willing. Even upon pain of death. We are
told several stories about Daniel and three others, who were not
willing to compromise their faith. They defied the government. When
first told to eat the meat and drink the wine sacrificed to idols,
Daniel and three others of the youths chosen out of Israel to be
trained for the courts, refused. What was the big deal? The rest of
the children of Israel that were chosen apparently did it. Okay, so
they weren’t supposed to do that according to the Law, but we know
from the New Testament that it really is of no real spiritual
consequence to do so, as long as you aren’t worshiping the god to
whom it is sacrificed or feel compromised in partaking of the food.
The consequences could have been great for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah when they refused, but God not only protected them,
because of their unwillingness to compromise and bow the knee even a
little to Baal, He made them flourish compared to their counterparts.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Then there was the
government mandate that everyone fall down on their knees, ostensibly
in worship to the golden idol, when the instruments were blown, or be
cast in the fiery furnace. No doubt like in any society, there were
some who did this because they believed in the king’s law, (no
matter how wrong it might be) and those who complied merely to avoid
getting into trouble. Shadrack, Meshach, and Abed-nego could have
just fallen on their knees in pretense and prayed to their own God.
Who would have known? It would just be outwardly complying with a government
mandate that they really didn’t believe, but it would keep them
from standing out and getting into trouble. Serious trouble. Would
just bowing the knee a little be such a bad thing? Especially given
the consequences? Would it have ruined their testimony of belief in
the God of Israel in front of a pagan society? There’s a question
to be pondered. The fact is that they refused and ended up in a
furnace that was so hot. that the men who threw them in perished from
the heat. (A job constantly having openings, I’m sure). The
pre-incarnate Christ met them in that furnace, and they came out of
the ordeal without even a hint of smelling of smoke.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Then there was the
situation when Daniel was set up by jealous peers, who had the king
sign a law that said nobody could petition any God or man for thirty
days. Of course the first thing Daniel did was defy the law and go
pray. Has God required any particular number of prayers daily, or
even that we pray daily? No. We are free to pray as often or as
little as we want. The spiritual consequences of that are on our own
heads, but God has not made a particular requirement to my knowledge.
So why would Daniel not just go along with the mandate? Why do it in
deliberate defiance of a mandate that didn’t actually challenge his
beliefs? Why not pray in a closet where nobody would know? He knew it
would be trouble when found out, and he was smart enough to know he
was being set up and would be found out. Why do it in front of an
open window where he could be seen? Why put himself in jeopardy when
all he had to do was wait out thirty days? Surely God wouldn’t
punish him for not praying that length of time would He? This refusal
to cooperate even a short time with a mandate that made him forgo his
communication with God had dire consequences. He was thrown in a
lion’s den. But again, God protected and honored Daniel, because he
was honoring Him. Daniel would not bow the knee to Baal even in
things which did not actually make him forsake his beliefs, but
rather were merely acts of evil to try to control him and ultimately
destroy his relationship with God. As such, it was not acceptable to
him to comply.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So why would Daniel
and these three other boys/men refuse to bow the knee, just a little,
to Baal to appease the powers that be. Why not let themselves be
controlled in this manner? Why not give Baal just a little
genuflecting to live in peace and comfort? Maybe Daniel realized
something that a lot of people do not. If you start compromising just
a little bit, you find yourself walking not on the road, but rather
the shoulder of the road. You are still following the road, but you
are not really on it. The next time you are asked to bend the knee a
little deeper, it isn’t that far to go, for you already have bowed
a little. You’ve already moved from the center of the road to the
shoulder. It seems like it is no worse than the first little bow,
because it isn’t any farther a distance than that first step. But
the difference is, while it is the same amount of distance as the
first time, this time it isn’t from the center of the road, it is
from the shoulder. Now you are in the ditch. The next time, you may
turn onto another road altogether, as a ditch will not cross an
intersection but follow the path of the intersecting road. Or you
find yourself out in the middle of a field. Now you aren’t on the
road, you aren’t near the road. You are lost. Every time we
convince ourselves that bowing the knee a little doesn’t hurt, we
find ourselves moving from the middle of the road to the edge and
beyond. This country (and also the world) has for a long time been compromising and bowing
the knee to Baal. Now it is so clear that it is unmistakable that
Baal is this country’s (and world's) god and is in charge. Are you daring to be a
Daniel? Or are you compromising? Do you see that a little compromise
only leads to further compromise, or are you convincing yourself that
what you are doing is for the common good and in obedience to the
higher power that God has allowed to be in charge? Are you seeking
out the truth, or just complying to make life easier? Have you
considered that like Daniel, God has allowed Baal to be over you, to
see if you will choose to be faithful or choose to not get thrown in
the fiery furnace or lion’s den? Who is in charge of your life?
Baal or God? I am daring to try to be a Daniel. As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dare to be a Daniel.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dare to stand alone.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dare to have a
purpose firm.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dare to make it
known.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><br />Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-82968220456774158172020-12-19T21:01:00.000-08:002020-12-19T21:01:43.835-08:00Is the Planetary Conjunction Really the Star of Bethlehem?<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">This December there
is going to be a conjunction of the planets that will create a very
bright “star” in the evening sky. It has been called the Star of
Bethlehem, as people want to believe that it was this phenomena that
was the star that led the Wisemen to the Christ child. They even date Christ's birth by the conjunction around that era. This is a nice
tradition, and many scholars are willing to stand behind this idea,
but is it true? Is there anything in Scripture that would point to
this? Let’s take a look and see.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The first question
is, what time of year was Christ born? Was it December 25? Does this conjunction at this time of year point to the year of Christ's birth? Or this date? Why do we
celebrate Christ’s birth on that day if it wasn’t then? To find
the answer to this question, we must go to the book of Luke.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The story is told of
Zacharias and Elizabeth. They were childless. While Zacharias was
carrying out his duties of priest in the temple an angel appeared to
him and informed him that he and Elizabeth would have a child. Luke
1:8-9,11, 13, 23-24 “And it came to pass, that while he executed
the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According
to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord…...And there appeared unto
him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of
incense…….But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for
thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John…..And it came to pass, that, as
soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed
to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth
conceived..”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now when one studies
the priesthood, one finds that there were twenty-four courses of
priests. (1 Chronicles 24). It seems historically that the custom was
that each course would take a week in the first half of the year, and
a week in the second half of the year to work. That is forty-eight weeks. During the week long spring
Feast of Unleavened Bread and the week long fall Feast of
Tabernacles, due to the great increase in sacrifices, all of the
priests would work.That would cover the fifty weeks of the Jewish year, which is several weeks shorter than a normal year. As the religious year began in Nissan, the
courses would begin with the beginning of the year, but as their calendar year moved in relation to the Gregorian calendar, the year would start anywhere from March to April. As Passover
begins on Nissan 14, the third week in the year, there would be a week when the courses would be
interrupted for all to work, then continue in order after that until
they started with the first course again. Six months later the
pattern would be repeated with the third week of the series of
courses again being the feast week.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Zacharias was said
to be in the course of Abia or Abijah. “There was in the days of
Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the
course of Abia:” We find from the Old Testament that Abijah’s
course was the eighth course of the year. 1 Chron. 24:10 “The
seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,” As the courses would
start with the year in the spring, and the third week of the year was
a feast week, the eighth course would be the ninth week of the year
and could be as early as the second week in May or as late as the
second week in June depending on the year. If it were the fall when
the angel appeared, it would have been six months later at either the
beginning of November to the beginning of December when he made his
appearance. So when Zacharias’ week was over, he would have gone
home and Elizabeth would have conceived (probably immediately)
anywhere from the third week in May to the third week in June or the
early part of November to the early part of December, depending on
which part of the year the angel appeared.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We know
that Elizabeth was in her sixth month when Mary became pregnant.
Luke 1:26-28, 31, 36 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin
espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and
the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said,
Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed
art thou among women…..And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS…..And,
behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her
old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called
barren.” So John the Baptist was six months older than Christ. That
means that if John was conceived in the spring between May and June,
then Christ was conceived sometime in early November to early December. And
vice-versa. If John was conceived in the fall, Christ was conceived
in the spring. That would put the due dates from February to March,
or the end of August to the end of September.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So
according to Scripture, Christ was not born in December, nor was he
conceived at Christmas. It would have been early December, if that
were the later fall conception time, and that is as close as it would
come to December 25. The one clue as to which season it might have
been has to do with the shepherds being in the field with their
flocks. When Christ was born, would they have been more likely to
have been in the field with their flocks during the winter from
February to March, or in the summer from August through September? I
will leave that for the reader to decide. It certainly wasn’t
December 25.</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now as
to the star itself, the idea that it was a conjunction of the planet
in the sky holds a problem with what we are told in Scripture.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Matt.
2:1-10 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to
Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When
Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for
thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of
Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee
shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod,
when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently
what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said,
Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found
him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When
they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they
saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where
the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy.”</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The
first thing is that it tells us that the wise men were not basing
their knowledge of Jesus on astrology or even astronomy, as most assume, but says that
they were basing it on the prophecies of Scripture. There is a
Scripture that foretells that a star will come that heralds the
Messiah. Numbers 24:17 “I shall see him, but not now: I shall
behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a
Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of
Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” They also knew that
the King would be born in Bethlehem according to the Scriptures. It
is assumed that these men were pagan magi, but many Jews had remained
in Babylon after the captivity, and it is quite possible these were
Jewish scholars from that area. At the very least, they were studying the Hebrew
Scriptures. These men came to worship Him. Would pagan magicians
worship the Jewish God? It is doubtful.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The
next thing has to do with the star itself. This star had just
suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It wasn’t that they were
following the process of planets coming to a conjunction as
astronomers or astrologers were. This star just suddenly appeared,
for Herod asked for the specific time that it appeared. The next part
of this is that which people have trouble wrapping their heads
around. It says that the star went before them, until it came and
stood over where the child was living. A star that is millions of
miles away in outer space does not move in such a way that we can
literally follow it. We can go in the general direction of north,
south, east, or west, but that is the extent that the stars can guide
our direction. It does not lead us to a town a few miles away, for
Bethlehem was only about six miles away from Jerusalem. Nor does a
star place itself directly above a single house, which this star did.
It pointed the Wisemen to the exact domicile where Jesus was and
hovered over it. This star was not a star in the sense that we think
of stars.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">In
Scripture when one studies the angels, we find there are several
places where angels are referred to as stars. Revelation being one of
them. We know that the angels appeared to the shepherds in the field,
so angels were very actively appearing at the time of the birth of
Christ. It is not far-fetched to believe that this was a special
angel who, in his glorified body of light (angels are known to be
bright at times, hence calling them stars), led the Wisemen on their
journey and stood over the place where Jesus lived. That this would
be impossible for a star out in the universe to do is just common
sense. A star or planetary conjunction does not stand over anything
on earth. It is simply way out there in space. Nothing in this
passage about the Wisemen indicates that this was an astronomical
event or an astrological event, but everything points to it being a
supernatural event discerned by the scholars of the Scriptures, who
were watching for the sign of the Messiah. Considering they were
Bible scholars, it is quite possible that they also understood the
prophecy in Daniel which pinpointed the very time Christ would be
born, and had been diligently watching for the sign of a special Star
coming out of Jacob or appearing over Israel, as the time had come
for the Messiah to be born. They would have then seen the angelic
manifestation as a star (which no doubt appeared at the time of
Christ’s birth) which then propelled them to go to Bethlehem to
seek the Christ child.
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So
while the idea of the planetary conjunction being the Star of
Bethlehem and appearing at this Christmas time seems like a fun or
even spiritual tradition, it really has nothing to do with the birth
of Christ. And Christmas is not the celebration of Christ’s birth.
It is in actuality a veneer of Christianity that was applied to the
pagan celebration of Sol Invictus around the time of Constantine.
Sorry if that offends people. It is merely the factual truth.
</p>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-21326321437965978902020-08-01T19:50:00.001-07:002020-08-01T20:11:55.731-07:00What Is Going On In the World In 2020?<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
The following are what I am hearing from a lot of people lately.
“What is going on?” “Why is this happening?” “This is
insane.” “This doesn’t make any sense.” “What is going to
happen next?” “Will it ever return to normal?” These seem to be
just a few of the things that people are saying as they struggle with
trying to understand how all of a sudden in a matter of days, the
entire world was turned upside down, and now several months later, it
doesn’t look like it will ever end. So the question is, what really
is happening, and will it ever end? The Bible can give us some
insight into what is presently transpiring in 2020.<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If the reader is not
familiar with the basic teaching of Bible prophecy with Babylon the
Whore riding the beast (aka antichrist) then what I am about to
present will probably not make a lot of sense, although I will try to
put it in a way that does, even for those unfamiliar with the
prophecies. For those familiar with the woman who rides the beast
with seven heads, we need to take a closer look at their
relationship. The passage I want to speak about is the vision that
Nebuchanezzar had that Daniel interpreted for him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Daniel 2:32-44
“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image,
whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form
thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast
and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs
of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till
that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon
his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then
was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken
to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer
threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was
found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great
mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will
tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thou, O king, art a
king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom,
power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men
dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he
given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou
art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom
inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall
bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong
as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all
things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces
and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of
potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but
there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou
sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet
were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly
strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with
miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but
they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with
clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Prophecy teachers
have always taught that the identities of these kingdoms were as
follows: Babylon is the head of gold. Medo-Persia is the chest and
arms of silver, Greece is the belly and thighs of brass, Rome is the
legs of iron, and in the end times, a confederacy of ten nations that
comes out of what was Rome are represented by the ten toes. I would
like to make a change in that theory. I agree with the first three
nations of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. And I do agree that the
legs are Rome. At one time I believed that the two legs represented
the division of Rome into the eastern and western empires of Rome,
but I have come to believe something different.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Based on Scripture
and history I want to put forth a new idea. In Revelation we are told
that the ten horns which rise to power with the beast destroy Babylon
on his behalf. That would seem odd, given that throughout history,
they have worked as a team. Since when have they not been on the same
side? I believe we can trace it back to sometime during the Roman
Empire. After Christ, there didn’t arise another empire to overtake
Rome the way all the previous empires had been conquered by the
empire that followed them. Babylon and the beast had always just gone
from empire to empire before that. Suddenly there was no empire ruled
by this couple. What had happened? It appears that Nero, who
persecuted the Christians was the sixth head of the beast of
Revelation (the others not mentioned in Daniel would have been Egypt
and Assyria) and after that, we do not hear about the beast for quite
some time, so we can only presume that he possibly was sent to the
bottomless pit where he stayed until the time for him to come out (as
is the case at the moment) presented itself. However we do have a
historical timeline for Babylon. During the early years of
Christianity, there was the worship of Diana in Ephesus. Diana was
just another name for Babylon, as was Ishtar, or Isis. She went by
many names. As Christianity grew, and with the new mandate that
Christianity would be the state religion by Constantine, Babylon
found her followers becoming fewer and now on the wrong side of the
law, so to speak. She took stock of this and seemed to have moved
herself into the state created Christian church by finding a new
persona that fit her role. The person of Mary, mother of Christ.
During this time there seemed to be no sign of the beast.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just as the pagan
worship of the various goddesses had presented themselves as a mother
with a child, because that is the story that has followed Babylon
worship throughout the ages, she found it easy to become the Madonna,
reducing Christ back to a child, instead of the full-grown
resurrected God-man who died for our sins. This is where Babylon made
herself at home for a while, having the priests of the church
continue with worship to her within the church. The head priest of
the Mysteries became the pope with the Dagon fish god headdress. The
vestal virgins became the nuns of the church. The priests of Babylon
who wore red robes became the cardinals of the church. The other gods
became the various saints of the church. The paraphernalia and
rituals of the Babylonian Mysteries, such as the rosary, making the
sign of the cross, infant baptism, celibacy by priests and nuns,
transubstantiation, and other things were incorporated into the Roman
Church. Mary became venerated and over time certain characteristics
were assigned to her that were not scriptural, such as perpetual
virginity, an immaculate conception, etc.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For whatever reason,
possibly because she did not want to share the worship with Christ,
Babylon apparently decided to take her headquarters and her
Babylonian mysteries out of the church. We know this because her
mystery headquarters were found elsewhere much later down the road.
She didn’t remove all the pagan things she had established there,
they still continue unabated to this day, and she still acts as Mary
on occasion, making appearances, and she has her “underground”
followers within the church, but still she apparently wanted to be
separate from Christ, so removed her mysteries to the “underground”
where they remained until discovered by the Knights Templar during
the Crusades. To make a long story short and skip over a lot of
history, her mysteries eventually ended up being fronted by
Freemasonry. It was this group that offered her a cover for her
religion. During this time, she was without a kingdom. The beast had
always provided the political empire in which she could run her
religion and control the masses and receive her worship, but without
the beast, she had no political empire with which to gain power and
take over the world. So in time, when a new country presented itself
without a history, the time was right for her to create an empire.
She established herself as the Lady Liberty of the United States of
America. Her statue (with the seven pointed crown, for the seven
heads of the beast) stands in New York Harbor. It also sits atop the
Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. which acts as her temple.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
During World War II,
the beast came out temporarily from where he had been, when he
possessed the person of Hitler. This was in fulfillment of Revelation
when the seventh king that the beast would possess came and only
remained a very short time. Hitler had the characteristics that the
previous six incarnations of the beast had possessed. He wanted world
domination, he ruled by terror, and he persecuted the Jews. That
there was a schism between the beast and Babylon became apparent when
the United States (Babylon) entered the war against the Third Reich
(the beast). And the beast (Hitler) persecuted and killed the
followers of Babylon (some orders of Freemasons).
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If we look back to
the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, we see that there are two
legs. There is a division within the partnership that had ruled these
empires down until Rome. They appear to split apart during the time
of Rome, and that appears to have been what happened. Within the
various places where Babylonian worship had settled (the Roman
Church, Freemasonry, the United States and other governments) there
had occurred a division among her followers. All of Babylonian
Mysteries are pagan witchcraft, but witchcraft takes on two different
mantles. There is black witchcraft, which overtly worships Satan,
believes that the more depraved the better, will abuse and kill
children, seeks to rule by terror and enslavement, uses “magic”
for evil and works overtly with demons and possession. It is called
“The Darkness.” White witchcraft on the other hand believes
itself to be “The Light”. It wants to rule through pleasuring all
the senses, (abortion is acceptable, but child abuse is not), being
one with nature and the universe, using “magic” for good,
bringing in a golden age of peace and prosperity. It wants to create
an Age of Aquarius, as it is known. The former is the kind of rule
that the beast likes. It’s followers have been trying to establish
a New World order, so that the antichrist could come back to rule the
world. Babylon on the other hand seems to want to present herself as
the beautiful lady who entices through sex, money, and the appetites.
She wants to rule through what I term “bread and circuses.”
Keeping the people happy through materialism, so that they would
worship her. The New Age, gnostic Christianity, eastern mysticism,
Wicca, and all religions of this nature are what she likes to use to
keep people under her control. Somewhere during her history since
Rome, a group within her followers decided they preferred the dark
side or black witchcraft and two factions developed and have been
vying for control since.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now if one looks
back to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar again, we see that there are
five toes on each foot. And those toes are a combination of clay with
iron. What is interesting is what is said about them. They do not
adhere to each other, just as clay does not mix with iron. But it
says that “they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men.”
The seed of men is men. All men are the seed of men, but if those who
mingle with them are not the seed of men, then what are they? I
believe the answer comes in the Olivet Discourse when Christ says
that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be again before He
returns. Two things in particular characterize that time period of
Noah. One was that the thoughts of everyone were wicked continually,
and the second was that the fallen angels, giants, and nephilim were
a part of the world at that time. The nephilim and giants were the
offspring of the fallen angels mating with human women. These strain
of hybrids came back after the Flood and were in the land when Israel
came out of Egypt. God had removed some of the giants and hybrids,
but Israel was told to rid the land of the rest of them. They did not
carry out that command to its conclusion, and some of the nephilim
escaped to other parts of the world. It is even possible that some
had migrated to other parts of the world before that, for there are
ancient writings and even writings and stories that are only hundreds
of years old that speak of giants and “gods.” These nephilim have
hidden themselves away for a long time, but it is becoming clear that
they are making their presence known. In fact, both factions of
witchcraft tell of how they are both involved with demons and what
they believe are aliens (but in fact are nephilim.) There may also be
fallen angels involved in this too, but the fact is, these beings are
the iron that mix with the clay or seed of men. (As to there being
five on each foot, I do not at this time know how to identify what
those might be. But it is not essential that I do so at the moment.)
It should not be surprising that black witchcraft is heavily involved
with demons and demon possession. That is where they get their
powers. Likewise white witchcraft leans on spirits, but their spirits
have convinced them that they are benevolent “light” creatures.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So having
established what these two factions are, now it is easier to explain
what is going on in the world. The Dark Side otherwise known as the
New World Order or Deep State has been taking over the world, and in
particular has been trying to conquer America. America almost fell to
it, but Babylon suddenly seemed to say, “Not my country, you
don’t,” and has decided to not only take back her country, but is
attempting to rid the entire world of the black witchcraft and
replace it with white witchcraft, so that she can establish a golden
age of peace and prosperity with her at the helm. It was the upset
victory of Donald Trump in 2016 that set off a war. Actually I
believe she started before that when she created Brexit and broke up
the EU. America was the last holdout of freedom in this world, and it
had to be brought down for the New World Order to bring in the
antichrist. The loss of the election was not expected and it set off
a firestorm.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The side of “Light”
or White Hats as they call themselves have been planning for quite
some time to bring down the NWO and rid the world of their grotesque
evil, especially the child trafficking and pedophilia, blood
drinking, etc. The time was right, and God agreed, for I believe
there have been several delays when the NWO has tried to take total
control and God has sidelined their plans. We are now seeing the
fulfilling of prophecy when Babylon will become the queen she so
desires to be, as described in Revelation 17. “How much she hath
glorified herself, and lived deliciously, …….for she saith in her
heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”
She has made the world rich by her wares, both importing every
luxurious thing and exporting all her filth. She is drunk on the
blood of the saints, having persecuted God’s people throughout
history. She is proud and arrogant and rich. And she must become this
again, to the fullest, so that this is who she is when she is finally
destroyed.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Deep State has
created a scenario to try to control the people through fear and
terror. I am not going to go into all the medical information about
Covid 19 that I have researched, but let’s just say it has a proven
recovery rate of 99.9% which is a very high rate of recovery. The
death rate has been manipulated to scare people by deliberating
creating situations so that the elderly and compromised would die,
and for the rest to manufacture false data to scare people. The mask
situation is merely a medically useless occult ritual (again this has
been scientifically researched as to the effectiveness of these
masks) that is being enacted to control the people by erasing
identities and individuality, promoting fear, creating suspicion of
our fellow man and antisocial behavior, and preparing them to accept
a new “normal” which is how one is programmed by the occult to
accept a new reality within the occult which will control and use
them. Groups are terrorizing and killing people and burning cites to
the ground and destroying people’s business and livelihoods. The
economy has been destroyed to make people desperate, churches have
been closed to erase God and Christ as much as possible (a lot of
people who go to church do not have a real relationship with Christ,
so it removes what little Christianity they have in their lives from
their lives) in the hopes that people will never go back. Schools are
closed to traumatize children who can no longer socialize, but now
live in fear. Trauma is the stock in trade for black witchcraft.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The White Hats are
seeking to rid the world of this, and behind the scenes, much is
going on. Child trafficking has been coming down, as one can see if
one follows the news (in places other than the controlled media).
Children are being rescued and people are being arrested for
pedophilia. Laws are being passed through executive orders. There is
much going on to try to reverse this evil that has been years in the
making, enslaving people. According to Bible prophecy, Babylon must
become a prosperous nation again, before she is destroyed by the
antichrist and his cronies later on, closer to the Lord’s return.
That requires that the White Hats win this battle, but as we can
already see, that doesn’t mean it will be a bloodless one. Cities
are burning, people have died of illness and have been killed by
domestic terrorists. Law and order are being dismantled in the last
death throes of the Deep State and they still have more plans to
destroy us. When one thing doesn’t work to kill the hope in people,
they bring on something new, to try to get back the control they once
had. It will no doubt get much worse in many ways before it gets
better, but “better” is a relative word. Satan is going to
deceive for a while with white witchcraft, but according to the Bible
this can only continue until the beast returns. He rules through
terror. If Satan can’t conquer with one lie, he will present
himself as an angel of light and use another. This is what we are
seeing happen. I cannot say how long this will go on (definitely
until after the elections), nor can I say how bad it will get
(probably very bad), but it will come to an end and the country will
recover and become more prosperous than ever. But it will be much
different. We will have a new kind of economy (cashless) and I
imagine people will be expected to embrace the New Age religion that
controls all this. However I believe that this “golden age” will
be short-lived, for I believe we are on the cusp of entering Daniel’s
70<sup>th</sup> week. And true Christians will be no better off under
Babylon than under the beast, for the new religion has no room for
the real Christ, only the “Christ consciousness”, the New Age
ascended master. Christianity, as those who are true Christians know
it, is a religion of the old age, which is has passed its time and
has no place in the new age of enlightenment according to the White
Hats. It must be left behind and people must “ascend” to the new
dimensional consciousness where they are one with the universe. If
you cannot “ascend” then you must be eliminated, so as to not
bring disharmony to the vibrational matrix that will constitute the
new world paradigm. It will be a “quantum” world.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have spent a lot
of time investigating the White Hats and what they are saying. They
throw around a whole lot of Christian terminology, such as separating
the wheat from the chaff, there will be a great awakening (their idea
of revival), and an ascension (their idea of a rapture), a Christ
consciousness (instead of Christ the person) and they are bringing in
the “kingdom of God” or “golden age" (their idea of a
millennium). They keep saying that what is happening is
Biblical. Well on the one hand, they are right, for it is prophecy
fulfilled, but that is not how they mean it. They interpret the
Scriptures in a whole new way, and reader, prepare yourselves
spiritually, for they are all saying that the Bible we have is not
the true Scriptures, or about the true teachings of Jesus, and does
not tell us who He truly was. They are talking of discoveries of
“older” manuscripts that teach something entirely different from
what the Bible we have teaches and how the Dark Side hid all this
truth away from us for all these years, but now we will see that we
have misunderstood Christ for all this time. They dismiss the idea of
demons, fallen angels and nephilim and talk about the disclosure of
aliens. So get ready, for the world you once knew is gone, and a new
one is on the horizon. But like all things that are birthed, there
are birth pangs, and we are going through them. And then there will
be more pains when the antichrist presents himself as who he really
is and the great tribulation begins. We have begun the final ride
into what will shortly be the beginning of the end. I would say that
we should probably expect that within a short time (months to a few
years) that the temple will go up in Jerusalem. Then we will know
that it will only be a matter of time before the Lord returns. So as
Jesus said, “Pray that you are worthy to escape all these things.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-17880697697628220172020-02-06T17:24:00.003-08:002020-02-06T17:31:09.107-08:00A Correct Interpretation of Hebrews 10:25<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today it will be
found that many Christians are not attending church. There are two
camps for these people. One is the camp that are people who really are
not serious about their faith, and they simply would rather be out
doing other things than be in church. They have the name of
Christian, but do not have the life of one. The other group are
people who are serious about their faith. Very serious in fact, and
they too are leaving the church. But unfortunately, all of these
people are being lumped together by Christians within the church and
being chastised by these Christians via comments, social media posts,
etc. that they “should be in church.” They are more or less
considered an apostate for not being there. So what is the truth of
the matter? Can you not be a church-goer and still have a vital
relationship with Christ?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First of all,
salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, not through the church.
While we must abide with Him in holiness, and keep His commandments
to maintain a good relationship with Him (John 14:15, 15:10),
attending church every Sunday is not a rule found in the Scriptures.
It just isn’t there, regardless of what some want to believe. It
is not a requirement for heaven, or even to walk closely with the
Lord. There is one verse in particular in the Bible that is thrown at
those who have left the church, to try to show them they are in
Scriptural error and disobedience. That verse is Hebrews 10:25, which
will be addressed shortly.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now there is nothing
wrong with the idea of people going to church. It is beneficial and it is Scriptural to
get together with other Christians for study, encouragement, accountability, use of gifts, and
corporate worship, and we are encouraged to be with other Christians,
for where two or three are gathered, Christ is in their midst. (Matt.
18:20). I am not against gathering at all. I think it is essential in fact, however there is no
mandate as to when, where, and how often this should occur, nor a
requirement as to the size of the group. There is a totally free
license as to how we want to gather with others – our freedom in
Christ. We can do so in whatever way we are able or want to. It is
left open for a reason. Not everyone in the world is in a situation
where they can<i> openly</i> go, or just simply go to a worship service. In
some places churches are against the law. For some their occupation
prevents it. For some, such as a parent with multiple small
children, who might have to go alone, it is often not a spiritually
uplifting thing to go, but a trial and tribulation to get there at
all, much less keep several little children under control during the course
of the service, if there is no children's babysitting or junior church for little ones. They are exhausted rather than refreshed and often will miss the service entirely, because they have to take the little ones out of the service, so as not to disrupt it for others. Some are
infirm with illness and disabilities, or merely age. There are all
sorts of reasons that might prevent people from attending church. And
going to churches that are blatantly teaching sin against God is not
a church Christ would want us attending. I’m sure He would far
rather that we stay away and worship Him in spirit and truth wherever
we are, and preferably on the Sabbath. (This too will be discussed
below.)</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The churches in the
western world, and most specifically America (and probably Canada
also) have mainly become venues for a feel good, entertained, worldly
type of Christianity. It is one where one names it and claims it as a
right from God, it is based on feelings, not a commitment of the will
combined with faith, it is self-centered, not God-centered, and it is
a pleasure palace for people to feed the fleshly lusts - worldly
worship music, concerts, plays, movies, caf<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">é</span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">s,
bookstores, media centers, ministries for self-help for every problem
under the sun, and shallow feel good sermons that tell you that you
are good and deserving and you shouldn’t judge others or yourself
for doing </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">what is right
for you, even if it is not approved of by God. It is not taught </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">that
you are wretched, sinful, and need to walk in holiness and according
to the Word. In the book of Revelation, we find that five of the
seven churches have sins that Christ holds against them and warns
them that they will be judged, if they don’t repent. These churches
can be found in the world today. It is c</span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">alled
apostasy. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">On
the other hand, there are churches that are trying to keep from
falling into the worldly model, and as a consequence they have become
legalistic, judgmental and condemning, and restrictive to the point
where they rival the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">They
feel they can keep apostasy at bay by ruling with an iron fist, just
as the Pharisees did, adding rules to God’s rules to keep them so
far from sin that they have no chance to make the choice themselves
to not sin. </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">This is no
better than the churches that are worldly in their apostasy, for many
of these churches have doctrine</span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">
that </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">are</span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">
not Scriptural, but as the Pharisees have done, they have taken what
they want out of the Bible to uphold their legalism and restrictive
rules. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">Neither
of these models are pleasing to God. We know this because Israel was
guilty of both of these sins, and God divorced Israel and has let her
suffer for millennia because of it. Is the church any less worthy of
judgment and punishment than Israel? Going back to the first model of
the church, where true believers gathered to meet in homes, we see
that this model is the one being used in countries of persecution,
and we find that this model is the one that has begun to surface in
the western world among Christians who are fed up with churches that
are self-centered rather than God-centered, or Pharisaical in
practice. They are also fed up with the fact that churches these days
are not teaching to the growth of Christians. The churches feed their
people </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">milk and </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">pablum,
not meat as instructed in Hebrews 5:12-6:2. Sometimes they teach outright heresy - doctrines of demons. Christians who seek to
know God want more, and the only way they can get it is to gather with
like-minded Christians </span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><i>outside</i></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
of the church to study and worship. Their stand against apostasy and
legalism has made them outcasts within the church assemblies, so they
leave to worship elsewhere. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Be</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">cause
of that, they are accused of not loving Christ, or being bad
Christians. Those within the assemblies feel that there is some sort
of umbrella protection for them </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">by
being good church-goers, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
that they present to the world a show of Christianity, when in fact
once they leave the building their Christianity is sometimes very
hard to see. They have somehow come to equate being part of a
“legitimate” assembly as being part of the Church Universal,
meaning all those who truly are born again and love the Lord. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It
is their safe haven to ensure their entrance into heaven. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Nothing
could be further from the truth</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Many who are in churches are not born again, and many who are
outside of the church are true followers of Christ. A relationship
with Christ is not dependent upon a building, or an organized
assembly of believers. A relationship with Christ is personal and
independent of any other source. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is much made
over Hebrews 10:25 by pastors. And why not? It is the only verse in
the Bible which they can find to use to try to lay a guilt trip on
Christians, who are not attending church on a regular basis, or at
all. It is their ace in the hole, so to speak, for if there were no
mandate to attend Sunday church services, and people realized that there were no
mandate, these pastors would, in many cases, end up unemployed.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the face of it,
one would think that they are correct in how they are interpreting
it, for it says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Obviously forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together refers to Sunday morning worship
service, right? And "as the manner of some is" is what those who do not attend
church are doing, correct? And this directive is all the more valid
as we <i>are</i> seeing the Day of the Lord approaching, isn’t it?
Well, the last is true. We are in the end times, but that is all that
is correct about that interpretation. The accusation is that those
not going to Sunday morning services regularly are disobeying a
direct order. No. Not really. Just looking at the sentence itself,
without getting into the real gist behind it, one can see that putting that interpretation on it is adding to
Scripture, which we are warned not to do. If it did mean what pastors
want it to mean, it does not indicate when, how, how often or any
other parameters about what assembling together means. So technically
if one attends a Bible study during the week, that would fulfill the
requirement, even if there were only two people at that Bible study.
And if that study only happened once a month, still it would meet the
requirement of what this way of interpreting this verse says. And one
need not even have a Bible study. It simply says assembling. That
could be social gatherings. So to make this mean what pastors want it
to mean is to simply do a disservice to good exegesis. But it goes
even further. That is not how the verse was intended to be
interpreted. Here is what the book of Hebrews is about.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First of all, it was
written to the Hebrews, Jewish Christians who would have been
observing the Sabbath, not Sunday. Sunday would not be observed as a
tradition made by man until many years later, and would not become a
formal Gentile Christian tradition until the 4<sup>th</sup> century
when Constantine mandated it as a state law, outlawing Sabbath
worship. His reasons for doing so were not spiritual, or in some
response to a teaching from God, but political reasons. The reasons
being that the Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians were at odds
with each other and causing problems over this issue of the Sabbath
vs. Sunday, plus the pagans who were being forced into conversion
were used to worshiping on Sunday, as that was the pagan worship day.
It made the transition much easier.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now the argument
comes that it is the principle that is important, not the literalness
of the situation, for times have changed and Sunday is now the proper
worship day. Well, no actually it is not, and that information can be
found here
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html</a>.
But regardless of that, whether the Sabbath or Sunday, going to a
meeting in a church once a week for an hour is not a directive of
God, nor is it necessary for salvation or to be a Christian in good
standing with God.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The next argument
comes that the early church got together on Sunday to worship
together, and so should we. Well, that is taking Scripture and
extending it beyond what is warranted. The early Christians met
together for many reasons. One, they wanted to learn about this new
teaching of Christ, and the only way was to gather with others. Two,
they were thrown out of the synagogues and being persecuted, so they
tended to congregate to encourage each other and have someone of
like-mindedness be their companions for fellowship. Three, because of
persecution, many lost material possessions and found themselves
without, so they came together to help each other materially. Four,
they did not meet in a building with all the bells and whistles that
so many have today. They met in homes and the meetings consisted of
prayer, study, possibly exhortation, and singing psalms and hymns.
For the most part, as most were Jewish and used to synagogue
attendance, they continued to meet on the Sabbath, so that the
apostles could teach them. They did not meet on Sundays. In time,
some chose to start meeting on Sunday as well, with the idea of
commemorating the Lord’s resurrection on that day of the week, but
it came about more when Gentiles, who were used to worshiping on the
pagan holy day of Sunday, were becoming Christians. They easily fell
into the tradition of continuing on Sunday with the excuse of
commemorating the Lord’s resurrection, rather than adopt the Jewish
Sabbath, which was the day God had declared His holy day from the
beginning. In the Bible, never does it indicate when, how often, and
on what days the people met. If anything, it would have been the Sabbath, because the early Christians tended to mostly be Jews. There was no precedent set for us to
have to follow at all. They simply met together as they felt like it.
We really don’t know anything else about these meetings as to time,
frequency, etc.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The initial model
for the church service came from the synagogues. The oldest evidence
of synagogues are from 3 BC. Some scholars believe the synagogues
came about after the destruction of the temple in 586 BC when lacking
the temple rituals, those few who were still faithful began to meet
in their houses. They gathered to study the Torah, pray, and worship,
just as the early Christians began by gathering in their houses, and
eventually years later were to start building synagogues, just as
Christians built churches or cathedrals in which to worship instead
of homes. All of this came about merely from men’s traditions, (in
the case of the Jews, due to the punishment for their disobedience by
losing the temple) not due to God telling them to get together and
meet for worship in this manner. What God instituted was the
observance of the Sabbath by resting, and the tabernacle which
eventually became the temple, for sacrifices. The temple’s purpose
was not for people to gather together once a week for an hour to
worship in a service overseen by a clergyman. Some people (women,
non-Jews) were not even allowed in certain courtyards of the temple.
People might gather there for various purposes, but there was no
facility for them to sit on a group of benches while someone got up
and gave a message, then go home. Never was the church building and
the gathering once a week on the pagan worship day for an hour or two
a model that God created for us to have to use to worship Him. This
was merely a model that evolved from the traditions of men. And in
the case of some of the traditions, they arose from paganism, not
Judaism or the Bible. Now again, I am not saying that gathering to worship
on Sunday is bad and should not be done, for we should worship God
every day, and gathering on any day is permissible, so there is
nothing wrong with it in that respect. In fact, it is very helpful for some people’s
spiritual growth, who need this habitual activity to maintain their
walk with God. At least it used to be before apostasy took over, but
neither is it mandated by God as an ordinance that has to be observed
or be a plumb line by which to measure someone’s spiritual state.
Nor is it a replacement for observing the Commandment that says we
should keep the Sabbath. God has never rescinded any of His Ten
Commandments. They are His eternal laws and to break one, is to break
them all and sin against God, for remember, they were given to show
man his sin, not save him. And with the apostasy that now consumes
the churches, we come to the dilemma that many faithful Christians,
who were observing this tradition, are now facing. Is it acceptable
to God to not attend church, if it is no longer a place where God is
being glorified?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So now we find
ourselves back at Hebrews 10:25. Let us take a look at this in
context. The book was written to the Hebrews, although we are not
sure of whom the author was. Some background on what was going on in
the Jewish Christian church might be helpful at this point.
Gnosticism, which became a problem right at the beginning in the
first century, had its roots (in the Christian faith) in the Jewish
Christian groups. Some of them (apparently this group) wandered away
from the truth and started adopting gnosticism, which was the belief
that within everyone is a divine spark that is released through
knowledge and enlightenment. It does not adhere to the ideas of sin
and repentance, but to the idea that the material world is an
illusion which can be transcended through enlightenment. One of the
beliefs held by some gnostics was what the New Agers today call “the Christ
spirit,” which in other words is a human being who has become
enlightened and tries to pass that on to others. Some saw Christ in
this way. Another belief that some held was that Christ was an angel
incarnated, which is called angel christology. Yet another of the beliefs that some gnostics adhered to was called Melchizadekianism, in which they worshiped Melchizadek as having been the Messiah. Gnostics were often
ascetics, which meant that they led lives depriving themselves (of
things such as dietary and sexual pleasures), and they often became
hermits. In fact within a few hundred years, the deserts of the
Middle East were dotted with thousands of these ascetic gnostic
hermits. They did not believe in the resurrection, but might believe
in reincarnation. So this was the belief system that was evolving
within some of the Jewish Christian groups at the time that this
letter was written.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When one looks at
the context of what was written, it begins to be easily seen that
this was one of those groups, and that the problems and issues which were plaguing this group were being addressed in this letter. The
first two chapters are spent in teaching that Jesus was not an angel,
but the Son of God and a completely different person from the angels.
That addresses the angel christology and “enlightened spirit within
a human Jesus” problems that some gnostics were teaching. It then
goes on to talk about the rest which we enter into (the hope of the
resurrection) which addresses the lack of belief in a resurrection
and the idea of reincarnation, and then he chastises how the basic
principles of the gospel have to be laid down again for these people,
for they are still children in their knowledge and are not growing in the
faith. In fact, they are obviously walking away from the faith and
substituting this gnosticism in its place. He warns them that once
they have actually been enlightened, through accepting the gospel,
and have partaken of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, if they reject
Christ and their salvation to opt for another path, it is impossible
to ever come back to repentance. That is because in rejecting the
gospel and renouncing Christ as Savior, they blaspheme the Holy Spirit who then is obliged
to leave them, and that is the one sin that cannot be forgiven.
Committing a sin is one thing. Rejecting or renouncing Christ after
having once received Him and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is an
entirely different matter. It is an unpardonable sin. Twice in this book, this dire warning is given. That means that the issue they were dealing with was very serious, and gnosticism was a serious issue that could deprive people of their salvation. It wasn't like some of the other sins in the other churches, which could be forgiven. This was a spiritual death issue. And it obviously was affecting this group.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He follows with an
explanation of Christ’s priesthood, specifically relating it to being greater than the Levites', and Melchizadek's. This refutes Melchizadekianism, for Christ is the last Priest in that heavenly order (which is greater than the earthly one of the Levites) for there is no need for a further intercessor other than Christ. It also refutes the “divine
spark within us” teaching, for only Christ is divine and can come
before God for us to intercede for our sins. We are not divine
ourselves, we are sinners. An explanation follows of the purpose and
pattern of the tabernacle/temple which was to teach them these truths
that Christ fulfilled, and His priesthood. So now given that he has
once more laid the foundation of these beliefs, he then tells them
that they should hold fast to faith in these things (the gospel and
promise of a rest in the resurrection) and encourage each other to
the good works that will keep them in the faith. Then we come to that
controversial verse which we are putting under scrutiny, where he
addresses the last problem with gnosticism, the fact that they were
separating themselves from other believers and becoming hermits to
reach enlightenment. He tells them to not do this. To not stop
getting together and socializing with other Christians, as was the
manner of the ascetics, who obviously were coming out of their group
to become hermits, so that by interacting they might, as he said in
the previous verses, keep each other encouraged in the faith, and
keep each other on the straight path of truth, especially as one sees
the Day of the Lord, when God will exact His vengeance on a wicked
world, approaching. This is what the meaning of this verse is. NOT –
attend church for an hour once a week regularly (in most churches
that means to get entertained), because that is your obligation as a
Christian.The meaning is clearly to not follow the behavior of the ascetic gnostics by becoming hermits and shunning people. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He follows this
again with a second warning about this sin of willfully turning from
the gospel of Christ to another doctrine and its consequences. If
they willfully sin (reject the gospel and Christ) after having
received the knowledge of truth (having accepted Christ), there
remains no other sacrifice for their sins. Christ is the <span lang="zxx">ONLY
way of salvatio</span><span lang="zxx">n. </span><span lang="zxx">T</span><span lang="zxx">here
is no other, but only the wrath of God's judgment </span><span lang="zxx">awaiting</span><span lang="zxx">.
He asks how much more deserving of God's wrath is one that has
trodden underfoot the very blood of the sacrifice of Christ whereby
he was sanctified </span><span lang="zxx">(set apart as holy </span><span lang="zxx">and
justified</span><span lang="zxx">) </span><span lang="zxx">at one
time, as an unholy thing? </span><span lang="zxx">That amounts to
blasphemy. </span><span lang="zxx">He then reminds them to recall the
former days when they had been illuminated or enlightened (by the
gospel) when they had endured afflictions. This reference </span><span lang="zxx">t</span><span lang="zxx">o
</span><span lang="zxx">and specific use of this word "</span><span lang="zxx">illumination"
also points to gnos</span><span lang="zxx">t</span><span lang="zxx">icism
as being the problem </span><span lang="zxx">with</span><span lang="zxx">in
this group of Christians, </span><span lang="zxx">for illumination
was what they sought.</span><span lang="zxx"> They </span><span lang="zxx">once
understood</span><span lang="zxx"> and believed in the promise of a
resurrection and life to come with God. He tells them to not cast
away that faith, for it will have great reward </span><span lang="zxx">in
the end</span><span lang="zxx">. </span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="zxx">The
rest of the book goes on to list the heros of faith who did not see
the promise come to pass in their lifetime, but lived by faith looking forward that
one day, even after their death, they would see that promise come. He then
tells them to basically keep the faith and not lose hope, but to
patiently endure. He tells them that they haven't </span><span lang="zxx">yet
</span><span lang="zxx">resisted sin to the point where it has cost
them their lives, and they should expect that God will chasten them
when they do wander and get into sinful ways. He is basically letting them know that
this apostasy they have allowed might be the cause for their
tribulation, for God chastens His children. If they are not chastened
for it, then they are not really God's children. </span><span lang="zxx">He
again issues a warning to them about staying </span><span lang="zxx">on
</span><span lang="zxx">the path, and then encourages them to walk in
love. </span><span lang="zxx">This is followed with</span><span lang="zxx">
another warning against strange and diverse doctrines, as they
apparently had been </span><span lang="zxx">accepting them</span><span lang="zxx">.
</span><span lang="zxx">Then he</span><span lang="zxx"> </span><span lang="zxx">finally
</span><span lang="zxx">exhorts them to walk according to the way we
as Christians should walk.</span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="zxx">When
taken in this context, that the problem besetting this group was
gnosticism, all of this book makes complete sense </span><span lang="zxx">in
what subjects are being covered</span><span lang="zxx">. </span><span lang="zxx">The
various things discussed fit very neatly into the problems gnosticism
would cause. </span><span lang="zxx">The discussion of Jesus versus
the angels, the hope of the rest to come, the laying down all the
precepts of the gospel and Christ's </span><span lang="zxx">ministry
as </span><span lang="zxx">our heavenly P</span><span lang="zxx">riest</span><span lang="zxx">, the refutation of Melchizadek as the Messiah,
the warnings of losing one's salvation by turning from Christ, the
warning against separating totally (as a hermit) from other Christians,
the warnings against apostate doctrines, and the justification of
tribulation when one does accept them. All of this makes complete sense, so that
the verse in Chapter 10 is now taken in context, and it clearly does
not indicate that someone has to attend Sunday morning worship
service or be a bad Christian. </span><span lang="zxx">It is not a
mandate to Sunday morning worship service at all. It is a warning to
not become a hermit, thinking that this is a better path to
enlightenment and salvation. Notice that the directive is a negative
one. It is not "make sure to get together weekly with others to
worship", but a negative – "do no</span><span lang="zxx">t
forsake </span><span lang="zxx">other Christians." There is a
marked difference between "do not become a hermit and stop
socializing and fellowshipping with other Christians whenever,
wherever, and however it may occur" and "it is necessary
to go to church on Sunday for an hour </span><span lang="zxx">to be
entertained and</span><span lang="zxx"> listen to a pastor preach
</span><span lang="zxx">what are probably apostate doctrines </span><span lang="zxx">in
order to be a good Christian." </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">An added detriment </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">to
the insistence in church attendance</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
is that t</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">hose
who put their faith in the church, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">as
being the mark of a relationship with Christ, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">have
opted to abdicate their responsibilities as parents in favor of
letting the church lead their children to Christ. And what is
happening? The children are leaving the churches in droves. If they
do remain in church, they want a feel good, entertainment venue that
allows all the worldliness they want to embrace. And these parents do
not know where they have gone wrong. In fact, the parents are there indulging in the worldliness themselves along with their children. It is just that the tradition of attending Sunday morning service is more ingrained in them, so they feel the need to be there, and so the worldly church services work well for them.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
church is not </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">the
only way one can gather with other Christians for study and worship.
It is not </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">a
replacement for personal study, prayer, individual worship, nor is it
a replacement for the responsibility of leading your children to the
Lord and doing it by the method the Bible tells us to use. We are to
talk to our children when </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">we</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
sit, when </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">we</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
walk, when </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">we</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
lie down, and when </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">we</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
get up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:19). We are to constantly be an
example, and constantly talk to them and show them how to love God,
how God works in our lives, and how we should behave. My experience
with the church teaching my children is that they were taught some
Bible stories, and told to accept Jesus into their heart, without
much explanation as to why they are sinners who need redemption. On
the other hand, when we home-churched, they learned a lot more than I
ever anticipated two little children could learn. We covered both Old
and New Testament and years later when speaking of various things in
the history of Israel, my son would talk about some incident and I
would be surprised given his extremely young age when we covered
these things that he remembered them. He told me that he was
listening a lot more than I thought. Little children take in so much
more and understand so much more than we give them credit for
understanding. It made me so glad we had chosen to teach them
ourselves, rather than trust the church. We also home-schooled, so
this was normal for us to do something like this, as they were
learning the Bible every day. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">And
today they are grown men who have a true relationship with the Lord
and have never strayed. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">One
goes to church, because his wife needs it for herself, and the other
does not. Yet both have the Lord in charge of their lives.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
am constantly amazed that while Christians will say that you must be
born again to get into heaven, the emphasis upon attending church
being almost a major requirement, along with being born again, has
almost been elevated to the level of idolatry. If you don’t </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">attend
church regularly</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
you can’t possibly be saved. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Attending
church is all important. It is sacred. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
church (local assembly) is the plum</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">b</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
line against which a Christian’s relationship with Christ is
measured. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">There
is NO excuse </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">for
not attending </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">which
is acceptable - including apostasy. Of course </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">those
who insist upon this also declare that </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><i>their</i></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
church is </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><i>never
</i></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">apostate
or legalistic or unscriptural in their doctrines. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It
is very true that getting together with other believers is a very
important part of our walk with Christ, but that may have no
relationship to church attendance. The kind of Christians you
assemble with is also very important. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">is
true that nobody will ever find a perfect church, for people are not
perfect and love must overlook a multitude of faults. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We
all sin and fall short of the glory of God. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">However
I do not think that God wants us to ignore or put our stamp of
approval on false doctrines, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">worldliness,
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">the
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">unrepentant
sin within the congregation </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
leadership that is tolerated</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
or the reverse – </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Pharisaism,
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">judgment</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">alism</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
condemnation, and church discipline of </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">people
who are not sinning a</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">ccording
to the Bible, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">but
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">do
not live by the man-made rules some of the people in the church have
set. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We
should not tolerate sin, and it should be judged, and walking in
worldliness should be strongly cautioned against when we see someone
drifting away, but freedoms in Christ are just that, </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">freedoms.
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
If God says it is okay, who are we to say nay? </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">One
extreme is as bad as the other. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">And
a church that teaches against God’s Word should never be tolerated.
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">he
irony here is that these people </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">who
insist that attending church on Sunday makes you a good Christian, in</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
ignoring the Sabbath, break the Ten Commandments every week, for if
you break one commandment, you break them all. They are all in
flagrant unrepentant sin </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">regarding
the fourth Commandment, w</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">hich
they deny </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">is
a sin to break</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
as man’s </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">tradition</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
of observing Sunday instead has become the rule rather than God’s
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">eternal
law of the Sabbath</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
is exactly like Israel. They chose their own rules over God’s. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Some
who have left the church, on the other hand, have come to the
conclusion that the Sabbath must be observed, and so are observing
it, often meeting for home church or Bible studies on the Sabbath.
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">If
insisting that Hebrews 10:25 talks about church attendance, then they
still are not breaking any rules. </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">y
don’t forsake the assembling of themselves with other believers,
</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">they are simply particular </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">with</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
whom </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
on what day </span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">they
worship, and are not dependent upon a particular building to worship
in.</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
And yet the church assemblies consider these people apostates, who
have walked away from the Lord. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;">For
those who have walked away, not because they are no longer interested
in the things of the Lord, but are deeply disturbed by the lack of
holiness and adherence to God’s Word, take heart. The remnant is
being called out of Babylon. It’s the best place to be, regardless
of what the Laodiceans might tell you. Like Christ said to the
remnant overcomers of the seven churches, “he that hath an ear to
hear, let him hear.” </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For a list of
legitimate spiritual reasons to not attend church, click on this
link.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2020/02/legitimate-spiritual-reasons-for-not.html"><span lang="en-US">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2020/02/legitimate-spiritual-reasons-for-not.html</span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-68180245576510454942020-02-06T17:24:00.001-08:002020-02-06T17:34:42.832-08:00Legitimate Spiritual Reasons For Not Attending Church<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have all heard
some of the reasons for not attending church. They range from soup to
nuts in the reasoning department, and a great many of them are just
excuses for the real reason, which admittedly is they simply don’t
want to go. They don’t have a vital relationship with the Lord and
church is just a lifestyle choice to which they no longer want to
give time. But what about those who do have a vital relationship with
the Lord? Are there any legitimate reasons for no longer attending
church? Yes, I believe there are. I am going to address them below.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1). Sunday is not
the Sabbath. Going to church does not equal keeping the fourth
commandment, which is eternal. The Commandments were given to show us
our sin, therefore to not keep the Sabbath is a sin. Many people who
are getting deeply into the study of God’s Word are coming to the
conclusion that God NEVER changed the Sabbath to Sunday. There is
nothing in Scripture that indicates that we should do so. The few
verses that people try to use to legitimize this change fall flat
when they are interpreted correctly. (See the following article for
the Sabbath vs. Sunday controversy.
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html</a>.)
Can two walk together when they are not in agreement? Sabbath
worshipers see not observing the Sabbath as breaking one of the Ten
Commandments, which it is. Yet the church breaks it weekly without
remorse or repentance. How does one worship in a church that denies
Scripture and sins continually and unrepentantly defending a pagan
practice, just because it is a man-made tradition?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As there are
precious few groups that meet on the Sabbath, and the few who do are
often considered more cults than not, it is highly unlikely that one
can find a Sabbath observing church that is either not apostate
(apostasy due to having a “prophet,” who has had extra-biblical
revelations, at the helm of the church group - whether still alive or
not) or has not gone back to being under the yoke of the law of Moses
(this is referring to the laws beyond the 10 commandments – see
these articles about that Parts 1 & 2
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2017/03/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2017/03/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html</a>.)
As a consequence, most of these people are solitary individuals or
family units that have no group with which to meet, so they stay at
home and worship at home. Since they worship on Saturday, they see no
need to go to a church, which they feel meets on a pagan worship day,
to worship a second time. And as they do observe the Sabbath, usually
the Sunday churches look down their nose with disapproval on these
people as being ignorant or cult-like in their beliefs, which does
not create a good fellowship situation. This is a big part of why the
Sunday church pastors are telling the Sabbath worshipers that they
need to be in church. They feel these people are horribly wrong and
must be corrected, for their Christianity is greatly in question.
Worship and fellowship are much easier when one is in harmony with
doctrine and not at odds with the rest of the congregation, who do
not take kindly to the “divisive” person in their midst. Divisive
being an ironic label, since they are being obedient to the eternal
law of God about the Sabbath.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2) Apostasy is
rampant in the churches. Trying to find a church that has not
completely compromised themselves with the world is a challenge these
days, setting aside the Sabbath problem. The worldly music, the
entertainment, the New Age and other doctrines of demons that are
being taught are anathema to those who value God’s Word. These
non-church going people want God’s Word and its truth, not the lies
being espoused by so many churches these days. The Laodicean church
is alive and well, and these people do not want to be in it, not
because they are lukewarm, but because they are not, and it makes
them want to spew the church out of their mouths, as much as God
wants to.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If apostasy is not
the problem, then Pharisaism is. Many churches have, over the years,
developed their own denominational list of legalistic man-made rules
by which they expect their parishioners to abide, so as to keep them
as far from sin as possible (sound familiar?). It matters little to
them whether or not these rules are Scriptural. They are their rules
and you must play by their rules and adhere to them or accept the
consequences. Constant berating from the pulpit and otherwise,
chastising/disciplining, and being controlling are the methods used
to keep their people in line. Some even resort to threats of
differing kinds. Christ would not be proud.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3) The teaching is
“Scripture light” in the churches. It is hard to find churches
that get much beyond the basics of the gospel message to anything
deeper. Since the Church (meaning the true the body of believers) has
abdicated its responsibility, to preach the gospel and make
disciples, in favor of letting the church (organized religious groups
that meet in little buildings) do it, the preaching has become little
more than the constant telling of how Jesus died for your sins. We
are told to move on from these things which are the milk to the meat
of Scripture. By that it was meant that we should get into the Old
Testament, for that was the only Scripture available to whom the
people the original letter in the N.T. was written, and it was what
was meant by meat. The gospel message was coming via the apostles and
word of mouth. The meat was already written down and in their
possession. And a great deal of it has to do with the Second Coming,
which for Christians is supposed to be the biggest priority of study
after they have been saved. That is why several blessings and curses
have been put upon the last book of the Bible - Revelation. Blessings
for reading, heeding, and keeping the words contained in it, and
curses for those who would add or subtract from what is in it. This
is how important studying the end times is to the Lord. It is the
only book upon which He has put such terms. They have no need to keep
learning about Christ on the cross. They need to learn about Christ’s
return, yet few churches preach it. A vast amount of Scripture, Old
and New, is devoted to this subject. Few churches even open the Old
Testament. And hardly anyone teaches the prophetic passages in the
New, much less teach Revelation. Of course since few seem to study
and understand prophecy, that might be better than not, for those who
teach it do seem to be adding and subtracting from it, much to their
peril. These people who are leaving the churches, who are not leaving
due to lack of interest, are thirsting for a deeper knowledge of
God’s Word and Him, and they are starving to death in the churches.
So they are leaving to study on their own. They do it with the hope
of finding others who might be like-minded.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4) Churches are
poor stewards, using their finances for bigger buildings, better sound systems,
multiple self-help programs, radio/TV broadcasts, salaries for
multiple leaders, professional musicians, special groups for
entertainment for outreach programs, and etc. There are families in
these churches that are suffering financially, and get no help from
the church, while the church is, in a public show of piety, giving
away money to and helping those who are not brethren. Home-churching
is preferable for several reasons, one being better stewardship of
our finances. They find that their tithes and offerings can be
diverted to help those in their group who have material needs, and
can also help those outside of their group, where they can be a
witness by giving materially, as well as spiritually. There is no
public show to gain applause, just a quiet helping out, as we are
told to do. There is no building to pay for, no salaries, no media
expenses, etc., etc. Money can actually do some real good. And
without an organized church, there is no possibility of government
interference, which is getting to be a greater concern in this day
and age.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
5) Fellowship is not
what it is cracked up to be in the church. One of the excuses used to
try to shame people into attending church is the need for fellowship.
Not all church fellowship is profitable and spiritually uplifting.
Sometimes it is emotionally and spiritually shattering. It is hard to
find a church where cliques do not exist. There is always the “in”
group, just as there was in school. People who are not in this group
are snubbed or treated as lesser Christians. They are not considered
for positions or allowed to do things. They are only allowed to be
pew sitters. The “in” group also tends to rule the church and set
the standards by which everybody else is expected to tow the line.
They want control of people’s private lives. I have personally seen
people accused of sin and unexpectedly ambushed publicly before the
congregation for discipline, and not only was there no sin by
Biblical standards, but the discipline was applied totally
unscripturally, for there was no warning the discipline was coming.
Had it actually been warranted, the Bible instruction as to how to
carry out discipline was completely ignored. It was merely that the
people who were running the church did not like what was done,
because they had a Pharisaical worry about what people might think
about the church’s reputation. What they did not comprehend was the
reputation they actually had, was that they were a judgmental
self-righteous group, who lived by their own (not God’s) set of
rules which they applied to others and expected them to meet or get
chastised. And they wondered why nobody wanted to walk over the
threshold of the church. Bullying is not liked by people. And it is
not contained to merely the adult level.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here I am going to
turn this next passage over to my friend, Rosemary, for she (or
rather her children), has experienced this problem. “I would add
that children are often bullied in the church. Kids that really do
have a heart for the Lord and genuinely want to learn more and to
also live in a way pleasing to the Lord, those kids are often bullied
by the other kids at church. And often the bullies are children of
people either in leadership positions or in positions of high esteem
with church leaders, so when parents report the bullying of their
children, nothing is done about it, because those who have the power
to stop it are not willing to even admit that it's happening. (Also,
I do not know this for certain, but I do think that it's very
possible that this same mentality is precisely why sexual abuse of
children in the church has been virtually completely ignored until
very recently.)” I can personally attest to this last comment by
Rosemary that it is indeed a certainty, for I have actually seen it
transpire in a couple of fundamental, evangelical churches. The
cover-up of sexual abuse is not unheard of at all. It is not just the
Catholic church with their pedophilia, or the pastors of evangelical
churches having illicit sex with parishioners behind closed doors.
There is hidden abuse in all the churches.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Home-churching with
others or even alone is very preferable in this respect. The early
church met in homes, and people knew each other very well and were
aware of each other’s needs and struggles. Today a church can be
literally thousands of people. They have no idea whom they go to
church with, much less their needs materially and spiritually. Nor do
they really seem to care. They are in these churches to feed their
own needs, not the needs of others. They pick a church because it is
entertaining, because it has a youth program, because it appeals to
them on some level, not because it is a Bible teaching, holiness
encouraging fellowship. Fellowship is more sweet for those outside of
the church. They meet other Christians and connect with them in
random places. They can’t always meet together on a weekly basis,
but the fellowship is always sweeter, for they care, share, and pray
for each other without the “in” crowd tsk, tsking them for
something. The sharing doesn’t become gossip in the church, which
is a prevalent problem in churches.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
People who can find
others to meet with find that the small group allows them to really
get to know each other and better watch out for and love each other
versus big churches where people are numbers rather than individuals.
For those who can find like-minded Christians to get together with,
the fellowship is so much better. They can share things without the
worry of gossip or judgmentalism because of self-righteous piety
being the concern of the church for appearances’ sake. They have
doctrine in common and strive to keep it as Scriptural as possible,
removing the paganism that has crept in, and seeking deeper truths
rather than just continuing to regurgitate denominational party lines
and pablum. They are concerned about holiness, rather than
self-indulgence and entertainment. The relationships tend to be
closer than a normal church group might have and the emphasis is on
holy living, not on who is doing what, who is in charge, who has
been doing what someone else disapproves of, or dissension about what
are they going to do about such and such a problem with the building,
or what have you.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
6) Churches are
losing the youth. It has failed them. That is because today they are
entertaining our youth, but they are not teaching them. Admittedly,
they only have them a couple hours a week, and that is another reason
why they should not be relied upon to be the ones who teach our
children. These children are leaving the churches in droves and their
parents and pastors cannot figure out why. It is because they are not
being taught Scriptural truths – what to believe, why they believe
what they believe, and how to defend it. It is these very important
truths that bind a person to their faith. Without them, they will
wander away. Not only is the church not teaching them, their parents
are not teaching them at home either, having relegated that
responsibility to the church. Between the parents not teaching them,
the many hours most children of Christians spend in the pagan school
system, and the lack of anything of real spiritual value in most of
the churches, what else can you expect?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another problem with
the parents is that they often don’t know what they believe or why
and most certainly can’t defend it, so how can they teach their
children anyhow. This is a multi-generational problem over more than
that last hundred years, where the church has dropped the ball. As a
consequence, nobody is teaching the children anything. Nor are the
parents living by God’s Word, but are merely living a lifestyle
according to the traditions and rules of whatever denomination they
follow, which is often a life of hypocrisy. It is spiritually empty.
If a parent is not studying, praying, or striving to live holy, why
should the child? The rare children who do read their Bibles at all
see the discrepancies between all of that, the doctrines they are
taught to espouse, and the behavior of the church congregation and
their parents. Yes, nobody is perfect, but traditions and legalism,
and worldliness and entertainment are evident to even children as
being very wrong. Why would I want to subject my precious child’s
eternal spiritual state to that?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Home-churching is
far better for children, for the parents who will spend the time to
do this are committed to their children’s spiritual state. They
will take a tremendous amount of time to study and pray and be fully
committed, just as homeschoolers are, and will be very serious about
teaching their children spiritual truths and living their lives as an
example. Aside from this they also do not have to worry about
bullying or God forbid, sexual abuse. The excuse is again given by
the church, but what about peer socialization? Quite honestly, do you
want your child, whom you want to live for Christ, hanging around
with the pseudo Christian children, who will leave the church the
minute they are out from under mommy and daddy’s thumb? Or do you
want to carefully choose whom they socialize with, so that they will
be encouraged to live a holy life? One does not have to exclusively
socialize with their own age group. A healthy child will be able to
socialize with all ages and learn to choose their companions
carefully regardless of age. And families who worship together (just
as families who homeschool) tend to have close bonds with their
children that keep them on the narrow path. These children are far
healthier emotionally, and spiritually they are way ahead of the
game, for they are not easily led astray by false doctrines, for they
are grounded in why they believe what they believe, and can defend
their beliefs.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
7) “I’m not
perfect and that’s why I’m in church.” This is the stock
message thrown at non-church-goers. As if those who despise apostasy
and entertainment are declaring themselves perfect. The irony being
that while they spew this proverb at people, they actually think the
opposite in many cases. The self-righteousness is often very apparent
in church-goers, who use this phrase the most. Thank you again,
Rosemary for bringing this problem to my attention. With the
exception of a deletion of a parenthetical note or two, I will
present her statements on this particular issue.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Can I just also
say that I am getting super-sick of hearing the ‘I'm not perfect
and that's why I'm in church’ comment? For while that sentiment is,
in part, true, I have come to see it used now as more of an excuse
used by regular church goers. Yes, no one is perfect, but once we
make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we are supposed to strive to live
each day doing His will, not our own will. So, yes, it's true that
you are not perfect because you go to church, but at the same time
you should not be shrugging your shoulders at the sin in your life,
as if to say that there is nothing you can do about it. It also seems
to me that the people who love to say that same slogan are the same
people who are proud and self-righteous about attending their church
every Sunday. Maybe I'm way off here, but I rarely hear any regular
church-goers talking about striving for holiness in their daily
lives. Or speaking at all about the holiness of God.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oh, and one more
thing, I also associate that ‘I go to church because I'm not
perfect’ meme as being a come-back line that regular church-goers
use when they are accused of not being any different than
non-church-goers. As Christians, we are SUPPOSED to be different- a
people set apart-a peculiar people. From what I see around me, in
America at least, the average church-goer has no desire to live a
life any different than their non-church-going neighbors, co-workers,
friends, etc. They want to fit right in with the rest of society -
with ‘the world.’ So when a non-church-goer comments on this,
that the person going to church does not seem any ‘better’ (aka
different) than the person who does not go to church, the church-goer
quickly responds with the meme. And they miss the whole point. If
someone who does not go to church, who does not know the Lord, who
has not heard or understood the gospel and responded to it - if they
cannot see any difference between themselves and the person who is
telling them that they should be going to church - then as
Christians, we're doing it wrong! There should be HUGE differences
between the everyday lives of a Christian and the everyday life of a
non-believer. The person who does not know Christ should look at the
Christian and wonder what is different about them. Why do they do the
things they do? Why don't they lie to get out of an uncomfortable
situation? Why don't they cheat when they know that no one would find
out? Why do they love others the way they do? Why do they handle
life's problems and disappointments so differently? When there is no
discernible difference, I think that is when the church-goer is
scoffed at when they ask someone to go to church with them. It's
pretty understandable that the unchurched person would respond with
‘What, you think you're better than me because you go to church?’
If they don't see any other difference, then yes, why should they go
to church? Indeed, why?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thank you, Rosemary,
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Even if you are striving to
live a holy life, if you ask someone to accompany you to your church,
which might have a less than stellar reputation, it reflects back on
you that you associate with that church, and it diminishes your
effectiveness in witnessing to the non-believer for we are known by
our companions.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The church initially
began in people’s homes, and in countries where persecution is
rife, that is how Christians meet again today. Is it really so
inconceivable that in a time when God Himself told us apostasy would
be rampant in Christendom, that the true believers would again leave
the government approved, acknowledged, and sometimes controlled
churches, to seek out a way of worship that allows them to worship in
spirit and in truth? The Pilgrims sacrificed much to be able to do
that. As a direct descendant of these courageous Christians, I take
my heritage seriously and am a Separatist myself.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
8) The one and only
Scripture that is used to try to force people into church attendance
(because mandatory church attendance is nowhere taught in Scripture)
is found in Hebrews 10:25. That this verse has been taken out of
context and used in a way that was never intended is shown in an
article linked here.<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-correct-interpretation-of-hebrews-1025.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-correct-interpretation-of-hebrews-1025.html</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am also linking
another article which gives some bad reasons for going to church that
makes one consider why they do go to church.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-bad-reasons-to-go-to-church">https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-bad-reasons-to-go-to-church</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Just before posting this article, I read an article that a woman had written saying why it was necessary to take your children to church. It was said that even if a mother had to run around like a mad woman and throw pop tarts at the children to eat on the way, that they needed to be at church, because that was where they would meet Jesus. That when they see the teacher, and she gives them juice and crackers to fill their tummies, that they would be meeting Jesus. That when they sat squirming in their seats with her in church, and she showed them where in the Bible the pastor was preaching from, they would be meeting Jesus. That church was the only place where a child could be themselves and not have to worry about peer pressure or performance. There was more than this in the content, but what struck me immediately was not just that the way church was approached was in a obligatory fashion, rushing to get there as if dashing to a doctor's appointment that could not be missed, instead of getting up early to take time to prepare everyone in a peaceful way, so that they would approach worship with a right heart and attitude, but that the reason for going was because they were going to "meet Jesus" there. As if church were the only place they could and would meet Him.<br />
<br />
If the only place the children are meeting Jesus is at church, then that home has a lot more problems than having a harried morning on Sunday. They should be meeting Jesus every single day in their home. Church should only be a blip on the screen in that journey. They should be receiving their learning about Him at home. They should be establishing their relationship with Him at home. They should not even need church, if it is missed for some reason, because He lives in their home. No wonder children are leaving the churches in droves. Jesus is somebody they do not even know, because they are not meeting Him in the apostate churches, and they apparently are not meeting Him at home either. Juice and crackers filling their tummies is not meeting Jesus, just because it is in the church's nursery.<br />
<br />
And as shown in one of the reasons above, it is not necessarily a place, and certainly not the only place, a child can be themselves. Children get bullied and sometimes abused in churches as well as elsewhere. The place they should be able to be themselves should be everywhere and anywhere, because they should be learning that at home. The parents should be building their self-esteem to enable them to stand against the world, because they have put their trust in Christ. That is why I am also an advocate of home-schooling. We are given eternal souls over which to be stewards and are held responsible by God for our children's lives, both mortal and eternal. Their physical, mental, emotional, and especially their spiritual lives are our responsibility, until they are old enough to make their own decisions. We cannot do that if they are in Satan's institutions most of the day for fives day a week, and apostate churches on the weekends. And then there are the extra-curricular activities that take up hours more of their time. How much time do most Christian parents actually spend with their children teaching them about the Lord and just life in general? For most, it is very little. We cannot choose God for them, every person must choose for themselves, but we must make every effort to show them that this is the choice they should want to make. Both by example and by spending every moment teaching them. Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk
of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the
way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."<br />
<br />
The Jews were required (at least the men) to go to the temple by God's laws. The church is no longer under that obligation. We are the temple of God. We do not need a building, yet Christianity has elevated that "mandatory by tradition" element to a place of idolatry, as if we were still under the Mosaic Laws and the church is the temple, and we MUST be there every Sunday, or we are in terrible trouble. Christians say we are under grace, but they do not act as if they believe it. They seem to trust in the church, not the body of believers, but the building and the worship service to gain them entrance into heaven, as if it is a sacrifice on the altar that they are under obligation to present to be in good standing. Worship of God should be ongoing everywhere you are, not reserved for one hour a week in a designated building. If that is the only place it is happening, then there are far more serious problems in a person's relationship with Christ than worrying about whether or not they have to miss church.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-12925986578131032752019-09-16T12:36:00.000-07:002019-09-17T07:12:34.266-07:00Can We Study the Bible By Ourselves? <div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Can we study the
Bible on our own? That may sound like a silly question to some, but I
have found that it is not a silly question to those who hold
positions of power in the church or hold degrees in theology. We need
to take a look at history to see from where the idea that we cannot
study the Bible on our own comes.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is a truth that
until the last half dozen centuries, the idea that women should be
educated was not considered something that was necessary. And even
going back that far, it was the rare and socially elevated woman who
was educated at all. If a woman was taught the domestic skills to run
a home, that was really all that was required of her. It might be
that some were taught to read and do a little math to get by,
especially if they were widowed, divorced, or single and had to make
their own way, but for most of history, women have merely stayed at
home and taken care of the house. Even a great many men were
illiterate.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
During the time of
Christ, only men were taught to read the Scriptures or possibly read
at all. Women were only to listen. Hence Paul telling women to keep
silent in church. They did not have the ability to study the Word the
way men could, so they were considered to be students only and not
contest what was taught, nor ask questions that might interrupt the
service and possibly show ignorance. They were to ask questions at
home, or if they disagreed, to express it at home to their husbands,
who were the ones who were able to read the Scriptures to find the
answers and thereby teach the wives. Obviously today that situation
of education has changed, however the rules of holding positions of
authority in the church has not.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As the new church
came under the control of the state during Constantine, he appointed
men to be the bishops and leaders. This continued down through the
years as those in power continued to put their chosen ones in power.
These church leaders did not come about from the church congregation
putting them into positions due to their godly walks with the Lord,
nor their wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures, but they were
appointed mainly due to political reasons. Many did not even know the
Lord on a personal level. They might be scholars, but as the Bible
tells us, <i>“..</i><i>the natural man receiveth not the things of
the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.</i>” 1
Corinthians 2:14. Those who do not know Christ and do not have the
Holy Spirit cannot discern what the Word of God is truly saying, for
the Scriptures are only spiritually discerned. As a result, those
leaders taught the people, who were mostly illiterate, what they
wanted them to believe the Bible said, rather than what it actually
said. They were mainly the only ones who possessed Bibles anyhow, so
nobody could question them. Many false beliefs and traditions from
the Babylonian Mysteries were incorporated into the Christian faith
as a result, changing how people believed they could have a
relationship with God and get into heaven. They were taught the
doctrines of men and demons, not the doctrines of the Bible.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Over the years that
followed, there were those who split from the church and its
erroneous doctrines, bringing new interpretations into the mix, as
they studied the Word themselves. Often these new doctrines were at
odds with each other as well as at odds with what was being taught in
the main orthodoxy at the time. This brought about a persecution and
purging through martyrdom of those considered heretics. As the years
continued to go by the two major divisions of Christianity –
Catholicism and Protestantism divided Christians. I use the words
Catholicism and Protestantism in the broadest terms here, lumping the
Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc. together and
under Protestantism lumping together everything from the Anglican
Church, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Reformed
churches, and etc. From these groups we also have what are
considered cult-like offshoots – the Mormons, the Seventh Day
Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, etc., where the groups have
self-proclaimed prophets who bring “new revelation” and thus
create their own religion.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In all of these
cases, regardless of the denomination, the adage holds that the
leaders are the ones who are revered as understanding the Bible and
having the truth, and everyone is to listen to them. This is due to
either having attended seminary or having had a “special” word of
revelation from God that has elevated them above the others. For the
most part it is unusual to find among any of those leaders one who
will allow themselves to be questioned as to their teachings. One
simply does not question the authority of the teacher/leader. I have
been in many churches in my life, and not in one of them did I find
that the person in leadership think that they could possibly have
misinterpreted the Scriptures. Since I have attended a number of
differing Protestant denominations, who are often on opposite sides
of a question doctrinally (giving me a wide spectrum of
interpretations), I find it rather humorous that they all feel they
are infallible in their doctrines. How is that possible, if they
don’t agree on what the Scriptures say? Obviously someone is wrong
somewhere. I have also found that without exception, they all accept
the doctrines of their denomination without ever having questioned
them or done research to see whether the opposing viewpoints have any
merit. They are right, the others are wrong, end of story. That
multi-viewed background made it much easier for me to break with
preconceived beliefs when I searched out the truths, for I had many
differing viewpoints to study and was not wedded to one more than the
other.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As we all have the
same Bible, for the most part (different versions will teach
different things sometimes), it seems peculiar that they could all
study the same Bible and get such opposing opinions. What I
discovered is that they do not study the Bible as I would study it, just using the Bible, the Holy Spirit and taking things at face
value. They study theology. More specifically, their own
denomination’s theology. They do not study the Word of God in its
entirety, as much as the reasons for why they believe the doctrines
they espouse. They study theology, not actually the Bible. They are
taught that they should read every commentary that has been written
by theologically acceptable authors for their denomination. Once when
talking with a seminary professor, he told me that he advocates that
before they finish seminary, a student read a commentary on every
book of the Bible. I thought it odd that this was the goal for the
student rather than study every book of the Bible directly from the
Bible without the bias of some other man’s opinions forming his
idea of what it said. Is this not the job of the Holy Spirit?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There exists online
a course in theology from an evangelical fundamentalist Christian
college. I thought that I should listen to it to try and understand
better why these scholars who throw around words like “hermaneutics,”
“systematic theology,” “prolegamena,” “soteriology,”
“ecclesiology,” “pneumatology,” and countless other terms
that most people do not understand, feel that they have an edge in
understanding God’s Word over the regular Christian.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the first
statements that was made was the following: “If you think theology
can be done with you, the Holy Spirit and the Bible, then you are
wrong, for theology can’t be done that way. God never intended it
to be done that way. God intended for it to be done in a community.
It is shaped by many different perspectives and many different
experiences.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have to question
the validity of that statement. First of all, let’s take the first
sentence that says that theology (the study of God) cannot be done
with just you, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. That’s what a
scholar says. What does the Word of God say?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Word of God
says:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
John 14:26 <i>“</i><i>But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, </i><i><b>he shall teach you all things,</b></i><i> and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you.”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 John 2:27 <i>“</i><i>But
</i><i><b>the anointing which ye have received </b></i><i>of him
abideth in you, and </i><i><b>ye need not that any man teach you:</b></i><i>
but as </i><i><b>the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and
is truth,</b></i><i> and is no lie, and even as</i><i><b> it hath
taught you,</b></i><i> ye shall abide in him.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 Corinthians 2:9-11
<i>“</i><i>But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us
by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? </i><i><b>even so the things of God
knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” </b></i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 Cor. 2:16 <i>“</i><i>For
</i><i><b>who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct
him</b></i><i>? But </i><i><b>we have the mind of Christ.</b></i><i>”
</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
John 16:13 <i>“</i><i>Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, </i><i><b>he will guide you
into all truth</b></i><i>: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and </i><i><b>he will
shew you things</b></i><i> to come.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Now
a scholar might tell you that you could not understand the verses
above, for you do not understand the syntax and therefore could not
analyze the verse. Or you can’t know the particular tense in Greek
of a particular verb. Or some other random reason as to why you could
not understand what God is saying in these verses above. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
have a word </span><span style="font-style: normal;">that </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
love that addresses these concerns. It is “BALDERDASH.” Nonsense.
The first lie in the Bible is when Satan questions Eve as to whether
God really means what He says. That is the lie he has been using ever
since. “</span>Yea, hath God said?” The implication is that God
does not mean what He literally says, and we cannot possibly
understand what He does mean. What a load of rubbish. Yes, there are
difficult passages in the Scripture, but what I have discovered not
only through my own studies, but through teaching others is that if
someone reads and studies God’s Word regularly, knowledge and
understanding grow, for the Holy Spirit is the one who is leading us
into truth.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What do these verses
above tell us? Anybody can understand what they say. They tell us
that 1) the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, 2) we do not need any
man to teach us, for we receive the anointing from the Holy Spirit
who indwells us and it is He who is truth and teaches us everything,
3) man cannot know the things of God, but the Holy Spirit does, 4)
one has to have the mind of Christ to instruct others, and we have
the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit, so we can be instructed
of ourselves through the Holy Spirit, 5) the Holy Spirit will guide
us into the truth. Is that not the objective? Is any man infallible
when it comes to the Word of God? I know I am not. I have had many
corrections in my understanding of the Word over the years, as I have
matured and the Holy Spirit has taught and guided me. I have many
times had to let go of man’s teachings that were taught to me when
I was young to replace it with God’s truth.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So obviously God
does not agree with this scholar that we cannot possibly study and
understand the Word of God by ourselves with only the Holy Spirit as
our guide. The second statement that is made is that God never
intended us to do so – in other words, study the Bible by
ourselves. Is that true? What does God say?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">2
Timothy 2:15</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> “</span></i><i><b>Study
to shew thyself approved unto God</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, </span></i><i><b>rightly
dividing the word of trut</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">h.”</span></i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">1
Peter 3:15 </span><i>“</i><i>But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and</i><i><b> be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason</b></i><i> of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear:” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now
it is true that these verses do not say that you have to study alone,
but they also do not say that you cannot. In fact, we are given some
indications that we are supposed to study ourselves, for how can we
discern what we are being taught by others, if we do not know the
truth ourselves. We cannot stand before God and say, “So and so
said this guy was okay, so I believed what he said.” God expects
<i>each one </i>of us to be responsible ourselves. <i> </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hebrews 5:12-14 <i>“</i><i>For
when for the time </i><i><b>ye ought to be teachers</b></i><i>, ye
have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of
the oracles of God; and</i><i><b> are become such as have need of
milk</b></i><i>, and not of strong meat. </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">For
</span></i><i><b>every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word
of righteousness</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">: for he
is a babe. But strong </span></i><i><b>meat belongeth to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></i><i>”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is through our
own diligent study that we can develop our discernment. Nobody can
give it to us. We have to work at it and earn it, so to speak. You
cannot make another person mature, they have to work at it
themselves. And so it is with the Bible. If it is still not clear
that we are expected to test everything we are taught, we only need
to look at the Bereans.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Acts
17:11 </span><i>“</i><i><b>These were more noble</b></i><i> than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with </i><i><b>all
readiness of mind</b></i><i>, and </i><i><b>searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
Bereans did not accept what the apostles themselves were teaching
without questioning it. And they were called noble for doing so. They
double checked everything the apostles said against the Scriptures.
How can one do that, if one is not totally familiar with the
Scriptures so that one knows where to go to check what is said? How
can a normal Christian dare pit himself against a scholar? It is
called discernment through the teachings of the Holy Spirit and every
born again Christian can have it if they study.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
next statement was that God intended for the learning of the Word to
be done in a community. Certainly He did. He expected that believers
would gather together to worship and study, but does that negate
personal responsibility </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
study</span><span style="font-style: normal;">? Of course not.
Proverbs 27:17 says, </span><i>“</i><i>Iron sharpeneth iron; so a
man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Studying
with others and getting knowledge and wisdom from others as to how
they view a passage will always help. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">E</span><span style="font-style: normal;">specially
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">in </span><span style="font-style: normal;">understanding
difficult passages. It is good to do so, but it is not necessary </span><span style="font-style: normal;">in
order to study</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. And if I
might say, the problem I have come against is not in studying with
others, but that in the churches there really is no studying with
others per se in my experience, but usually just a teacher who uses a
manual, (written by someone of whom you have no idea of their
qualifications to teach the Bible) or if they use the Bible and just
go through a book, chapter or topic, teaches on it and people are to
listen and write down what the person says, and accept it without
question. It is again the scholar/layman disparity. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Being
a studious person, I never go in and just blindly accept what is said
and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I </span><span style="font-style: normal;">must
admit to doing what Paul said I shouldn’t (I open my mouth) and
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">create havoc by </span><span style="font-style: normal;">rais</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ing</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
questions </span><span style="font-style: normal;">which cannot be
answered</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(Obviously
pastors do not care for me </span><span style="font-style: normal;">for
this reason</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">To
date I have never found in all the churches I have attended that this
is looked upon with favor. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(I
wonder why?) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I have been
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">treated as “the dumb little
woman,” </span><span style="font-style: normal;">ignored, told I am
wrong, told I do not understand, and the worst, I have been told that
“Even though it appears that the Scripture is saying what you have
said it says if we take it at face value, that is not how you should
interpret it.” Excuse me? So God doesn’t mean what He has said?
If it is clear at face value, I shouldn’t have to look for any
other interpretation should I? In fact, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">ironically
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">in some of the churches where
that answer has been given, they actually teach that you should take
the Bible as literally as possible. That is, until the verses
disagree with their theology. Then only a scholar is able to discern
the hidden and obtuse meaning behind </span><span style="font-style: normal;">what
appears to be a crystal</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> clear
passage.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">T</span><span style="font-style: normal;">he
last part of the statement that this t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">heologian
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">made was that theology is
shaped by many different perspectives and many different experiences.
So we should adapt our theology to our world view and personal
experiences? I am reminded of the verse in Hebrews 13:8 </span><i>“</i><i>Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Is
not one of the biggest problems </span><span style="font-style: normal;">we
face today </span><span style="font-style: normal;">in doctrin</span><span style="font-style: normal;">e,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">that people are adapting it
to our culture and as a result much heresy is arising? God will never
change. His Word is eternal. We do not adapt it to our culture, our
experiences, our world view, the cultural biases or trends. It is
truth and truth never changes. How it is applied to our lives may
change from person to person as God deals directly with each one of
us, but God’s truth does not change and therefore neither can a
true theology. But maybe that is the problem. There doesn’t seem to
be a true theology </span><span style="font-style: normal;">taught
these days</span><span style="font-style: normal;">, merely
denominational theologies. They pick and choose what they want and
what they don’t like, they ignore or interpret to fit their
theology. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">One
of the hardest things for a Christian is to set aside all the things
they have been taught as doctrine and go with a clean slate to the
Bible. We all have biases and the only thing, I repeat, the ONLY
thing that can override that is the deepest, heartfelt desire for
absolute truth. Only when truth is made the highest priority can one
go on their knees to God, ask for the Holy Spirit to lead them into
it, and find it. It will be the most painful journey a person can
make in their spiritual life, for it requires having everything
stripped away </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and rebuilt</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
I think of the scene in the Chronicles of Narnia when Eustace is
turned from a dragon </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(which
he became out of selfishness) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">back
into a boy. Aslan tells him that he has to rip the dragon skin off of
him, and it will be horribly painful. And it is horribly painful, but
the learning process through that pain changes Eustace and he comes
out a much different boy. So it is with us. Truth hurts. It hurts so
badly that it can almost destroy you. When you come out the other
side, you are different. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Your
relationship with God is different. You no longer want the soft soap
of the lies that make you comfortable. You desire the painful truth
no matter what, for it is true as Christ said, </span><i>“And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
John 8:32. Truth is painful, but it is also the most freeing thing in
the world. And you cannot be sure that anybody can give you the
truth, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">except for</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
the Holy Spirit. We can listen to teachers and preachers, but
always, always take what is said to the Scriptures and be a Berean. I
have had people say to me that they appreciate my writings, but while
they don’t want to offend me, they are going to check everything I
say. My reply to them is, “Well done.” I encourage people to
check my writings and challenge me, if they want. If my writings
cannot withstand scrutiny, then I need to go back and do more study.
However, what I do find a lot of times is that people merely spout
rhetoric they have learned from their theologies back at me, but they
can’t always defend what they say, nor deal with the discrepancies
that I point out to them. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">They
go into cognitive dissonance. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Usually
that is because, as is the unfortunate case with most Christians
these days, they don’t really know their Scriptures. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">W</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hile
it is important to study theologically related things to the Bible,
such as where we got the canon of the Scriptures, how they were
chosen, the history of the church, the history of the world,
archaeological finds, Greek and Hebrew if possible, and so many other
things, the truth is, if we only have the Bible, it is still enough.
The more knowledge you have, the deeper the understanding of some
things, but I believe God decides and provides what is needed for
each person to take them to the level of understanding that He wants
them to have and they are willing to go. Not everybody is a scholar by nature or has the same
intelligence level, nor unfortunately the desire to learn. However, everyone can understand at a basic level
what God’s Word says, for God wrote it that way deliberately. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The
way of salvation is clear for everyone at any level. As for the rest
and how deep one’s understanding goes, part of the problem is that</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
most people </span><span style="font-style: normal;">are lazy and
don’t study. And if they do, they </span><span style="font-style: normal;">will
not start at the beginning and read (and study) through </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
Bible </span><span style="font-style: normal;">as God intended. They
pick and choose. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Everything
that comes before lays the foundation for what comes after. If you
skip to the last chapter of the book, you won’t understand the
ending </span><span style="font-style: normal;">for you lack the
knowledge of how you got there. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">And,
as earlier mentioned, understanding comes through a spiritual
relationship with God, not from a scholarly analysis. The latter
without the former will only lead to a total misunderstanding of what
the Bible teaches.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">One
of the second statements that this theologian made in this course
study was that he was going to break down everybody’s preconceived
ideas, so that they could rebuild them and find the truth. What was
again ironic and somewhat humorous was that I listened to his study
on a subject that is hotly debated between schools of thought. He
made the statement that he had approached it from this tenet he was
teaching, to abandon all preconceived notions, and rebuild from
scratch and that in so doing, he found that there was not “one
single Scripture” that disputed the interpretation he was
espousing. I could easily off the top of my head think of a dozen
Scriptures that said the exact opposite of what he was teaching. He
merely did not want to accept these Scriptures. He either ignored
them or reinterpreted them from the face value meaning to something
entirely different from what was said, replacing the clear meaning of
words with meanings that did not exist. So even when they say they
prove their positions on their doctrines, the truth is, they are
blind to the things which dispute them. It is called cognitive
dissonance, and I have written elsewhere on that problem.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">So
the answer to the question that was asked at first, “Can we study
the Bible on our own?” should be clear. God says we can, and we should. Through
the guidance of the Holy Spirit (which only comes when one has a
relationship with Him) we can understand God’s Word and possibly
understand it far better than the teacher (whom you really don’t know whose
guidance they are under) who has many degrees after their name. There
are many wolves out there, which is easy to see when one looks at the
state of the Christian church as a whole. The apostles warned the
very first churches about them. Satan lost no time in infiltrating
and leading people astray. Do we really want to leave our salvation
and understanding of God’s Word to someone who may be a wolf in
sheep’s clothing, or do we want to be responsible for our own
understanding?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Now
the argument comes in, but what about all those people who have tried
to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">study the Bible</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
on their own and have gone way off into all kinds of heretical
teachings. The Holy Spirit didn’t guide them into truth. Yes, there
are pastors out there who are online teaching all kinds of heresy. If
you look closely you will find that there are many similarities
between all these people. Many use so-called visions and dreams that
they say have given them new revelations. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
am not saying that God won’t give visions and dreams, for His Word
says that in the end days He will be giving them. What I am saying is
that</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> God is not giving new
revelations. He said in the book of Revelation that that was the end
of the story. Nothing was to be added to the book, so I wouldn’t
put much stock in new revelations, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">especially
</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> through visions and dreams.
I have found that nobody ever seems to question the source of these
visions and dreams. That is the first rule. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Satan
will give visions and dreams to people seeking them, whether they are
Christians or not. And God lets him do it to test these people. Do
they test the source of the dream or vision? Do they check to see if
it lines up with Scripture, for that is the number one rule. Do they
even know enough of Scripture to be able to check to see if it lines
up? Unfortunately the answer to that is… probably not. Now this is
assuming that the person truly is a born again Christian with a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">n</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
unhindered relationship with God. Do you know for certain what
anyone’s relationship with God is? </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Do
you know for certain that they even have the Holy Spirit to guide
them? </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Many people can walk
the walk and talk the talk in public without having an internal
change of heart. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Remember
that Satan is going to use the people with the biggest platform to be
the biggest deceiver. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">A
person may start out fine in their doctrine and as they grow in fame
and popularity, Satan leads them into error. I have seen it happen
over and over again. They get high-minded and pride is their
downfall. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">They quench the
Holy Spirit </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and open the door
to Satan leading them down a path of total error.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">A
second problem is that many teachers are now getting their teachings
not from the Bible, but from extra-biblical sources that they have
elevated to the same level as the Bible. One online preacher seems to
spend all of his time in the books of Freemasonry talking about what
they teach rather than what the Bible teaches. I realize that it is
important to know what Satan is up to and to expose people to the
lies out there, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I do it
myself </span><span style="font-style: normal;">to an extent</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">but </span><span style="font-style: normal;">this
man</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> seems to be obsessed with
things that should not have become an obsession. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">It
has led him astray in his understanding of the Bible’s teachings.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">It is fine, once you have a
deep-rooted knowledge of the Bible (which must come first) and a lot
of discernment to then see what these Satanic sources such as the New
Age movement, Extraterrestrials, the occult, fringe Christian cult
groups, alternative health practices and such are teaching, for
forearmed is forewarned and you can then catch where the demonic
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">sources </span><span style="font-style: normal;">might
be leading people astray and warn them, but one should not become
obsessed to the point where it is all that they read and study.
Scripture first, other things second. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">And
the balance should always weigh heavily on the side of Scripture to
ground you when you read this other </span><span style="font-style: normal;">information</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
for it can easily make you doubt or be led astray, if you are not
careful. Christ warned us numerous times about being deceived. If any
Christian thinks they are above being deceived, they already are
deceived.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">S</span><span style="font-style: normal;">o
the next time someone tells you that you can’t study the Bible
alone (and I have been told that by several churches that I am unqualified to study alone and should not attend a Bible study that is led by someone other than a trained, qualified, and approved by the church teacher - much less teach a study myself), just say, “Balderdash.” </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-59105593569193419412019-07-28T18:27:00.001-07:002019-07-28T18:27:40.304-07:00The Post-Trib Rapture Theory, The Eagle and Carcass, and The Wheat and Tare Parable<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There exists among
those who do not see the rapture as being pre-trib, the theory in
which the wicked are taken away in God’s wrath at the very end, and
Christians remain or are left behind. It teaches that Christians
will endure everything, including God’s wrath, up to Armageddon, at
which time after the wicked are gathered to Armageddon, the righteous
will be gathered in the sky only to apparently get on horses and
return immediately. This having the Church go through most of God’s
wrath is negated by Scripture, which says that we (the Church) are
not appointed to wrath. Now, the argument is given that God can
protect people within His wrath, and He can, and He will where it
concerns Israel, but then if it were His intention to leave
Christians here through it all, there is no need for a rapture. They
could simply be transported over to Jerusalem after Armageddon is
completed. They would not need to meet Christ in the air.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Not only would a
rapture be irrelevant and unnecessary in the above scenario,
Scripture also teaches that after being raptured/resurrected, the
rewards at the Bema Seat are given out, (Rev. 11) before the return at
Armageddon, so that the Bride has made herself ready for her
marriage. (Rev. 19). It is then that she follows her Bridegroom down
to earth. It is impossible, given the vast amount of saints that
will be resurrected/raptured, for this to occur in this instantaneous
up and down scenario, for they do not teach that there is any gap in time between going up and coming down, yet this does not seem to be a problem for the
proponents of this teaching. This theory is usually known as the
post-trib theory, which if I understand it correctly, still keeps
everything in chronological order, calling the seven
seals, trumpet judgments and bowl judgments all God’s wrath.
Another problem with this scenario is that God’s wrath is poured
out before Christ returns. That is not what Scripture seems to teach.
It is taught that when Christ returns, then He will exact God’s
vengeance. That requires His return before the wrath of God, not
after it is over except for the last battle.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are other
versions of this theory which sometimes identify themselves as
separate from the standard post-trib theory by identifying themselves
with a particular scripture such as “The Parable of the Eagle and
Carcass,” in which the seals are not necessarily part of God’s
wrath, and the trumpets and bowls are poured out more or less
simultaneously and everything ends at the seventh trumpet which also
seems to be Armageddon. How these trumpets and bowls are interspersed
together seems to depend upon the decision of the individual writer,
as there is really nothing in Scripture that would have you
intersperse them in this way or indicate how it would be done. It
seems to be more of a private interpretation based upon the ideas of
the authors. Peter tells us that prophecy is not for private
interpretation. (2 Peter 1:10) No matter which scenario is used, in all cases it
keeps everyone here to the very end. This is based in part upon, as
far as I can tell, an interpretation of a passage in the Olivet
Discourse and the parable of the wheat and tares. The first is found
in Matthew 24 and in Luke 17. Those who reference it call it the
parable of the carcass and the eagle, or some similar name. The
passage reads as follows in the two books.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>“For as the
lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth
unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in
his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of
this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be
also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they
married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank,
they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day
that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven,
and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son
of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop,
and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away:
and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose
it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you,
in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be
taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding
together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall
be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they
answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them,
Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together.” Luke 17:24-37
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>“For as the
lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the
carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together…..But as the
days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For
as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took
them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then
shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be
taken, and the other left.” Matthew 24:27-28, 37-41.</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The belief seems to
be that those who are physically taken away, when there are two together, are the wicked, and those
who are left behind are the righteous. This teaching (I am using a
composite of information from several sources) first refers to Noah
as a defense of this interpretation. The reason being that it is said
in Luke that the flood took “them” meaning the evil ones, away.
Thus it is surmised that the point of the passage is that it is the
evil ones who will be removed, not the righteous. The first problem
with this is that this passage is speaking of a physical removal to
another location. If that were to be the point of the passage, we
need to see who was actually physically removed before God’s wrath
commences. Also another problem is that it only says in one instance
that it “took them all away.” In the other instance it says that
the flood destroyed them all. So who was really taken away - the
wicked or the righteous? The phrase in regard to the people of Noah’s
day seems to be more metaphorical in regards to their being taken in
death, not removed physically. The evil people did not go anywhere
except straight to hell. In that sense, yes, they were taken away,
but they didn’t leave the area, and it seems that being physically
removed to another locale is the objective in being taken away when
Christ returns. The wicked in Noah’s day weren’t physically
removed by the angels and transported to another location to endure
God’s wrath. Spiritually yes, they were removed, but physically,
no, they weren’t moved in relation to locale, they were simply
taken in death. They died where they stood. Noah and his family on
the other hand were physically removed or taken away and shielded
from the carnage by being enclosed in the ark by God Himself, which
then floated off with the waters. And if Noah is to be used as an
example, then should not Lot be also?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have to use both
examples, as Christ did, and as Scripture is consistent, both stories
must reflect the same interpretation. We all know that Lot was
literally dragged out of Sodom. He was the one who was physically
taken away. In fact the angels had to literally drag him out of the
city. The people of Sodom went absolutely nowhere except straight to
hell. A spiritual removal, and physical in the sense that even their
bodies were burned to cinders, but not physical in the sense of
moving location. Lot and Noah were both removed physically from
experiencing God’s wrath by being removed from the location or in
Noah’s case they were locked into a safe receptacle to wait it out.
This is what will happen at the time of the rapture. The righteous
will be physically and forcibly removed by the angels from the scene
and put in a safe “ark” (New Jerusalem) before God’s wrath
commences – a combination of what occurred in the previous two
times. The wicked were not taken physically to be thrown into God’s
wrath. It came upon them where they stood, as it will when it begins
during the Day of the Lord in the bowl judgments. Armageddon comes
six bowl judgments after God’s wrath begins, so the wicked being
physically gathered for that does not occur at first; it occurs at
last. The wicked start suffering God’s wrath without being taken
anywhere.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We must therefore
ask ourselves, if the context is the Second Coming, and Christ is
speaking about the angels gathering the elect to meet Him in the air,
and the main thought of the comparison of Christ’s coming and these
two events is actually about who was taken and who was not, then has
He not set the context for that interpretation of the verses above?
Who is actually taken or removed when Christ returns? Christ tells us
it is the elect who are gathered. And in each of the examples cases,
the answer is that the righteous ones were removed physically out of
the line of fire, just as the saints will be. Christ tells us as it
was then, so shall it be again, although I believe He is speaking
more about the evil of the day and how it results in God’s wrath,
rather than who is removed before whom. The righteous will be removed
from out of the line of fire by being gathered by the angels. He
tells us that the angels will gather the elect to meet Him in the
air. We know for a fact that we are not appointed to wrath. (1 Thess.
1:10, 5:9) We also know that the world remains to receive it just as
they did in Noah’s and Lot’s day, while Noah and Lot were removed
from experiencing it just as we will be. So then why would Christ
teach that the righteous remain while the evil ones are taken, right
after he has told them that the elect are the ones who will be
gathered? He wouldn’t. One must be careful not to read something,
which is not there, into a text just to try to understand something
which one is struggling to understand. When one sees that the evil
ones being taken away could not possibly be the case in the case of
Lot, then we should interpret it metaphorically or spiritually when
looking at the verse about Noah, even though it says that the evil
ones were taken away. Especially since it clearly was the righteous
who were removed from experiencing God’s wrath, which is what the
rapture is all about.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next it mentions
that two are in a bed, two are grinding at a mill, two are in a
field, and one is taken and one is left in each case. All of these
events are said to occur when Christ returns, or is revealed. Just
previously to this in Matthew, Christ says that when He comes, He
will send out angels and gather the elect. Again, Christ Himself
gives us the context to interpret the verses that follow. He says He
is removing the righteous before He pours out His wrath, just as He
did before with Noah and Lot. Clearly these verses are speaking to
the removal of the righteous. There is no other way to take this
given the context. The unrighteous were always left right where they
stood to experience God’s wrath.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now comes the verse
that puzzles many. Luke says,<i> “And they answered and said unto
him, <b>Where</b>, Lord? And he said unto them, <b>Wheresoever
</b>the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.”
Matthew says, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and
shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. For <b>wheresoever </b>the carcase is, there will the
eagles be gathered together.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Because of the
mention of eagles and the word “carcase” being used in Matthew’s
case, it is assumed that this must refer to the carnage of the
battle of Armageddon, as the birds and animals will be invited to the
supper of God. Revelation 19:17-18<i> “And I saw an angel standing in
the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that
fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto
the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and
the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of
horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both
free and bond, both small and great.”</i> Ezekiel 39:17-18<i> “And,
thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered
fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come;
gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice
for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye
may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty,
and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs,
and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is true that the
above verses in Revelation and Ezekiel are talking about great
carnage that the fowl of the air will feast on at Armageddon, but
are they the verses that correspond to this idiomatic expression in
Matthew and Luke? The above verses about two together with one taken,
or the days of Noah and Lot are referring to the state of events when
Christ makes His appearance at the Second Coming, not at Armageddon.
Christ returns with the saints at Armageddon, after having rewarded
them, so that they are prepared for the marriage. There are six bowl
judgments between His Coming and Armageddon. The Second coming occurs
at the seventh trumpet, before the bowls of God’s wrath are poured
out. After Christ returns and resurrects/raptures the saints, He
takes them to New Jerusalem for the Bema Seat Judgment and while that
transpires, the bowl or vial judgments of God’s wrath are poured
out upon the world. It is at the end of the wrath of God that
Armageddon occurs, which is when Christ returns on the white horse
with the saints behind Him, and smites the armies that have come
against Jerusalem. (Rev. 19) This is a number of days or several
weeks later.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is a thirty
day gap between the end of Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week when
Christ returns, and the end of it all (God’s wrath) according to
Daniel 12:8-9,11.<i> “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I,
O my Lord, what shall be <b>the end </b>of these things? And he said,
Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the
time of the end.…..And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall
be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there
shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” </i>In other words,
there is a period of 1290 days from the time of the abomination until
all is finished. That includes God’s wrath. This is thirty days
longer than the 1260 days that we are told is the length of the
second half of Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week, which must end in
Christ’s coming. We know this to be a fact, because the beast has
forty-two months to reign, and he reigns from the time of the
abomination. He is destroyed (his kingdom, his powerful abilities,
and his control) according to 2 Thess. 2:8 by the brightness of
Christ’s coming.This is after 1260 days or forty-two months. How can God’s wrath begin until the beast’s
reign ends? It can’t. Scriptures says it can’t. Revelation
11:15-18 tells us that Christ’s reign begins and God’s wrath has
come at the seventh trumpet. They happen at the same time - at the end
of the 1260 days or forty-two months. It would negate Scripture and
make God a liar if God’s wrath has begun long before Christ
returns. Satan’s control over earth is allowed to continue until
Christ returns and becomes King of Kings and reigns over earth, and
only then can God’s wrath be poured out. It is true the beast is
not thrown in the lake of fire until Armageddon, but he loses his
power and throne when Christ returns and must suffer God’s wrath
along with everyone else. Therefore the wrath of God, which falls
upon the beast as well, must occur after the 1260 days or forty-two
months are past and must be finished by the time of the 1290<sup>th</sup>
day, thirty days later. Therefore Christ's Second Coming and His coming at Armageddon are separated by thirty days or so.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So continuing with
the expression about the eagles, the first problem in making these
eagle/carcase/body verses be about Armageddon, is that Armageddon
occurs well after the rapture. If this expression is about
Armageddon, it cannot be about the rapture. If it is about the
rapture, which the context would imply it is, it is not about
Armageddon nor the feast for the birds. Further, in these verses in
Ezekiel and Revelation, eagles are never mentioned. That is not to
say eagles would not be there, but God is pretty consistent when He
wants to connect verses by using terminology that is the same. The
reference to eagles that Christ made was an idiomatic expression or
metaphor, and should be treated as such. It was given in answer to a
specific question. The question was “Where?”. In other words,
where would Christ be returning, and where would the elect be
gathered? Even in Matthew, he specifies that Christ said,
“wheresoever,” meaning that His response was in answer to the
question “Where?”. We first need to look at how Scripture uses
the word “eagle,” to see how to take our cue from it, so as to
properly interpret the hidden meaning of the idiomatic expression
when used in answer to the question.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The following
compose all the references to eagles in the Scriptures. How they use
the word, is how we should understand it to be used in
interpretation. First, there are the references to eagles as a source
of food. Israel was forbidden to eat eagles, but in several cases,
the eagle is specified as a gier eagle, which is a kind of vulture.
As a gier eagle is not really the bald eagle we consider, but a type
of vulture, we will eliminate the first two verses below.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Leviticus 11:18 <i>“And
the swan, and the pelican, and the gier <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle.</span><b>”
</b></i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deuteronomy 14:17
<i>“And the pelican, and the gier <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>,
and the cormorant.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The next three
verses are the only verses that speak to the eagle being unclean and
not to be eaten or sacrificed, or in the latter verse they are
associated with carrion or death.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Leviticus 11:13 <i>“And
these are they which ye shall
have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they
are an abomination: the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>,
and the ossifrage, and the ospray.”</i> <br />
<br />
Deuteronomy 14:12<i>
“But these are they of
which ye shall not eat: the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle,</span>
and the ossifrage, and the ospray.” </i><br />
<br />
Proverbs 30:17 <i>“The
eye that mocketh<span style="font-weight: normal;">
at</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
his </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">father, and
despiseth to obey</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
his</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> mother, the
ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagle</span>s
shall eat it.” </i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The rest of the
verses in the Bible that mention the eagle do not reference it as an
unclean bird, but refer to it in several other ways. I believe that
because Scripture does treat eagles with a certain respect, that we
need to look further to see its real application in the expression,
for I believe that it is a misapplication to associate it with
Armageddon in the Olivet Discourse for several reasons, the first one
being that Armageddon is not referenced in the Olivet Discourse. The
Second Coming and gathering of the elect in the rapture is. Again,
that is the context of the verse.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next, while eagles
can be carrion eaters like vultures, and we cannot totally dismiss
these three verses, the Scriptures use the word “eagle” in the
vast majority of time in a different way, many times in a
metaphorical way. In the New Testament, which is where the verse
under question is found, the word translated as “eagle” is
“aetos.” Aetos comes from the same root as “aer” which means
air, breathe, blow, or respiration. The eagle is named for its
wind-like flight. We see Scripture uses this word in ways that refer
to its majesty of flight, and is associated with God in some cases.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First, God talks
about bearing people on eagles’ wings. This is God’s means of
providing protection, preservation, and provision.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Exodus 19:4<i> “Ye
have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and
how I bare you on <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagles</span>'
wings, and brought you unto myself.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deuteronomy 32:9-12<i>
“For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his
inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling
wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the
apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on
her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange
god with him.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Revelation 12:14
<i>“And to the woman were given two wings of a great <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>,
that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is
nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of
the serpent.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next the eagle is
used as the symbol of swiftness due to its remarkable ability in
flight.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deuteronomy 28:49
<i>“The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end
of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue
thou shalt not understand;”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i>
</div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>2 Samuel 1:23 “Saul
and Jonathan were lovely and
pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided:
they were swifter than<span style="font-weight: normal;"> eagle</span>s,
they were stronger than lions.”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Job 9:26 <i>“They are
passed away as the swift ships: as the<span style="font-weight: normal;">
eagle</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>that hasteth to
the prey.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jeremiah 4:13
<i>“Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall
be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>s.
Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lamentations 4:19
<i>“Our persecutors are swifter than the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagles</span>
of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for
us in the wilderness.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hosea 8:1<i> “Set
the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall
come as an <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle </span>against
the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant,
and trespassed against my law.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Habakkuk 1:8 <i>“Their
horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than
the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and
their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>
that hasteth to eat.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jeremiah 48:40<i> “For
thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>,
and shall spread his wings over Moab.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jeremiah 49:22
<i>“Behold, he shall come up and fly as the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>,
and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of
the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then the eagle’s
ability to fly to great heights and the beauty of it in flight is
mentioned.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Job 39:27 <i>“Doth
the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her ne</i>st on high?”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Proverbs 23:5 <i>“Wilt
thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches
certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an<span style="font-weight: normal;">
eagle</span> toward heaven.”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jeremiah 49:16 <i>“Thy
terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart,
O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the
height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as
the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle,</span> I will bring thee
down from thence, saith the LORD.” </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Proverbs 30:18-19
<i>“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four
which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a
serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and
the way of a man with a maid.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Obadiah 1:4<i> “Though
thou exalt thyself as the
<span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>, and though thou set
thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the
LORD.”
</i></div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The blessings of the
Lord are compared to one’s youth being renewed like the eagle’s.
This is a very positive comparison and it is for the righteous.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Psalm 103:5 <i>“Who
satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>'s.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then there are
angels that have the likeness of eagles.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ezekiel 1:10 <i>“As
for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and
the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of
an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle.</span>”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ezekiel 10:14 <i>“And
every one had four faces: the first face was
the face of a cherub, and the second face was
the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the
fourth the face of an <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle.</span>”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Revelation 4:7<i> “And
the first beast was like a
lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a
face as a man, and the fourth beast was
like a flying <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The eagle is used as
a descriptive simile.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Daniel 4:33 <i>“The
same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was
driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagles</span>'
feathers, and his
nails like birds' claws.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Micah 1:16 “Make
thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy
baldness as the <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle</span>; for
they are gone into captivity from thee.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Daniel 7:4<i> “The
first was like a lion, and had <span style="font-weight: normal;">eagle'</span>s
wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was
lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and
a man's heart was given to it.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next the eagle is
used as a metaphor for a king or leader of a country in a parable.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ezekiel 17:3<i> “And
say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings,
longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto
Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ezekiel 17:7<i> “There
was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and,
behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her
branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her
plantation.”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In all of these
verses, the eagle is presented in a positive light - protective,
swift, majestic, kingly, and even angelic. Finally, and this verse
seems to be the one that really has a connection to the idiom of the
eagle and body/carcase in the Olivet Discourse, is the following:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Isaiah 40:31<i> “But
they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint.”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This verse clearly
refers to our resurrected state. We, God’s children who wait upon
Him, are said to run and not be weary, walk and not faint, and most
specifically mount up to the sky as eagles. We are compared to
eagles. When we are raptured, we will mount up to the sky just as
eagles do, to meet the Lord in the air. We will then no more be weary
or faint.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now that we have
seen that the vast majority of references to eagles is not associated with something like Armageddon, but more likely to be compared to
Isaiah 40:31 and that in fact Christ was spiritually or metaphorically referring to us. We are the eagles in question that are gathered
around the body/carcase. That becomes more clear when we look at the two other words in that
phrase – body and carcase to see to what or more accurately to whom
this refers.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the Greek, the
word “body” is the word “soma.” It means a sound body. A
living, healthy body. How could this possibly be a reference to the
carnage of Armageddon? It isn’t. The word “carcase” on the
other hand is “ptoma” and means a lifeless corpse. How could
these two verses, which are assumed to say the same thing in English,
have such very different meanings in the Greek? How can a body be
both dead and very much alive at the same time? Well, Christ died,
and yet lives. He was a lifeless corpse, but now He is alive and has
a sound body that will never be sick, grow old, or die again. I do
not think God made a mistake when having Matthew and Luke use these two opposing terms. I believe He was trying to clue us in to the real meaning. The body being
spoken of in this metaphor is Christ. The eagles being spoken of are
the saints. The important thing that is overlooked in this idiomatic
expression was the question it answered. The idiom was used to answer
the question that the disciples asked after Christ told them of His
return and that the elect would be gathered. They wanted to know where they would be gathered to be with
Him. They wanted to be in the right place at the right time.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>“For as the
lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the
carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”</i></div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>“For as the
lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth
unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in
his day…….. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be
taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him,
Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither
will the eagles be gathered together.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The disciples were
asking, and Christ was telling them <i><b>where </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
would be returning and gathering them. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Where
Christ </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(the
body/carcase) is or </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
return, is where the saints </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(the
eagles) </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
be gathered. In this case it will be over Jerusalem </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
mo</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st
likely </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">over
the mount of Olives. In Acts when Christ ascended from there, the
angels told the disciples that as they saw Him ascend, so would He
return. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jeremiah
51:</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">6
& </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">50</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
it tells Israel to </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">flee
out of Babylon and </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">look
to Jerusalem </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
they are in exile </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">during
the tribulation</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
They are to return t</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">o
Jerusalem,</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
so that they will see Him when He returns </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
thus be saved</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
returns above there at the rapture, and He will return there </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">again
at</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Armageddon to destroy the nations. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Zechariah 14:</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
we are told that his feet will touch the mount of Olives when He
returns during the Day of the Lord. In both cases, Christ returns to
the place of His throne on earth – Jerusalem. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
not understanding that this idiomatic expression </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
metaphor </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(not
a parable) </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
in reply to the question of “where,” it leaves room for
misinterpretation </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a misunderstanding of the order of events </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by
thinking it is referring to Armageddon</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
there is still doubt as to the order, in Revelation 14:14- 20 we find
Christ again has laid out the order for us.<i> “</i></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his
hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy
sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the
harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in
his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel
came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp
sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power
over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp
sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters
of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the
angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of
the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood out of the
winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand
and six hundred furlongs.”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When Christ returns, the elect are gathered and then the wicked are
gathered and thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. This is
clearly delineated for us in the most precise terms. It is not hinted
at through a parable or an idiomatic expression. The order of the
rapture is laid out quite clearly. And it agrees with the way the
above verses in the Olivet Discourse have been interpreted by this
author.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">then
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
do we deal with the parable of the wheat and tares? As this seems now
to be the only thorn that prevents understanding that the righteous
are gathered first and the wicked thrown into God’s wrath, we need
to look and see if it really says the opposite </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
creates a dilemma</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
or if there is another way of interpreting it that allows it to </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">agree
with </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
previous verses.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 13:24- 30 <i>“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in
his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among
the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and
brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants
of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow
good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto
them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou
then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye
gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both
grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them
in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”</i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lest it be forgotten that the Kingdom of God is not simply the
Gentile Church and O.T. saints, we must remember that when the
blindness is lifted from the eyes of the remnant of Israel at the
Second Coming, then all Israel will be saved, when the fullness of
the Gentiles (the end of the Church) comes in.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Romans
11:25-26<i> “</i></span></span><i>For I would not, brethren, that ye should
be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own
conceits; that <b>blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be
saved</b>: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”</i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luke 21:23-24<i> “But
woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in
those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, (great
tribulation) and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the
edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations:
and <b>Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the
times of the Gentiles be fulfilled</b>.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Revelation 11:2 <i>“But
the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;
for <b>it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they
tread under foot forty and two months.</b>”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Revelation 1:7
<i>“Behold, <b>he cometh with clouds</b>; (Second Coming) and
<b>every eye shall see him</b>, and <b>they also which
pierced him</b>: and all kindreds of the earth <b>shall wail
because of him</b>. Even so, Amen.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Zechariah 12:10-11<i>
“And<b> I will pour upon the house of David</b>, and upon
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace an<span style="font-weight: normal;">d
of supplications: and</span><b> they shall look upon me
whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth
for his only son, </b>and shall be in bitterness for him, as one
that is in bitterness for his firstborn. <b>In that day shall
there be a great mourning in Jerusalem</b>, as the mourning of
Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.”
</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
These verses when
taken together show us that Jerusalem is trodden down by the Gentiles
for forty-two months after the abomination until the time of the
Gentiles is fulfilled. Then when the time of the Gentiles is
fulfilled (the Church complete and raptured) all Israel will be
saved, when they see Him (at His Second Coming) whom they have
pierced and mourn for Him.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This now leaves
newly believing Israelites (I use that term instead of Jews, as the
remnant of all twelve tribes, including the ten that are dispersed in
the Gentile nations will believe.) left behind to go through the Day
of the Lord or God’s wrath. They are now the new wheat which is
among the tares that still must be gathered and burned. As the bowls
commence, the tares will over the course of these bowls, be brought
together at Armageddon. This is when the bulk of the world comes
against Jerusalem, for this is when the world truly comes to the end,
when they are literally thrown into the fires of hell. During this
time, or after the gathering of the wicked begins, Israel (the
wheat) will be gathered under Christ’s wing for protection.
Zechariah 12:8-9<i> “In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants
of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be
as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the
LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will
seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”</i>
Israel is the one who was promised the Kingdom of God in a covenant.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
then reconciles the parable of the wheat and tares at the</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
end </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the age. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Kingdom of God actually began with the Old Testament saints, then t</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he Church became a part of it</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
but it is also reborn Israel. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">These
latter ones are the people whom Christ protects through the wrath, for they are
the ones who will populate the earth. They cannot be raptured, for
they were not saved at the time of Christ’s coming. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is their destiny to inhabit the kingdom on earth. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
the Church does not remain during the wrath, for we are not appointed
to have to endure it, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">nor
are we to inhabit the earth. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Great Tribulation is for the purging of the Church, not for Israel. Israel (the
woman/144,000) has been under God’s protection during the
tribulation in the wilderness, and Satan has not been able to touch her. (Rev. 12). </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now
they must go through, under God’s protection, the time of Jacob’s
trouble, which is not the great tribulation, but actually the Day of
the Lord. Jeremiah 30:7 <i>“Alas! for that day (the Day of the Lord)
is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's
trouble; but </i></span></span><i><b>he
shall be saved out of it.</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">”
</span>
</i></div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The kingdom</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
has been growing ever since the first seed was sown, as the parable
says. However not all the wheat (believers) will be harvested at the
time of Christ’s return, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
Israel does not believe until after Christ returns</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">complete
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>end </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the world, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
more accurately end of the age, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">does
not come until Armageddon. That is when the wheat and tares are
gathered and separated according to the parable.</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
tares are harvested </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
thrown into </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">God’s
wrath which ends with Armageddon when the world gathers to storm
Jerusalem. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That
is the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">final
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">end
when they are gathered and burned, and the wheat is brought into
God’s barn (gathered at Jerusalem yet again).</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
We know from Revelation </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">14
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
the rapture occurs before the wicked are gathered for God’s wrath.
That cannot change in order, for that is the order given and it is
not in parable form, it is directly told </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
us in the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">clearest
possible </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">way.
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
However the parable is not that direct. It is hidden in meaning, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
parables are, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">so
we must look for the meaning that fits with the Scriptures that are
clearly delineated for us. In this case, the only way the parable
does not go against Scripture is to see it as presented above. When
one does this, all of the Scriptures agree with each other, which is
what one must look for when one is seeking to understand God’s
Word.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
we look for Christ’s explanation of the parable </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">below</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
we see that He says that the bad seed will be gathered at the</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
end</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and then the righteous (which are left on earth) shall shine forth </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>in
the kingdom</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
So what kingdom is He speaking about? The Church is not going to be
left behind on earth </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
live in the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">k</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ingdom</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
We are going to New Jerusalem. We are not staying here </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
the kingdom on earth</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">, although our work may bring us to earth at times, as it does the angels.
We are leaving to live elsewhere. We know the remnant that survives </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
great tribulation </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
be raptured out. So who is left behind? Israel, the one who received
the covenant promise of the kingdom</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is left behind</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
It is the millennial kingdom that the disciples were interested in
knowing about, for they knew of no other kingdom. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
context of to whom Christ was speaking must be considered. How they
understood it, should be how we approach it. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
only kingdom they were expecting was the millennial one </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">under
their Messiah’s rule, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which
had been promised to them by a covenant with God, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">so
I believe Christ was telling them Israel’s fate in this parable, not the Church’s, for they would not understand it any differently.
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
knew nothing about the Church yet. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thus
with </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Israel</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
being the wheat, we can now see that this works very well with the
rest of Scripture and does not go against the other very clear verses
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">about
the Church’s fate</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew
13:36-43<i> “</i></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his
disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the
tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth
the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good
seed are the children of the kingdom; </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(The
disciples would have only understood this to be Israel </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
the covenant promise was made to them, and they knew nothing about
the Church age</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed
them is the devil; the harvest is the</span><b>
end of the world</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">;
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(the
end of the world comes at Armageddon)</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered
and </span><b>burned in the
fire</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">;
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Armageddon)
</span><b>so shall it be in
the end of this world</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do
iniquity; </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(We
know from Rev. 14 that this occurs after Christ raptures the elect.)
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(The
wicked are gathered). </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
shall the righteous </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Israel)
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">shine
forth as the sun</span><b> in
the kingdom of their Father</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Those
who have been left behind.) </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear.”</i> </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Zech
12:9, 14:12 <i>“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will
seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem…...And
this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people
that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away
while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away
in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So the order is the following: gather the elect at the rapture,
gather the wicked and throw them into God’s wrath, leave behind the
righteous who accept the Lord after the rapture. This order agrees
with all of the Scriptures, if one takes them in the apparent
chronological order as laid out in Scripture – seals, trumpets,
then bowls. There is no need to convolute the book of Revelation by
mixing or overlaying these three types of judgments. It is not
indicated in any way in Scripture to do so, and it is unnecessary
when one truly looks closely at verses that may seem difficult at
first.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a side note, the reason for making the order of Revelation
convoluted, as I understand it, is that I have been told that one
must approach Revelation from a Jewish manner of interpretation. I do
not understand exactly what is meant by this, other than God tells us
some information, then goes back to give us details. That is true of
Revelation in a manner which I feel is obvious. He pauses to give some background for Israel, the beast, and Babylon in Revelation 12-14, and 17-18, but other than that, I
believe most of Revelation can be taken in chronological order. One
reason against this argument that one must approach it from a Jewish interpretive manner is that Revelation was not written for Jews. It was written
for Gentiles, who would comprise the Church, for whom the book was
specifically written. The Gentiles over the ages would have no
inkling of how to interpret Scripture by some Jewish theological device. They
would interpret it as I have interpreted it. Take it at face value,
and take it chronologically except where it is obvious that there is
a pause in the narrative to fill in background information. God is
not a God of chaos. He is a God of order, and I think to preserve the
idea that prophecy is not for private interpretation, one must adhere
to as face value an interpretation as possible. This includes
chronology. Even the symbolic visions are explained by God, if not in
Revelation, then the symbolism can be found somewhere else in
Scripture. God usually explains all of the symbolism He uses, so we
must use Scripture to interpret Scripture in those cases.God expected anybody that studied this book to read and heed it. How could one do that if one does not understand how to interpret it? It is much easier than people think when one simply takes it at face value. The key to understanding, though, lies in knowing all of the books that come before it. You can't solve a mystery if you haven't read the entire book to get all the clues. There is a reason God calls all of this a "mystery." </div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hopefully this brings some clarity to the difficult verses and the
dilemma of verses that seem to be in conflict with each other.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-42859720727708027112019-01-16T18:46:00.000-08:002019-01-16T18:46:27.606-08:00Abstain From All Appearance of Evil
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Abstain from all
appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22. This is a verse that has
been repeated over and over to make sure that the congregations (and
pastors) do not do anything of which the outward appearance might
even remotely give someone the wrong idea, so that the reputation of
the church and people might remain intact in the community as being above
reproach. In fact, in many churches the reputation of being
righteously superior to the rest of the community seems to supersede
many other considerations, including that of being loving or even obedient to God. Of course
there are always those who will look for evil in every action. The
unsaved, because they are looking for reasons to reject Christ, and
the saved, because some of them love to gossip and be busybodies and control others by trying to bend them to their will and rules. So
it leaves people very restricted and restraining themselves from
doing the very things that the Holy Spirit might lead them to
otherwise do, because someone might get the wrong impression, or keeps them from just
exercising a freedom in Christ that is allowed by God. Is that really
what Paul meant when he wrote it? To be obsessed with how someone
might perceive outward appearances and so not do things for the sake
of reputation? Even when led by God to do something?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So many take the
verse “Abstain from all appearance of evil” out of context and do
not look further into its meaning. First of all, it should not be
separated from the previous verse, of which it is a part. 1 Thess
5:21-22 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain
from all appearance of evil.” It is one complete thought. First we
are to prove all things. That indicates that we are not to accept
anything by its outward appearance. The very opposite of how this
verse is used. For instance, new doctrines may look good on the
outside to those who are not discerning, but we must examine and
prove them to see what is at the core. Old traditions and new
practices may seem good on the outside, but we are not to accept
things by their outward appearance, whether they are generations old,
or brand new. We are to examine them and find out what is at their
core. We may see others behaving in a way that looks ambiguous or
even looks sinful in its outward appearance, but as Christians, we
are NOT to accept things on their outward appearance and judge them,
for we may judge incorrectly and unrighteously. We are to find out
what is at the core. What the reality of the situation is.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
After we examine
something to find out what the reality of it is, then and only then
can we judge something as good or evil. That is the next part of the
verse. What to do with the results. If it is good, we are told to
hold fast to it. Embrace it, approve it, and accept it. If, on the other
hand, what we find is that there is evil at its core, we are to
abstain from it or stay away from it. But what about the word
“appearance?” Does that not mean that we should judge by outward
appearances? No.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In English the word
“appearance” actually has two meanings. The first is that which
bears a similarity to something else. In other words, the outward
appearance which may resemble something other than what it really is.
It is ambiguous as to what it actually is in its true essence, or it
may possibly even be the opposite of what it looks like outwardly.
The second definition is considered to be something that manifests
visibly in its reality. In other words, it presents itself in its
true essence. The first definition would be something like the
following: “What she said had the appearance of being truthful.”
It is not a certainty whether or not she is telling the truth. It is
ambiguous as to what its reality or true essence is. Only on closer
examination can the reality of its essence of good or bad be
revealed. When it is examined, the truth of its reality comes out.
This is what a court of law does. They examine a witness to see what
the truth is before judgment is rendered. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The truth of its reality is
the second definition of the word “appearance.” It would be as
follows: “After examination, the lie made its appearance.”It visibly manifested itself. The
reality of its true core or essence became readily apparent or
visible for all to see. In fact, in the above case, she was not telling the truth, even
though in what she said, its outward appearance looked as if it were
the truth. But the real truth, the real appearance came out in the
examination (or proving) of the witness. The lie manifested itself
visibly as to what its reality was. A lie. What initially would have
been accepted as truth by outward appearance is in fact a lie. So
what she said is then judged as something to shun. Since in English
there are two meanings, and they pretty much mean the opposite of
each other, we need to go to the Greek to discern what this verse is
telling us and which definition of "appearance" we are to use.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In 1 Thess. 5:22, we
find that the word “appearance” is the Greek word “eidos”
which in fact has the definition of being something which is a
certainty, of which one can be sure. It is that which is manifested
visibly in its reality, not ambiguous as to what its reality is. It
is the second definition of our English word “appearance” above.
Thus this verse, used almost exclusively to judge people by outward
appearances, tells us exactly the opposite. Christians are NOT to
judge by outward appearances at all, but examine all things to find
the truth of the matter and then judge it accordingly. How many times
have I seen people doing work for the Lord, of which others do not
know the circumstances, be judged on some ambiguous outward
appearance, and be condemned for it. How many are doing something
innocent only to have people spread vicious lies through gossip due
to their evil minds and unrighteous judgment? Too many to count,
that’s how many.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have seen people
brought publicly in front of the church and embarrassed for the purpose of "church discipline," while being ostracized or reprimanded and threatened with punishment, if they did
not “confess and repent” of their “sin” of having allowed an
outward appearance of something they did (even while doing God’s
work at His leading and innocent of any wrongdoing) which did not
meet with others’ standards of expectations. This is so wrong. This
in fact is sinful. The misjudging of outward appearances is not the
sin of the doer, but actually the sin of the judge. God’s Word says
it is wrong to judge in this way. How many times was Christ condemned
for what He did? Hanging out with the “wrong” people (sinners),
“working” on the Sabbath (of which He is Lord), doing all those
things which the self-righteous religious leaders of the day
condemned, because it did not meet with their standards and rules of
outward appearances, of which that was all they were concerned with
about themselves. What was at their core was of little concern to
them. We all know how righteous God saw them as being.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We need to make sure
we are proving all things before we judge. Jesus did not worry about
what others thought as He carried out God’s work. Neither should
we- if we are carrying out God’s work and not committing any sin.
Looking for evil and judging with no knowledge is not the sin of the
doer, but the sin of the judge. God tells us not to worry about what
people think or our reputation when we are living righteously and
doing His work and will. Outward appearances matter little to Him, if
we are about His business. He will take care of our reputation for
us. Look at the prophets Isaiah – who walked around buck naked for
3 years, and Hosea, who married a prostitute at God’s command. Not
everything is always as it appears (outward appearance). God has
given us His Word to show us that He feels this way.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 Peter 2:15-16 “It
is God's will by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of
foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a
cover-up for evil; live as servants of God”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Proverbs 16:7 “When
a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at
peace with him.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Is. 51:7 “Hearken
unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my
law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their
revilings.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Galatians 1:10 “For
do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I
yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eph. 6:6 “Not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart;”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Is. 2:22 “Stop
regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is
he?”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
All of these verses
tell us that we are not to worry about what others think, as we live
our lives for God, doing His will. We are not to live to please
others and their standards or expectations of what they think we
should do, for their rules don’t matter. Only God’s rules do. Of
course if you are sinning, whether someone else sees you or not, God
does. He always sees on the heart and doesn’t need outward
appearances to judge us.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One story that I
cannot forget in regards to this outward appearance issue is the
following. A pastor who lived out in the country (before cell
service) was driving down the road and suddenly his car broke down.
And it did it right in front of one of the local bars. Because he was
worried that someone might see him walking into the bar (to use the
phone) and think he was there to drink, he chose to walk until he
could find a place from which to call. What he did not consider is
that God is in control of all of our circumstances and it was He who
had the car break down right where it did. Did this pastor ever
consider that perhaps there was someone in the bar who was at a
crucial point in their lives and needed someone to tell them about
Jesus? Maybe someone was thinking of suicide, or committing a crime,
or whatever. Who knows? We never will. Maybe God wanted this pastor
to go in and talk to this person, but alas, because he was more
worried about what people might think or say about him (I have to
wonder if he thought about the fact that if people saw his car there,
it wouldn’t matter if they saw him walk in or not.), he walked away
from what may have been an opportunity to bring someone into God’s
fold. His spotless, self-righteous reputation was more important to
him than taking this as a possible mission from God. As a pastor he
should have known that God is in control of every aspect of our
lives, so there was a reason he broke down right there. Nothing is
coincidence with God. So come judgment day, will he be told that he
missed an opportunity because of his legalistic and self-righteous
attitude? It’s hard to say, because we will never know until then,
why exactly God did have him break down there. One hopes that God had
a servant who wasn’t so full of self and concerned about what
people think, who did obey God and do whatever needed to be done in
that bar. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So while we should not seek to bring disgrace upon our Lord by being selfish and doing whatever we want, acting on our own desires and not following God's leading, (that's called sinning) neither should we be overly concerned about what someone will think, if God calls us to do something of which they don't approve or have reservations. I have done many things in my life in obedience to God that had others aghast at me and got tongues wagging. Did I care. Quite honestly, no. And I still don't. I'm not here to serve them or please them. I'm here to serve God and do His bidding, regardless. And while many times that started the gossips tongues wagging, in every case that I'm aware of, God always preserved and brought my reputation back to me intact, and the gossip became nothing. That is what He has promised us, if we do His will and that is what He will do. So if you are being called in a way that others do not approve, don't worry about it. If God is calling you (and you must be sure it is God calling you, not self, not Satan) then follow the Holy Spirit's leading and don't worry about the rest. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another connected
problem that goes along with this is the stumblingblock defense. It
is another passage which is misunderstood and misused at times as
well, but that is another subject for another post.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-54563011894743001542019-01-16T09:54:00.001-08:002019-01-16T09:54:13.795-08:00Ezekiel 37 Valley of Dry Bones
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the most
confusing passages to me has been that of Ezekiel 37 and the prophecy
of the dry bones. It is not long, so I will just post it here before
discussing it.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[<b>1</b>] The hand
of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the
LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of
bones,<br />
[<b>2</b>] And caused me to pass by them round about:
and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they
were very dry.<br />
[<b>3</b>] And he said unto me, Son of man, can
these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.<br />
[<b>4</b>]
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them,
O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.<br />
[<b>5</b>] Thus saith
the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter
into you, and ye shall live:<br />
[<b>6</b>] And I will lay sinews
upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin,
and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am
the LORD.<br />
[<b>7</b>] So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as
I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones
came together, bone to his bone.<br />
[<b>8</b>] And when I beheld,
lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered
them above: but there was no breath in them.<br />
[<b>9</b>] Then
said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and
say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O
breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.<br />
[<b>10</b>]
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them,
and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great
army.<br />
[<b>11</b>] Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones
are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried,
and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.<br />
[<b>12</b>]
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come
up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.<br />
[<b>13</b>]
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves,
O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,<br />
[<b>14</b>]
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place
you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken
it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Growing up, every
pastor that I ever heard refer to this, referred to it in the context
of talking about the end times. And rightly so, for it is about the
end times. But the way they interpreted it was always in a spiritual
sense. In the hindsight of Israel becoming a nation on May 14, 1948,
it was interpreted as meaning that God would restore the Jewish
people to a nation and put them back in their country, meaning the
living people of that event of 1948. But is that the way that God
intends it to be interpreted, or as He wants us to interpret
prophecy, with no personal interpretation (which then sort of
precludes spiritualizing it), should we interpret it in the most face
value or literal way possible? I believe the latter is the way we are
to interpret it, but for a long time, I couldn’t quite figure out
exactly what was going on. It took a question by a friend to cue me
into what possibly might be going on here.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The question that my
friend asked was essentially the following, “What happens to the
Jews who believe in and worship God, (the same way as the righteous
Jews did before Christ came), who are looking forward to their
Messiah, but do not accept Jesus as their Messiah and Savior?”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was a question
I had never considered. As most Christians believe, it always seemed
an easy answer to say that if a person does not accept Jesus as their
Savior, then there is no other way to heaven. But this posed a
dilemma in this case, for these people <i><b>do</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
believe in a Messiah that will come to save them. They </span></span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>do</b></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
worship and believe in the one true God. They simply do not
understand that the Messiah which they look forward to has already
come. That God is looking out for these people cannot be denied, for
there are miraculous stories that come from these righteous,
God-fearing Jews that demonstrate that He has not forsaken them. And
we know that God will </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">choose
to </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bring
a remnant of them through the great tribulation and Day of the Lord
to enter into the millennium, all without having accepted Christ as
their Savior beforehand. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
When I looked at this passage my first reaction was to believe that
Israel (and this is speaking of the whole house of Israel, including
the ten lost tribes, not just the Jews) was being resurrected, but
how could that be? The resurrection when Christ returns is for those
who die in Christ and are the Bride of Christ. A closer look showed
that this passage is not speaking of resurrection. Resurrection is
not a restoration of the mortal body. It is taking the seeds of the
corporeal body and creating an entirely new type of glorified body, as Paul
explained in 1 Corinthians 15:35-44.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>35</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body
do they come?<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>36</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it
die:<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>37</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be,
but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>38</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed
his own body.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>39</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of
men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of
birds.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>40</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is
another.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>41</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and
another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star
in glory.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>42</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it
is raised in incorruption:<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>43</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in
weakness; it is raised in power:<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>44</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
body of the resurrection is not formed the same way the natural body
is. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is a glorified body. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
we look at this passage in Ezekiel we find that these bones are being
taken out of the grave and restored from the inside out </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
normal bodies</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
First bones are connected, then sinew (tendons and ligaments which
joins bones, and muscle to bones, etc) </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
flesh</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is put upon them, then </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">skin
</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
top of that. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
the breath of life is given to them. None of this describes the
resurrected body and how it comes about. It is an instantaneous
change to a completely different type of body. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
bodies being described are more similar to the way Adam came into
being. First formed, then given the breath of life. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
are not occurring as the resurrection bodies will occur – in the
twinkling of an eye.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
When this is completed, there stands an extremely large army of
people. It is interesting that the word “army” is used. The
Hebrew word means a “force” or in this instance a force of
people. The use of the English word “army” was not used to
necessarily imply a military might, but that the sheer number of the
risen will be a formidable force of people. When you have that many
people gathered who are in one accord, you actually do have an army
of people, even if they are not military people.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
This army of people declare that they are dry bones (dead for a long
time), that all hope is lost to them, (they feel they have missed the
boat for the promise of the covenant) and that they are cut off from
their parts, which may mean that they believe they are cut off from
their people, their salvation, and God’s promises. They say this,
because they have died without their Lord and Savior, and in death
they most likely have realized that Christ was the Messiah.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Scripture we are told that when Christ ascended, he took captivity
captive, Ephesians 4:8-9 </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
are told that Christ did not ascend to heaven when He died, but
descended into the lower parts of the earth. Paradise was in the
lower parts of the earth. Paradise was a part of Hades, the abode of
the dead. It was separated from hell by a great gulf, as shown in the
parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
believe was less storytelling and more truth than people realized.
To understand more about paradise and hell, which both comprise
Hades, I will put in a link to my article on that here </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
hell and I will explain about paradise. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/is-there-hell-who-goes-there-where-is-it.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/is-there-hell-who-goes-there-where-is-it.html</a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
When Christ died, he told the thief that he would join Christ in
Paradise. They descended to Hades, which as mentioned earlier is the
abode of the dead. Hades had two compartments separated by a gulf.
One was Paradise which was where the righteous went. God had
probably made sure that people understood about the afterlife, for we
find references to it in the Old Testament of the dead being
conscious there. And when Christ told the parable, it was obvious the
listeners knew about it. The ancient Greeks and other cultures would
have also known, but they had different names for it. The Greeks
called it the Elysian fields. They called their version of hell,
Tartarus, which is what the Bible also calls a particular section of
it, the deepest and worst part. So when Christ arrived in Paradise
He would have presented himself to the righteous dead as the Messiah
for whom that had been waiting. Hebrews 11:13-16, the faith chapter,
tells us that they were looking forward to His coming and that the
city has been prepared for them, as well as for the church.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them,
and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.<br />
[</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">]
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a city. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Th</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">e
</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">city
that has been prepared for them is New Jerusalem, and it is where the
resurrected will dwell for all time. (Rev. 21-22) When Christ
ascended and led captivity captive, it appears He led those in
Paradise to heaven with Him. They now were able to go there, as
Christ had to be the first to ascend, but then after He ascended,
those who are His can enter into heaven. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Not
in their resurrected bodies, of course, for the resurrection has yet
to occur, but their souls went there, </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
they had to Paradise beforehand, and</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
just as ours do when we die. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As
those in Paradise </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">re
already dead, and now would have accepted Christ, they qualified for
entrance </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into
heaven. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
righteous Jews who died after Christ’s death and resurrection, who
did not know or accept Him (it took a while for the Gospel to reach
out into all the world, indeed it still is reaching into places), but
did love and serve God, did not qualify for entrance into heaven </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">due
to not knowing Christ as their Savior</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
but neither do they deserve hell, having faith in God and looking
forward </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
believing in </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
Messiah (whom they missed). What is to be done with them? Paradise
was emptied when Christ left it, but Paradise </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
a location and </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">must
still exist. Is this where the souls of the righteous </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sraelites
since Christ’s time have gone? Or do they remain in the graves in
an unconscious state? I have yet to find any Scripture that would
tell me what the condition of these souls are at this time, and where they reside, but I
would guess it must be one or the other </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
my inclination based on Scripture is to deduce that consciousness
does not go away at death., therefore they probably are in Paradise. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I cannot see God sending to hell those </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
whom He made a covenant and promise to give them a nation under His
dominion, if they were to walk in His precepts and commandments and
love Him, and there are Jews (and possibly Israelites who do not even
know they are of the chosen people) who do this., while not knowing
Christ as their Savior. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">W</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hat
is interesting is that it is said that these are those who have been
slain. They have been killed, because they are Jews. Because they
represented God and were His chosen people. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Because
they refused to renounce their faith in God. </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Usually
when a person dies for God, they get to be with God. Naturally this
is assuming that all those in this prophecy are not wicked, but
righteous people.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
The fact that these seem to be raised from the dead, as opposed to
resurrected, and are put in the land of Israel, which is for mortal
people, not the resurrected who will live in New Jerusalem, seems to
indicate that this is God’s way of fulfilling the covenant He made
with Israel and those who have honored Him, the Father, over the
millennia. For this covenant was made with the nation of Israel and
the Father, not Christ. Christ gave us a new covenant. The new
covenant is not a national covenant, but a personal one.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
Lastly it says that when God does this - raises them from the dead,
gives them life again, puts them in the land, and finally <i>puts
His spirit in them -</i> they will know that the Lord is the one who
has done this. They will recognize Him and worship Him. But more than
that, they will recognize and worship Jesus as their Messiah, for
when the end comes, when Christ returns, it says that <i>all Israel
will be saved. </i>The timing of this, putting them in their land,
indicates that this happens when Christ returns. So just as the
living of Israel will see Him whom they pierced and mourn, (Rev. 1:7,
Zech 12:10-11) these who are raised will also see Him and realize
that He was the Messiah that had been prophesied. The key here is the
phrase “puts His spirit in them.” He will put His spirit in them
or as it says in Zech. 12:10, "He will pour out His spirit of grace
and supplication upon the house of David and all Jerusalem." We
receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior. While in
the Old Testament there were a few individuals who were given the
Holy Spirit for a time in their lives, it was not the normal thing
for everybody. Yet this entire group will receive God’s spirit in
them. One only does this when one is alive (not resurrected for the
resurrected already accepted Jesus and received His spirit before
they died). This is another indication that they are not resurrected
but raised from the dead.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
While the idea of this may seem strange to us, this would be a way of
God keeping the promise of His covenant to the nation of Israel and
those who have worshiped Him and died for Him. For in dying without
Christ, they are left in a limbo, and the promise they looked for of
the covenant of a nation under the Messiah going unfulfilled.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
The above passage is then followed by the following:</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
[<b>15</b>] The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,<br />
[<b>16</b>]
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it,
For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take
another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim,
and for all the house of Israel his companions:<br />
[<b>17</b>] And
join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in
thine hand.<br />
[<b>18</b>] And when the children of thy people
shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou
meanest by these?<br />
[<b>19</b>] Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of
Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with
him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they
shall be one in mine hand.<br />
[<b>20</b>] And the sticks whereon
thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.<br />
[<b>21</b>]
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the
children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and
will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own
land:<br />
[<b>22</b>] And I will make them one nation in the land
upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all:
and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided
into two kingdoms any more at all:<br />
[<b>23</b>] Neither shall
they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their
detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will
save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned,
and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be
their God.<br />
[<b>24</b>] And David my servant shall be king over
them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in
my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.<br />
[<b>25</b>]
And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell
therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children
for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.<br />
[<b>26</b>]
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply
them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for
evermore.<br />
[<b>27</b>] My tabernacle also shall be with them:
yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.<br />
[<b>28</b>]
And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when
my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
God will take the chosen of the house of Israel, which is not lost,
but lost within the heathen lands, and He will bring them out of
those lands and along with the house of Judah He will turn them back
into one nation under David, as their national prince/king, during
the millennium, and they will have one Shepherd and King of Kings,
Jesus, who will reign over the world from the temple in Jerusalem.
God will make a new covenant of peace with them and fulfill His
covenant that He made with the nation of Israel, and He will dwell
with them forever. They will be the priests to the world, bringing
God’s message to the rest of the nations. This passage shows that
all 13 tribes (for there actually are 13, not 12) will be reunited
for the millennium. The significance in this is that the 10/11 tribes
hidden in the heathen worlds are not hidden from God, but still exist
although they probably do not know who they are themselves. (The
Levitical tribe was divided between the northern and southern
kingdom, so some were of the House of Israel, and some of the House
of Judah. They were the 13<sup>th</sup> tribe as Joseph got a double
portion through Ephraim and Manasseh.) So when one sees in
Revelation the listings of the 144,000, it is not all Jews as some
believe. Only three tribes qualify as being Jews, Judah, Benjamin,
and the Levites. The other ten tribes were Israel, along with some of
the Levites. The importance here is that the vast multitude of the
144,000 are not coming out of the Jews, They are coming out of the
heathen nations, but not as Jews. This is a fact that many a
prophecy teacher or student misses.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
So while this interpretation cannot really be proven in any way, and therefore is hypothetical, it seems the most probable explanation of what this passage means. Often we get so caught up in the dogmas of tradition rather than really looking to the Word to guide us, that we get into a very narrow mindset that does not allow for any flexibility, when God is often very flexible. We need to be careful not to become too rigid in our traditional thoughts that we dismiss what God is trying to teach us, because it doesn't set well with our traditions.<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-63138573170720770912018-06-01T17:00:00.002-07:002018-06-01T17:00:50.538-07:00The Christian and Cognitive Dissonance
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The subject matter
which I am going to discuss in a few moments is an explanation of a
psychological effect which will have a significant effect on
Christians in the days to come. In fact, it is already affecting many
of them. While I deal with many doctrinal subjects, the main thrust
of both my blogs is eschatology. With that in mind, I am sure most
who have studied the subject of the end times in even the most
minimal way will know that the one thing that is stressed over and
over by Christ in the Olivet discourse, and what God warns us of in 2
Thessalonians 2 is that there will be great deception at the time of
the end, which we are rapidly heading toward.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 24:4-5 “And
Jesus answered and said unto them, <b>Take heed that no man deceive
you.</b> For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and<b>
shall deceive many</b>.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 24:11 “And
many false prophets shall rise, and <b>shall deceive many</b>.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 24:23-26
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there;<b>
believe it not</b>. For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if
it were possible, <b>they shall deceive the very elect</b>. Behold,
I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold,
he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret
chambers; <b>believe it not</b>.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mark 13:5-6 “And
Jesus answering them began to say, <b>Take heed lest any man deceive
you:</b> For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
<b>shall deceive many.</b>”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mark 13:21-23 “And
then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is
there; <b>believe him not:</b> For false Christs and false prophets
shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders,<b> to seduce, if it
were possible, even the elect</b>. But take ye heed: behold, I have
foretold you all things.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luke 21:8 “And he
said, <b>Take heed that ye be not deceived:</b> for many shall come
in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not
therefore after them.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 Thessalonians 2:3
“<b>Let no man deceive you by any means:</b> for that day shall not
come, except there come<b> a falling away</b> first, and that man of
sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 Thessalonians
2:9-12 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with
all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all <b>deceivableness</b>
of unrighteousness in them that perish; because <b>they received not
the love of the truth, </b>that they might be saved. And for this
cause God shall send them<b> strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie</b>: That they all might be damned <b>who believed not
the truth</b>, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The delusion God
sends, the deceptions of the antichrist will be so great in fact,
that even the elect, we Christians, have the potential to fall for
the deceptions and fall away from the faith. Not possible you may
say? Well, let’s take a look at what is going on these days and
see how that might happen.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I think the one
thing that all Christians should desire is to know truth. At least I
believe we all would hope so. After all, Jesus says about Himself
“...I am the way,<b> the truth</b>, and the life...” John 14:6
As Christ is the truth, if we are to be in a harmonious relationship
with Him, we must desire truth above all else. God has said that He
wants us to worship Him in truth and spirit. John 4:23 “But the
hour cometh, and now is, when the<b> true worshippers </b>shall
worship the Father in spirit and <b>in truth</b>: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him.” Christ made a point of saying that
people who are <i>true </i><span style="font-style: normal;">worshippers
are those who worship the Father in truth. The</span> problem with
truth, is that it is often very hard to accept, therefore most people
do not want to know it. There is only one truth when it comes to
God’s Word, but there are many disagreements as to what that truth
is. And even worse, God warned us that in the last days, people –
in particular Christians – would have itching ears and would not
desire to know the truth. Therein lies the problem. 2 Timothy 4:3
“For the time will come when <b>they will not endure sound
doctrine;</b> but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having <b>itching ears</b>;”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most Christians
attend church, and every church has its particular doctrines. If we
have one view of Scripture and someone else has another view, we take
a dim view of their view. (I know, I’m getting redundant with the
word “view”). We will defend our view to the death if need be,
and find ways (even ways that aren’t really kosher, if you’ll
excuse the term) to disprove theirs. The problem with this is, we are
not always right. In fact I have come to wonder if there is a church
denomination that has all their doctrines actually proven by <i>all
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">of Scripture, not just the
verses they pick and choose. I have yet to find one and I have
attended a number of denominations. When it comes to doctrine,
so</span>metimes we are both right, sometimes we are right and they
are wrong, sometimes we are wrong, and they are right, and sometimes
we are both wrong. I have always wondered why scholars have not been
able to come to a consensus of agreement on what God’s Word
actually says, for God only has one truth, but I have recently been
learning a lot about cognitive dissonance, and now realize that this
is one (there are other reasons as well) of the reasons that a
consensus cannot be reached. I have already seen techniques of
hypnotism, persuasive speech, subliminal messaging, and what I call
brainwashing (which may be just another name for these first three
things working together) at work. Each of these things can lead
people away from truth and so can cognitive dissonance. And each one
of these things has become rampant in our world. So rampant that
truth is becoming an almost impossible commodity to find these days.
So what is a Christian to do? I’m sure the question in your mind
is, “How does one find and hold on to the truth and know when they
have been fed lies? How can we know that anything that anyone says is
truth?” Good question.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Before discussing
how this affects the church and Christians, if one wants to see what
a mass eruption of cognitive dissonance looks like, then the reaction
when President Trump was elected is the perfect example. If one can
stand back and see the situation without a bias for or against the
man, one finds that he was portrayed in the mainstream media as
virtually another Hitler, because he is a master of persuasive
speech, and admittedly he is quite arrogant and somewhat vulgar. (If
these qualities make someone Hitler, then there are many more
Hitler’s out there. Some in the pulpits of churches in fact.) He
was going to destroy the country in the opinion of his opposition and
they used the trigger word “dark” to manipulate people’s minds
into seeing him the way they wanted him portrayed. This led people to
attribute evil motives to everything he said or did. The word “dark”
and therefore “evil” lodged in their minds with every story they
heard, and especially if they listened to the media broadcasts put
out by his opposition, whether true or false. The truth was not
important to people, the frame of mind was.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Trump used the same
psychological effect on Hillary calling her crooked Hillary, making
everyone distrust her every action. If people are paying attention,
they will find that he finds an appellation to apply to all those
with whom he is in opposition, to try to get people to think as he
wants them to think about that person. And each appellation has a
logical reason behind it. Persuasive speech is part and parcel of
politics, and he is a pro at it. This may come as a result of some
natural ability and some study. People can learn to do this, and he
was a businessman who needed to win at negotiations, so he became
good at <i>The Art of the Deal, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">as
he named his book. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I</span>
am not going to elaborate on the truth or fiction of either of these
persons’ epithets, for that is not the point of this article. The
fact is, for people who were easily swayed due to not researching the
truth with an open mind, the appellation of “dark” was enough to
cement in their minds what they should think of the person, whether
true or false. In fact, as a result, some not only think Trump is
Hitler, they believe he is the antichrist. This goes to show how
successful this persuasive speech was in the minds of some people.
The<i> truth</i> of his actions became irrelevant. The
interpretation, exaggeration, or even suppression of the facts became
the “truth” that was presented by the opposition (on both
sides), so that minds would see what some wanted them to see. Every
story would fill the preconceived and programmed mindset, except for
those who were able to stand back and see the real truth.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When Trump won the
election (unexpectedly on the part of many people, but not for those
who understood what was happening), the left wing camp of the nation
went berserk. Riots, violence, all sorts of things broke out.
Colleges had to offer “safe spaces” with things like crayons and
coloring books, puppies, and who knows what else, as these children
were emotionally melting down. They had not expected Trump to win,
and when he did, their minds couldn’t handle it. So he was labeled
a Hitler and antichrist, and nothing he does, no matter how it may
benefit the country, is worthy of credit in the eyes of those who
believe he is “dark”. His actions that are not really morally
defensible are portrayed as the vilest things that any president, nay
any person has ever done (They have short memories of our other
politicians and presidents.), and many epithets are attached to his
name, even if not truly factual. So, those who bought into the
persuasion became victims of a conspiracy by foreign nations instead
of merely losing an election, and Hillary Clinton is still basically,
a year and a half later, crying to anyone who will listen that she
actually won and she can’t understand why nobody will believe her
and put her in office. She has a severe case of cognitive dissonance.
As far as many Christians are concerned, the end of the world has
come and pre-trib rapturists are expecting to get out of here any
minute now, because obviously the antichrist is here, and they are
setting rapture dates left and right. Cognitive dissonance at its
best. (Granted, every day brings us closer to the end of this age
regardless of what happens, so these events should not concern or
surprise us.)
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If the term is
unfamiliar to you, cognitive dissonance is basically when a person’s
worldview (or in the Christian’s world also his theological view)
is put in conflict with the evidence or facts to such a degree that
their mind cannot handle it, so they create imaginary reasons to
rationalize the incongruity between what they think and the facts
with which they are faced. They will rewrite reality to even the
absurd in order to preserve their beliefs as being right. They may
also get very agitated and even angry, as we saw from the riots and
violence that ensued after the election.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the methods
of rationalization is to use what is called confirmation bias. This
is to irrationally believe that the new fact or evidence actually
supports the view, even when it doesn’t. Or on the other hand, it
allows a person to ignore the facts that do not agree with their
belief while accepting those that do agree, thereby thinking the new
evidence supports their view. If you have ever wondered why a person
is not understanding what you are saying when you disagree with them
and are presenting facts that refute their belief, this may be part
of the problem.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let me give some
examples of this. I believe (and have an article on this) that
according to all of Scripture taken in context, a person can lose
their salvation if they do not continue to abide in Christ and endure
to the end of their life in a close relationship with Christ. There
are many verses that will back this up, and I have the arguments
provided for this in my article on the subject in my archives. I am
only using this as an example of cognitive dissonance, as it was just
recently an experience that I had which demonstrates the
psychological phenomena. It is not a complete study on the subject of
eternal security.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In my church I got
into a discussion in Bible study over this, as the church’s
doctrine says that you cannot lose your salvation. They believe once
saved, always saved, and if you walk away, you were not saved to
begin with. I pointed out a number of Scriptures that taught
otherwise. (here I include some, but not all to which I referred).
The responses were immediate denial and debating me over every
Scripture I gave them. The more Scripture I presented, the more angst
ridden they became. Here are just some of the Scriptures I presented,
and below them are some of the answers given to rebut those verses.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1) the parable of
the four seeds. (Matt. 13) Three of them <i><span style="font-weight: normal;">accept</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the Word, but two of them are </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">choked
out</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> due to either the
lust of the world, or the trials of </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">life</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The second and third seed
are different from the first who did not receive the seed, in that
they did receive it. One endured for a while </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">then
walked away and wanted nothing more to do with it</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and the other became unfruitful </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
was choked out. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In this case, I was told that the two seeds didn’t really accept
the Lord. Period. They only had a “head knowledge”. The problem
with this answer? God’s Word says differently. The second seed was<b>
</b><i>received</i><b> </b>with joy and<i> endures</i> for a while<i>
until </i>persecution and trials become too much. Then he walks away.
The third grew<i> until</i> it<i> became</i><b> </b><i>unfruitful</i>
and was choked out. Then he walks away. You can’t <i>become
</i>unfruitful if you were never producing fruit to begin with. To
<i>become</i> something, in this case unfruitful which is a negative,
is a change in status and means that you had been the positive of
this at one time, or fruitful. He had been bringing forth fruit at
first. Nor can you receive and endure if you have never received.
How would you endure at all without having received? It is God who
gives us the strength to endure. The facts don’t fit their
interpretation. Faced with Scripture that said the <i>opposite</i> of
what was believed, it was changed in interpretation to <i>support</i>
the held belief, even in the face of the fact that it did not support
it.
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">2)
the parable of the ten virgins. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Matt.
25) </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">They were </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">all</span></i><i><b>
</b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">virgins</span><b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">waiting
for the groom, but five of them had not properly prepared to wait out
the long wait, and so </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">were
shut out</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> of the wedding.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Their
answer – the five virgins were not really saved. They were tares,
not wheat. How </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">is one</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
a </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">virgin</span></i><b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">if
one is not a virgin? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In the
context of spirituality, to be a virgin means to not worship any
other </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">god </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">than
God. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Those who are
spiritually dead belong to Satan. They are not virgins. A virgin is
one who is spiritually pure – one who is redeemed by Christ’s
blood. The problem is that they did not endure by preparing to wait
until the end. They were scrambling to do what they should have been
doing all along, making sure they were ready to go. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Making
their calling and election sure. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Again,
cognitive dissonance in that the facts did not support their belief,
but they reinterpreted the facts to support their belief.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">3</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to
</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">make your calling and
election sure:</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for if ye
do these things, ye shall never fall:”</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Their
answer – </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your calling and
election are sure, but as good Christians we should walk in holiness.
The problem? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Why would you
have to </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">work to </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">make
your election sure, if it is sure? Why would Peter indicate that
something could possibly make it unsure? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is an “if” involved here. If you give due diligence and do the
things you should, you will never fa</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">l</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">l.
Apparently </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">the possibility
exists that you can fall, as in fall away permanently</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
if you do not do the things you should. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Why
would this mean fall away and not just backslide for a brief time?
Because just committing a sin can be forgiven as we know, so this is
not speaking of that. The only thing that it can logically mean is
that you can fall away permanently, if you are not abiding in Christ,
o</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">therwise, why say this at
all? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It makes no sense in
the way they were trying to interpret it.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The lack of logic in
ignoring the “if-will” clause </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
thinking it is just a simple sin that one can repent </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
cognitive dissonance.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
2 Peter 2:20-21 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of
the world</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ</span></i><b>,</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is
worse with them than the beginning. For it had been</span><b> </b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
than, </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">after they have
known it</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, to turn from
the holy commandment delivered unto them.” </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The
answer was that the knowledge was not an intimate knowledge as in a
relationship with Christ. It was just the kind of knowledge that the
demons have – James 2:19 “</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils</span><b>
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">also believe, and tremble.”
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The people mentioned were
merely churchgoers and again tares. Where this answer falls down is
in several places. First, it says that their knowledge of the Lord
had allowed them to escape the pollutions of the world, but being
entangled again in them would be worse than if they had never known
the way of righteousness. How can a person who </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">has
not been saved </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">actually know
the way of righ</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">t</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">eousness?
How can they be worse off after they pretend to be saved, than if
they hadn’t pretended? There is no difference in their status at
all spiritually, if they have not known the Lord intimately. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Second,
the word “know</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">n</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">”
in these verses is a particular word </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
a particular type of knowledge. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Because
it is so special, it is only used a few times in the New Testament.
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It is the word “</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">epiginosko”
and means to be fully acquainted with,</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
which indicates an intimate knowledge of </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">someone</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In 1 Corinthians 13:12 we
read “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to
face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am
known.” In the first case when we see the word “know”, the
word is “ginosko” and it means to be aware of, to feel you
understand.” Paul can only </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">feel
he understands</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">God,
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">as we see through a glass
darkly. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">He can’t have a
completely intimate understanding of everything having to do with
God. But when we see the Lord </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">face
to face</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, then we shall know
(epiginosko) </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">every intimate
detail of God, just as H</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">e</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
knows</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (epiginosko) </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">us</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Th</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">is knowledge</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
speak</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of having full </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">intimate
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">knowledge of, not </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">just</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
us of God, but it also describes how God knows us. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">God
knows us better than we know ourselves. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Clearly
if we know God in the epiginosko way, it is speaking of</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the most intimate knowledge of another, which can only be achieved
through accepting Christ as your Savior. There is no other way to
know Christ intimately like this. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Therefore
when it says that if they are again entangled in the world, the
latter state is worse than the first state, it is talking of going
from belief back to unbelief. Why is this state worse? Because to
have known God and turned from Him is worse than never having known
Him at all. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">To
go from not really knowing God to not really knowing God does not put
you in a different state whatsoever. The latter state is no worse
than the former, because they are the same. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">What
is ironic, is that the pastor said of this verse that he knew that it
“looked” as if the way I was interpreting it was correct, but I
wasn’t correct. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
cognitive dissonance got worse, the more verses I presented.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">5</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> be a
castaway</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I
don’t believe they had an answer for this one. They just ignored
it. Paul says that if he does not keep </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">himself
under</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> control and do as he
should after preaching this to others, he himself could become a
castaway. The word means </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
be rejected, a reprobate, or worthless. In other words, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
be cut loose from God. Even Paul was worried that he could be</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">come
rejected by </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">God if he did
not endure to the end. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It’s
no wonder they had no answer. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">6</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
John 15:2a,</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">6</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
taketh away</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">:....If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and
men gather them, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">cast
them into the fire</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, and
they are burned.”</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">This
was one that left them </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">scrambling
to answer</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
explanation came that t</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
person again had to be a pretender, as they weren’t producing
fruit. Someone suggested that the fire was not the fire of hell, but
that the fires were the refining fires of our works and that this
referred to works being lost. Even the pastor could not go with that
interpretation. I pointed out that nobody can be “in” Christ or
in the vine unless they have actually accepted Christ. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
determination to reconcile it was strong. The insistence was that the
person could not have actually accepted Christ in spite of the “in”
factor. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">They were just
pretending to be grafted in, because real Christians have no choice
but to produce fruit </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
good fruit at that</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Really?
No free will choice but to be a good Christian? Uh, not what I see,
but okay. Have it your way.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">7</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
Hebrews 6:4-6 “</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">For it is
impossible for those who </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">were
once enlightened,</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and
have</span><b> </b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">tasted of the
heavenly gift,</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost,</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
And</span><b> </b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">have tasted
the good word of God,</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and the</span><b> </b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">powers of
the world to come</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, If
they shall</span><b> </b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">fall
away</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, to </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">renew</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The answer to this was complete denial that the verse said what it
said. Again it was insisted that the person did not actually know the
Lord. The word “enlightened” was redefined as head knowledge, the
word “tasted” meant attending church and therefore being familiar
with the things of Christianity, the word “partakers” meant being
in church and watching other Christians in their walk, the words
“fall away” meant to simply quit going to church and the word
“renew” meant that they had not accepted Christ, so they would
not get into heaven. This is cognitive dissonance at its finest. The
absurd length which they went to twist the very clear meaning of
these verses showed how their brain could not handle it when faced
with a truth that did not agree with their beliefs. What this verse
says is that those who have received the spiritual enlightenment of
having their eyes and ears opened to God and His Word, which only
comes through accepting Him, those who have tasted for themselves
what God’s gifts bring to their lives, because as children of God
we receive certain blessings and gifts, those who have been indwelt
by the Holy Spirit, because you only partake of something if you
actually make it a part of yourself or interact with it, if they turn
their back on God and want nothing more to do with Him cannot have
their repentance renewed. Their ignoring the very pertinent word
“renew” was clearly a disassociation of their brain. You cannot
renew something which has never existed to begin with. When you renew
a contract, you have already had the contract in use and it has come
to a conclusion and must be renewed to be valid again. To renew your
relationship with Christ means that you once knew Him. This verse
does not indicate that every sin will end up with your loss of
salvation. It must be taken in context with the rest of Scripture and
indicates that if you turn from God and deny Him, then there is no
way to renew salvation, for it only comes through Christ and if you
don’t want Him, there is nothing left to provide salvation.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">8</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
Hebrews 10:</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">26-31 “For if
we sin wilfully after that </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
have received the knowledge of the truth, </span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking
for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under
two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
wherewith he was sanctified</span></i><b>,</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For
we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his
people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God.”</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The
answer to this was pretty much the same as #8. Denial that the verse
said what it said. That this spoke of an intellectual knowledge only
and that sanctification was not due to being indwelt by the Holy
Spirit. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The problem with the
head knowledge interpretation is that the word is the same kind of
knowing that we saw in 2 Peter 2 (#4 above). It means full intimate
knowledge of something. There is no question that this speaks of a
true born again believer who is willfully turning from God. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
verse </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">used</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to “prove” this was </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">not
speaking of a true Christian focused </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
emphasis </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">on the word
“sanctified.” It was told to me </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">because Scripture says that</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
when a saved woman marries an unsaved man, he and the children are
considered sanctified for the sake of the children, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
is the kind of sanctification spoken of here. That was a real stretch
since the context is entirely different</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Taking the verse totally out of context and misapplying it to another
Scripture does not </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">make it
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">mean what they were saying
it meant. The sanctification spoken of in the marriage condition did
not mean salvation for the husband and children, which is what this
verse in Hebrews is speaking about. It meant that God would consider
the home as set aside for Him, because of the wife and would bless it
because of her faith. In the verse in Hebrews, it is talking about
personal sanctification, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
a result of personal intimate knowledge of Christ and truth, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
which can only come through accepting Christ and being indwelt by the
Holy Spirit. It is talking about personal willful sin, </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">after
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">having
received the knowledge and Holy Spirit. Then it speaks of God judging
</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">His</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
people. People who are not saved, are not His people. This is
speaking about a Christian.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So
with every new fact, every verse that proved the point I was making,
the cognitive dissonance grew and denial became more and more
absolute. Truth was not important. Preserving the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stability
of the brain became of paramount importance, and the brain chose to
interpret the facts in a way that would not cause distress or
confusion. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is not an aberration. This is what our brain will do when we are not
allowing the Holy Spirit to try to teach us truth. The brain will
always seek o</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ut
reconciliation and peace of mind, even at the cost of truth, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">unless
you choose to let God have His way and show you truth.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another method of
cognitive dissonance is to filter the information through a lens that
dictates their worldview. What does not fit in the picture gets
filtered out, so that explanation is unnecessary. If it is
inescapable to have to accept the fact for some reason, then as a
last resort the person will find a way to show how their belief was
misinterpreted and therefore it was not wrong, it was just
misunderstood and can be rewritten with as much of the original
belief saved as possible to fit the new information which must be
accommodated.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
An easy example of
this is the myriad of rapture dates that have been set, have come,
and have passed. Everyone setting these dates are filtering out the
information in the Bible that tells us that the rapture cannot come
until certain events have occurred. When the date comes and passes
with no rapture, there is an immediate scramble to explain how their
math was a little off, or they accidentally had a little
misunderstanding of a particular verse or even word. And they set
another date accommodating the new information. You would think these
people would realize their mistake in trying to set a date to begin
with, but they don’t, even after multiple failures. They have a
certain expectation set in their mind, and they have to fulfill it.
To point out their error, that Scripture does not back them up only
leads them into denial and in fact, they never really accept that
they were wrong, they simply had a little error in their
calculations. Cognitive dissonance at work.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So what has this to
do with the church and why should it affect a Christian? Well, I’m
sure it is obvious to everyone from the examples above, but to
reiterate, God has one truth, but Satan has created many versions on
that truth. Versions which will deceive even the elect. That one
truth is crucial to how one approaches the end times, which I feel we
are on the verge of entering. To not know the truth, to not have that
grounding when nothing but lies come at you from every direction,
will allow cognitive dissonance to occur when things do not take
place as expected. That cognitive dissonance is the very thing which
will lead to people being deceived and falling away from the faith.
God warns us that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Hosea 4:6. What knowledge do you suppose He is speaking about? His
Word of course. Truth in the form of God’s Word is the anchor which
will keep us grounded and faithful when everything around us no
longer makes any sense and we can’t tell heads from tails.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To show some of my
own journey with cognitive dissonance, regular readers of my blog
will have already discerned that I am a proponent of the last trumpet
rapture. Just as background I was raised a pre-tribber. Then I was
made familiar with the teaching of mid-trib, the post-trib, and then
many years later, I was introduced to the pre-wrath rapture. In the
beginning I merely accepted, as most people do, what I was taught as
the truth (since everybody believes their denominational theology is
the only right one and the only one with the entire truth), but as I
started to study the Scriptures without the use of the
denominationally approved theological commentaries to guide and bias
my thought processes, I soon discovered a great many discrepancies
between what God’s Word said and what I was taught. I began to
experience cognitive dissonance, but being a person who was addicted
to mysteries, I couldn’t just walk away from the problems I found.
I had to solve them. So I started investigating the other two less
held versions to see if they provided less difficulties. I still
discovered too many discrepancies to accept those theories and
experienced more cognitive dissonance which I had to overcome. I knew
that God’s Word, when rightly divided, does not leave us with these
discrepancies, so continued to look for answers. Some years later I
found that the pre-wrath theory brought me much closer to the truth.
The process to get to this point had been extremely painful. It was
like having the rug pulled out from under me. How could I trust
anything that they were teaching? But by now I was so determined to
find the truth that I was shutting down the cognitive dissonance in
favor of accepting truth, even in the face of that being painful.
Pre-wrath seemed really good, but something still continued to nag at
me that this was not correct either, as there were a few passages
that I still could not reconcile, as hard as I might try. Finally one
day I just started praying and praying for truth no matter how hard
it may be to accept, no matter how painful. When I finally put truth
above all else, it allowed God to show me the truth. The rapture is
just where Paul told us it was, where Christ told us it was, and
where John told us it was - at the last trumpet, the seventh trumpet
in Revelation. Finally all of those pesky verses that I could not
reconcile fell into place like the pieces of a puzzle. It all made
sense. But the revelation of that truth brought a whole new set of
concerns. Not for myself, but for other Christians. The knowledge of
how unprepared they were, like those five virgins, and knowing that
those virgins got <i>shut out of the wedding,</i> became a real
burden on my heart.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If as God’s Word
tells us, we are to go through the great tribulation, there would be
an abundance of deception going on. Christ did warn us several times
during the Olivet Discourse to not be deceived, and to not run after
men that people claimed were Him. If there were no chance of
Christians being deceived, why would Christ make such a point of
warning us not once, but several times over. And if the antichrist is
so easily dismissed as the real Messiah, as most Christians expect he
will be in their eyes, why warn us to not run after men who were
calling themselves the returned Jesus? We should not believe it,
should we? We can’t be deceived can we? Apparently the deception
will be very, very convincing. In fact the delusion is sent by God
Himself and people who have not believed the <i>truth </i><span style="font-style: normal;">will
believe the lie</span>. 2 Thess. 2:11-12 “And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For people who are
expecting a completely different scenario, whether pre-trib,
mid-trib, or pre-wrath, cognitive dissonance might actually make them
unable to accept the truth, and they will be deceived and fall away.
This is the extreme danger of this phenomena. While one might believe
that a post-trib believer could not be deceived, as they expect to go
through the great tribulation and see the antichrist, I have found
that among the post-tribbers and pre-wrath too for that matter, they<i>
erroneously believe </i><span style="font-style: normal;">t</span>hat
because they are Christians <i>they are automatically going to be
supernaturally protected </i>during this time, due to the promise to
the Philadephians. The deception in this is that 1) the time of great
tribulation is not God’s wrath, therefore no Christian is exempt
from persecution, and millions of Christians will die, many who are
not prepared to do so and 2) only the Philadephians (and maybe not
even all of them), out of seven churches are given this promise. The
other six churches are not given any promise at all to escape what
lies ahead. The Smyrnans, who are faithful Christians with no
condemnation from Christ are all martyred. The Thyatirans are told
“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery
with her into<i> great tribulation</i>, except they repent of their
deeds.” Rev. 2:22. The phrase “great tribulation” is only used
three times in the Bible and each time it refers to that time when
antichrist will rule. Instead of being promised to be protected the
other six churches are told what their eternal rewards will be if
they are “overcomers.” So what is meant by “overcomer”?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In Revelation 12:11
we are told that Christians “overcome” the beast by their deaths.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
The saints overcome Satan not be being protected. They overcome him
by not loving their lives up to death. To be an overcomer means to
remain faithful to the Lord by the power of His blood and endure to
the end even in the face of death by martyrdom. Rev. 14:13 “And I
heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My greatest fear for
the Church, and here I must say it is mainly the Laodicean American
Church who do not believe God would ever let them suffer (the
churches in the rest of the world know better as they are dying every
day for their faith), is that when they are faced with the fact that
there was no rapture to get them out of here before the antichrist
starts killing them, they will go into cognitive dissonance and deny
that this is what is happening. They will rationalize and reinterpret
and make excuses and believe the lie, which will jeopardize their
very salvation. Not wanting to have truth more than comfort will
leave them vulnerable and frightened beyond their ability to cope.
And there seems to be no way to cut through this cognitive dissonance
that I have found. For God to show someone the truth, they have to
desire it, and as He said, people have itching ears. They don’t
want bad news. They want good news. They want the easy way out,
because they have been living the easy Christianity. One that is full
of the good life, entertainment, loose rules, carnal pleasures, and
false promises of once saved always saved and eternal security, not
holy living and self-sacrifice, with the Ten Commandments as a guide.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While politics and
religion will only walk hand in hand when our Savior is king, looking
at what has happened in America from the political upheaval is a
forewarning of what will happen in Christianity when the expected
does not transpire and the unexpected, which was considered an
impossibility, does. As the left had a melt-down, so will many
Christians when Christ does not return on their schedule. The parable
of the Ten Virgins becomes far more meaningful when you realize that
the point of the parable is that we will be waiting much longer for
His return than some are expecting to wait. Those who understand that
the wait will be longer and are prepared for it will enter into the
wedding. Those who are not prepared – well, you can read the
parable for yourself in Matthew 25.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So the question at
the beginning was, “How do I learn truth and avoid deception?”
The answer is not an easy one. It is not an easy one, because it
requires an enormous amount of work. The work it requires is getting
your Bible out and without the commentaries, without following
someone’s preconceived bias, ask God to show you the truth and
learn at His feet. That is one of the purposes of the Holy Spirit. He
was to lead us into truth. John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit
of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
and he will shew you things to come.” We are told the Spirit will
show us things <i>to come</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. In
other words, the truth of the prophecies which we should be studying
(Revelation has a blessing on those who read and heed the book) will
be given to us by the Holy Spirit. Not by Joe Shmoe, the such and
such denominational father whom everyone reveres. Joe Shmoe may not
have been guided by the Spirit when he was studying, so you shouldn’t
take his word for everything without checking like a good Berean. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Be
prepared to take God’s Word at face value. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">He
actually wrote things in a way so that you would understand, believe
it or not. Prophecy in particular is not for private interpretation.
(2 Peter 1:20) The only way to avoid that is to take it at face
value, no matter how unreal or bizarre it may seem at first. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Reality
may be far more “unreal” than you presently believe. Much of the
truth of reality (the entire spiritual world) is hidden from our
view, but the Bible tells us all about it. It requires letting go of
preconceived ideas and biases and just accepting the truth no matter
how hard it is to accept. The blessing in all of that? When Christ
said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free,” He was not being facetious. Letting go of false views to
embrace truth will be the most freeing thing you will ever
experience. I can say that from experience. At first it is
devastating. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I will also
admit that,</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> but the more you
accept truth, the easier it becomes to accept more truths, and the
joy that comes with knowledge, the knowledge that keeps you from
being destroyed as God predicted in Hosea, is a wondrous thing. Being
forewarned and forearmed and prepared is a blessing. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">God’s
Word will anchor you in truth when all else is nothing but lies. The
truth will make lies ring like a bell in your head when you hear
them. The truth will allow you to see subtle manipulations of
semi-truths. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The truth will
set and keep you free from all the mind control in the world. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">2
Timothy 2:15 “</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” </span>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-80626254434867259932018-03-31T16:23:00.000-07:002018-03-31T16:23:08.453-07:00Will The Real Antichrist Please Stand Up.
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It seems that many
are now claiming that Donald Trump is the antichrist. Before that, it
was Obama, and before that it was Clinton, and some have said it is
one of the Bushes (I don’t know that it matters which one). Some
said it was Reagan, some JFK, some Prince Charles or one of his sons,
Prince William or Prince Harry. Some say it is Jared Kushner, Trump’s
son-in-law, or Erdogan, or Putin, or Solana, or any other of a dozen
candidates. Some even say it will be Hitler reincarnated or rather
brought back from the dead.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While speculation
runs rampant, and in and of itself if kept under control there is no
problem with speculation, there is a danger in participating in it in
a more than speculative way. Herein lies the problem, and I will use
a recent episode I experienced to show what that problem is. In the
case of the hypothesis that the antichrist is Donald Trump, I had the
unfortunate experience of “running into online” shall we say, a
person who says he has written a book on Donald Trump (which he was
unashamedly hawking in the most overt manner on someone else’s
blog). He claimed that unequivocally and without error, Trump is THE
antichrist of the Bible, and that he can show Scripturally why that
is so. This person boasted repeatedly that no book had ever been
written on the antichrist that is anything like his book. (There have
been many books, articles, blogs, videos, etc. on the antichrist
which he called “pap and drivel”.)
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He made the claim
that his is unparalleled among other writings and self-promoted his
book nearly every other sentence, telling people if they wanted
truth, they needed to buy it for they would get the truth nowhere
else, yet he claimed to not be in it for the money. He belittled the
person who wrote the article (blog) saying that the author didn’t
understand Scripture, was wrong (the only thing the author said was
that Trump did not Scripturally fit all the aspects of the antichrist
and therefore was unlikely to be him), and needed to study the way in
which he (the boaster) did. [Note: It so happens that the author of
the article is very scholarly, very humble, very circumspect and
careful about what he says, and always leaves room for flexibility in
what he teaches, so that he does not state anything that cannot be
absolutely proven as a fact. He leaves room for his own error in
understanding and is extraordinarily patient with people who are
nasty to him. I have seen very few prophecy teachers of his
excellence.] Further this person was condescending and taunting to
others who dared challenge his boasting by using Scripture to point
out errors in his assertion, which he then mocked and rejected,
patronizing them also, calling himself a martyr (yes, he literally
called himself a martyr) for the cause of promoting this “truth.”
It was a display of the most obnoxious unChristian arrogance and was
very off-putting. He said his path was a lonely one. I have no
trouble understanding why. Hopefully no non-Christians will read the
article and see his comments for it leaves a bad taste in the mouth
for Christians. We all have our moments when unfortunately we lose
sight of being loving in our answers, but this went on and on and on.
I have run into this same attitude in others who are promoting Trump
as the antichrist or other truths which they have come by during
their “revelations” through dreams and visions, which bear no
resemblance to Scriptural truths. In the case of Trump, their hatred of him is palpable and
coupled with this attitude of “I can’t be wrong, because God
chose me for special revelation” it creates a serious problem, along with
declaring to know truths that nobody can discern from Scripture, as
there is not enough information. Speculation is one thing.
Declarative truths on the other hand, which cannot be backed up by
Scripture is another. It is Satan using Christians to mock God’s
Word and other Christians. This should not be.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I found
interesting in the comments written by this person, was that it was
not Scripture that he offered as proof (I don’t know what his book
offers), but facts like Trump’s mother’s name was Mary, he had an
aunt named Elizabeth, and a cousin named John. (I have no idea if that is true or not.) That when he was born
there was a “blood moon” (I have no idea if that is true or not also.),
and a host of other inane and unimportant data about Trump, none of
which has any bearing on the beast, as it is not found in Scripture
that these things are a criteria for the antichrist. His reasoning
was that since antichrist is a mockery and imitation of Christ that
these things mean something. Well, they don’t. They might be
interesting facts, but they actually mean nothing concerning the
antichrist, as far as Scripturally identifying him goes. I am sure in many
families that tend toward using Bible names for their children, and
looking at the generation when these names were popular, you will
find this a common thing. I have known more Johns in my life than I
can even count. And plenty of Marys and Elizabeths as well. It proves
nothing. Nor does anyone having a boastful or arrogant personality prove they are the antichrist. That
description could be applied to literally thousands of leaders and even applies to the person writing this book. So far out
of twenty-four comments, some which were lengthy and supposed to be
quotes from his book, he quoted one verse of Scripture. Not exactly a
recommendation for his book or his proof.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The reason I am
going into such a description of this person's behavior is because we need to be
careful to whom we listen and what they are saying and be Bereans.
An attitude of arrogant boastfulness, and mockery should be a red
flag at the beginning to make one check what someone says. As I said
above, we all sometimes get pushed too far and have our moments, but
it should not continue on and on and on. It is true that not all
personalities are alike, but when one claims uniqueness in being the only
purveyor of God’s truth, it is time for caution. Someone may
actually have a new idea on interpretation, which one can check to
see if viable, but Scripture is the only truth and it is unlikely
that one person, whose knowledge is questionable and who offers
coincidences and a lot of talk as proof rather than Scripture, is the
only person with truth. Scripture is the only plumb line for what
someone says. Interesting but irrelevant facts, biased attitudes,
personal feelings, these are not the foundation of good theology.
They might provide interesting speculation, but nothing more.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While I have not
encountered a lot of people quite as boastful, there seem to be a lot
of people out there who feel that they have had a “revelation”
from God which then leads them to pick and choose some Scriptures,
some out of context even, and apply them to a person of their
choosing and then state that they have God’s truth on the matter
that this person is the antichrist. This has been going on for 2000
years since Christ left, and to date, nobody has been correct. Why is
that?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, other than it
is not time yet, the thing which I chose to point out to this person
was something which he and all these others who claim to have
discovered the antichrist seem to miss or simply reject. The Bible,
the one place we can look to for the absolute truth on the
information on whom the antichrist will be, says that the beast or
antichrist comes out of the bottomless pit or abyss. Revelation 11:7<i>
“</i><i>And when they shall have finished their testimony, the
beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against
them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”</i> Revelation 17:8
<i>“</i><i>The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall
ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they
that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in
the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold
the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” </i> So it seems that
the Bible tells us that the antichrist is not any human being
themselves. He is a powerful demonic entity, but not Satan, as some
believe. That would explain why he is the eighth head or king, and
yet is of the seven. Revelation 17:10-11<i> “</i><i>And there are
seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet
come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the
beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the
seven, and goeth into perdition.”</i> If the demonic beast
inhabited and controlled each of these seven kings, then that would
explain how the eighth person could be “of the seven.” The
connecting factor between these eight people are that they were
(seven were, one will be) all possessed by this beast. He was each
one of them. While we may refer to the eight people as their human
host (for instance Hitler seems to have been the eighth), the reality
is, the person himself is no longer in control. They are not the
beast themselves, they simply let him have their bodies as his host.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The truth of the
matter is, it is irrelevant whom the person who is possessed is, for
that person is not the person in charge of the body. That person no
longer exists, so to speak, because the beast will be the person in
charge. It matters not whether the person is boastful or powerful or
charismatic beforehand, for that person will not be the person who is
speaking and acting once the beast takes over. They will merely be
the body which the beast uses to do his purposes. He will not be a
silent partner. He will be the one who is boasting, who is arrogant,
who shakes his fist in God’s face. The descriptions in the Bible
belong to him. In Revelation 13:12 it says,<i> “</i><i>And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth
the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast,
</i><i><b>whose deadly wound was healed.</b></i><i>” </i>The
indication is possibly that the person whom the beast inhabits will
have been killed and raised from the dead. This might very well
indicate that what the beast inhabits is really a corpse which he
keeps alive and the person himself is no longer living.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The point here that
I am trying to make is this; it could be anybody, for the very
character traits which are described in Scripture are the traits of
the beast, not necessarily of the person he will possess. Could that
person also be like that? Of course. Could it be one of the many
candidates listed? Of course. But he, the person he is now, is not
the beast. The beast is a demonic entity which will be allowed to
come back up out of the abyss where he has been chained for the time
being, and he will take over someone’s body. So in pointing to any
person on the scene now, and calling them THE antichrist, or the
beast, is bearing false witness against them. They may be <i>an</i>
antichrist, for there are many antichrists out there, people who are
against Christ, but when it comes to the beast, <b>none</b> of them
are the actual beast himself. Even if their body gets possessed by the
beast, and someone eventually will be, that person himself is not THE
antichrist. The beast is the antichrist. The person controlled is the
puppet. Without the beast, they could not achieve what will be
achieved. They are just a necessary tool for the beast to be incarnated.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So we need to stop
pointing fingers and accusing people, no matter how boastful,
arrogant, or unlikable they are, nor where they come from, nor their
ethnic roots, etc. People need to stop declaring that they have the
truth on something which nobody can know for certain at this point in
time (and some declare that it is they alone who know for certain due
to “revelation” and I have heard this from people who think it is
Bush, Kushner, Prince Charles and Solana, not just Trump). If one does put
forth a candidate, they must do it with great circumspection and
uncertainty and not treat those who disagree with mockery and
condescension. That the person he possesses no doubt will have had
congress with Satan is probably true, for all of those possessed
before the last beast have been ungodly people and to take over
someone who is alive, there must be previous interaction with Satan
which provides permission for their body to be taken. However, as we cannot know in advance who
that might be out of the many people who are ungodly, we need to stop
bearing false witness and declaring someone as antichrist so far in
advance. When he arrives, we will know it. Then there will be no
question in anyone’s mind. And truly, is it important that we know
in advance? No. Should we study and know what he will do and how he
will act? Yes. So that when he does those things, we will then know
who he is presenting himself as. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. His identity will
present itself when we see him do the things prophesied in Scripture.
But none of those things will happen until we get to the end – to
Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> week, and we simply aren’t there yet.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-85949272617900194772018-03-03T09:01:00.000-08:002018-03-03T09:01:58.221-08:00The Spring Holy Days of the Gentile Christian Church Are Not ScripturalAs I write this, a couple weeks ago the world celebrated Mardi Gras (known by other names in other countries) and Ash Wednesday, then embarked upon Lent leading up to Easter. As many churches celebrate all of these holidays, Catholic and Protestant alike, it is important to take a look at these holidays and see if they are Biblical in nature or not. <br />
<br />
<div class="section-group collapse" id="section_1">
Beginning with the first of the holidays in this list, we have Mardi Gras. <i>Mardi</i> is the French word for Tuesday, and <i>gras</i> means “fat.” In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” This name comes in part from the food that was consumed leading up to and including the day. Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years (pre-Christianity) to pagan
celebrations heralding the arrival of spring, the hope of fertility, and the renewal of life. In the spring, the god who was so feted was Lupercus and the Romans named this festival "Lupercalia" in his honor. This festival was a raucous, drunken orgy with much merrymaking. It was held in Rome in February after which time the participants would then fast for forty days. When Christianity arrived in Rome, and pagans converted, they did not want to give up their popular holidays. Think of how modern Christians resist the idea of forsaking Christmas, which has become a very secularized holiday, actually has no Scriptural basis, and in fact is based on a pagan holiday. Nobody wants to do it. It is a fun holiday on which we paste a Christian veneer and the deeply ingrained tradition is not something that people easily want to part with, even if it is not actually Bible based. Neither did the people of Rome want to give up their holidays. As it seemed impossible to separate the people from their traditions, along with many other compromises such as renaming the pagan statues for Christian "saints" (Zeus became Peter), turning the vestal virgins into nuns, keeping the Babylonian priesthood of the Pontifex Maximus and cardinals, and etc., religious leaders decided to incorporate and Christianize these pagan traditions into the new faith, which was an easier method of transitioning without rebellion than abolishing
them altogether. As a result, the debauchery and excesses of Lupercalia, now renamed Mardi Gras, became a prelude to the newly re-purposed and renamed period of Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The period is now said to be in commemoration of Christ's 40 days of fasting in the wilderness (actually Lent is 46 days in length as they don't count the Sundays). As Christianity spread to other European countries and from there to the other continents via missionary work of the church, so did Mardi Gras and its accompanying Lenten period.<br />
<br />
Just as today people don masks and costumes (or merely go nude), the Romans also donned masks, dressed in costumes, and indulged in all the depraved carnal pleasures, as they gave themselves to Bacchus (god of wine) and Venus (goddess of love). The purpose of the masks and costumes were to disguise their identities so as to be able to anonymously engage in sexual misconduct, which they normally would not be able to do. Under the "influence of Bacchus," all kinds of debauchery was allowed. Today in New Orleans, they have a celebrity pose as Bacchus for the big parade as all sorts of debauched, depraved, and usually drunken people strut their naked or almost naked bodies, engaging in lewd behavior and public sexual activities both hetero and homosexual. Woman flashing their naked breasts and crotch, and men their genitals is very common among all the tourists who come for the festivities.<br />
<br />
The word <i>carnival</i>, another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, also derives from this feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, <i>carnelevarium</i> means to take away or remove meat, from the Latin <i>carnem</i> for meat. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would
binge on all the rich, fatty foods—meat, eggs, milk, lard, cheese—that
remained in their homes, in anticipation of several weeks of eating only
fish and different types of fasting. Hence the name "Fat Tuesday" or in French "Mardi Gras."<br />
<br />
While there is more history attached to Mardi Gras, I believe this is enough to show the origins of the festival and the tone it sets. In New Orleans, January 6 kicks off three things - Twelfth night, Epiphany, and the start of Carnival season which continues up to Mardi Gras. During this time, people live as carnally as possible in anticipation of the six weeks of fasting (whatever they choose to fast, it doesn't have to be food). Then,
beginning twelve days before Fat Tuesday, nightly parades are held, which
get bigger and more elaborate as the big festival day approaches. These
parades are a mix of many things celebrating the sinful pleasures of life. In the final week,
festivities intensify in New Orleans and surrounding communities,
culminating in the biggest parades. Mardi Gras is so popular that it is
accepted as a holiday in some parts of the South. On Mardi Gras, the revelry in New Orleans is non-stop with drunkenness, unbridled sexual activity including people having sex with strangers, and all kinds of perversions. Ash Wednesday is known as Trash Wednesday in New Orleans due to the filthiness of the streets. <br />
<div class="section-group collapse" id="section_2">
<br />
The next holiday in this list of spring holy days is Ash Wednesday. This ritual “<i>imposition of the ashes</i>”
is purportedly in imitation of the repentant act of covering oneself in
dust and ashes as was done in the Bible. While Mardi Gras and Lent started much earlier in the church's history, Ash Wednesday was a later addition to the Christian
liturgical calendar, first appearing in the tenth century according to
historical records written in the eleventh century. Or rather its Christian practice
dates to then. The putting on of ashes on Ash Wednesday goes back to the Norse practice, several hundred years earlier when it was
done to celebrate the deeds of Sigurd, the hero of the Volsung Saga, a
character perhaps better known as Siegfried from the Ring of the
Nibelung.<br />
<br />
In the pre-Christian Norse religion, the laying of ashes (ashes being representative of Sigurd), was meant to
grant the Norse God Odin’s protection to a Viking warrior in battle. When the Vikings raided coastal
towns in western and Mediterranean Europe they brought their beliefs and
practices with them, included the laying of ashes on a Wednesday–Odin‘s Day–(another name for Odin is Woden, hence Woden's Day or Wednesday) which the Christian Church appropriated and inserted as a barrier between Mardi Gras and the Lenten period. <br />
<br />
Ash Wednesday derives its
name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents
as a sign of mourning and repentance. This is done in the shape of a cross. It's supposed to be a day of fasting, mourning,
and penance. It might have the appearance of godliness, but it's not at
all Biblical. Disfiguring one's face to imply fasting is in direct violation of
Christ's directive which was to not disfigure the face but to wash our
faces and not let anyone know we are fasting. <br />
<br />
<i>"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance:
for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18.</i><br />
<br />
The next thing in this list of liturgical events is Lent. As Lent was officially instituted by the Catholic church, I will let them define its purpose. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, <i>“the real aim of Lent is, above all else, to prepare men for
the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Christ… One can
effectively relive the mystery only with purified mind and heart. The
purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning men from sin
and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the
desire to do God’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come
first of all in their hearts.”</i></div>
<div class="section-group collapse" id="section_2">
<br />
So, according to the Catholic church, the purpose of Lent is to purify ourselves
through self-denial and prayer, and make God’s Kingdom come. There are obviously some serious problems with this. First of all, no amount of good works, whether self-denial, prayer, fasting, abstinence, or any other work can purify us from sin. We cannot purify ourselves. Nor will it put within us a desire to do God's will or make God's Kingdom come. The only thing that purifies us is the blood of Jesus Christ. And the only way to receive that is through repentance and confessing Him as the Son of God and our Savior. And God's Kingdom will only come on earth when Christ returns. All of our works are like filthy rags, if we do them through our own efforts. Only those things done through Christ are of any merit, and even those do not grant salvation. They only gain us rewards in heaven, and keep our relationship with God in good standing.<br />
<br />
Paul had this to say about self-denial. <i>“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?<b> </b> Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and
humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the
satisfying of the flesh.”</i> Colossians 2:20-23.</div>
</div>
<blockquote>
</blockquote>
Lent is a doctrine of men that insists upon denying the flesh for the purpose of purifying yourself. As you cannot purify yourself, what is the point of this type of fast? Fasting is Scriptural, but it seems to be taught that it is in conjunction with prayer, for the purpose of focusing more acutely on the prayer to show God your sincerity and draw you closer to Him. It isn't to show God how you are trying to balance out the sins you have indulged in during Carnival and Mardi Gras through period of self-denial. <br />
<br />
So, where did the observance of Lent come from? We know that the people fasted for 40 days after Lupercalia, but is there an origin older than that from which they got the practice? The Babylonians had a tradition of weeping, fasting, and
mourning for Tammuz which is very similar to Lent, and some have
speculated that this might be the actual origin of Lent. In fact, the
prophet Ezekiel saw a vision about people mourning over Tammuz at the
Temple in Jerusalem. <i>"Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was
toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet
again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these."</i> Ezekiel 8:14-15.<br />
<br />
It is interesting that one of the Babylonian practices was to cross oneself in the shape of a "T" as a sign of Tammuz. One can see this remnant of Babylonianism in the practice of Catholics crossing themselves when they genuflect. The "T", originally a sign of Tammuz and which is now said to be the sign of the cross, is also the mark put upon people's foreheads when they receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday.<br />
<br />
In A.D. 360, the Catholic Church at the Council of Laodicea
officially commanded the observance of Lent and the people celebrated Mardi Gras (or whatever name you wish to call it by) to prepare for Lent. So the Roman church established this
practice 300 years after
Messiah’s death and resurrection. None of these practices have their origins in the Bible. They all seem to have their origins in paganism. And the church commanded the observance of two of these. Ash Wednesday and Lent. The Bible tells us what the commandments of men are to Him. <i>"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men." </i>Mark 7:7. God sees it all as in vain. It means nothing to Him except to be useless. We should not be adding celebrations that have their origins in paganism to our traditions.<br />
<br />
While it is said that Lent is 40 days, in commemoration of Christ, it is actually 46 days. The Sundays are not included. I would like to know why that is. Is it because the original pagan day of Lupercalia was not 40 days before what became Easter, and so to make it fit the timeline, so they could put the Christian veneer over it, they just decided to not count the Sundays? Why of all days would you not fast on the day you go to worship God? (For anyone who follows my blog, you know that I don't believe Sunday is the correct day of worship anyhow. The Sabbath is, but the church celebrates it as if it were the Sabbath.)<br />
<br />
While in the beginning people fasted food, which is the only kind of fast that I have found in the Bible, it has devolved into people "fasting" things which are almost meaningless, so that they don't really miss what they "fast." For instance, I know someone who decided to "fast" their online internet games. This person is not Catholic, she is a Protestant (some Protestants do observe this liturgical practice), born again Christian, as far as I know. I cannot understand why she does not see the trivial way she is celebrating it, if she is going to celebrate it. Does she really think that Christ cares about giving up forty days of online games? How exactly is that going to bring her closer to Christ? I do not doubt her sincerity, but I do doubt her discernment.<br />
<br />
In his book <i>The Two Babylons</i>, Alexander Hislop says: <br />
<br />
<div class="blockquote">
<i>"Let any one only read the atrocities that were
commemorated during the 'sacred fast' or Pagan Lent, as described by
Arnobius and Clemens Alexandrinus, and surely he must blush for the
Christianity of those who, with the full knowledge of all these
abominations, 'went down to Egypt for help' to stir up the languid
devotion of the degenerate church, and who could find no more excellent
way to 'revive' it, than by borrowing from so polluted a source; the
absurdities and abominations connected with which the early Christian
writers had held up to scorn. That Christians should ever think of
introducing the Pagan abstinence of Lent was a sign of evil; it showed
how low they had sunk, and it was also a cause of evil; it inevitably
led to deeper degradation. Originally, even in Rome, Lent, with the
preceding revelries of the carnival, was entirely unknown...."</i></div>
<br />
Alexander von Humboldt, a German explorer of the early 19th century wrote of the practice among the pagans in Mexico being held in the spring, the following:<br />
<br />
<div class="blockquote">
<i>"Three days after the vernal equinox…began a solemn fast of forty days in honour of the sun." </i>The idea of fasting forty days was a common pagan practice that evolved on separate continents. And it was done in honor of the sun in this case. Sun worship is really just another name for worshiping Satan.</div>
<br />
It was also celebrated in Egypt, according to John Landseer in his <i>Sabean Researches</i>. He wrote that a period of forty days was held in honor of Osiris. As the Egyptian religion was the descendant of Babylonianism from Nimrod and Semiramis (Tower of Babel), as were the pagan religions of the other countries of the world, we should not be surprised to see this as a common ritual in all of them.<br />
<br />
There is a spiritual undertone which indicates the spirit behind these traditions. Christ made it clear in John 4:23-24 how we are to worship. <i>" But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." </i>Riotous debauchery, followed by a pagan practice and mock repentance is not it. This is no more than ritual religious observance with, for a great majority of its practitioners, no real conviction behind it. It is lacking the vital element required by God. It lacks truth.<br />
<br />
In 1 Peter 1:13-16 we are told <i>"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."</i><br />
<br />
We are not to fashion ourselves after the manner of the pagans or imitate them, but we are to be holy. Being holy means to be set apart and different from the rest of the world. If we are indulging in pagan traditions, which are an abomination to God, how exactly are we being holy?<br />
<br />
We have to be very, very careful about taking man-made traditions and elevating them to the level of God-ordained holy days, especially when they have pagan roots. In Matthew 15:3, Christ says, <i>"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" </i>The Pharisees and scribes had incorporated all kinds of traditions and imposed them on the people. Traditions which not only were unBiblical in origin, but were anti-Biblical in nature. They actually transgressed the laws of God. It is no surprise that Christ seriously objected to this. In the same chapter in verses 6b-9, He said,<i> "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." </i>These traditions make the commandments of God to be of no effect. It renders them null and void.<i> </i>Mark 7:9,13<i> "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.....Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." </i>The consequences of following man-made religious traditions in place of worshiping God in truth is also addressed by Christ. Matthew 23:15<i> "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and
land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold
more the child of hell than yourselves." </i>Traditions are not just harmless rituals. They can actually drive us away from God.<br />
<br />
Additionally, God prefers a different kind of fast than one that is strictly ritual and not heartfelt. Isaiah 58:5-7 says,<i> "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his
soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth
and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day
to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to
loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the
oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it
not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that
are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover
him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
Lastly the holy day of Easter has to be addressed. Before even getting into that, the very name itself screams paganism. As much as is known, which is not a great deal, Eostre, or Ostara as she was also known, was a pagan goddess of Germanic origin. Eostre is traced back to a "goddess of the dawn."<i> </i>As the goddess of the dawn, the sunrise was an important part of the celebrations, as were bonfires, eggs, and rabbits for the spring fertility rituals. This goddess was apparently starting to take a back seat when Christianity came along, but as with all things ingrained in a populous, some remnants remained, and the name "Easter" and the associations were added to the paschal season. We have sunrise services, Easter eggs, and chocolate bunnies.<br />
<br />
In addition to the above associations, the timing of Easter was decided by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 to be the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox. If we are to observe the Feast of Firstfruits, which is the correct feast day, which became the resurrection day of Christ when He fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits, it would be the Sunday after Passover, which is the 15th of Nissan or Aviv, the first month of the ecclesiastical year in Judaism. As the first of the month is determined by the new moon, and the new moon is two weeks away from the full moon, the 15th of the month would end up being in the relative same time frame as the full moon. And as the month of Nissan falls in the spring, it would also fall around the vernal equinox. So it is common that Passover and Easter fall around the same time, and most often fall in the same week, but the factors determining the dates are not the same, so there can be times when they do not fall at the same time.<br />
<br />
Passover is determined by God's instructions. Easter is determined by association with the occult importance of the vernal equinox and full moon. They just happen to coincide most of the time. When it happens that they do not, because Judaism often inserts an extra month in their calendar every so many years, Easter does not fall on the Feast of Firstfruits. Easter's date of observance therefore has more to do with the pagan celebration of Eostre than the Feast of Firstfruits. This is not the way it should be. As the resurrection was the fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits, it should always occur on the Sunday after Passover. So are we celebrating a day which is not always really the right day? And should we be celebrating Passover as a part of this instead of ignoring it as a Jewish holiday? What does the Word of God say on the issue.<br />
<br />
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 <i>"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye
are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the
leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth." </i>Exactly what feast is Paul speaking about? Easter was not a feast that the disciples celebrated. Passover was the feast they celebrated. And it seems that Paul is telling us to keep the feast - the feast of Passover - for the reference is that Christ is our <i>passover. </i>Is the day of resurrection also to be celebrated? As it already existed as a feast day in Judaism - the Feast of Firstfruits, yes, it is also to be celebrated. But we have forgotten to celebrate Passover, relegating it to the trash as a Jewish holy day, not a Christian one. Instead we celebrate Good Friday (if you can call it celebrating), which even in that there is dispute that Jesus died on Friday, as that does not allow for three days and nights in the grave. It would be much better for us to celebrate Passover which contains all the significance of His death on the cross.<br />
<br />
When Christ ate the Last Supper with the disciples, He was celebrating the Passover seder. When He picked up the cup and said <i>"This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins," </i>He was actually renaming the third cup that is drunk in the Passover Seder - the cup known as the Cup of Redemption. (There are four cups, each with a different meaning.) When He broke the bread and ate it, He was breaking the bread known as the afikomen (see note below on afikomen). Both are important parts of the seder meal. What He was doing was re-purposing and renaming two of the Passover elements, <i>not </i>creating a new tradition with all the other elements removed. It was the same tradition, but with new meaning. Men are the ones who have changed the tradition by removing those two things from their original source. We have lost much of the meaning and significance of what He did and said at the Passover by removing those two elements from the seder and making them a la carte. He said that when we drank the cup (the cup of redemption of the Passover) and when we ate the bread (of afikomen), we were to do so in remembrance of Him. But people don't realize that it is the Cup of Redemption and they don't know the bread is the bread of the afikomen and what those two things mean within the seder.<br />
<br />
[Afikomen- during the Passover seder, three pieces of matzoh are
placed in a bag with three compartments. At a point early in the seder,
the middle piece of matzoh is taken out and broken in half. Half is put
back in the bag, and the other half is wrapped in a linen cloth and
hidden or buried to be found (resurrected) later in the seder. When
searched for and found, the matzoh is broken into pieces for the guests
at the seder to share and is eaten. To the Jews, this is a ritual for
which they really don't have an explanation, but as Christians we can
see the significance. The three pieces of matzoh stand for the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The middle matzoh, the Son, is taken out
and broken (for our sins) and it is wrapped in a cloth and "buried."
When found (resurrected) it is eaten by those celebrating the Passover.
This is the ritual that Christ observed with the disciples when He broke
the bread and said, "Take, eat, this is my body which is given for
you."]<br />
<br />
Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 <i>"And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is
my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye
drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." </i>As often as we drink the Cup of Redemption from the Passover seder and as often as we partake of the afikomen, we do so in remembrance of Him, which means, we were expected to continue to observe the Passover, but in a Messianic way, the way Christ did at the last Passover. And then we were to observe the Feast of Firstfruits in remembrance of Christ being the firstfruit of the resurrection. This is the way it was intended for us to celebrate Christ's death and resurrection. How much more deeply significant is spending the time at a Passover observance going through the Scriptures, singing songs, and partaking of the lengthy seder meal with all of its meanings, instead of celebrating with an Easter basket full of eggs and bunnies and going to a church service. Look at what we have lost. The most moving celebration I ever had at this time of year was when I partook of a Messianic Passover seder. And one does not serve ham (which was an unclean animal and therefore not acceptable to the Jews) at a Passover seder. The meat of choice is Lamb, for the Lamb of God. Even the meat has a spiritual significance which we have abandoned in favor of serving one of the forbidden meats of the Old Testament. Considering that the meat has spiritual application, what does it say that many Christians serve it on Easter in place of Lamb? <br />
<br />
<br />
That the early church, before Rome changed so many of the traditions by compromising them with paganism, celebrated Passover can be seen in this passage from <span class="articleText"><i>The Two Babylons by </i></span><span class="articleText">Alexander Hislop. He wrote:
<i>“The festival, of which we read in Church history, under the name of
Easter, in the third or fourth centuries, was quite a different festival
from that now observed in the Romish Church, and at that time was not
known by any such name as Easter…That festival [Passover] was not
idolatrous, and it was preceded by no Lent. ‘It ought to be known,’ said
Cassianus, the monk of Marseilles, writing in the fifth century, and
contrasting the primitive [New Testament] Church with the Church in his
day, ‘that the observance of the forty days had no existence, so long as
the perfection of that primitive Church remained inviolate.’” </i></span>Not only was Lent was not observed by the first century
Church, it would appear that Passover was the feast that was observed, not Easter.<br />
<br />
As can be seen with all the information above, the holidays that the Church celebrates in no way can claim origin in the Scriptures (except for celebrating the resurrection). We have abandoned God's feasts in favor of pagan ones with a Christian overlay. Does God care? Too many Christians think that He does not, as long as they themselves want to believe the rituals are okay. I do not think that God takes sincerity (which is the excuse) into account. Uzzah was sincere when he tried to catch the ark of the covenant from falling off the wagon. God killed him for disobedience. Nadab and Abihu were sincere when they offered the wrong kind of incense on the fire. God killed them for disobedience. There seems to be a pattern here. Sincerity did not count. Obedience and adherence to God's ways seems to be what God cares about. Ritual, and especially ritual with no real heart repentance is meaningless to God. Hear what He has to say to Israel when they acted in this way, and they were observing the rituals that God had created for them, not pagan ones with a phony godly veneer over them. We should look at their punishments and heed the lesson.<br />
<br />
Isaiah 1:11-14, 16-20<i> "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the
LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed
beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of
he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the
new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with;
it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them......Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."</i> <br />
<br />Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-59366026914132522422018-02-18T17:46:00.000-08:002018-02-18T17:46:00.562-08:00Give Me Meat, Not MilkRecently I spent most of the day at a Ladies Conference at my church. I will admit that I have never really enjoyed these kind of conferences, for several reasons. First of all, I am not big on large crowds of people and these conferences can sometimes pull in large numbers. I am much more a one on one or small group kind of person. I tend to have a few very close friends that I can count on rather than a slew of fair weather acquaintances. It is just my personality to prefer it that way. A second reason is that these conferences are usually geared towards subjects that specifically apply to ladies, most of which tend to not be the most stimulating from an intellectual scholarly point of view. While I have no objection to these subjects per se, I am and have always been a scholar and prefer a scholarly presentation on some deep spiritual or theological subject rather than hearing for the umpteenth time "How to be a Woman of God,"with lots of personal stories, visual props, crafts, and entertainment. It seems that this is the recurring theme at every conference. It only varies in the presentation. To me there is very little difference between being a woman of God and just being a Christian who does their best to walk in holiness, and I long ago learned what the requirements of doing that were. It is now my responsibility to work on that knowledge, not to have it drummed into me at every opportunity, as if I am unaware of the requirement. If I haven't learned it in the 60 years I have been a Christian, then obviously I am not going to learn it. That's not saying that other younger Christians don't need this lesson, but it would be nice if once in a while they geared the messages toward those who are mature Christians who learned all this long ago. The last problem for me is that these things often tend to deteriorate to an elementary school level entertainment production, as horrible as that may sound.<br />
<br />
To demonstrate what I mean with that last remark, let me share what I experienced at my latest conference. As most of these things begin, we started with prayer and singing a hymn. So far so good. The speaker gave us handouts on the topic, which was Jeremiah 18. She was going to discuss the potter and the clay and all the lessons that can be learned from that comparison as to God's relationship with us and how God molds us. This is not the deepest spiritual lesson one can learn, as it is a rather basic lesson that one should learn as a new Christian. I call it a lesson from Christianity 101. She went over the basics of receiving salvation, and then our need for ongoing repentance and allowing God to bring into our lives what He does for our spiritual growth. It is most definitely one that should be taught to new Christians, and as this woman is actually what I would call an evangelist by spiritual gifting, I would expect that this would be the basic lesson that she teaches, no matter what Scriptures she might use to vary the presentation.<br />
<br />
As she also seems to do these presentations with young people or children much of the time (being a pastor's wife), she has developed a method which she uses regardless of the nature of the audience. So, even though probably 85% of the audience constituted people over the age of 55 in this case, we were treated to what would have been a very entertaining show for elementary and possibly as old as high school children. She put on the costumes of characters such as an old woman, and a haughty British schoolteacher (I understand she has other characters she uses from well-known children's books as well) and in those personas presented us with some elementary school science tricks. With each trick there was a spiritual application. e.g. colored water made clear by the application of some chemical shows us that Jesus washes us clean of our sins. A bar of Ivory soap in a microwave (do not try this) will greatly expand, because Ivory is the only soap that has water in it. The application being that when we are indwelt with the Living Water of Jesus, we expand with His love and grace. There were a number of such science experiments. We also did a craft. We painted one of our hands with white paint and made a hand print on a black piece of construction paper, then put a red dot in the middle of the palm to make it look like Jesus' nail pierced hand, then wrote something underneath it such as "Paid in Full." I remember my children doing much the same type of craft in Vacation Bible School.<br />
<br />
Now, there is nothing wrong with any of this, and I am not criticizing using these things in the proper venue. What my point in all this is, this is neither physically or spiritually age appropriate for women who are basically senior citizens, who for the most part claim a Christian walk with the Lord of decades in length. This should have been nursery school stuff for them. In other words like baby's milk. It was New Christianity 101, not Mature Christianity 501. It would have been excellent as a Vacation Bible School presentation for children. It was not what women of this age and supposed spiritual maturity should have been satisfied with as a spiritual learning experience, yet that is exactly how they responded. They were thrilled with the day and felt it was a such a wonderful spiritually enlightening experience. As awful as this may sound for me to say this, it should not have been. They should have walked away feeling a hungry for spiritual food instead of full. What was taught should not have filled a person who was spiritually mature and looking to learn something that would push their learning curve even further. They settled for milk. And unfortunately they settle for it week after week in church as well.<br />
<br />
What disturbed me was not that this wonderful lady presented this, for this is her thing, but that this is all that these women expect or want in the way of learning. They were all impressed, and uplifted by it all, none of them seeming to see that it was way below what they should have been embracing in the way of spiritual education. By now, they should have long ago moved on from this kind of milk. We are told in Hebrews 5:12-14, 6:1-2<i> " For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and
are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."</i> And in 1 Corinthians 3:2 <i>"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."</i><br />
<br />
Continuing to teach Christians who are no longer classified as "new" Christians the same doctrines over and over of salvation, repentance, faith, baptism, the reality of a resurrection, and eternal judgment is not growing in the Lord. For some reason, pastors seem to think that these are the subjects that they should be teaching over and over and over instead of moving on to other things. These are the milk of our belief. These are the basic tenets which we should be taught at first, but then we should move on to other things. Scholarly things. When the Scriptures above were written, the New Testament was not formed. The epistles were merely letters that circulated among the churches. The gospel message was the milk. The meat of Scripture was the Scriptures which the people called the Talmud, or as we know it, the Old Testament. In other words, the Old Testament is the meat of Scripture. It is what, as mature Christians, we should be studying. The irony of this is that for the most part, a great many if not most of the clergy out there feel that the Old Testament is irrelevant and need not even be studied. As a side note, likewise they ignore the last book of the Bible, Revelation, as they also feel it is irrelevant to the Church as, at least in America, the Church does not think anything in that book applies to them. This despite the fact that God put a blessing on the book for those who read and heed it, so that they would be encouraged to study it.<br />
<br />
While so many think the Old Testament has nothing to offer, God tells us <i>"All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works." </i>2 Timothy 3:16-17. God considers the information in the Old Testament to be information which will 1) teach you correct doctrine, 2) offer reproof when needed, 3) correct your errors of behavior and understanding, 4) instruct you in righteous living 5) furnish you to be able to do the works God calls you to do, and as Hebrews tells us, also teaches us 6) how to learn to be discerning of good and evil, 7) to be skillful in handling the Word, rightly dividing it, 8) to be strong in righteousness, 9) to be a mature Christian, and 10) to turn you into a teacher of the Word rather than a babe, all which 11) perfects your faith which 12) teaches you how to know God better.<br />
<br />
Not only will studying the Old Testament do these things for you, the New Testament cannot be fully understood or rightly divided unless one studies the Old Testament, for many things in the New Testament refer back or reference things from the Old. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15<i> " Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." </i>One has to study all of a subject to rightly divide it, and if you are leaving out the bulk of the information, how can one possibly divide it correctly? This is especially true of prophecy. Most of the end times prophecies are in the Old Testament. The book of Revelation cannot truly be understood without a massive amount of help from the Old. Not only the prophets, but even the Torah or Pentateuch as Gentiles tend to refer to it. These are Laws of God and Moses. The information contained in these five book, as well as the prophets, plays a large part in understanding Revelation. And prophecy is for the mature in Christ, not the babe. <br />
<br />
In all the years I have attended church, and the many churches I have attended, including a number of different denominations, I find that with rare exceptions, the sermons always speak in some form or other of the milk of the Bible. In fact, it is to the point of boredom. How many times can one go to kindergarten and get anything out of it? Once you learn 2 + 2 = 4, you need to move on to algebra and then geometry, and then trigonometry, and calculus, etc. You cannot just find a variety of ways to teach 2 + 2 = 4 and expect anyone to learn any more about math. Neither can you constantly teach salvation and repentance over and over, no matter how many stories, or ways, or Scriptures you vary to teach it and think that your congregation is going to grow in knowledge. God has a very serious warning about not growing in knowledge of Him and His Word. Hosea 4:6<i> "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast
rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no
priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children." </i><br />
<br />
The story of salvation and the First Coming is what we are told to take out into the unbelieving world, so that they might be saved. But once saved, we are to move on and quit looking back at the First Coming and look towards the Second Coming, which should be the primary concern of the saved individual for his own learning and growth. The First Coming is for unbelievers. The Second Coming is for believers, and we should put our attention on that subject matter and learn all there is to learn about it. That is exactly why God put a blessing on the last book of the Bible. But without the foundation of a solid knowledge of the entire Old Testament, you will miss a great deal of what that final book contains. That is why so many people find the book so extremely hard to understand. Of course it is under those conditions. If you have only learned 2 + 2 = 4, you cannot do calculus, can you. The reason God put it at the end is because He expected people to read the Bible from the beginning to the end, but if interested in the end at all, people skip through the book and read only the last chapter, as it were, to find out the ending. The problem is, without understanding what is going on, the ending will make no sense.<br />
<br /><i></i>
<br />
God tells us that in the last days, there will be a falling away from truth, or what we call apostasy. 2 Thessalonians 2:3<i> "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition;"</i> He asks if He will even find faith when He returns. Luke 18:8b <i>"Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" </i>He tells us that people will not want to hear the truth of His Word, because they have itching ears that they want to tickle. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 <i>"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." </i>This is exactly why the Church is in such apostasy. They do not study God's Word and therefore they do not grow, and they are unable to discern false teachings, because they cannot rightly divide God's truth.<br />
<br />
The clergy for generations has been guilty of not teaching the people God's entire Word, and as a result, we now have a Church which does not even know what God's Word really says. Man has corrupted His teachings with all sorts of lies and perversions and nobody is the wiser. And the Church has watered things down to not just milk, but skim milk and that milk is sour. We treat mature adults as if they are kindergarteners, having them do finger paintings and watching elementary science tricks to teach them the basics of Christianity, which they should have learned the first year they were a Christian. What are we thinking? Not only do we do it, but if I have to judge from the response of the women at the conference I attended, we revel in it and think it is the utmost in spiritual heights. We should be attending the equivalent of college lectures, not vacation Bible school. How did we get so lazy? Why don't we even care?<br />
<br />
My pastor made a comment in our Bible study that he has heard many pastors say that they are just too busy to spend time on sermons, so they throw them together on Saturday night. This explains a lot of why the teachings coming from the pulpit are milk. I know that most of them also get their sermons from reading commentaries rather than studying the Bible. And lastly I have heard that being so "busy," many pastors are now downloading pre-written sermons off the internet and giving them. Given that this is the state of a great amount of our clergy, does it not behoove us to get into the Scriptures ourselves to mature in God's Word, since you are most likely not going to get it at church? Technically aren't we commanded to do that anyway, so we can be Bereans? Pastors are not learning God's Word, and therefore they cannot rightly divide it and so are adopting all these New Age teachings, all these false doctrines, and allowing Satan into the sanctuary in a variety of ways, The people don't study the Scriptures, instead letting the pastors teach them what they think they need to know, and so they have no discernment and are led into apostasy. Then, because they have no maturity themselves, they let the church train up (or more accurately not train up) their children. Now instead of merely adopting the lifestyle of their parents with an immature Christian life as in past generations, they are leaving the churches in droves, because they don't have a vital growing relationship with Christ, and so the problem isn't just perpetuating itself from generation to generation anymore, it is deteriorating to the point of no return.<br />
<br />
So in conclusion, while it might seem that I am being very harsh in my criticism of a ladies conference, it is a symptom of a much bigger problem. A problem which is killing the Church. If we don't start getting into the Word, again as God warned in Hosea, <i> "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast
rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no
priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children." </i>Not only will we be destroyed, and no longer be priests for Him, but He will forget our children. And the way our children are leaving the churches, this prophecy is coming true. Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-54823664688250080582018-01-06T17:07:00.000-08:002018-01-06T17:07:17.665-08:00When Tradition is Held in Higher Esteem than God's Word
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the main themes of the musical
<i>Fiddler on the Roof</i> is “tradition.” There is a song that
begins with those words, “Tradition, tradition! Tradition!” In
Judaism, tradition is paramount even over the Word of God. It was
this with which Jesus had a serious problem. The Pharisees and
scribes had over the years added their own traditions (supposedly
oral instructions from God that Moses never bothered writing down),
as well as pagan Babylonian Mystery traditions (learned during the
Babylonian captivity) to the Word of God. Instead of studying the
Tanakh or Old Testament, they chose to write down their own oral
traditions and commentaries and then each generation studied those
instead of strictly studying the Tanakh, as they felt one could not
understand the Scriptures without the insights and teachings of the
“great rabbis.” The Mishnah and the Talmud became more important
than the Torah (the first five books) or the Tanakh.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus had this to say about their
traditions. [The following two passages relate the same event.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 15:1-9<i> “Then came to Jesus
scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy
disciples transgress </i><i><b>the tradition of the elders</b></i><i>?
for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered
and said unto them, Why do </i><i><b>ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition</b></i><i>? For God commanded,
saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or
mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to
his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest
be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall
be free. Thus have</i><i><b> ye made the commandment of God of none
effect by your tradition</b></i><i>. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias
prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from
me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mark 7:5-13 <i>“Then the Pharisees
and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples </i><i><b>according
to the tradition of the elders</b></i><i>, but eat bread with
unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias
prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth
me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit</i><i><b>
in vain do they worship me</b></i><i>, </i><i><b>teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men.</b></i><i> For </i><i><b>laying
aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men,</b></i><i>
as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye
do. And he said unto them, Full well </i><i><b>ye reject the
commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition</b></i><i>.
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth
father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall
say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye
suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making
the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have
delivered: and many such like things do ye.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Notice that the Pharisees themselves
state that they expect Him (and everyone) to follow the <i>traditions
of men. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Jesus replies that they
are</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">not only
</span><i>rejecting, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">but also</span><i>
transgressing </i><span style="font-style: normal;">the commandments
of God </span><i>by holding to their traditions.</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
They are making God's commandments of no effect, or null and void by
their traditions, and even worse they teach their traditions to the
people as </span><i>doctrine </i><span style="font-style: normal;">in
place of God's Word. Their traditions have superseded God's
commandments and laws. They have set themselves up as a higher moral
authority than God. Jesus also uses Scripture, or God's own words to
point out that God has said that their worship of Him is in vain,
since they are only teaching man's laws, not His. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In this particular passage, as an
example of their hypocritical heart condition, Christ relates their
tradition regarding the care of their parents, for the Pharisees had
by their traditions given themselves a loophole to taking care of
their parents, as God had commanded. They would “consecrate”
their goods to the temple as Corban which meant it was designated as
a gift for the treasury of the temple and thus could not go
elsewhere, but they arranged that they could hold onto it as long as
they wanted and give it when they wanted, for there was no prescribed
time limit to have to fulfill the vow. So essentially they could have
it done upon their death or if preferred, the gifting could expire
upon their death, making it null and void, so that it could become an
inheritance. This enabled them to keep their money, and nobody could
say anything to them about it, for there was (deliberately I assume)
nothing forcing them to take action upon their word. It was a phony
promise to the temple and a way of ignoring their parents' needs. It
is kind of like our politicians today. Plenty of promises, giving
themselves raises and nice retirements, etc. and keeping what they
owe the people they represent, from the people. History repeats
itself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees
hypocrites over and over for their multitude of traditions and
man-made laws which they inflicted upon the people. Note the verse
above in Matthew 15:7-8 <i>“</i><i><b>Ye</b></i><i> </i><i><b>hypocrites,</b></i><i>
well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but </i><i><b>their
heart is far from me</b></i><i>.”</i> There are many more verses
where He is referring to them either directly or indirectly as
hypocrites.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 6:2<i> “Therefore when thou
doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as </i><i><b>the
hypocrites </b></i><i>do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 6:5<i> “And when thou
prayest, thou shalt not be as</i><i><b> the hypocrites</b></i><i>
are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 6:16 <i>“Moreover when ye
fast, be not, as </i><i><b>the hypocrites</b></i><i>, of a sad
countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear
unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 16:1-3 <i>“</i><i><b>The
Pharisees also with the Sadducees </b></i><i>came, and tempting
desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered
and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair
weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul
weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O </i><i><b>ye
hypocrites</b></i><i>, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye
not discern the signs of the times?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 22:15-18 <i>“Then went </i><i><b>the
Pharisees</b></i><i>, and took counsel how they might entangle him in
his talk.......But Jesus perceived</i><i><b> their wickedness</b></i><i>,
and said, Why tempt ye me, </i><i><b>ye hypocrites</b></i><i>?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 23:13-15<i> “</i><i><b>But
woe unto you</b></i><i>, </i><i><b>scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!</b></i><i>
for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go
in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
</i><i><b>Woe unto you</b></i><i>,</i><i><b> scribes and Pharisees</b></i><i>,</i><i><b>
hypocrites!</b></i><i> for ye devour widows' houses, and for a
pretence make long prayer: therefore</i><i><b> ye shall receive the
greater damnation</b></i><i>. </i><i><b>Woe unto you</b></i><i>,
</i><i><b>scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!</b></i><i> for ye
compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye
make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 23:23-29 <i>“</i><i><b>Woe
unto you</b></i><i>, </i><i><b>scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!</b></i><i>
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the
weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. </i><i><b>Ye
blind guides,</b></i><i> which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
</i><i><b>Woe unto you</b></i><i>, </i><i><b>scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites!</b></i><i> for ye make clean the outside of the cup and
of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
</i><i><b>Thou blind Pharisee</b></i><i>, cleanse first that which is
within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean
also. </i><i><b>Woe unto you</b></i><i>,</i><i><b> scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites!</b></i><i> for </i><i><b>ye are like unto
whited sepulchres</b></i><i>, which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within </i><i><b>ye
are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.</b></i><i> </i><i><b>Woe unto
you</b></i><i>,</i><i><b> scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! </b></i><i>because
ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the
righteous,”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 24:51 <i>“And shall cut him
asunder, and appoint him his portion with </i><i><b>the hypocrites:</b></i><i>
there shall be </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">weeping and
gnashing of teeth.</span></i><i>”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
11:42-44 </span><i>“But </i><i><b>woe unto you, Pharisees!</b></i><i>
for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over
judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone. </i><i><b>Woe unto you, Pharisees! </b></i><i>for
ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the
markets. </i><i><b>Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
</b></i><i>for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that
walk over them are not aware of them.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
16:3b-4 “</span><i>O </i><i><b>ye hypocrites</b></i><i>, ye can
discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the
times? A</i><i><b> wicked and adulterous generation </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">seeketh
after a sign;</span></i><i> and there shall no sign be given unto it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas ”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
12:56 </span><i>“</i><i><b>Ye hypocrites</b></i><i>, ye can discern
the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not
discern this time?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Luke 13:15 “The Lord then answered
him, and said,<b> Thou hypocrite</b>, doth not each one of you on the
sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to
watering?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus had a few
other choice names for the Pharisees and scribes other than
hypocrites. He also calls them vipers, fools, and He says how they
are blind and an evil and adulterous generation and wicked within.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
3:7 </span><i>“But when he saw many of </i><i><b>the Pharisees and
Sadducees</b></i><i> come to his baptism, he said unto them, O
</i><i><b>generation of vipers</b></i><i>, who hath warned you to
flee from the wrath to come?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
12:34 </span><i>“O</i><i><b> generation of vipers</b></i><i>, how
can ye, </i><i><b>being evil,</b></i><i> speak good things? for out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
12:38-39</span><i> “Then certain of </i><i><b>the scribes and of
the Pharisees</b></i><i> answered, saying, Master, we would </i><i><b>see
a sign</b></i><i> from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An</i><i><b>
evil and adulterous generation</b></i><i> </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">seeketh
after a sign</span></i><i>; and there shall no sign be given to it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas: ”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i><span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
23:16-17,19 </span><i>“</i><i><b>Woe unto you, ye blind guides</b></i><i>,
which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but
whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! </i><i><b>Ye
fools and blind</b></i><i>: for whether is greater, the gold, or the
temple that sanctifieth the gold?... </i><i><b>Ye fools and blind</b></i><i>:
for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the
gift?”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
23:33 </span><i>“Ye</i><i><b> serpents</b></i><i>, ye </i><i><b>generation
of vipers</b></i><i>, how can ye escape the </i><i><b>damnation of
hell</b></i><i>?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
11:37-40 </span><i>“And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought
him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when
the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before
dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean
the outside of the cup and the platter; but</i><i><b> your inward
part is full of ravening and wickedness</b></i><i>. </i><i><b>Ye
fools</b></i><i>, did not he that made that which is without make
that which is within also?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
9:40-41 </span><i>“And some of t<b>he Pharisees</b> which were with
him heard these words, and said unto him, <b>Are we blind</b> also?
<b>Jesus said</b> unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin:
but now ye say, We see; therefore <b>your sin remaineth</b>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lawyers also
tempted Him and came under condemnation, although many if not most of
the lawyers were also Pharisees. He accuses them of laying burdens
upon people that were too great for them to bear, while they
themselves did not practice what they preached. He also accused them
of taking away the key to God's knowledge and while not studying
themselves, they also prevented those who would study from studying.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
22:35-36 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Then one of
them, which was </span></i><i><b>a lawyer,</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
asked him a question, </span></i><i><b>tempting him,</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Luke
7:30 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“But</span></i><i><b>
the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
against themselves, being not baptized of him.”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
10:25 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And, behold, a
certain</span></i><i><b> lawyer</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
stood up, and </span></i><i><b>tempted him,</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
11:45-47</span><i> “Then answered one of </i><i><b>the lawyers</b></i><i>,
and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. And
he said, </i><i><b>Woe unto you also</b></i><i>, ye lawyers! for </i><i><b>ye
lade men with burdens</b></i><i> grievous to be borne, and </i><i><b>ye
yourselves touch not the burdens </b></i><i>with one of your fingers.
</i><i><b>Woe unto you</b></i><i>! for ye build the sepulchres of
the prophets, and your fathers killed them.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
11:52 </span><i>“</i><i><b>Woe unto you, lawyers</b></i><i>! for</i><i><b>
ye have taken away the key of knowledge</b></i><i>: </i><i><b>ye
entered not in yourselves</b></i><i>, and </i><i><b>them that were
entering in ye hindered</b></i><i>.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Pharisees were
always looking for a way to find fault with Jesus or tempt Him in
some way. They sought to trip Him up so that they could accuse Him
and put Him to death, as He was a thorn in their side with His
flaunting of their traditions and showing the people that they were
not the righteous leaders they claimed to be. It undermined their
authority.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mathew
9:10-11 </span><i>“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the
house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him
and his disciples. And when </i><i><b>the Pharisees saw</b></i><i>
it, they said unto his disciples, </i><i><b>Why eateth your Master
with publicans and sinners?</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mark
2:16 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And when
</span></i><i><b>the scribes and Pharisees saw</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, </span></i><i><b>How
is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">?”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Luke
5:30 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“But </span></i><i><b>their
scribes and Pharisees </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">murmured
against his disciples, saying, </span></i><i><b>Why do ye eat and
drink with publicans and sinners</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">?”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Luke
15:2 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And t</span></i><i><b>he
Pharisees and scribes murmured</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
saying, This man </span></i><i><b>receiveth sinners, and eateth with
them.</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 11:19 <i>“The Son of man came
eating and drinking, and they say, </i><i><b>Behold a man gluttonous,
and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners</b></i><i>.”</i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luke 7:34 <i>“The Son of man is come
eating and drinking; and</i><i><b> ye say, Behold a gluttonous man,
and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners</b></i><i>!”</i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew
9:34 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“But </span></i><i><b>the
Pharisees</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> said, He</span></i><i><b>
casteth out</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> devils
</span></i><i><b>through the prince of the devils</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
12:24 </span><i>“But when </i><i><b>the Pharisees </b></i><i>heard
it, they said, This fellow doth not </i><i><b>cast out devils</b></i><i>,
but </i><i><b>by Beelzebub</b></i><i> the prince of the devils.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 12:2 <i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“But
when </span></i><i><b>the Pharisees saw </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">it,
they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is</span></i><i><b>
not lawful </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">to do upon
the sabbath day.” </span></i>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mark
2:24</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> “</span></i><i>And
</i><i><b>the Pharisees said </b></i><i>unto him, Behold, why do they
on the sabbath day that which is </i><i><b>not lawful</b></i><i>?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
6:2</span><i> “And certain of</i><i><b> the Pharisees said</b></i><i>
unto them, Why do ye that which is </i><i><b>not lawful </b></i><i>to
do on the sabbath days?” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew
12:10 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And,
behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And </span></i><i><b>they
asked him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, saying, </span></i><i><b>Is
it lawful </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">to heal on the
sabbath days?</span></i><i><b> that they might accuse him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”
</span></i>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mark
3:2 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And </span></i><i><b>they
watched him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, whether he
would heal him on the sabbath day;</span></i><i><b> that they might
accuse him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Luke
6:7 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And</span></i><i><b>
the scribes and Pharisees</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they
might </span></i><i><b>find an accusation against him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
John 9:16a <i>“Therefore said some of </i><i><b>the Pharisees</b></i><i>,
This </i><i><b>man is not of God</b></i><i>, because he </i><i><b>keepeth
not the sabbath day</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew
12:14 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Then </span></i><i><b>the
Pharisees</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> went out, and
held a council against him, </span></i><i><b>how they might destroy
him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.” </span></i>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mark
3:6 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“And </span></i><i><b>the
Pharisees </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">went forth,
and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, </span></i><i><b>how
they might destroy him.</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">”</span></i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
19:3 </span><i>“</i><i><b>The Pharisees </b></i><i>also came unto
him,</i><i><b> tempting him</b></i><i>, and saying unto him, </i><i><b>Is
it lawful </b></i><i>for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mark 10:2 <i>“And </i><i><b>the
Pharisees</b></i><i> came to him, and asked him, </i><i><b>Is it
lawful</b></i><i> for a man to put away his wife? </i><i><b>tempting
him</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luke 7:30 <i>“But </i><i><b>the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God </b></i><i>against
themselves, being not baptized of him.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Luke
13:14 </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">“</span></i><i>And</i><i><b>
the ruler of the synagogue</b></i><i> answered with</i><i><b>
indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day</b></i><i>,
and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to
work: in them therefore come and be healed, and</i><i><b> not on the
sabbath day</b></i><i>. ”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
21:45-46</span><i> “And when </i><i><b>the chief priests and
Pharisees</b></i><i> had heard his parables, </i><i><b>they perceived
that he spake of them</b></i><i>. But when </i><i><b>they sought to
lay hands on him</b></i><i>, they feared the multitude, because they
took him for a prophet.”</i></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew
22:15 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Then went</span></i><i><b>
the Pharisees</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, and took
counsel how they might </span></i><i><b>entangle him</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
in his talk.”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mark 12:13 <i>“And they send unto him
certain of </i><i><b>the Pharisees </b></i><i>and of the Herodians,
</i><i><b>to catch him</b></i><i> in his words.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luke 11:53-54 <i>“And as he said
these things unto them, </i><i><b>the scribes and the Pharisees</b></i><i>
began to </i><i><b>urge him vehemently, and to provoke him</b></i><i>
to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and </i><i><b>seeking
to catch something </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">out
of his mouth,</span></i><i><b> that they might accuse him</b></i><i>.”</i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 22:34-35 <i>“But when </i><i><b>the
Pharisees </b></i><i>had heard that he had put</i><i><b> the
Sadducees </b></i><i>to silence, they were gathered together. Then
</i><i><b>one of them, which was a lawyer</b></i><i>, asked him a
question, </i><i><b>tempting him</b></i><i>,”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
16:1-3a</span><i> “</i><i><b>The Pharisees also with the Sadducees
</b></i><i>came, and </i><i><b>tempting </b></i><i>desired him that
he would shew them </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">a sign</span></i><i>
from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye
say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning,
It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mark
8:11-12 </span><i>“And </i><i><b>the Pharisees came</b></i><i>
forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
sign</span></i><i> from heaven, </i><i><b>tempting </b></i><i>him.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this
generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no
sign be given unto this generation.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
5:21 </span><i>“And</i><i><b> the scribes and the Pharisees </b></i><i>began
to reason, saying, Who is this which </i><i><b>speaketh blasphemies</b></i><i>?
Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
16:14 </span><i>“And </i><span style="font-style: normal;">the
Pharisees </span><i>also, </i><i><b>who were covetous</b></i><i>,
heard all these things: and they </i><i><b>derided him</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
7:32</span><i> “</i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Pharisees</span></i><i> heard that the people murmured such things
concerning him; and </i><i><b>the Pharisees and the chief priests
sent officers to take him</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
8:3-6a </span><i>“And</i><i><b> the scribes and Pharisees</b></i><i>
brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her
in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in
adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that
such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said,</i><i><b>
tempting him, that they might have to accuse him</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
8:13 </span><i>“</i><i><b>The Pharisees</b></i><i> therefore said
unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; </i><i><b>thy record is not
true.</b></i><i>”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
11:47, 53 </span><i>“Then gathered</i><i><b> the chief priests and
the Pharisees </b></i><i>a council, and said, What do we? for this
man doeth many miracles..... Then from that day forth </i><i><b>they
took counsel together for to put him to death.</b></i><i>” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
11:57 </span><i>“Now both</i><i><b> the chief priests and the
Pharisees</b></i><i> had given a commandment, that, if any man knew
where he were, he should shew it, that </i><i><b>they might take
him</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
20:18 </span><i>“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man
shall be betrayed unto <b>the chief priests</b> and unto the scribes,
and <b>they shall condemn him to death</b>,”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
26:65-67</span><i> “Then <b>the high priest </b>rent his clothes,
saying, He hath<b> spoken blasphemy</b>; what further need have we of
witnesses? behold, now ye have heard<b> his blasphemy</b>. What think
ye? They answered and said, <b>He is guilty of death</b>. Then did
they spit in his face, and<b> buffeted</b> him; and others <b>smote
</b>him with the palms of their hands,”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Pharisees
wielded a lot of power over the people, and disagreeing with them
meant making yourself a target and outcast. Because of this many
people, including some of the chief rulers and Pharisees who
believed, were afraid to confess Jesus.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
12:42-43 </span><i>“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many
believed on him; but </i><i><b>because of the Pharisees they did not
confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue</b></i><i>:
For </i><i><b>they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
John 7:47-49 <i>“Then answered them
</i><i><b>the Pharisees,</b></i><i> Are ye also deceived? </i><i><b>Have
any of the rulers or</b></i><i> of </i><i><b>the Pharisees believed
on him</b></i><i>? But this </i><i><b>people who knoweth not the law
are cursed.</b></i><i>”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus warned His
disciples about the Pharisees and their traditions and teachings.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
16:6, 11-12</span><i> “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and
</i><i><b>beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees</b></i><i>.,,,,How is it that ye do not understand that I
spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should </i><i><b>beware
of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees</b></i><i>? Then
understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of
bread, but of </i><i><b>the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees.</b></i><i>”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mark
8:15 </span><i>“And he charged them, saying, Take heed,</i><i><b>
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees</b></i><i>, and of the leaven
of Herod.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
12:1</span><i> “In the mean time, when there were gathered together
an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon
another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, </i><i><b>Beware
ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.</b></i><i>”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
23:2-7 </span><i>“Saying, </i><i><b>The scribes and the Pharisees
</b></i><i>sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you
observe, that observe and do; but </i><i><b>do not ye after their
works: for they say, and do no</b></i><i>t. For </i><i><b>they bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers</b></i><i>. But</i><i><b> all their works they do for to be
seen of men:</b></i><i> they make broad their phylacteries, and
enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms
at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in
the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
18:11-14 </span><i>“</i><i><b>The Pharisee </b></i><i>stood and
prayed thus with himself, God,</i><i><b> I thank thee, that I am not
as other men are, </b></i><i>extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of
all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not
lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast,
saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went
down to his house justified rather than the other: for</i><i><b>
every one that exalteth himself shall be abased</b></i><i>; and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As can be seen from
the many passages above, Jesus had absolutely no use for the
traditions of men and those who upheld them as being higher than
God's laws, commandments, or Word. This should be a warning to us,
but it seems that many have not learned the lesson. Today a great
number of churches and denominations teach their traditions, some of
which are actually transgressions against God, in place of God's
Word, yet do not see the parallel between themselves and the
Pharisees. They mock the Pharisees as being blind and full of sin,
yet are as blind and as full of sin themselves, putting the
traditions of men before the Word of God. Just as the Pharisees
measured a man's spiritual life as a Jew by how he kept their
traditions, far too many churches, pastors, and just regular
Christians measure a person's relationship with God through Jesus
Christ by how well they observe the traditions of the church, even
when the tradition might be a transgression of God's Word. Or they do
the reverse and take freedoms that God has given as a blessing and
turned them into sins. They call evil, good and good, evil just as
the world is doing, yet are completely oblivious to it.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Recently I came
across a saying which I cannot remember the quote exactly, or who
said it, so I will paraphrase what I remember and add to it what I
feel is needed to complete the thought.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>When you find that your favorite and
strongly held views clash with the Word of God, do not start debating
it. If you do, a sense of self-righteousness will emerge and pride
and hypocrisy may be the end result, rather than a learning of the
truth. </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Over the years I have attended a
variety of different types of churches, whether as a visitor or
congregant. The one thing that seems common to all of them is that
each has their own traditions. Whether it is the liturgical church
with all of the pomp and ceremony that goes with the ecclesiastical
times of the year, a non-liturgical church which has no formal order
to <span style="font-style: normal;">the </span>worship service at
all, or anything in between, they all still have their traditions or
things which they feel are a necessary part of being a Christian and
without those things, you either aren't a good Christian or aren't a
Christian at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I recall, after moving to our present
home, something that I saw when searching for a church to attend. I
walked into the foyer of a local church and a huge sign over the door
into the sanctuary said, “Visitors welcome, members expected.”
And indeed they were. Members expected, that is. They had Sunday
morning worship service and Sunday school, youth group, and Sunday
evening services on Sunday, mid-week prayer service on Wednesday,
revival services yearly, choir rehearsals weekly, meetings of all
sorts, conferences, retreats, etc., etc., etc. The church was a
constant flurry of activity, as was the day of worship. No rest for
the weary. And the members were expected to attend all services or
meetings which were universal, as well as those which were specific
to them. In fact, church took up their whole life. Church was and is
their spiritual life, their social life, their family life (or in
some cases replacement for family), their financial dictator, their
babysitter, their substitute for their parental duties toward their
children's spiritual education, their substitute for personal
evangelism, and in whole, their entire life. This particular church
also had an academy, so the school sports meant that members should,
as much as possible (to support the school) show up for those games,
so it was their recreational life as well, not only with the school
games, but with inter-mural church games. It also provided their
entertainment in the form of school concerts and programs. It took a
grave (pardon the pun) excuse, for instance death, to have your
absence overlooked and not have it brought to your attention as a
lapse. But I also noticed that most of the members were content to
have their entire lives be controlled by and revolve solely around
the church. It provided a safe haven for them to not have to extend
themselves to reach out to the world. They barely interacted with the
community at all. It was as if they were a closed and gated
community. Visitors were really only welcome if they were ready to
embrace the church and let it control every aspect of their lives.
There were other understood requirements as well as the attendance
requirements. No socializing outside of the ranks with the heathen,
no attending non-approved colleges, and absolutely no participating
in unapproved activities. Things such as no alcohol, no dancing, and
other such rules were unwritten, but known to be the standard by
which a person behaved or they were outright said to not be Christian
and became outcasts of the membership. It did not take me more than
one visit to decide I was not going to attend that church as a
congregant.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have heard from the members of this
type of church, that the reason for these extra man-made rules is not
only to prevent people from sinning, but that they believe the
forbidden things are actually sin (which they aren't). They are under
the impression that to do these things, which are not forbidden by
God (such as have a glass of wine with dinner, go ballroom dancing,
or women wearing slacks for example) will without question lead to
abuse of the privilege, and therefore sin (such as drunkenness or
lasciviousness), as of course people cannot be trusted to use their
own judgment on the matter or have self-control. So the freedom was
removed and rules were created and enforced to make sure that people
did not ever get close to the sin about which God did warn us. This
did not occur with this generation, this occurred many years ago and
has been handed down as the doctrinal truth or position of this
church denomination. Is this not exactly the reason the Pharisees of
Jesus' day gave for their traditions? They added numerous and onerous
rules on top of God's rules making people's lives miserable, and
taught them generation after generation. And if people did not keep
the rules, they were not in good standing with the clergy or
considered a good Jew. It didn't matter that these Pharisees were, as
Christ put it, white-washed sepulchers themselves, and doing sinful
things behind closed doors. They lorded it over the populous and held
themselves up as righteous (self-righteous) examples. So too do the
churches of today.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is not just the type of church I
described above that has this problem. As odd as it sounds, that
church says that salvation is by faith through grace with no works
required, yet they have all these works and rules that they insist
upon. There are other denominations which do not preach born again
salvation, they preach works, and so people's lives are tied up with
attending services, observing all the ceremonies of induction into
the mysteries of God, doing the works the church offers or approves,
praying the prayers that they are taught to pray for penance, making
sure they give the required amount of money, and etc. etc. etc. It
seems that at either end of the spectrum, as well as in between, the
traditions of the church tend to be the most important thing.
Reading, studying, knowing, and obedience to God's <i>WORD </i><span style="font-style: normal;">seems
to be, if not irrelevant, at least not all that important. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">What
is also of interest is that while the churches teach that if you do
not adhere to their traditions, you will not only </span><i>not </i><span style="font-style: normal;">be
a good Christian, but you will be a bad witness, it is not the
unbelievers outside of the church who look upon you as being a bad
Christian or witness. It is the people within the church that judge
you so harshly. I have found that by following God's rules alone,
that when I witness I have more respect from people for not being a
hypocrite, by not having added a bunch of rules of my own. They are
presented with a God who is not the hyper straight-laced and joy
depriving God that He is presented as being. They learn that He wants
self-control and obedience, but that His yoke is easy, not burdensome
when it is understood correctly. I never compromise God's Word by
saying that a sin is not a sin, but I show why the sin is detrimental
to their lives and why God forbids it. It is a much harder thing for
a person to defend their traditions through Scripture, (since they
are not defensible) and so that leaves a bad witness behind as them
being a self-righteous hypocrite, for nobody is sin free, and people
watch you to see what your life presents. If you have sin in your
life, but hold yourself up as morally superior to God, you will not
make a great impression. Self-righteousness is not something that
impresses unbelievers. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">God
wants love, mercy, and obedience. While that may sometimes include
taking a Christian to task for a bona fide sin that is taught in
Scripture, it does not mean that we have the right to judge a
person's relationship with Christ by our own traditions and
viewpoints. God's Word is clear about sin and how to deal with it in
the body. Beyond that, we should not judge others freedom in Christ,
nor should we expect them to live up to our own man-made rules. Nor
should we make our churches into social clubs and gated communities.
We are to go out in the world and spread the gospel. That means we
have to interact socially with unbelievers, as Christ did. We should
not partake of their sins (and there is a distinct difference between
sin and freedom in Christ) any more than He did, but we should be
befriending them, so that they get to know our relationship with
Christ, so that we can lead them to Him. We should not be accusing
the brethren who are doing this of not being Christians, because they
don't adhere to our traditions. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">As an
example of this, I know a pastor who decided to hold a Bible study at
a VFW. The church had strict rules against alcohol, and this VFW had
a bar (of sorts). Well, the pastor came under condemnation for </span><i>being
in the building.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Seriously
people? You condemned a pastor for trying to bring the gospel to our
veterans just because he was in a building that housed some alcohol?
It wasn't like he was serving it nor was it even available at that
time of day. (Not that serving alcohol is a sin anyhow. Only
drunkenness and alcoholism are the sins that would apply here and
they didn't in this case.) It was a ridiculous accusation against him
and it wasn't long before he gave up the Bible study. I don't know if
that was because of the controversy and condemnation or the lack of
interest, but no matter, it was wrong to condemn him bringing the
gospel to the world. This is what bad traditions do. They get in the
way of salvation.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now that bad
traditions have been discussed, it is important to recognize that
there are God's traditions and rules, and they must be kept. We have
only two ordinances or traditions. Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We
should be observing those traditions, because God has told us to.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
also have rules for obedience. We should give of our money to the
Lord (although each person is to determine in their heart what to
give) because we are told to by God. We should gather with other
believers for fellowship and worship, especially as the Day of the
Lord approaches, </span><i><b>but</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
nowhere did God specify that it had to be in a church, or on a Sunday
(I will get to this problem in a minute), or that it had to have a
certain kind of order of service, or had to be multiple times a week.
He just said to gather with other like-minded (that's a hard thing to
find) believers to give us fellowship, corporate worship of Him,
growth in knowledge as we study, and to support and help one another.
We are to pray, and when two or more are gathered in His name, He is
there too, but nowhere does it say that we have to attend the weekly
prayer service on a particular night of the week. We should pray
without ceasing. What pastors should be teaching on prayer is not the
traditions of attendance, but the need to have a relationship with
God where praying is akin to breathing. You do it automatically all
the time without even thinking about it. It should be that effortless
and continual. Prayer times with others is a bonus, but not a weekly
mandatory requirement. The more you learn to make it a part of your
life like breathing, the more inclined you would be to gather with
others to pray. And you would not have to beat people over the head
to put in an appearance for the sake of appearances. That is not
being there because of a heart desire, it is merely fulfilling an
obligation. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
have many other things we should be doing – witnessing, using our
talents, working on bearing the fruits of the spirit, confessing our
sins, and other things which God has told us to do. We are to be
obeying the Ten Commandments. Now as mentioned above, I want to
address one of those things. Most if not all Christians will agree
that nine of those ten are things we absolutely should or should not
be doing. We should have no other gods before Him, we should not take
His name in vain, we should not make graven images, we should not
kill, or commit adultery, or steal, or bear false witness or covet.
We should honor our parents, and lastly the one commandment that
tradition has taught us to sin against for practically two millennia,
we are to keep the Sabbath holy. Man's tradition, </span></span><i><b>NOT</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
God's Word has said that we are to forsake the commandment of God
(which is an eternal covenantal sign as well as a commandment) and
adhere to man's tradition instead. If you do not believe this, then
read my article on this here
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html</a>.
Man took a commandment of God, just as the Pharisees did, and
rejected it and transgressed it replacing it with their own tradition
and then made it into a doctrine. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The argument is made that people cannot be trusted to not sin,
therefore rules must be made to create a hedge for people. This takes
away the instruction that God gave us to learn to have self-control.
How can a person learn self-control if they are never challenged to
have to exercise it. These traditions keep people from growing. Then
instead of preaching and teaching self-control, to work at a
relationship with God that is so part of one that one doesn't know a
moment without His presence, they preach against the objects of
“sin”, such as alcohol, or dancing, or slacks on women, or
buttons, or electricity, and the “sin” of not attending services
or praying the requisite prayers for penance or whatever the
so-called “sin” is. What they need to teach is how to grow in the
Lord and study His Word, not just read it through a hundred times.
Preaching rules only gets outer conformity to traditions. Preaching
how to grow in a relationship with Christ teaches how to not sin
against God's commandments by the heart's choice.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-30275280433989869392017-10-11T19:18:00.002-07:002017-10-11T19:18:24.513-07:00Should We Use the Greek Text When Studying the Bible?
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the past two days, I was told by no
less than five different unrelated people that one should not look to
the Greek for help when one is in need of further enlightenment about
a word or phrase that might be ambiguous or need further
clarification. In fact, I was told by several of those people that
God meant for us to rely only on the English version. Further
comments told me that it cannot be trusted, and it cannot be
understood unless you are a scholar who has studied it, therefore you
are better to leave it alone, and other such comments. I have heard
it jokingly said that there are people who say, “The King James
Bible was good enough for Paul, so it's good enough for me.”
Sometimes I think people really are that lacking in knowledge, when I
hear some of the comments they make.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First of all, to say that the Greek
cannot be trusted seems to be a ludicrous statement. The Bible in
English is a translation of the Greek, so if the Greek cannot be
trusted, how can the English? Secondly, one does not have to have a
degree in ancient Greek in order to pick up an interlinear Bible and
a concordance and look up what the word is in Greek (or Hebrew for
that matter) and its definitions. Why should we leave it alone as a
study tool, as if it were a forbidden book, when it is so available
to enhance our studying? Can it be misused by wolves who want to
teach heresy? Of course it can, and so can the English. Most people
are so unfamiliar with their English Bible that they can be fooled
without ever having to go to the Greek to convince them of something,
as they never check what information they are being fed against the
Word of God.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Is it really necessary? Can't one get
the full intent of something from just the context and grammar? Well,
most of the time you probably can, but there are times when you miss
something, if you don't look to the original language. Let me give an
example. Let us look at John 21:15-17 in the English. <i>“So when
they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith
to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto
him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto
him, Feed my sheep.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have heard
sermons on this passage, with all kinds of speculation as to why
Peter was grieved and why Jesus said it three times. One is that
Jesus knew Peter was going to deny Him three times, so He asked him
if he loved Him three times. Another says that Jesus wanted Peter to
understand the importance of preaching the gospel so He emphasized it
three times by telling him to feed His sheep. I don't know that I
ever heard an explanation for why Peter was grieved, except that
Christ asked him three times. Now let us consider the Greek. We only
need to look at one word, the word “love.” In English we have
only one word for all kinds of love. In the Greek there are at least
four - “Agape” the kind of sacrificial love that God has for us
and we as Christians should have for God and others, “philia”
brotherly love (hence the city of Philadelphia being the the city of
brotherly love), “eros” sexual love, and “storge” the kind of
affection families have for each other. In this case we are going to
focus on the words “agape” and “philia.” When we rewrite
this passage substituting the appropriate Greek word, we find that
the passage reads like this.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<i>So when they
had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, agape
thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest
that I philia thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to
him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, agape thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I philia thee. He saith
unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon,
son of Jonas, philia thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto
him the third time, philia thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I philia thee. Jesus saith unto
him, Feed my sheep.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now let us look at
it the way Christ might have said it in today's English. “Peter, do
you love me? Yes, Lord, you know I love you like a
brother..................No Peter, I mean, do you <i>really </i>LOVE
me, like you'd die for me? Lord, you know that I love you just like
a brother.....................Peter...... so...... you love me like a
brother then.” And Peter was grieved that Jesus accepted and
acknowledged that he loved him like a brother, but not to the point
of sacrificial love. And Peter said, “Lord, you know everything
there is to know, so you know that I love you like a brother.”
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It makes much more
sense to understand why Peter was grieved, when you understand that
Christ had changed the word from agape to philia, for it was a
downgrading of the relationship on Peter's side that Christ was
acknowledging. It was a disappointment. You would never get that from
the English. And it does not take a degree in Greek in order to gain
that knowledge. Merely a copy of Strong's Concordance.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What initially
brought on this entire discussion was a disagreement over, of all
things, the word “men.” Now who would think that the word “men”
would need to be defined, but it did. The verse in question said that
“they were redeemed from among men.” Now I had always taken that
in the English to mean that the word “men” meant from among all
of mankind. The other party was of the opinion that the word
literally and specifically meant adult males. So to answer the
disagreement, I went to the Greek word in the concordance and looked
it up. In this particular case, the Greek word was “anthropos.”
Now that word should be recognizable as the root word of our word
“anthropology.” I am very familiar with the word, because my one
son is an anthropologist. Anthropology is the study of humans, as in
mankind. And the Greek definition of the word was “human beings,”
not specifically adult males. So going to the Greek proved that I had
indeed interpreted the phrase correctly that they were redeemed from
among mankind or human beings. Unfortunately this person was one who
fell into the category of people I mentioned at the start. The Greek
was not trusted, therefore my going to the Greek did nothing to end
the debate.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the
arguments given to me by one of the aforementioned group of five, was
that the <i>original</i> manuscripts were inspired by God and without
error, but the copies were merely that, copies that were suspect as
to accuracy, but God has told us that He would preserve His Word (the
intent more or less) so the KJV was the Bible we are to use and God
will tell us everything we need to know through that, as since we
don't have the original manuscripts, this is as good as you can get.
I would take issue with that. Jesus said that not one jot or tittle
would pass from the law until all was fulfilled. Now the law is the
Masoretic Hebrew text which is far, far older than the Greek New
Testament. Yet here is Christ telling us that a copy (as they
probably did not have the original either) of the Old Testament is
still perfectly preserved word for word, even to the jot and tittles
on the words (Jots and tittles are the equivalent of the dots over
the “I's” and crosses on the “T's”.) and it would continue to
be until all <i>is fulfilled.</i> If God could preserve that, and
continues to, why could He not preserve the Greek New Testament as
well even in its copies. In this case, the copies that I would say
are the accurately preserved ones are the copies of the Received
Text, which was circulated around the area of Antioch and Byzantine.
They are very different from the Alexandrian texts, which were found
in Egypt. For more on this and why the difference, read my article on
the KJV Bible.
<a href="https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/01/king-james-version-only-controversy.html">https://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/01/king-james-version-only-controversy.html</a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The copiers of the
original manuscripts were very exact in how they copied it. They
checked in every way possible to make sure that there were no
mistakes. And the large number of extant manuscripts that we have of
the Received Text show extremely little differences, meaning that
they kept any mistakes to a bare minimum. Any mistakes have been
easily caught by seeing upon what the greater number of manuscripts
agree, thereby giving us a very accurate Greek version of the New
Testament. The same can be said of the Masoretic Hebrew texts as
well. So while we may not have the actual originals, just as we may
not have the originals today of some things, but copies made from a
computer or copier machine, the content is just as accurate as the
original. Therefore it can be trusted. And as pointed out at the
beginning, if you cannot trust the Greek, how can you trust a
translation of it, when no translation is perfectly word for word,
although the KJV does that as much as a translation possibly can.
There is a slight loss of information though, to a certain extent, as
pointed out in the passage of John that I quoted above, as English
does not have as precise a language as Greek had. To be able to check
into the Greek can only bring greater understanding, unless it is
your deliberate intent to want to <i>make</i> a passage say something
other than it intends, because you want to try to push a theory or
private interpretation which is not actually taught there. And there
are people who will do this. But they do that with the English as
well. It requires being studious, discerning, and a Berean, and
checking what people teach against the Scriptures to catch things
like that. And for the record, yes, I encourage people to check
anything that I write against the Word of God. I want people in their
Bibles learning what it says, and I am not afraid of being
challenged, as so many who want to deceive are. If everybody were in
their Bibles as they should be, I could quit writing.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, in conclusion, while true understanding does come from the Holy Spirit teaching
you, it makes His job easier if you use all the tools at your
disposal. If you want to get a little deeper into your study of the Scriptures,
by all means, get yourself a KJV Bible, Greek interlinear Bible
using the Received Text, a Hebrew text (Masoretic) , and a good
concordance, along with a good Bible dictionary, lexicon, maps, and
etc. Don't listen to those scholars who say that you can't possibly understand how to use them. They just don't want you being able to study the Bible on your own without their input. You might find out that they aren't always right, and that might put them out of a job. </div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-13638439662077852302017-09-02T18:16:00.000-07:002017-09-02T18:16:12.612-07:00Can a Christian Have a Tattoo or Body Piercing? What Does God Say?
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of late tattoos seem to be in your face
everywhere you turn. It isn't just the usual and expected people that
have them, (military, gang members, etc.) but now, because it is a
fashion trend, all manner of people from all walks of life are
getting them, including Christians. Many men and women are getting
entire legs and arms tattooed with tattoo sleeves, as they are
called. Some of these tattoos seem innocuous, but some of them seem
very demonic in nature. Christians who are getting them seem to be
giving the excuse that they are honoring the Lord or somebody
important in their lives, so therefore it is okay with God. In fact,
I am seeing over and over, articles on how it is perfectly okay for a
Christian to get tattoos, but is that true? Does God not care, or
does He have an opinion on the matter? From strictly a personal
opinion, God's Word aside, I find all of them unattractive,
regardless. That's just my personal opinion. I also see the body
piercings that way, but I will deal with those later on in this
article. The reason that I do find them unattractive is that it reeks
of pagan ways and customs, and it simply seems very unattractive to
me, the way far too much makeup or jewelry, or especially hideous attire
detracts from a person's attractiveness. It is distracting and the
demonic tattoos especially seem to desecrate the image of God in
which we were created. It just seems wrong by nature. But my personal
taste and opinion are not the ones that matter. It is God's opinion
that does, and so it is God's opinion that we must look to as the
determining factor as to whether or not these things are acceptable
for a Christian to have.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, as much as some may not like it,
it seems that God does have an opinion on the matter. Leviticus 19:28
says,<i> “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the
dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”</i> We are
told that God does not want us marking up our body by making cuttings
(which people did for mourning), carving things into it (which some
tribal cultures do to mark their bodies for various reasons) or to
get tattoos (marks). And it not just that we should not do it to honor the
dead. He apparently does not approve for any reason. “Ah,” but
the opposition says, “that is the Old Testament, and those laws
were done away with.” Were they? Were they really? All of them?
Many of them were reiterated in the New Testament. The Ten
Commandments still stand, as do all the moral laws. A discussion of
that issue can be found in another of my articles, but suffice it to
say, if God gives us some indication in the New Testament that an Old
Testament mandate still stands, we should pay attention.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In 1 Cor. 6:19-20 we read, <i>“What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is
in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's.”</i> We are to glorify God in our body.
But the opposition says, “But that is what we are doing. We are
glorifying God by our tattoos.” But that begs the question, are you
glorifying God when you do what He has already made clear that He does
not approve? How exactly can you glorify God by disobeying Him?
Clearly He does not like tattoos, and one of the reasons is that it
imitates the pagan nations. Leviticus 20:23 <i> “And ye shall not
walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for
they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”</i>
God has said that we are not to emulate the customs nor behave as
the pagan or unsaved world does, and the unsaved world loves their
tattoos. So do we have permission to do it to honor God or some
other person in our lives? No, we don't. 1 Corinthians 10:3 says,
<i>“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all
to the glory of God.”</i> If God does not like tattoos, if for Him
they represent your alignment and compromise with the world, can you
really say that you are doing it for the glory of God? No, you
can't. You are doing it for yourself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The truth is that most people do it, as
it brings attention to themselves, or they believe it makes them cool
and trendy with the world. Some even have the erroneous idea that it
makes them more attractive. In other words, they want it because
their flesh lusts after it. For the unsaved, that might be a reason
that can work for them, for they have no concern with glorifying God
and they live for the flesh, but Christians are supposed to live for
God and deny the flesh. To desire a tattoo for vanity's sake is to
live for the flesh. Galatians 5:17 <i>“For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would.” </i> If you feed the flesh, you deny the spirit. They
are in opposition to each other. How can feeding the flesh glorify
and honor God? It can't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Are there any other concerns that
should make a Christian stop and really consider taking this very
permanent step of getting a tattoo? Yes, a very dangerous one that
virtually no Christian seems to understand or know about. Tattoos
were used by pagans for a very specific reason and purpose. One that should
frighten Christians, and it is the real reason why God forbad them.
Tattoos were and are used by pagans to bond themselves to a demon
overlord or spirit guide, as we call them today. They would take the
sign or name of the demon on their body by tattoo, which was a
lifetime commitment to this demon, and in return the demon bonded
itself to them, controlling or helping them as it desired. Now,
Christian reader, if you have a tattoo, think about that for a
minute. Have you bonded yourself to a spiritual entity without your
knowledge? Have you give a demon oversight over some parts of your
life without realizing it? You may answer, “I tattooed a Scripture
verse on myself so how could it be demonic?” It is there by
disobedience, and what verse did you choose? Is it one you are
twisting for your own benefit? I know someone who has “Judge not
lest ye be judged” on her neck. But she has no idea what the verse
truly means and has twisted it to mean that nobody should judge HER
for her sins, while she hatefully berates anybody else who takes a
stand on God's Word against sin, as being hateful and bigoted. Irony
at its best.That is how Satan uses Scripture.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Have you had guilt over getting a
tattoo? The Holy Spirit is telling you to repent. Have you had
problems that you can't explain since getting it? Maybe you got a
demon along with it. Or maybe God is trying to make you aware that
you disobeyed and need to repent. So what do you do, since tattoos
are permanent? (short of very expensive laser removal, which can leave scars) You do the only thing you can do at this point. You
repent, and you renounce the demon that came with your tattoo. You
cast them away in the name of Jesus. And then you tell every
Christian you know to not get one, because of this danger it poses.
You become a poster boy (or girl) against this sin.We all have regrets for sins we have committed, and some of them come with lifelong consequences. This is one of those sins.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why should it be so important to warn others? Well,
the answer to that comes, in not just avoiding demon overlords, but
in a verse in Revelation. Chapter 13:16-17<i> “And he causeth all,
both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark
in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy
or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the
number of his name.” </i>While most of the Christian world has come
to the hypothesis that the mark is a chip under the skin, and I won't say it isn't possible, there is a
slight problem with that and Scripture. First of all, the word “mark” is in
Greek “charagma.” This word means an etching or scratching in the
skin as a badge of servitude. Clearly this is speaking of a tattoo,
not a chip under the skin. The argument is that John didn't know what
a chip was, so how could he designate it as such. The only word he
could use was “mark.” While that could be true, the next problem
is that a chip comes in one form. It would contain all the computer
knowledge needed to transact business, not merely be a mark, a name, or a
number. This mark comes in three forms. One is just a mark, possibly
a logo or sign representing the beast, the second form is his name,
and the third is the number of his name. There are three “tattoos”
from which to choose, if we read it just as written. What may transpire is that to get a chip,
whether implanted or in a smart card, so that one can transact
business, one must take the mark or tattoo to bond themselves in
servitude to the beast first.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For those who have read my endtimes
blog, you will know that I believe Hitler was the last incarnation of
the beast. And what did he do? He tattooed all the Jews with a
number. To this day, we know what and for whom that number stood and
represented – Hitler - the seventh head of the beast of Revelation. And those who took it could not buy or sell.
They were rounded up and put to death. History has a way of repeating itself, but this time it is sort of in reverse. Taking the mark saves your life and allows you to buy and sell. However, also this
time taking the mark is an eternal death sentence, not an immediate physical one (I won't speak to the eternal state of the Jews who died), so I
believe people will have a choice, die or take it. Revelation 13:15
<i>“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that
the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as
would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” </i>Those
who refuse to take the mark of servitude, bonding themselves
permanently (eternally) to the beast, will be killed. By God's grace
and forgiveness, you may be able to unbond yourself from any demon
you might have acquired unintentionally through taking a tattoo now,
but you will not then.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Leaving aside the spiritual
significance of doing this, let us take a look at the health issues
involved. Getting a tattoo can be dangerous to your physical health.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Below is a list of health issues that
can occur when getting a tattoo.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Allergic reactions – tattoo dyes
can cause allergic reactions even years after getting the tattoo.
The reactions are due to the dyes used. Some red inks used for
tattoos contain mercury, while other reds may contain different
heavy metals like cadmium or iron oxide. These metals have been
known to cause allergic reactions as well as eczema and scarring,
and can cause sensitivity to mercury from other sources like dental
fillings or consuming some fish. While red causes the most problems,
most other colors are also derived from heavy metals including lead,
antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt nickel and arsenic. These
metals can cause further damage when one gets an MRI. The metals may
cause swelling and burning in the tattooed area during an MRI exam.
The pigments can also interfere with the quality of the image.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Skin infections – skin
infections, if bad enough, can result in serious procedures, like
removing the area of the tattooed skin to stop the spread of the
infection, which will result in a deformity where the skin has been
removed. Worse, one can get a staphylococcus infection which could
lead to death. There has been at least one person who died from
an infection caught while going swimming, after having a tattoo instead of waiting for it to
heal. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blood-borne diseases can be caused
by contaminated needles. The diseases that one might contract are
Hepatitis B or C, HIV, tetanus, syphilis, mycobacterium,
tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy, and some of these can lead to liver
cancer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Other skin problems are bumps
called granulomas which form around the tattoo ink, or keloids,
which are raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
According to a research group, about 1 in 10 people who get
tattoos experiences problems with the tattoo, including infection,
itching, swelling and redness, according to a small study in the June
issue of the journal <i>Contact Dermatitis.</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
The study showed that many </span>had complications that lingered for
years after the tattoo was inked. To understand how common these
complications were, the researchers randomly chose about 300 tattooed
people in New York’s Central Park and asked them whether they’d
had any problems with their tattoos. About 10 percent of the people
said they’d had some complications. For some, these complications
were short-lived, such as bacterial infection right after the tattoo
was inked, or temporary swelling and itching. But of those who had
complaints, six in 10 suffered from chronic problems. And many had
suffered from unpleasant itching or swelling for years. Their
conclusion after talking to people on why they get tattoos was that
they don't do it thinking about being worried about safety, they do
it because it is a way of showing rebellion against our society. (For a Christian, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23a<i> "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."</i>) <br />
<br />
More current literature and studies have shown that more serious
tattoo-induced skin disorders are showing up such as sarcoidosis,
lichen planis, and a disease that resembles lupus. These are more
long-lasting diseases and leave permanent scarring. Of interest is
that laser tattoo removal services are rapidly growing across the
nation, becoming a multi-million dollar business with great potential
growth. This seems to speak to the regrets of people's decisions to
get these tattoos. <br /><br />
<br />
As for body piercing, the Bible talks a little about piercing.
Exodus 21:5-6<i> “And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my
master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his
master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to
the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear
through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” </i>Having
one's ear (one only) pierced (assuming that to keep it open one had a
ring put in it), was a way to signify that a servant did not want his
freedom, but wanted to continue to serve his master for life. Other
than that, there are many references to the women wearing earrings,
which also would most likely have been via pierced ears. The Bible
seems to be fine with having one's ears pierced. There is one verse
that mentions nose jewels, but it is in chastisement for the way the
woman are presenting themselves and behaving, which does not leave
the impression that God is approving this particular decoration. So
basically the only piercings mentioned are for women's ears for
earrings, and a single earring to designate a lifelong servitude.<br />
<br />
As for piercing the other parts of the body, we have to refer back
to the verses used for tattooing. The pagans pierced various parts of
their bodies, and we are told that we are not to emulate the pagans,
so it would seem that doing this is not going to please God.<br />
<br />
As for the health issues, these can be very bad.
<br />
<ul>
<li>Infection - Piercing the skin can cause bleeding and open
wounds which can get infected. Infections at the pierced site can
cause permanent deformity, scarring, severe illness, and even death
if the infection is a staph infection. There are serious infection
concerns related to piercing some parts of the body (e.g., ear
cartilage, tongue, eyebrows, nipples, navel, genitals). There is an
increased possibility of infection when cartilage is pierced because
the blood supply is less. While ear lobes are fine, further up the
ear there is cartilage which can cause a problem. Noses are also
cartilage. A bacterial infection can develop into an abscess. This
pus-filled mass can develop around the piercing. This is a serious
side effect. If left untreated, there’s the risk for sepsis or
blood poisoning. Sepsis is a life-threatening response to an
infection that can result in organ failure and death. Symptoms of
blood poisoning include a high fever, chills, a fast heartbeat, and
rapid breathing. Infections are more common with mouth and nose
piercings because these areas contain more bacteria.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Blood-borne diseases – the lack of cleanliness of the
equipment can lead to Hepatitis B and C, HIV, tetanus, and
tuberculosis.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Mouth piercings can be very dangerous. The mouth is a home to
a huge amount of breeding bacteria and an ideal place for an
infection to develop. If not treated promptly, an infection here can
become life-threatening. An oral (mouth) piercing is a small hole
in your tongue, lip, cheek, or uvula (the tiny tissue at the back of
your throat). Your mouth is filled with bacteria that can lead to
infection and swelling. A swollen tongue can block your air
pathways, making it hard for you to breathe. In some people with
heart disease, bacteria can lead to a condition that can damage your
heart valves.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Tongue piercings also can put you at risk for bleeding and
blood loss. You have a lot of blood vessels in the area. You may
also have trouble speaking, chewing, swallowing and may end up
drooling from increased saliva production.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>The jewelry can cause issues as well. It can break off in
your mouth and be swallowed or make you choke. You can chip,
scratch, or crack your teeth or make your teeth sensitive from it
while you eat, sleep, talk, or chew on it. If the break goes deep
into your tooth, you can lose it or need a root canal to fix it. It
can make it hard for the dentist to take X-rays of your teeth. It
can also damage your fillings and gums, leading to gum disease. And
finally it may lead to an allergic reaction to the metal in the
jewelry.
<br />
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nerve
damage is possible</span></strong><strong>.</strong> After a
piercing, you may experience a numb tongue that is caused by nerve
damage that is usually temporary, but can sometimes be permanent.
The injured nerve may affect your sense of taste, or how you move
your mouth. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nipple piercings have been
associated with partial removal of the breast due to infection. It
can also scar the breast tissue limiting the ability to breast-feed
later on. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li>A genital piercing can cause painful sex and urination. The
risk of complications is higher if you have other medical conditions
like: diabetes, allergies, (especially if you’ve ever had a
reaction that caused breaking out in red bumps, swelling of the
throat, or difficulty breathing), skin disorders (such as eczema or
psoriasis), and a weak immune system. Jewelry in the genital area
may cause injury to you or your sex partner. It also can cause
condom breakage, increasing the risk of pregnancy and exposure to
sexually transmitted diseases. Piercings in the penis can decrease a
man's ability to get or maintain an erection.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>The skin can be split or torn which would cause scarring, not
to mention being painful and can lead to a bad infection.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Jewelry in the navel can get caught on clothing and linens.
This constant irritation can delay healing. Navel piercings can take
up to a year to heal completely.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li> Piercing can easily cause keloids, greatly enlarged scars
that project above the surface of the skin.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Unlike tattoos, piercings can easily be reversed by merely
removing the jewelry, which allows the hole to close. There may be a
small scar, but it shouldn't be that noticeable, as long as there has
not been an infection causing scarring. As for the statistics on
infections, they are pretty common. Some reports have 20 percent of
patients reporting infections. Most of these are smaller infections.
In that case, maybe you’ll see a little crusting around the
piercing site, some erythema or redness. However, there are reports
of infections that have spread to the whole body - distal infections,
severe infections, systemic infections, life-threatening ones. So
piercings can also be very dangerous.<br />
<br />
So as it can be seen, God has a good reason for not wanting us to
tattoo ourselves, nor should we pierce ourselves all over our body,
if only for health reasons. Tattoos, though, carry an added spiritual
dimension that is very concerning. As a Christian, one should want to
live according to God's Word. If one already has a tattoo, then
repentance and making sure you do not have a demon is the thing to
do. Then as Christ said, “Go and sin no more.” And pass on the
lesson learned to others who are considering sinning against God.
<br />
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-52344049679729844262017-06-03T15:42:00.000-07:002017-06-03T15:42:09.074-07:00Are Christians Still Capable of Sinning?
More and more lately I have become aware of how Christians are not
understanding how we are made in God's image and what our response to
God is to be in our relationship with Him. I have already written an
article on living a holy and obedient life, for those who take
freedom in Christ as a license to live in disobedience or
licentiousness, but now I feel I need to address the other side of
the coin, where it is taught that once saved, one can no longer sin.
I was first introduced to this concept in college when I attended a
Christian college. The college was affiliated with a particular
denomination, and the pastor of that denominational church in town
was often called upon to lead our chapel services (which were held
daily). At one point he mentioned that he no longer sinned, since
being saved. That brought quite a bit of a stir, as there were a
number of denominations represented in the student body, and most of
them did not agree with that concept. I understand why he believed in this concept,
for I now know what he based it upon, however I disagree with it, as
in my understanding of Scripture, he was ignoring a a big piece of
the story, which he needed to address. That is what I intend to do in
this article. I am going to look at that part of man (and the
Scriptures) which he was ignoring.<br />
<br />
<br />
On the sixth day of creation, God created man. He created man in
His image, but His image was not just “My” but “Our.” Genesis
1:26 <i>"And God said, Let </i><i><b>us </b></i><i>make man in
</i><i><b>our</b></i> <i>image, after </i><i><b>our</b></i>
<i>likeness." </i><span style="font-style: normal;">God was not
just creating man in the image of the Father, but also of the Son and
Holy Spirit.</span><i> </i>Man was made in the image of God, but God
is a Trinity, so when He created us, He created us as a trinity also.
People find it hard to grasp how God is a Trinity, but it becomes a
little easier to understand when one sees how our own trinity works.<br />
<br />
<br />
Man has three separate parts to him, body, soul, and spirit. When
man was first created, he was perfect. He was perfect in body (we
would have lived forever), perfect in soul (the soul is our will, but
also our intellect or mind, which is essentially our personality),
and perfect in spirit (that part of us which connects to God, which
at the beginning was alive and sinless, sometimes referred to as our
heart in Scripture). Our soul is that part of us that is the go
between, between our spirit and body. The spirit in its perfect and
sinless state, being in connection with God, would influence the soul
(the intellect/mind and will) to do righteously, and the soul or will
would translate (decide whether or not to obey) those instructions to
the body to carry out those ideas. Our brain and our soul (or mind) are not the
same thing. Our soul is that part of us, the mind and will, which
transcends the body, as does the spirit, which is the connection to
God (when it is alive). The body is the material part of us, the
shell which houses our soul and spirit, and the brain is merely an
organ in the body which carries the message that the soul gives it to
the rest of the physical body to make the body work in accordance
with the will of the soul. The body, though, does have a will (so to
speak) of its own, just as each of the divine Trinity has a will of
their own. But just as the Son (God's “body”) and the Holy Spirit
(the “spirit”) submit to the will of the Father (the “soul”),
our soul dictates to the other parts of our trinity what decision
will be made, regardless of their influence. This can be seen in Adam
and Eve.
<br />
<br />
<br />
To see how these three parts of us, body, soul, and spirit work
together, we need to look at what happened at the fall. When Adam
and Eve sinned, their soul (their intellect and will) chose (note
that they were perfectly sinless in <i>all </i>ways when they chose
this, so to say that once the spirit is redeemed it is impossible to
sin is disproved in the first chapter of the Bible) to depart from
the inclination of the sinless spirit, (which would be to obey God)
and instructed the body to carry out an act of disobedience against
God. The soul was deceived in Eve's case. Adam made a willful
disobedient choice. God created man sinless in all ways, but He gave
our soul the ability to exercise free will choice <i>apart </i><span style="font-style: normal;">from
the influence and choice of the sinless spirit or the body. We still
have that ability. Satan can deceive us (in our case he can also use
our body's carnal inclinations), so that we find ourselves in sin
without having malicious intent to sin, or we can willfully disobey.
In disobeying God, whether intentional or not, the connection the
spirit had with God was broken, not only for Adam and Eve, but for
all their descendants, as we were born out of that corruption. Not
only did the spirit die on that day, but their body began its descent
into death. Their disobedience had corrupted all three parts of them
- their body, their spirit, and their soul. To really understand how
redemption works it is first necessary to understand what took place.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">God had told them that the day
they disobeyed they would die. They died spiritually by severing the
connection they had with God, for sin or lawlessness (they had only
one law and they broke it) cannot exist in God's presence. He cannot look upon it. So their
spirits entered into the realm of Satan's control. They were
spiritually dead to God, just as Satan is dead to God. In other
words, disconnected from the source of true life. Next their bodies
were forfeit to Satan also. He had won the battle for their lives
when he got them to listen and obey him, for in so doing, he became
their god. Not only did he become their god, but the god of this
world, as they also forfeited their stewardship of the world to him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">As God tells us the life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11 </span><i>“For
the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you
upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the
blood that maketh an atonement for the soul,” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">their
life and therefore their blood was forfeit, because of the decision
their soul made. It needed to be sacrificed to make atonement for the
sin of their soul. But if they died physically right then, all of
God's creation and plans would come to naught. God did not want them
to die right then (although they did begin the process of death), for
He had a plan in place before He even created man to be able to
redeem man, which was why Christ died for our sins. The body,
however, was not redeemable. It had to die, because the blood or life
force was forfeit. This worked for our benefit though, so that we
would not end up with a redeemed spirit trapped in a sinful body for
all eternity. That is why God barred them from the tree of life. By
dying, God could then provide us with a new sinless body upon the
resurrection, so that a redeemed spirit could live in perfection, as
being born again, our soul would have chosen to want to be with God,
so now all three would be sinless again by mutual agreement.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">So God offered in place of their
blood, the blood of an innocent victim. One whose blood was not
forfeit, but because of its innocence could provide a temporary
reprieve from the demand for the righteous justice of their blood. In this case God used
animals. Animals have not sinned against God, so their blood could
hold Satan's demand for the life blood of the person at bay, giving
the person time for reconciliation with God by faith. And so animal
sacrifices began as a temporary way to stave off immediate death, so
that people would have a chance to have their spirits and souls
redeemed. But an animal's blood was not the same as their blood. It
could never really atone for their sin, nor hold off the demand for
justice forever. (Hebrews 10:4) There needed to be a more perfect,
sinless, innocent offering. One that would fulfill the requirements and yet free them of the penalty.
What better substitution than God Himself offering His own blood,
which was not forfeit, as a replacement for ours. And that is what
God had planned. Christ would become a man, for only a man's blood, a
son of Adam, a kinsman, could atone for man's sin of the soul and redeem him. But
only God's blood would be perfect, sinless, and innocent enough to
qualify and satisfy the punishment that sin wrought, the offering of
the life's source, the blood.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">But while the offering of blood,
especially Christ's, would atone for the sin of the soul, it would
not redeem the spirit without something more, for another penalty of
sin is the spirit's eternal separation from God. The spirit had to be
reconnected, so someone had to suffer that separation from God.
Christ also paid that. When He hung on the cross, He cried out to God
asking why He (the Father) had forsaken Him (the Son). God had to
spiritually separate Himself from Christ or turn His back and break
the connection in order to lay upon Christ the sins of the world, for
God cannot look upon sin or have it in His presence. As God does not
live in time, but in eternity, what appeared to us as just a
momentary separation between the two of them, was in fact an eternity
of separation, for God does not experience time as we do. The past,
present, and future are all one to Him, so a moment of separation
would essentially be experiencing an eternity. I sometimes get the
impression that those who no longer think they can sin believe that
somehow the actual commission of their sins are considered as Christ
having committed the acts Himself, totally alleviating them of all guilt, when they say their sins were laid
upon Him, so therefore they do not see any of their actions as sinful
and do not think they are held responsible for any of their wrong
actions (if they even consider them wrong actions) after conversion.
It was not that Christ was held responsible </span><i>for committing
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">the sins in our place, and so no
matter what we do now, we are not held responsible for the temporal
consequences of those sins, big or tiny, as He took them from us. It
was that Christ had the sins themselves laid upon Himself, taking the blame for them, so that God would see all of them at once and separate Himself from them, and so Christ </span><i>suffered
the penalty of eternal separation from God </i><span style="font-style: normal;">which
needs to be paid for those sins, for us. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">The spiritual penalty, the
eternal separation from God was what the issue here was, not the making
it impossible for us to ever sin again, for God had to place the sin
where He could turn from it, as it could not be in His presence. It
would be as if we robbed a bank, and Christ stepped forward and took
the money and was holding it when the police came, and He took the
blame, and suffered the penalty of jail, but He did not commit the
crime in our place. We still committed the crime and we still had to live with the consequences of that knowledge. We might even have to suffer temporal consequences, such as someone saw us and no longer wants to be our friend. Then if we were to
shoplift later on, even something really small and insignificant,
Christ is still standing there holding the object, and taking the
blame and paying the jail time for our theft, but He still has not committed the
crime. We are responsible for committing it, even though the crime
itself is not laid at our door and we don't have to pay the penalty.
It does not mean that we can never commit a sin of some kind again.
We still have free will choice to do that if we want. In this way,
even now if our soul chooses to sin, once we accept Christ, our
spirit is not separated from Him, for Christ already suffered that on
our behalf taking the blame and penalty, but we do suffer the
temporal consequences of those actions, and also the spiritual
problems, such as causing obstacles in our relationship with God,
that they bring. Christ did not negate our free will and the ability
to choose to not live every moment perfectly in accord with God's
will. If it were so that we cannot sin, because Christ took all the
sin including the commission of it, then once He took the world's sins
on Himself, nobody should have ever sinned again. It should have been
finished for all time that anybody could sin, but the fact is, people
do still sin. Not just unbelievers, but believers too. If you don't
think so, then take a closer look at the churches and congregations.
We can still choose to sin, although as one grows closer to Christ,
one will choose less and less to follow the carnal inclinations. The
“big” sins aren't even a temptation for most. However, as one
grows closer to God, they also see the teeny tiny sins that they once
didn't even know existed, so they never really see themselves as
being sinless. They always are aware of how far short of Christ's
perfection they fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">We are told that salvation is by
grace through faith, (Eph 2:8-9) and it has always been so, not only
after Christ, but also </span><i>before</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.
The atonement would be offered when Christ came, but it also had to
be believed in and accepted, for it to be applied, both before and
after. God gave the promise to Eve that He would send a redeemer to
atone for their sins, and they had to have faith in the coming of
that redeemer for God's grace of forgiveness and atonement to be
applied to their spirit. Belief and faith would redeem their spirits,
whether before Christ's coming or after it. We know this to be true,
for in Hebrews 11, otherwise known as the faith chapter, many of
these people are listed as heroes of faith. They had faith in the
promise that was afar off, not having seen it come to pass in their
lifetimes, but their faith by God's grace saved them and upon death
they entered Paradise, as until the final atonement was actually
sacrificed, they could not have it applied to allow them into the
presence of God. We on the other hand look afar off to the past and
believe by faith, but the atonement can be applied immediately for
us. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">The difference between those
before and after Christ was that after Christ, He sent the Holy
Spirit to indwell us and write the law on our hearts, being an
internal Reminder and Conscience for us to guide and teach us. We
need no outer trappings or rituals to be a constant reminder to obey
God's laws. On the other hand, before Christ, God provided external
reminders that they had to keep God's law. It wasn't written on their
hearts internally, but God told them to bind them to their foreheads
and arms, and rituals, feasts, and sacrifices abounded to try to keep
them on the straight path. Jews literally do bind them to their
foreheads and arms using phylacteries, even though God may have meant
it more in a spiritual sense rather than physical one. It isn't that
we don't sin, because we have the Holy Spirit. That isn't what He
does. He guides and directs and chastises us, but He doesn't make
decisions for us. He does not keep us from sinning, for we can quench
His voice. Nor did the lack of indwelling of the Holy Spirit keep
those from before Christ from obeying God's laws. They were not
unable to keep them, because they weren't indwelt by the Spirit. They
had external reminders that they should obey, and they had a soul
that decided which path to follow. Some obeyed and some didn't. We have an internal Reminder that
we should obey, but we still have a soul that decides which path to
follow. It may be somewhat easier for us, having it be internal, but
it was no less of an expectation for them than for us. And it is just
as easy for us to quench that internal reminder as it was for them to
ignore the external ones. I will elaborate further on this Old
Testament vs. New Testament situation later.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal;">
Now for a closer look at our trinity's
three persons. Let's start by discussing the spirit. Because of the
fall, we are all born spiritually dead. This is why Christ died, to
restore that connection with God, by taking upon Himself the penalty
(sacrificing the life force of the blood and suffering separation
from God) to atone for our sins. The result of that is that when we
accept that payment Christ made, or accept Him as our Savior, our
spirit is redeemed and made sinless. But it is the only part of us
that is made sinless. The soul still has free will choice, and the
body will die in its sinful state. The spirit no longer desires to
sin against God. It no longer has the stain of sin. It is reconnected
to God and wants to be obedient to God's will. It will do its best to
influence the soul to always make the same choice.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
Next we have the body. At the fall, God
cursed the body and said it would die. It became corrupt and
non-redeemable. Because the body is sinful and cannot be redeemed, it
will always lust after carnality and not righteousness. There is no
good thing in it. When someone speaks of the residual effects of sin
that Christians still have, and have to deal with, they are referring
to the flesh and its carnal desires, which can influence our soul's
choices. Paul spoke of this struggle that he (and we all) had. He
tells us that sin still dwells in us (in the body of flesh) and it
wars against the redeemed spirit, which is the inward man. We have a
war waging inside us that we must constantly fight and strive to win.
The closer we draw to God and the more we resist the devil, the more
our soul will choose rightly. However it is a race that must be run
to finish the course. We must endure to the end. </div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<br /></div>
Romans 7:14-25 <i>" For we know that </i><i><b>the law is
spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. </b></i><i>For that which
I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate,
that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the
law that it is good. Now then </i><i><b>it is no more I that do it</b></i><i>,
but </i><i><b>sin that dwelleth in me</b></i><i>. For I know that </i><i><b>in
me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing</b></i><i>: for to
will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would
not, that I do. Now </i><i><b>if I do that I would not, it is no more
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.</b></i> <i>I find then a
law, that, </i><i><b>when I would do good, evil is present with me</b></i><i>.
For </i><i><b>I delight in the law of </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">God</span></i><i><b>
after the inward man:</b></i> <i>But </i><i><b>I see another law in
my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.</b></i> <i>O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. </i><i><b>So then
with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the
law of sin.</b></i><i>" </i><br />
<i> </i>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Hebrews 12:1-13 “</span><i>Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and </i><i><b>the sin which
doth so easily beset us</b></i><i>, and l</i><i><b>et us run with
patience the race</b></i><i> that is set before us, Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was
set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, </i><i><b>lest
ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto
blood, striving against sin.</b></i><i> And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, </i><i><b>despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked
of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you
as with sons</b></i><i>; for what son is he whom the father
chasteneth not? But </i><i><b>if ye be without chastisement, whereof
all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. </b></i><i>
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and
we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection
unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but </i><i><b>he for our
profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness</b></i><i>. Now
no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward </i><i><b>it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby</b></i><i>.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be
turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” </i><br />
<i> </i>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Paul was telling us that we have
two natures inside us and we need to strive against sin and run the
race to partake of His holiness. Why would God have to chastise us if
we were not wandering off from the path? He would not if we were
sinless. If we never receive chastisement, then it is doubtful that
we are truly children of God, for whom He loves, He will chasten, as
a father does his child to keep them on the path. If a redeemed
individual cannot sin, as some believe, they would not be able to
stray from that path. But we are told we can stray, which is why God
chastises us. He purges us and prunes us so that we will produce good
fruit. John 15:1-2 tells us that He must do this for us to bring
forth good fruit. </span><i>“I am the true vine, and my Father is
the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh
away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may
bring forth more fruit.” </i>Luke 6:41-43 <i>“And why beholdest
thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the
beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy
brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when
thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou
hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then
shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's
eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth
a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">These
passages are not saying, as some teach, that if you are a good tree
you will never bring forth corrupt fruit. Ask any farmer if he can
get some bad fruit off a good tree and he will say, yes. The adverse
affects of weather can affect it; lack of pruning will affect it. I
see it on my own farm, where the branches were not pruned on old
apple trees, so while they were once good trees, producing abundant
fruit, the previous owner stopped pruning them, and they went “wild,”
as they say. The fruit is no longer of a good quality. In Luke,
Christ was telling His disciples and the multitude that they
shouldn't be so quick to judge others sins, for if they took a good
look at themselves they might find their own sins were actually
bigger. A corrupted tree (one that has gone wild or was never tended
to begin with), will never bring forth good fruit. And a good tree,
which is being tended, fertilized, and pruned (pruning is essential
for getting good crops of fruit) will bring forth good fruit. But to
believe that a good tree can </span><i>never</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
bring forth bad fruit is to simply to close one's eyes to reality and
Scripture both. God prunes us (nips our bad fruit in the bud), so
that we will hopefully only bring forth good fruit. It is </span><i>essential
</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> and </span><i>necessary</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
if we are His children, because the truth is, we </span><i>will </i><span style="font-style: normal;">sin
on occasion. If not, why would God say all these things to us and
tell us about all this? </span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal;">
The third part of us is the soul. What
some people and teachers/preachers and theologies do not seem to
understand, is that the soul is separate from the spirit and can act
apart from and even in opposition to the spirit, just as it did with
Adam and Eve. It is our free will which can always choose to either
obey the redeemed spirit or listen to the carnal body. It is caught
in the middle of the war of the two opposing forces. If it were not
so that our soul can still choose to sin, even once our spirit is
redeemed, then Adam and Eve could not have sinned to begin with, for
they were without sin even in body, so there was no struggle to be
righteous as we now have between body and spirit. But they did choose
to sin, and so can we. How much easier is it for us, who live in a
sinful body, to be influenced to have our will choose to sin against
the spirit than they who were totally without sin and connected to
God? </div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
While the body dies, and the spirit is either connected to God
or not connected to God, our soul (intellect and will) is very much a
separate part of us that is self-aware and understands that we make
choices. It is as much eternal for people who die and go to hell
(those whose spirit is dead or disconnected from God) and who are
very much aware of where they are, and how they got there (free will
choice to disobey God and repudiate Christ), as it is for those who
are redeemed. Free will means that. Free will. It can choose to obey
God or not to obey God. It is not under blind subjection to the
redeemed spirit. Now, should a person who has been redeemed be
choosing sin? If they are walking with the Lord in complete harmony,
I would think that they would not do it regularly or with malice
aforethought or that their sins would be “big” ones. However if
one allows sins (no matter how small) to accumulate, allows apostasy
to creep in (due to lack of study) and does not repent (or turn from)
these things, it will lead one further and further from a close walk
with the Lord, and then sin begins to grow in a person's life. The
more the Spirit is quenched, the easier it becomes to listen to
Satan, the world, and the body. To think that one is not capable of
being deceived into that state is to set oneself up to be deceived,
for Satan likes nothing better than to convince someone that it is
not possible for them to be deceived or sin, for then they are just
ripe for the picking. And it is not just the sins of commission that
cause us to have relationship problems with the Lord. It is sins of
omission. Things such as not praying, not studying God's Word, not
doing the positive things we are supposed to be doing like feeding
the hungry, helping the needy, etc. </div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-style: normal;">Some theologies teach that once
we accept Jesus, we are completely sinless. They focus exclusively on
that one third of our trinity as if it is the only part of us, and
ignore the other two-thirds, one part of that two-thirds being
completely, irredeemably sinful. While our spirit is redeemed and
without sin, we still have a free will soul and a carnal body to
contend with. Some other theologies teach that Christ set us free
from the law, so they ignore God's laws and live with free abandon to
licentious behavior. If one ignores all the Scriptures that tell us
about these other two parts of our body, that we need to mortify our
body and bring it under subjection to the spirit, they risk the very
thing of which they do not think they are capable. They can sin.
Romans 8:13 </span><i>“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall
die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,
ye shall live.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I Corinthians
9:24-27 </span><i>“Know ye not that they which run in a race run
all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring
it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway.”</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">If we are born again, our spirit
wants to serve God. If we are born again, our will or intellect has
also chosen the path of God and wants to serve God, but it can
sometimes be deceived and convinced that sin is okay, and it allows
the body to have its way. The odds of a Christian's mind giving into
the "big" sins, such as murder, adultery, etc. are very
slim, however we are easily convinced by the flesh that "little"
sins are not really sins. I hear people calling them faults,
mistakes, immaturity, being impatient, lacking in the fullness of
fruit, freedom in Christ, or whatever term they like to use to
justify what God actually sees as sin. We must remember that Christ
said that if we hate (even if it only lasts 30 seconds), it is the
same as murder. Lust (if you get momentarily aroused by someone –
other than your spouse) for only 10 seconds is still adultery. Gossip
can actually "murder" someone's reputation. Coveting is an
easy sin to fall into. Who doesn't see things that they would like to
go out and buy? There are a myriad of "little" sins one can
commit without even thinking about it. Did you provoke someone to
anger by insisting on your own way, when God would have had you
sacrifice your own way instead? That's the sin of selfishness. Do you
see yourself as spiritually superior to someone else, because you
see their sins but not your own? That's the sin of pride. I could go
on all day listing these types of things. So while some like to
pretend that these are not sins, that they are just not bringing in
the fullness of the fruits of the spirit, or an example of
immaturity, they do what John says in 1 John 1:8 & 10 </span><i>"If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us....</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><i>If we
say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not
in us." </i><span style="font-style: normal;">John was speaking
to believers, not unbelievers about receiving salvation. We know this
from the next verse in Chapter 2:1 </span><i>"</i><i><b>My</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><i>little </i><i><b>children</b></i><i>, these things write I
unto you, </i><i><b>that ye sin not.</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><i>And </i><i><b>if any man sin, we have an advocate</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><i>with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
He warned us that we are capable of still sinning and gave us the
remedy for this in 1:9 </span><i>"If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." </i><span style="font-style: normal;">For us to
sin, the body, the world, or Satan's forces can entice us, but the
soul is responsible for choosing sin, as the spirit is now without
sin due to being redeemed. Therefore these sins are still held to our
account, because they are committed by our trinity, regardless of the
opposition of the spirit who refuses to sin with them, as it is
redeemed. It still resides in a sinful shell. So therefore we must
confess these sins to repair the damage done to our relationship with God in grieving Him. They are not faults, they are not mistakes, they
are not immaturity, they are not "not quite the fullness of the
fruit," they are</span><i><b> sins</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;">.
And sin disrupts our relationship with God and allows Satan to then
continue to deceive us away from the truth. And the more we deny that
these "little" things are sins, the easier it is for them
to become bigger ones. In fact to believe that one is incapable of
committing a sin is the same sin of the Pharisees, self-righteous
pride, pride being one of the big sins. The one that felled Satan in
fact.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For those who do not believe that
Christians can sin, they will point to verses that say that our
spirit is redeemed and sinless as the final say on the matter. I
concur. It is, <i>on the matter of the spirit, </i>however they
ignore all the verses that tell us that our spirit is not our entire
being, as they pose a problem for their desired theology. One must
take<b><i> all</i></b> of Scripture together to arrive at the truth. When there is
a contradiction, it means that there is something between the two
opposing thoughts that reconciles them. 1 John is an example of this
contradictory problem for this subject, for in 1:6-7 and 2:3-5 it
says <i>“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.....And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him
verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him.”</i> That is the argument given for the “we do not sin
anymore stance.” The argument is made that it says we cannot have
any darkness in us (no sin) for if we do, then we are not of Him and
lie if we say we are. Yes, when we are saved, we have no darkness in the spirit, we desire to keep the commandments, we are cleansed from sin, and we have fellowship with Him. But that is <i>in the spirit</i>. The problem comes in verses 1:8-10 and 2:1-2 <i>“If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.....My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”</i> The argument
is made that this is speaking to unbelievers, that they can confess
their sins and be saved, but that is not keeping in context. John is
writing to believers. The entire book is directed at believers. He
didn't write a couple verses to believers, then a couple to
unbelievers, then a couple to believers and a couple to unbelievers.
It is all aimed at believers and is in the same context of the
letter. To reconcile this, we need to just acknowledge and understand
that we have a sinless spirit residing in a sinful body and that the
two war with each other and that we must strive to have our soul
always choose to side with the spirit, so that we walk with the Lord.
Once you understand that this is how our trinity works, then these
verses are no longer contradictory. John is telling us that we have
no sin in our spirit and as such should strive not to sin, but there
will be times when we do, and when we do, we have an advocate with
the Father, Jesus, for He is the propitiation for our sins. If we
confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us. It is only in this
way that these contradictory verses make any sense at all. Or any of
the other passages, such as what Paul wrote in Romans 7.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A couple more passages that are not
understood are found in Hebrews 6 and 10. Some say that one slip up
or major sin (and some of those “small” sins really are bigger
than you'd like to admit – hate/murder, lust/adultery for example)
and you have lost your salvation. This is another defense that we
must not be able to sin, for if we could, we would all be condemned,
because one sin and you've had it. That is not what these passages
are saying. Hebrews 6:4-6 <i>“For it is impossible for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away,
to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
</i>To fall away means to walk away from Christ, to become apostate, to not seek
repentance anymore or a relationship, to simply <i>stop believing</i>.
There is a huge difference between deliberately turning away for all
time in unbelief, and committing a disobedient act in the flesh.
Committing a sin does not translate into a state of unbelief. The
parable of the seeds in Matthew 13 would show us how to interpret the
idea of falling away in this passage in Hebrews 6. This is the
person who loses all interest due to no depth of commitment, lack of
understanding, the cares of the world, persecution, and produces <i>no
fruit </i>as a result. The only fruit he ends up with is unbelief.
He simply walks away from Christ.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The other passage is Hebrews 10:26-29
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“For if we sin wilfully after
that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no
more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” </span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is speaking of deliberately, willfully, and continually considering
Christ's blood an unholy thing and doing “despite” or in other
words, doing something in a hate-filled spiteful way as a means of
repudiation, because of despising God. It has been my experience
that people turn from God in this manner when they blame Him for
something that has deeply hurt them. They possibly have been told the
lie that God only wants you to be happy and will give you all the
good things in life, and then tribulation hits. Since they didn't get
what they wanted (health, wealth, and happiness), they decide to get
even by hating God. Even more than simple unbelief, this is out and out
hatred that manifests in deliberate stomping on Christ, so to speak.
They repudiate Him. This is much more than just falling away in
unbelief. This is hate-filled vengeance. In both cases the act is one
of deliberately turning from God in unbelief for all time, not a
momentary letting down of one's guard against the enemy and
committing an act of disobedience. These passages are speaking of the
unforgivable sin. All other sins can be forgiven when repented. This
cannot.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">There
are several passages in Scripture that list sins as the ones keeping
one out of heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is one of those passages.</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Another is Galatians 5:19-21 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
another is</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Galatians
5:5 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“For this ye know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
There are a number more of them, which list sins. What is
overlooked, as is stated in the first verse above, is that these
people are “the unrighteous”. The unrighteous are those whose
spirits have not been redeemed. These sins are listed as those of
unrepentant, unregenerate sinners who never had Jesus' blood applied
to their lives. There is really only one sin that leads to spiritual
death. 1 John 5:16 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“If
any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall
ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
There is </span></i><i><b>a </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">(note
the use of a singular article) sin unto death: I do not say that he
shall pray for </span></i><i><b>it</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (again singular).”</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
First of all, any sin that does not lead to spiritual death, is a sin
which God will forgive and still give the person eternal life. The
sin which leads to death (spiritual death) is blaspheming the Holy
Spirit, which is the same thing as repudiating Christ, for the Holy
Spirit is the one who reveals Christ to us. This is the unpardonable
sin. All other sins against God and Jesus can be forgiven, but not
repudiating Him. Mark 3:28-29 </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Verily
I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall
blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in
danger of eternal damnation:” </span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
key here is - are you an unrepentant, unbelieving thief, murderer,
etc., because if you are, then the sin that sent you to hell was
being unrepentant and unbelieving, not the sin for which you will be
judged as to your level of punishment. These people kept out of the
kingdom who committed these sins are identified by their sin, but it
is not the sin which condemned them to eternal damnation. They could
have been forgiven, had they repented. They did not. Therefore they
cannot enter the kingdom and must be judged by their sins. That is
why there is a Great White Throne Judgment. The unbelievers are
judged according to their works, good and bad. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Earlier
I had said that I would address the Old Testament vs. New Testament
situation in this matter. In the Old Testament we see an example of
someone, who was a believer in God and the promises of the Messiah
coming to save people from their sins, in the person of King David.
That means that his spirit was redeemed by grace through faith in
God's eyes. Now remembering that the Holy Spirit does not make us
sin-free, and that we still have a will to choose good or evil, we
can see that while some think that a Christian may be able to commit
“little” sins without worrying about calling them a sin, but the
“big” sins will condemn them to hell, we can see that it is not
the size of the sin, but the repentance of the heart that makes all
the difference. King David was a man after God's own heart - Acts
13:22, one of whom God said that he kept all of God's commandments
and statutes - 1 Kings 3:14, yet David was guilty of murder and
adultery. Two sins that are listed in the sins that are in the
“shall not inherit the kingdom of God” list, yet clearly David
made it to heaven, and not only that, God called him a man after His
own heart and one who kept His commandments and statutes. Clearly
David did not keep them all the time. In fact, he committed two that
had the death penalty. The excuse is given by some that well, David
was under the law and we are under grace. He didn't have the Holy
Spirit. I guess that means it didn't count, because he couldn't help himself? Of course it counted. He had a free will choice just as Adam did or we do. He knowingly chose to sin, knowing they were sins with the death penalty. David meditated on God's Word day and night. It wasn't something he didn't know. He didn't need the Holy Spirit to nudge his heart and tell him that. The
indwelling of the Holy Spirit does not make us impervious to sin either. Our faith
and Christ's redemption of us makes our </span><i>spirit</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
sin-free. The Holy Spirit is simply there to help, guide, direct,
etc. He does not make our choices for us. He merely influences. If we
sin, no matter the sin, if we still believe and repent, God forgives
us. We will have to suffer the temporal consequences, but our spirit
will not be damned.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
penalty for the sins David committed under the law was death. Yet God
did not have David executed. Instead He forgave him when David
repented. David's spirit was still redeemed. God still saw him as
keeping the commandments and statutes, just as He still sees us as
redeemed and law abiding when we sin. Did David suffer the consequences of those
sins? You had better believe he did. Just as we suffer the temporal
consequences of our bad choices and sins of the flesh. The difference
between before and after the advent of Christ is not in what or how
much is forgiven and what is not. It is, as said before, that instead
of having to have constant visual and physical reminders of the law
and our sin before us in the way of offerings and sacrifices, the
temple, the phylacteries bound to forehead and arm, the rituals, the
feasts, the memorizing of the Torah, etc., we have the law written on
our hearts by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We don't have
external reminders of God's law, we have an internal reminder in the
person of the Holy Spirit who guides us and acts as our conscience.
People were not saved by observing the law, people were saved by
having faith in God and the Messiah to come. They looked forward, we
look back. They went to Paradise until Christ shed His blood, we go
directly to heaven upon death. They were beholden to walk with God
and be obedient to Him just as we should, but just as they failed on
occasion (as David did) and had to offer sacrifices in repentance and suffer the
consequences, we fail on occasion, need to repent and ask
forgiveness, and look to the sacrifice that was already offered as
covering that sin. But we should not pretend it does not exist, nor
ignore it by chalking it up to immaturity, or failure to exhibit the
fullness of the fruits of the spirit, or just a lapse, any more than
they could. We should go to God and confess that we allowed the flesh
to overcome our spirit's directions and that we are sorry. When you
love someone and you hurt them, do you not owe them an apology? It
doesn't mean that our spirit has lost its connection to God, or some
sin has been laid against our spirit as a debt unpaid, it means that
our soul has made a free will choice to be lazy and give in to the
flesh rather than striving to conquer the inclination. We owe God an
apology for that.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">In
conclusion, we can see that Jesus told us that we are more than just
our spirit. M</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">atthew
22:37 </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Notice
that Jesus said we need to worship God with our heart (our spirit)
our soul (our will) and our mind (our intellect). He did not include
the body, because the body cannot worship God, now being totally
corrupt. We are not just our redeemed spirit; we are a body, soul,
and spirit and must worship Him with the latter two while bringing
the first under subjection. This is the part that too many people
ignore at their peril. It is because these other two parts of us are
ignored that some believe they no longer sin, or some believe that
they can sin with impunity. Neither is what God's Word teaches. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-42664265718826989522017-03-25T11:00:00.001-07:002017-03-25T11:12:22.965-07:00Does Truth Really Matter in Doctrines and the Peripherals? <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Does truth matter? I have attended a
number of different denominational churches over the years as the
Lord has led me. Some of them brought tremendous questions to my mind
when I felt God's leading, as I knew the denominations were not
necessarily known for their adherence to the Bible as the inerrant
Word of God, nor did they always take it as literally as I did. I
always found God's purpose in my attending these churches (usually to
point them to truth and warn them of apostasy), but was disturbed by
how truth seemed to be of minor importance to them. The same could be
said of some of the fundamental evangelical churches I attended, for
their theologies were radically opposed to each other in some cases.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have been exposed to Calvinism vs.
Arminianism; election vs. free will; eternal security vs. conditional
security; amillennianism vs. premillennianism vs. post millennianism;
pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib rapture, although never the one I
espouse, a last trump rapture; grace alone salvation vs. works alone
salvation vs. grace plus works salvation; infant baptism vs.
believer's immersion baptism; the Lord's Supper as
transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and symbolic. I have heard it
taught that the Old Testament God and New Testament God are two
different Gods vs. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I
have been exposed to teachings that say that Jesus died for our sins
as in “paid the penalty”, but that we need to keep repenting as
we sin against God, because we still live in a sinful body vs. Jesus
did not pay the penalty, He merely wiped all sins out and now when we
accept Him we are sinless in a sinless body. The list of
discrepancies in beliefs can go on and on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The one common factor in all of these
organizational churches and theologies is this, they all think they
have the truth. The problem is, they cannot all have the truth, as
they are in disagreement. So what is the truth? Does it matter? I was
once told by a friend, who had started her Christian walk in a church
I was attending and then when she got married and moved had started
attending a church with diametrically opposed teachings, that she
felt as long as she was faithful to the teachings of the denomination
whose “umbrella” she was under, that God was fine with that. When
she made that statement to me I think for the first time in my life I
was literally, quite literally, speechless. She had so shocked me
that I was unable to react. Where in the Bible is it <i>ever</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
taught that it is acceptable to believe anything, provided you stay
under the “umbrella” of the church's teachings and remain
faithful to them? Nowhere, that's where. I could not believe, coming
from the background that she had, that she had made this turn in her
thought processes. I wish I could say that this was the only time in
my life that I saw this happen, but it wasn't. I have seen more
friends than I care to acknowledge suddenly make a 180 degree turn in
their beliefs. Now this would not bother me at all, if they were
turning from lies to truths, but here is what bothered me, </span><i>they
didn't care whether it was the truth or not, they only cared that it
was convenient for their life or comfortable. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">There
was a complete lack of concern with truth. In fact when confronted
with Scripture that contradicted things they were now espousing, they
dismissed the Scripture as irrelevant. I was told that they </span><i>trusted
the messenger.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Years ago the division of beliefs
between denominations meant that there was no communing between them.
This past century has seen a move to ecumenicalism where they have
come to say that as long as the core doctrine (and I don't know that
they all can even agree on this) is in agreement, the peripherals are
not important. We can agree to disagree. While I agree that we can
disagree with someone and still be friends, I do not agree that
peripherals are unimportant. I do not feel that truth is unimportant,
nor do I think God does, and the peripherals are as much truth as the
core doctrine is. And now the core doctrine is under attack. The fact
is, there is only one truth, so obviously somebody or all of them are
wrong about something.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
C.S. Lewis made a comment about truth.
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you
look for comfort, you will not get either comfort or truth only soft
soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” I
believe this is the problem. We are told in Scripture that in the end
times people will have itching ears. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 <i>“For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and
shall be turned unto fables.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The
world has become a frightening and violent place in which to live.
Life is uncomfortable for most everyone in one way or another. If not
physically, then emotionally and definitely spiritually. Truth,
unfortunately, is a commodity that is generally not pleasant. Truth
is convicting. It is usually a source of great discomfort. So
consequently most people do not want to hear it. They ask questions
as if they do want the truth, but the fact is, they want comfort. Let
us take for example this question. “Does this make me look fat?”
That is a loaded question any husband or boyfriend wants no part of.
The truthful answer probably is, “Yes, it makes you look fat and
you know that or you wouldn't have asked me in the first place.”
God help the poor man that says that, as he will be in dire need of
God's help. What is desired is to be comforted with a nice lie, so
that you can wear this piece of clothing which does not flatter you,
but which you have convinced yourself will make you look like your
fantasy of what you want to look like. With a comforting lie, you
can shove aside the the truth and convince yourself to enjoy wearing
the attire, but do you really enjoy it? Is the truth not in the back
of your mind just sitting there and nagging at you? The truth is, to
everyone else, you may very well look fat in that outfit, so nobody
has been comforted by the lie. So you have neither the truth nor real
comfort. Just imagined comfort. It was soft soap and wishful
thinking. The truth may not have brought comfort immediately, but
maybe have caused you to diet, and so bring comfort in the end, as
then the outfit will not make you look fat, because you aren't fat
and you can wear it feeling great and looking great. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have never made a
practice of telling lies, because have never been able to tell a lie
with any degree of success due to my comfort level (conviction of the
Holy Spirit) getting so stressed that it is obvious I am lying. The
only time I have been able to convincingly lie is when it is just for
the purpose of keeping a secret party from the honoree or some such
thing as that. When it is for an innocent reason, to give someone
pleasure such as a present or party, my comfort level is not taxed,
because I know it is not that they will not learn the truth, just
that the truth is being delayed as a pleasant surprise, and I don't
want to spoil that surprise. I have never had to lie to save
someone's life, but I think I might do my best to lie convincingly
under those circumstances, as the midwives in Egypt did for the women
of Israel. I hope I never have to learn whether or not I could. What
I have found is that my truthfulness has made me disliked in many
places. I try not to deliberately look to offend, but it is very hard
to cushion blunt truth when you know it is not the answer that is
desired. I am straightforward in speech as it is, so this is almost
an impossible feat for me to give truth and not make someone get mad
at me. When applied to for my opinion (which I often try to beg off
from giving for this very reason) and it is insisted that I say what
I think, people are not happy about with my response, because I
cannot bring myself to lie. It sticks in my throat and I gag on it,
and it is obvious that I am gagging on it. And try as I might, there
is no nice way to cushion an answer that will be despised, no matter
how you say it. It is going to offend no matter what. They were
looking for affirmation, and I gave them the truth. Most people are
not looking for the truth, but for affirmation of their choices. They
do not want to hear negative comments about their choice, as that is
a condemnation of their thinking and/or values. As a result of this
mind set, the world has learned to pander to people's feelings with
lies instead of trying to direct people to good choices by giving
them the truth. We have become a society of pathological liars.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As an example of
what I have dealt with in people's reactions to truth, I will tell a
story of something that happened to me in a church I attended. As
background information, I have both a Bachelor's and Masters degree
in music. In the church I was attending I was the only trained
musician. The organist was an elderly lady who had learned to play
years before and was still playing, but nobody had any formal
training except me. The church wanted to have a children's Christmas
program. They had about two months to pull it together with one
rehearsal a week and they intended to sing about eight songs. I was
not asked to help with the music in the program, so therefore stayed
out of it. Now having taught music in school, I was aware of how long
it can take to teach children one song well enough to perform, let
alone eight. The songs that the people in charge wanted to do were
some contemporary songs that Christian pop stars were singing, not
familiar Christmas hymns. When given a chance to listen to the songs,
I was asked if in my professional opinion I thought they would work.
They were so sure I would give my approval and affirmation of what
they dreamed of doing, but given my background and experience, I knew
the answer was an emphatic “no” and that is exactly what I told
them. That the songs were far too hard for these children to learn in
so few rehearsals, as the songs would have to be memorized as well as
sung. The response was immediate and it wasn't pleasant. They got
very angry and started making comments about how could I be so
certain, why was I being negative, what was wrong with the songs, and
a list of other complaints. I hadn't volunteered the information on
my own accord, in fact when asked for my opinion, before giving it,
I said that I would rather not, as I knew what the response would be,
but they insisted. At that point I spoke up and said, “You asked me
what my opinion as a professional was. I gave you my professional
opinion. If you don't want to take it, you don't have to.” And of
course they didn't. And what they ended up having to do was play the
tracks from the CD's of these artists and have the children try to
sing along with it. Nor did that even work, as the children didn't
know the songs at all. So basically what happened was we watched some
children stand up in front and try to occasionally mouth the words to
sing along with some songs being sung by the artists on the CD. I
felt embarrassed for the children and the people in charge, who had
put them to this embarrassment simply because they did not want to
hear the truth. They wanted what they desired. They did not get it.
Neither soft soap or wishful thinking worked to accomplish their
desire.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
Church has fallen into the same trap with God's Word, as society has
in all other areas. The Church should be above that, for we worship
the One who is the way, the </span><i>truth</i><span style="font-style: normal;">,
and the life. John 14:6 </span><i>“Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>, and the life.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
We should be preaching the truth, for the truth is the only way. Yet
the Church continues to set aside truths for the temporary comfort of
its people. The Church should be in unity over what the truth is, yet
there are more differences than there are things in common. Why is
that? Because we have forgotten how to understand Scripture. We
should first take it at face value except where grammatically it is
otherwise indicated, and where visions are given </span><i>and
explained </i><span style="font-style: normal;">by God. The first lie
and the most useful lie Satan ever spoke was “Yea, hath God
said..?” By making us question what God has said is truly meant,
God's Word can be made to mean anything, and that is precisely why we
have so many variations on theology. Truth has become irrelevant in
the light of respecting some “scholarly” or “great” man's
opinion of what he thinks God's Word says. People do not even bother
to take this man's words and go to the Bible to check to see if he is
reading it correctly. He is a scholar, so that means he knows more
than the average person (not true), so he is accepted without
question. Satan cleverly used this mentality, and then led astray
those who were the “scholars” (usually by puffed up pride) to get
them to either have “revelations” about God's Word which were not
accurate or true, or to spiritually interpret the Word in a way which
did not coincide with a face value interpretation. Another way was to
have people pick and choose what they liked o build a theology around
those verses, ignoring the verses which might disagree, as Thomas
Jefferson did when he took a pair of scissors to the Bible and
created his Jeffersonian Bible, removing those things which he did
not like. And from there things progressed until we have wandered so
far from God's Word in some cases that even God Himself would have
trouble recognizing from where it came.. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God's Word is
filled with verses about truth.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Joshua
24:14a, </span><i>“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in
sincerity and in</i><i><b> truth</b></i><i>.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">1
Samuel 12:24 </span><i>“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in</i><i><b>
truth</b></i><i> with all your heart: for consider how great things
he hath done for you.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
25:5 </span><i>“Lead me in thy </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>, and
teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all
the day.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
26:3 </span><i>“For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I
have walked in thy</i><i><b> truth</b></i><i>.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
40:11</span><i> “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O
LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>
continually preserve me.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
86:11 </span><i>“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy
</i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>: unite my heart to fear thy name.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
91:4</span><i> “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under
his wings shalt thou trust: his </i><i><b>truth </b></i><i>shall be
thy shield and buckler.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
96:13</span><i> “Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to
judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the
people with his </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Psalms
119:151 </span><i>“Thou are near, O LORD; and all thy commandments
are </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Proverbs
3:3 </span><i>“Let not mercy and </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i> forsake
thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine
heart.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mark
12:14a “</span><i> And when they were come, they say unto him,
Master, we know that thou art </i><i><b>true</b></i><i>, and carest
for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest
the way of God in</i><i><b> truth</b></i><i>:”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
4:23 “</span><i>But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
4:24 “</span><i>God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
16:13 “</span><i>Howbeit when he, the Spirit of </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>,
is come, he will guide you into all </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>: for
he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">John
17:17 “</span><i>Sanctify them through thy </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>:
thy word is </i><i><b>truth.</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">2
Timothy 2:15 “</span><i>Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
</i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><br />These
are just the tip of the iceberg in what God has to say about truth.
So why is it so important to have the peripherals correct if you have
the core tenets in truth? Why does it matter whether we have truth on
the details that seem less important? If one envisions doctrine in
concentric circles, the “core” doctrine of Jesus as the Son of
God, who died for our sins, rose from the grave, ascended to
intercede for us, the Trinity, and those things which are essential
for salvation will be in the center circle. Going out to the next
circle would be those things which are essential for our walk with
God, obedience to the ordinances and commandments and those things.
Then the next circle out might be things such as end times beliefs,
etc. and so on. If one thinks of each circle as a wall protecting the
beliefs within it, the assault starts on the outer circle and works
its way in. As one wall falls and lets the enemy in, he can attack
the next wall. And so on. Eventually he stands at the wall
surrounding the core doctrines and starts assaulting that wall. We
have so let down our guards, that the enemy has actually broken down
the inner most wall and has made inroads into corrupting the core
doctrines. How is it possible to have come so far? </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
problem has come from the fact that we have not sought truth all
along. </span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">We have
settled for the traditions and even lies of men, instead of being
Bereans and weeding out those things which are not upheld by
Scripture. We do this because we have itching ears looking for easy
salvation and comfortable living. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 </span><i>“For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having</i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
itching ears. </span></i><i>And they shall turn away their ears from
the </i><i><b>truth</b></i><i>, and shall be turned unto fables.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
We have allowed wolves into the sheepfold.</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Acts
20:29 </span><i>“For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous </i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">wolves </span></i><i>enter
in among you, not sparing the flock. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">2
Timothy 3:6-8 </span><i>“For of this sort are they which creep into
houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with
divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge
of the </i><i><b>truth.</b></i><i> Now as Jannes and Jambres
withstood Moses, so do these also resist the</i><i><b> truth:</b></i><i>
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Romans
1:18, 25 </span><i>“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the
</i><i><b>truth</b></i><i> in unrighteousness;.. Who changed the
</i><i><b>truth</b></i><i> of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.
Amen.”</i> <span style="font-style: normal;">2 Peter 2:2 </span><i>“And
many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
</i><i><b>truth</b></i><i> shall be evil spoken of.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
<br /><br />When you have believed the lies Satan has implanted, when the
time comes that he needs you to let go of them for his purposes, he
will not have trouble convincing you to let go of them. You will be
deceived, because you have already been deceived. Only those who know
that they are firmly planted on the truth of God's Word will be able
to withstand the assault on their beliefs. Truth stands. Truth
endures. Division was necessary to conquer God's people at the
beginning, as the rule is divide and conquer. Now that we are
sufficiently divided with the lies he has sown, and we are far enough
from the truth, he is creating a false unity of the church through
compromise, for the sake of the new world order, over which he
intends to reign. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">God
will have us worship Him in truth, and if we will not seek it on our
own, He will put us in a place where we are forced to accept it in a
harsh reality. If you love the Lord, you must desire truth above all
else, for He is the truth. Any lie that we accept only puts an
obstacle between Him and us. The question is, are you willing to
sacrifice all for the truth? How important is it to you? Have you
prayed and asked God to show you the truth at all costs? Most who
call themselves Christian know the truth of the death and
resurrection of the Son of God, but are you willing to take your long
held traditions of men and ask God to help you examine each and every
one in the light of Scripture - all of Scripture, not the pick and
choose type – to see if what you believe is actually what is taught
by Him? Are you willing to let go if it is not? From painful
experience I can tell you that it will be one of the most
excruciating things you will ever undergo. I am reminded of a story
in the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis when a boy named Eustace
was turned into a dragon because of his greed, and the only way he
could become a boy again was to have Aslan the lion (the prototype of
Christ) literally and with excruciating pain rip the dragon skin off
of his body to get back to the human boy. Christ has to painfully
peel away all the lies in your life to get to the truth. I was forced
to change so many peripherals as I examined Scripture that I ended up
with a very different theology, except for my belief in being born
again through Christ. It was a shattering time in my life. And yet it
was the most freeing time also. When He said </span><i>“And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
John 8:32, </span> <span style="font-style: normal;">He was not
kidding. Knowing that you have found the truth, a truth that
Scripture will uphold at every verse that deals with the subject, is
a deeply spiritually grounding experience. It removes any room for
deception. It removes any room for compromise. It removes any room
for doubt. And this is why we have to have the truth, all of the
truth, even in the peripherals. They do not have to keep you from
loving others, but they do matter in your personal walk with Christ. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-27907620388533877782017-03-17T15:52:00.002-07:002017-03-17T15:56:54.877-07:00What Is the Explanation for Canaan's Curse and Being In the Line of Christ?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are a couple of incidents in the
Bible that have confused people, as there is no immediate explanation
for them. They both concern the same person. The first is found in
the story of Noah when he got drunk.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Genesis 9:18-27 <i>“And the sons of
Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth:
and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah:
and of them was the whole earth overspread. And Noah began to be an
husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and
was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the
father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two
brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it
upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the
nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they
saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and
knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be
Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he
said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his
servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents
of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When Noah awoke and found out what had
occurred, he cursed Canaan and not Ham. This has always been a
puzzlement, for why curse the son for the sin of the father? Maybe
we need to take a closer look at exactly what is said. First notice
that when it speaks of when they went forth from the ark, that it
mentions not only the three sons, but also that Ham was the father of
Canaan. Was Canaan born aboard the ark? Or is Canaan mentioned
because he is about to become important in some way? Noah was drunk,
and he was uncovered within his tent. It has always been assumed
that Noah stripped down. I have not been around drunk people as a
rule, but how many drunk people go around stripping when they are
that drunk? It seems to me that they are beyond being able to take
their clothes off. They can generally not even sit up straight, much
less stand up to disrobe. What if what is meant was that someone else
uncovered him within his tent, while he was drunk. What if he were
not the person committing the action, but the victim receiving the
action while he was unconscious?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is pointed out again, immediately
after telling that Noah was uncovered in this passage, that Ham is
the father of Canaan. Why point that out a second time within the
space of five verses of the story, and immediately after this event,
if Canaan is not a party to the event? Why bring it up at all? It is
almost as if it is pointed out that Ham is the father of the
offender. Perhaps Canaan, who is the only grandchild mentioned up to
this point (and whom we know was the father of the pagan ungodly
Canaanites, which consisted of a number of pagan tribes of the
family) was an ungodly young person already, (we are not sure of how
many years had passed by this time) and was aware that his
grandfather had been drinking. He could have crept in and uncovered
his grandfather either as a joke, or for spite, and then bragged to
his father what he had done. Ham then went to see for himself and
then, thinking it was amusing, mocked Noah by telling the others of
his shame. (Or possibly they did it together.) Noah blamed Ham, but
then he cursed Canaan. He held the father responsible for his son's
actions, but he cursed the offender rather than the father, so that
the other children would not be cursed. So it would seem that Canaan
had a hand in this somehow, for there is no reason to mention Canaan
to start with, or curse Canaan for his father's actions otherwise. We
know that Canaan's descendants were pagan, so it seems that rebellion
started with Ham and ran through Canaan down the line. This should be
kept in mind as we go to the next puzzle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now we come to the second problem. In
the genealogy of Christ we find the following lineage in Luke Chapter
3 within verses 35-36. “which was the son of Sala, which was the
son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of
Sem, which was the son of Noe” This has caused a problem for
scholars as Cainan (or Canaan as it is spelled in the O.T.) was not a
son of Arphaxad. Sala (or Salah) was his son, according to Genesis.
Genesis 10:22-24 <i>“The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and
Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul,
and Gether, and Mash. And </i><i><b>Arphaxad begat Salah</b></i><i>;”
</i> Genesis 11:10-12 <i><span style="font-weight: normal;">“These
are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat
Arphaxad two years after the flood: And Shem lived after he begat
Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And
</span></i><i><b>Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat
Salah</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">:” </span></i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
According to both of these Scriptures,
Arphaxad was the father of Salah. In fact the age at which he begat
Salah was thirty-five years of age. This was thirty-seven years after
the Flood. It does not seem that there was a generation between them.
There is a possibility that can be surmised though. We are told that
Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood. He was of the first
generation after the Flood. We are told the names of the other males
who were born of Noah's sons. Genesis 10:2 <i>“The sons of Japheth;
Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and
Tiras.” </i> Genesis 10:6 “And the sons of Ham; Cush, and
Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.” Genesis 10:22 <i>“The children
of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Within
this first generation, we can see the the only Canaan is Ham's son.
And he is also the only Canaan within the next generation as well. So
when Canaan is spoken of in Luke, we must assume that the Canaan
mentioned is Ham's son. We can also see that the three couples got
busy repopulating the earth. Needless to say, they had daughters
also, for we are told that they did, and the sons had to marry
someone. Cousin marriage is an approved marriage in Scripture, (even
to today) and at this time sister marriage was also allowed. So the
first generation had to marry either their sisters, their first
cousins, or their cousin's children.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next we must look
at another matter. It is assumed by many that the names of the
offspring are always in line with their birth order, but that can be
shown to not be true. For instance Shem is assumed to be the oldest
as he is always mentioned first, when the three sons of Noah are
listed.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Genesis
5:32</span><i> “And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat
Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Genesis 6:10 </span><i>“And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Genesis 7:13 </span><i>“In
the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the
sons of Noah” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Gensis 9:18
</span><i>“And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were
Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.”
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">Genesis 10:1</span><i> “Now
these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth:” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">In
each of these cases, Shem is mentioned first, therefore many teach
that he is the eldest, however Scripture contradicts that. Genesis
10:21 </span><i>“Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of
Eber, the brother of</i><i><b> Japheth the elder,</b></i><i> even to
him were children born.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Japheth
is clearly said to be the elder brother. Then some say that Shem is
the youngest, but in Genesis 10:24 we find that neither is he the
youngest. </span><i>“And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what</i><i><b>
his younger son </b></i><i>had done unto him.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">This
verse is speaking of Ham and it designates him as the younger son.
Had he been the middle son, it would seem that he would have been
addressed as his middle son, so it would seem that Shem is the
middle son. Shem appears to be mentioned first, as he is the most
important of the brothers, for he is the one in whom the line of the
Messiah will begin. These two verses are the only ones that actually
mention birth order, so we need to pay attention to them even though
when the sons are spoken of, they are listed with Shem first. In the
line of Shem, we know that Arphaxad was born two years after the
Flood, yet he is the third son mentioned in the line of Shem. It is
probably unlikely that Shem's wife had three children in two years
unless the first two were twins. The godly patriarchal line did not
have to come through the eldest son. It had to come through the godly
son. So birth order does not seem relevant in the list of names. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
reason for bringing all this up is that the children of Ham are
listed in the following order. Genesis 10:6</span><i> “And the sons
of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">If
sons were listed from the oldest to the youngest, this would put
Canaan as the youngest, but I do not think that is the case, based on
the above reasoning. I think the sons are listed with Cush first for
a reason, which will be made clear in a moment. The implication when
mentioning the three sons of Noah coming off the ark, and mentioning
Canaan along with them is that he might have been born on board the
ark, or if not coming off the ark as a baby, then Ham's wife was
pregnant with him. This would make him the eldest of Ham's sons. The
only grandson mentioned at all before these genealogy lists is in
fact, Canaan. In the case of the above order, Cush is mentioned
first, but then there is a reason for this, just as there was for
mentioning Shem first. Shem was the first of the Messianic line. Cush
was the father of Nimrod, who is first mentioned at this time as the
mighty hunter, and the king of Babel, who became a very important
person at an important event later on and from whom ultimately the
antichrist will come. This could explain his being first in the list
of Ham's sons. If Canaan were guilty of the sin with Noah, his name
would have been mud, as they say, which may be why he was relegated
to the last name mentioned. But that was earlier on in his life, and
he seemed to be of no importance later on, as much as who his
descendants were became important to Israel, so he is just listed
last. As other than being one of the partriarchs, Arphaxad didn't do
anything in particular to merit mention, nor did his brothers, there
seems no particular order to their names.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Given now that we
know that Canaan was most likely born immediately after if not before
the end of the Flood, and most likely the perpetrator of the sin
against Noah, and that his descendants would become depraved pagans,
there is every reason to believe that he was not a young man who
observed restrained behavior. It is then quite likely that by the
time he was a teenager or in his early twenties at best, which would
have been only that many years after the Flood as well, that he was
sexually active and took a wife (either sister or cousin) and started
a family. The objective was to repopulate the earth, after all, and
he was probably eager to cooperate with that mandate. By thirty-seven
years after the Flood, he could very well have had a daughter of the
age of fifteen to seventeen years of age. By this time Arphaxad was
thirty-five and was wanting a wife of his own. The number of females
to go around for the males was probably not equal in number, so some
had to wait to get a wife this early on. As the first generation
might not have produced enough females for the males of that
generation, someone would have to take a wife from the next
generation. A girl of sixteen or so would have been considered old
enough to start a family. It is quite possible that Arphaxad took as
wife the daughter of Canaan. That would make Canaan the grandfather
of Salah on his mother's side.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When one looks at
the genealogies of Jesus, it can be seen that Matthew included
several very important women in the list - Rahab the harlot, Ruth the
Moabitess, and Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (although her name is not
mentioned, we know it was her). On the other hand, Luke did not list
any women. He could have, but he didn't. So when he listed that Salah
which was the son of Canaan, which was the son of Arphaxad, and there
was only one Canaan at that time, we can surmise that what was most
likely being said was that Salah was the son of the daughter of
Canaan and her husband, Arphaxad. This is the only reasonable way to
reconcile this account, as Canaan, the son of Ham, was the only
Canaan at that time. The only other way to deal with this is to say
that Canaan and Arphaxad shared a wife so Salah considered both men
his father. While it was common for a man to have multiple wives,
nothing indicates that a woman ever had multiple husbands or that
this was the situation. There are some who would like to make this
work by saying it was a levirate marriage, but there are two problems
with this interpretation. First, the laws of levirate marriage did
not exist then, and secondly, Arphaxad and Canaan were cousins, not
brothers.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The importance in
even bringing Canaan up in Christ's lineage seems to be the fact that
Abraham was promised the land of Canaan as an inheritance for his
offspring forever. The reason that Abraham could make claim to this
land is that it is rightfully his by lineage. Salah was the
descendant of Canaan, but also the descendant of Shem. He was the
only descendant of Canaan who was in the godly Messianic patriarchal
line of Shem. So he brought both lines together, so that the
descendants of Shem down through to Abraham were the legal heirs to
the land of Canaan, as the pagan tribes were not heirs in God's eyes,
due to their rejection of Him. And thus Israel is the rightful heir
to the land of Canaan.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While it is true that this information
is surmised, we have to look at exactly what we are told and try to
make logical sense of it. This interpretation seems to do that.
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-16670558919223145232017-03-12T19:11:00.002-07:002017-03-12T19:11:22.888-07:00Should Christians keep the Entire Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments, or Are We Stricly Under Grace? Pt.2
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Part 1 of this can be found at
<a href="http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html">http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/09/should-christians-keep-entire-law-of.html</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the first part of this study, I
focused on the various aspects of the Law and why they do not apply
to us, due to the lifting of them in the New Testament. I also spent
some time on why the Ten Commandments are still in effect and should
still be observed. As the Hebrew Roots movement continues to move
further and further into demanding that people observe the laws of
the Torah for not just a righteous walk with God, but some say it is
required for salvation, I felt the need to add even more to my
article and so have created a part 2.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
When God told Moses that He wanted to speak to the children of
Israel, He said that He was going to give them a covenant. <span style="font-style: normal;">Ex.
19:5-6 </span><i>“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed,
and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me
above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me
a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which
thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” </i> After God had
spoken the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, there was
thunder and lightning, the noise of trumpets, the mountain was
smoking, and they wanted Moses alone to be the one to have to hear
anything else God had to say and then relay that information to them.
Exodus 20:18-19 <i>“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the
lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking:
and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And
they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let
not God speak with us, lest we die.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">God
then told Moses to speak to them all that He was about to say. Ex.
20:22a </span><i>“And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say
unto the children of Israel....” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
What followed were the covenant rules. It is not that the Ten
Commandments were not a part of it, they were the central core of it,
as they are the divine laws of God that tell us what our moral sins
against God are, so are a part of </span><i>any </i><span style="font-style: normal;">covenant
with God, (Gen.26:5</span><i> “</i><i><b>Because that Abraham
obeyed </b></i><i>my voice, and kept my charge, </i><i><b>my
commandments</b></i><i>, my statutes, and my laws.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)
</span><i>including </i><span style="font-style: normal;">the </span><i>new
covenant</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> (God said He would
write His law on our hearts (through the Holy Spirit)– Jer. 31:33
</span><i>“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; </i><i><b>After those days</b></i><i>, saith the
LORD, </i><i><b>I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it
in their hearts</b></i><i>; and will be their God, and they shall be
my people.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">), but they were
apart from the specific law of Moses, for the simple reason that they
are much bigger than that covenant. The Ten Commandments are
universal for all people for all time. They are the moral laws which
condemn us before God and show us why we need salvation. They show us
our sins. The rest of the laws that Moses wrote down were
specifically for Israel as a covenant with them alone. We will see
that the covenant with Israel alone was written by Moses, and the
part of the covenant that is eternal between God and man were written
in stone here on earth, and also written down in heaven.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Getting
back to the order of events, after he had spoken all these laws to
the people, </span><i>Moses wrote down</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
these laws which he had spoken to them. Ex. 24:4</span><i> “And
Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the
morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars,
according to the twelve tribes of Israel.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Ex.
24:7 “</span><i>And he took the</i><i><b> book of the covenant</b></i><i>,
and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the
LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">To
seal the covenant, Moses made a sacrifice. Ex. 24:5-8 </span><i>“And
he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt
offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. And
Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the
blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the </i><i><b>book of
the covenant</b></i><i>, and read in the audience of the people: and
they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said,
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you
concerning all these words.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Now to
show that these were two different sets of laws, we see that Moses
wrote down all that followed the Ten Commandments, and it was called
the Book of the Covenant, but as we will see, God Himself wrote down
the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone, which were to be in the
ark of the covenant or as it is actually referred to in Scripture,
the ark of the testimony. The commandments were on tablets of stone.
The rest of the laws were in a handwritten book which Moses wrote.
After Moses had related all this from the Book of the Covenant to
Israel, God called him up to the mountain top to give him the
specifications for the temple and priests, and to give him the
tablets upon which God Himself had written the testimony or Ten
Commandments.</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Ex.
24:12 </span><i>“And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into
the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a
law, and commandments </i><i><b>which I have written</b></i><i>; that
thou mayest teach them.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Ex:31:18</span><i>
“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with
him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone,
</i><i><b>written with the finger of God</b></i><i>.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
After that Moses returned to the people. Ex. 32:15-16 </span><i>“And
Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the
testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their
sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. </i><i><b>And
the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of
God, graven upon the tables</b></i><i>.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
When Moses came down and found the people sinning, he broke the
tablets. Ex. 32:19</span><i> “And it came to pass, as soon as he
came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and
Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and
brake them beneath the mount.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">God
called him back up to the mount again so that He could give Moses His
law again. Ex. 34:1 </span><i>“And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew
thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and </i><i><b>I will
write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables,
</b></i><i>which thou brakest.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Ex.
34:28</span><i> “And he was there with the LORD forty days and
forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote
upon the tables the words of the covenant,</i><i><b> the ten
commandments</b></i><i>.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">(The
part of the covenant that was God's Law, God wrote, and He specifies
here that the only thing on these tablets was the Ten Commandments.)
Deut. 10:1-4</span><i> “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew
thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me
into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And </i><i><b>I will
write on the tables the words that were in the first tables </b></i><i>which
thou brakest, and t</i><i><b>hou shalt put them in the ark</b></i><i>.
And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone
like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two
tables in mine hand. </i><i><b>And he wrote on the tables, according
to the first writing, the ten commandments</b></i><i>, which the LORD
spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day
of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">If
there is any question that the Ten Commandments are the only thing on
these tablets, these verses clearly answers that question, as it
says that he wrote, </span><i>“according to the first writing, the
ten commandments.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> And it is
clear that they were to be put in the ark. Ex. 40:20 </span><i>“And
he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the
ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Deut.
10:5 </span><i>“And I turned myself and came down from the mount,
and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as
the LORD commanded me.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The
testimony on the tablets was sealed within the ark and then the mercy
seat was placed upon it. When it came to the Book of the Law, or the
Book of the Covenant that Moses wrote, it had a different place to be
placed, for the Book of Moses or Covenant is not eternal in the same
way as the Ten Commandments are. </span>Deut. 31:24-26 <i>“And it
came to pass, w</i><i><b>hen Moses had made an end of writing the
words of this law in a book,</b></i><i> until they were finished,
That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant
of the LORD, saying, </i><i><b>Take this book of the law, and put it
in the side of the ark of the covenant </b></i><i>of the LORD your
God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The
word “side” is “tsad” in Hebrew and the phrase “in the
side” would indicate “against the side of.” In other words,
beside the ark, but not in the ark. In fact, the word “tsad” has
another interesting meaning. It can figuratively mean “adversary.”
This is a good description of the law for it was put there to be a
witness </span><i>against </i><span style="font-style: normal;">the
people. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">How is
it that the Law of the Covenant is to be a witness against the
people. We know how the Ten Commandments are, for they were given to
show the entire world their sin against God. The Book of the Covenant
was a witness against them for if they kept the Law, they would be
blessed, but if they did not keep the Law of the Covenant (sometimes
also called the handwriting of ordinances in Scripture) they would
suffer the curses issued by Moses. Note that this has to do with
blessings and curses upon the people and land. Nothing is said about
this providing them with salvation. Unfortunately, they did not keep
the law. The people had heard the law at the beginning of the forty
year wilderness experience, but all the adults of that generation
died before they could enter the land (as punishment). The younger
generation now had to have the law read to them also before they
entered the land, and they had to covenant with God themselves. And
this covenant was not just for those who had come out of Egypt, and
those standing there hearing it, but those who would be a part of
Israel in the future. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Deut.
29:1, 9-29 </span><i>“These are</i><i><b> the words of the
covenant,</b></i><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">which the
LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel</span><i> in
the land of Moab, </i><i><b>beside the covenant which he made with
them in Horeb</b></i><i>. </i><i><b>Keep</b></i><i> therefore the
words of</i><i><b> this covenant,</b></i><i> and do them, </i><i><b>that
ye may prosper in all that ye do</b></i><i>. Ye stand this day all
of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your
elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little
ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the
hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: That thou shouldest
enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which
the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish
thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a
God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy
fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. N</i><i><b>either with
you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that
standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with
him that is not here with us this day:</b></i><i> (For ye know how
we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the
nations which ye passed by; And ye have seen their abominations, and
their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe,
whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and
serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a
root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he
heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart,
saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine
heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him,
but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against
that man, </i><i><b>and all the curses that are written in this book
shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under
heaven.</b></i><i> And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of
all the tribes of Israel, according to </i><i><b>all the curses of
the covenant that are written in this book of the law: </b></i><i> So
that </i><i><b>the generation to come of your children that shall
rise up after you</b></i><i>, and the stranger that shall come from a
far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the
sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it; And that the whole land
thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor
beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom,
and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his
anger, and in his wrath: Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath
the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this
great anger? Then men shall say,</i><i><b> Because they have
forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, </b></i><i>which
he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of
Egypt: For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them,
gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them: And
the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it
</i><i><b>all the curses that are written in this book</b></i><i>:
And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath,
and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is
this day. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those
things which are revealed </i><i><b>belong unto us and to our
children for ever</b></i><i>, that we may do all the words of this
law.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The Book of the Law (the
covenant) had blessings and curses written in it. It was for the
nation of Israel as Israel will always be a peculiar nation before
God.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Now
that the Law of Moses or the Book of the Covenant has been explained
we need to examine the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the
testimony against all mankind. Once engraved in stone, they resided
in the ark, which in Scripture is not the ark of the covenant. That
name is a misdirection, as people think that means the covenant with
Israel. Scripture never calls it the ark of the covenant, for it is
not the ark of the Book of the Covenant. It is the ark of the
testimony of the Ten Commandments for that is what it holds. It is
always referred to as the ark of the testimony. Ex. 25:22 </span><i>“And
there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above
the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the </i><i><b>ark
of the testimony</b></i><i>, of all things which I will give thee in
commandment unto the children of Israel.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Ex. 26:33, 34</span><i> “And thou shalt hang up the vail under the
taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the </i><i><b>ark
of the testimony</b></i><i>: and the vail shall divide unto you
between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the
mercy seat upon the </i><i><b>ark of the testimony</b></i><i> in the
most holy place.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Ex. 30:6
</span><i>“And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the </i><i><b>ark
of the testimony</b></i><i>, before the mercy seat that is over the
testimony, where I will meet with thee.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Ex. 30:26 </span><i>“And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the
congregation therewith, and the </i><i><b>ark of the testimony</b></i><i>,”
</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Ex. 31:7 </span><i>“The
tabernacle of the congregation, and the </i><i><b>ark of the
testimony,</b></i><i> and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all
the furniture of the tabernacle,” Ex. 39:35 “The </i><i><b>ark
of the testimony</b></i><i>, and the staves thereof, and the mercy
seat,”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Ex. 40:3, 5, 21 </span><i>“And
thou shalt put therein the </i><i><b>ark of the testimony,</b></i><i>
and cover the ark with the vail....And thou shalt set the altar of
gold for the incense before the</i><i><b> ark of the testimony</b></i><i>,
and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle......And he brought
the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and
covered the </i><i><b>ark of the testimony;</b></i><i> as the LORD
commanded Moses.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Joshua 4:16
</span><i>“Command the priests that bear the </i><i><b>ark of the
testimony, </b></i><i>that they come up out of Jordan.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">When
Christ came, he established a new covenant. (testament means
covenant). We would no longer be under the laws of the Book of the
Covenant of Moses. 2 Cor. 3:14 </span><i>“But their minds were
blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in
the reading of the </i><i><b>old testament;</b></i><i> which </i><i><b>vail
is done away in Christ</b></i><i>.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Heb. 9:15-20 </span><i>“And for this cause he is the mediator of
the </i><i><b>new testament</b></i><i>, that by means of death, for
the redemption of the transgressions that were under the</i><i><b>
first testament</b></i><i>, they which are called might receive the
promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is
of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all
while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was
dedicated without blood. For </i><i><b>when Moses had spoken every
precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of
calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and
sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the
blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.</b></i><i>”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Colossians 2:14 </span><i>“</i><i><b>Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us,</b></i><i> which was contrary to
us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”</i> <span style="font-style: normal;">The
first covenant was the Book of the Law which Moses wrote and read to
the people. It was </span><i>his handwriting </i><span style="font-style: normal;">of
the ordinances mentioned in Colossians that was blotted out. Remember
Moses didn't write the Ten Commandments. God engraved those on stone.
They are not blotted out. It was a covenant between God and Israel
that Moses wrote out by hand that was annulled. The new covenant
would be with all men who believe, including those of Israel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matt.
26:28 </span><i>“For this is my blood of the </i><i><b>new
testament,</b></i><i> which is shed </i><i><b>for many</b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
f</span></i><i>or the remission of sins.”</i> <span style="font-style: normal;">
Mark 14:24 </span><i>“And he said unto them, This is my blood of
the </i><i><b>new testament</b></i><i>, which is shed</i><i><b> for
many</b></i><i>.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Luke 22:20
</span><i>“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is
the </i><i><b>new testament</b></i><i> in my blood, which is shed for
you.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;"> 1 Cor. 11:25 </span><i>“After
the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the </i><i><b>new testament</b></i><i> in my blood: this
do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">2
Cor. 3:6</span><i> “Who also hath made us able ministers of the </i><i><b>new
testament</b></i><i>; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the
letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The
old covenant brought condemnation. The new covenant brought life.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">How do
we know that Christ did not mean the Ten Commandments when He said He
was creating a new testament or covenant? Because He told us that if
we loved Him, we would keep His commandments. John 14:15 </span><i>“If
ye love me, keep my commandments.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">John
15:10a </span><i>“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love;” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Some like to say that
there were only two commandments that Jesus gave, love God and love
your neighbor. That is not exactly what Jesus said. Matthew 22:36-40
</span><i>“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the
first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Mark
12:28-31 </span><i>“And one of the scribes came, and having heard
them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them
well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus
answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel;
The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second
is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There
is none other commandment greater than these.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Jesus did not say that there were no other commandments, He said
that these two were the greatest, and that all the laws and prophets
hung on them. The interesting thing is that these are not Jesus
condensing the ten into two out of the blue. He was quoting the Old
Testament which had already presented these two concepts. Deut. 6:5
</span><i>“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou
shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Leviticus
19:18 </span><i>“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against
the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself: I am the LORD.” </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus was not doing
away with the Ten Commandments or condensing them. He was quoting
these verses to show that <i>all</i> of the law hung on the fact that
the commandments did either one or the other. The first four
commandments tell us what we need to do to show our love for God. We
are to have no other Gods before Him. We are not to make any graven
images or worship them. We are not to take His name in vain. We are
to keep His Sabbath day holy. Those are what we have to do in order
to love God with all our heart, our soul, and our mind or might. To
break them is sin, for the definition of sin is lawlessness, or not
doing the law of God. The last six commandments have to do with
showing love to our neighbor. Our first “neighbor” is our
parents. We are to honor them. We are not to kill anyone, commit
adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet their possessions. This
is how we show love to our neighbor. It is not in words that we love,
but in deed. In the New Testament verses can be found that tell us
not to do these things, which in most people's eyes means that they
should observe them, even if they will not admit that they are
keeping the Ten Commandments. The one they object to and say was not
reiterated is the one about the Sabbath. I had a link to my article
on the Sabbath in part 1, but if it wasn't read, here it is again.
<a href="http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html">http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sabbath-or-sunday.html</a>.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus Himself said
that when the abomination of desolation occurred, people should worry
that they would not have to run on the Sabbath. Since Jesus was
speaking to believers in Him (Christians) at the end of time, and He
expected them to be observing the Sabbath, I believe that is reason
enough to consider that we should still be observing the Sabbath for
in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile so it does not apply only to the
Jews. The Sabbath has been holy to God since creation. It is one of
the Ten Commandments and is still in effect.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We
also know that the Ten Commandments are eternal because they are in
heaven in the ark of the testimony that resides in the heavenly
tabernacle. Rev.11:19 </span><i>“And the temple of God was opened
in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the </i><i><b>ark of his
testament</b></i><i>: and there were lightnings, and voices, and
thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Rev. 15:5 </span><i>“And the temple of God was opened in heaven,
and there was seen in his temple the </i><i><b>ark of his testament:
</b></i><i>and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings,
and an earthquake, and great hail.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Lastly,
Jesus gave us a couple parables that indicate that the laws in the
Book of the Covenant had to pass away so that the new covenant could
come to pass.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Matthew
9:10-17 </span><i>“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the
house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him
and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his
disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But
when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not
a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that
meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Then came to him the
disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but
thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children
of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?
but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them,
and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto
an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from
the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine
into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out,
and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and
both are preserved.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
Pharisees were upset that Jesus and His disciples were not observing
the law the way they thought they should. Jesus was eating with the
publicans and sinners. His disciples were not fasting. Jesus told
them that He didn't come to help those who were righteous, that He
came to call sinners to repentance. To do that, He had to break with
tradition and go to where the sinners were. This was a radical idea.
And as far as His disciples were concerned, there was no need for
them to fast and afflict themselves with mourning, for He (the
bridegroom) was with them now, so they should celebrate what He was
teaching and giving to them. When He left (when He was crucified and
ascended) there would be plenty about which they would mourn and
fast. Then He went on to give two parables that showed that He did
not come to fix up the old covenant to include what He was teaching.
For His teachings to be put into practice, the old covenant had to go
by the wayside, for what He taught was mercy, not law. It was love,
not judgment. It was forgiveness, not vengeance. The law was full of
legalities that gave justice, but it did not have room for mercy.
Jesus was going to radically change the way people interacted with
God and each other. To do that, the old law had to give way. It was
nailed to the cross as it says in Colossians. The new cloth (new
covenant) could not be put on the old garment (old covenant), for the
tear would be worse than ever when it was washed. The old wineskin
would burst if new wine was put in it, for it could not hold all that
the new wine was. That is what these parables were about. So for
those who insist upon having to go back to the Torah, that is not
what Jesus taught. Choosing to keep some of the old laws, such as
kosher, as just a personal choice is fine as long as it does not get
in the way of the new covenant ways. Love should always come before
the old law. To insist that the old law is a better way is wrong,
for the new covenant cannot be contained in the old one. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">So in
the end, we are to keep the commandments if we love Jesus, but we are
not obliged to keep the law, with the exception of things that were
reiterated in the New Testament. Most of these were moral laws which
were actually just more detailed behaviors of the Ten Commandments.
There are some things that do fall under that category.
Homosexuality is still a sin. Remarriage is now wrong after divorce
except for one condition. We are not to eat blood or things
strangled. There are many more. One needs to read the New Testament
to see what God still does or does not require. It is up to the
individual to be in their Bible learning what those things are.</span></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4902564489239485922.post-35348232217129513322017-03-11T17:57:00.000-08:002017-03-11T17:57:46.651-08:00Does the Bible Tell Us What Actually Happened to Enoch?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the great mysteries of the Bible
is what happened to Enoch when God took him. Some time ago I wrote on
Elijah, showing how, unlike the traditional teaching that he went to
heaven, he could not have gone to heaven for he was still on earth
ten years after he was taken away in the whirlwind. What seems to
have been misunderstood was to which heaven he was taken away. It was
the first, as nobody could go to the third heaven where God is,
before Christ did, according to Scripture. The only place people went
when they left this life was to Paradise. Christ explained that both
in the parable of Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man, and when He
told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him that day in
Paradise. When Christ ascended, He led captivity captive, or emptied
Paradise of the righteous dead and took them to heaven. We are told
that nobody ascended to heaven (God's abode) before Christ. <span style="font-style: normal;">Proverbs
30:4a</span><i> “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?”
</i>John 3:13<i> “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he
that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">As it is doubtful that God left
Enoch stranded on another planet, (the second heavens) it seems the only answer is that he
was either transported somewhere on earth as Elijah, Ezekiel, and Philip
were, or he was taken to Paradise. More information on Paradise and
the three heavens can be found in my article on Elijah here.
<a href="http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2016/02/did-elijah-go-to-heaven-die-or-just.html">http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2016/02/did-elijah-go-to-heaven-die-or-just.html</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">We are
told everything there is to know about Enoch in a few passages.
Genesis 5:18-24 </span><i>“And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two
years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch
eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days
of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And
Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch
walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and
begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three
hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was
not; for God took him.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Luke
3:37 </span><i>“Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son
of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel,
which was the son of Cainan,”</i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Jude
14-15 </span><i>“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied
of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his
saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly
committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have
spoken against him.” </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Hebrews
11:5 </span><i>“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not
see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for
before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”</i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The entire content
of Enoch's life is that he was born of Jared, had a son named
Methuselah, that all the days of his life were three hundred and
sixty-five years, (that was his age when he disappeared, so that is
as old as anyone knew he was) that he walked with God, that he was a
prophet who warned of God's wrath to come, specifically the Second
Coming of Christ, not the Flood (as far as we are told) and that God
“took” him so that he should not see death, so God “translated”
him.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The mystery in all
this comes in that it says that he did not see death, that God took
or translated him. The Hebrew word for “took” means “to carry
away”. The Greek word for “translated” means “transport.”
So Enoch was removed to another place, so that nobody knew where he
went. The questions seem to be to where was he removed, and did he
receive a glorified body, stay in this body, or die and go to
paradise (the place of the dead before Christ ascended – to know
more on this read the above article on Elijah).</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Most
people say he went to heaven, but it does not say that, and clearly
that is not possible for we are told in Scripture, as already quoted
above, that nobody could ascend to heaven before Christ ascended
after His death. So we know that he didn't go to heaven, as in God's
abode. That is a clear fact from Scripture. But it didn't say that he
went to heaven, it merely says that he was transported somewhere, so
that he would not see death. So there are two choices, he either
stayed on the planet where he lived out his natural life, (it is
doubtful God removed him to another one somewhere in the universe),
or God sent his spirit to Paradise. We are told that </span><i>all</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
the days of his life were 365 years, but that is because nobody knows
what happened to him. He was that age when he disappeared, so that is
the age he achieved as far as anybody but God knows. But God does
inspire Scriptures, so unless God doesn't want us to know
differently, there is a distinct possibility that he died at that
time. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">In
Hebrews 11 a few verses later, in the list of people who died in
faith, he is among those who are clearly stated to have died in
faith. Hebrews 11:13 </span><i>“These </i><i><b>all </b></i><i>died
in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">So
that would seem to clinch the deal that he died at some point,
whether or not it was immediately upon being taken or later after
disappearing. And further, not only in John are we told he could not
ascend to heaven, but here we are told that he (and all the rest)
could not receive </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>the
promise</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> of </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>eternal
life</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> that they were
looking forward to (in resurrected bodies in God's kingdom - Titus
1:2 </span><i>“In hope of </i><i><b>eternal life</b></i><i>, </i><i><b>which
God,</b></i><i> that cannot lie, </i><i><b>promised </b></i><i>before
the world began;”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">) until we
receive it too. Hebrews 11:39-40 </span><i>“And these all, having
obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God
having provided some better thing for us, that </i><i><b>they without
us should not be made perfect.</b></i><i>”</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Everybody gets eternal life (and the resurrected body) and the rest
of the promises at the same time, at the first resurrection. So we
can rule out Enoch getting a glorified body. He was not “translated”
in the sense of getting a new body like at the rapture. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">But,
the objection is made, he walked with God so was exempt from death.
No, Scripture will not back that up. Romans 3:23</span><i> “All
have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Romans
6:23 </span><i>“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">
All have sinned, and all must die, so that they can receive eternal
life in a new body. </span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Now
the objection is made that some will not have to see death, but will
be raptured, so why shouldn't he. The difference is, before they are
raptured, the resurrection has occurred, so as Hebrews 39-40 points
out, everybody gets the promise at the same time. Nobody gets to jump
the gun, as it were. It was be the equivalent of making Enoch the
firstfruits of the resurrection, and he is not. Christ is. So again,
he could not have been translated in the sense of getting a glorified
body or going to heaven. Scripture rules out both of those options.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So given that
Scripture shows us that he had to have died, we then ask, where did
God take him, and how is it that he didn't see death, if he had to
die? Isn't that a contradiction. Now we have to interpret these
things in the light of what we know to be true from Scripture. The
death referred to cannot mean that he did not die. He had to have not
seen some other sort of death. There are several possibilities as to
what “death” is in this verse. The word “see” in Greek means
“behold, perceive, be aware of, and have knowledge of.” The Bible
does not tell us when the sons of God came down and married the
daughters of men, but the apocryphal book of Enoch (which is quoted
in Jude) tells us that this happened in the days of Jared, Enoch's
father. For the moment we will go along with that, as the timing
seems right. As Jared lived almost 600 years after Enoch went
missing, it is quite possible that this incursion happened after
Enoch was taken. Had they come down when Enoch was alive, it would
seem that his name would have been the one used to pinpoint the time,
as he is a far more important person in Bible terms than his father,
and it would also pinpoint the time of the incursion far more closely
than saying it was during Jarod's life.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Enoch prophesied
about the Second Coming of God's wrath, not the wrath of God through
the Flood. That always seemed strange to me, given that God's wrath
was about to fall on the world and wipe it out back then. It would
seem that he should have been prophesying about that instead. However
if the incursion had not yet happened when God removed him, he would
not be prophesying about the Flood, because he wouldn't know about
it. Instead he was prophesying about the wrath of God on the world
when the Messiah would come. That was all part of the plan of
salvation which Enoch obviously knew about, so that is what he
preached. Up until that point, most people lived very long lives, and
death was probably not known for the most part, as it was very rare
for a person to die. They were used to animal death for sacrifices,
but hardly anyone had died. We only are told of three people up to
that time, although there could have been more. In fact the only
patriarch in the list from Adam through Seth down to Enoch to have
died by the time Enoch left this earth was Adam. He died when Enoch
was 57 years old. Seth was still alive, as were his descendants. Abel
would have been killed before well before Enoch came along as Seth
was not born until after Abel died. There was a rule against murder
after Cain killed Abel, but that didn't stop Lamech (Cain's
descendent). He killed someone also. It is likely that since Cain
left the area when God punished him and having founded a city
elsewhere, his descendants and Seth's descendants did not interact a
lot so Enoch probably was not aware of this death either.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So the only death
that we can be sure that Enoch had probably seen was Adam's. There is
the possibility of other unrecorded natural deaths or even murders,
but the Bible does not indicate any. Death for people was virtually
unknown to man at this point. Very few probably died, given the
length of life at that time. So to take Enoch so that he would not
see (behold, be aware of, or have knowledge of) death could simply
mean that he was taken before death really started occurring or
became the normal state of things, as it is for us today. To take
Enoch at that time, would be to take him before all the death and
destruction of the incursion of the fallen angels had occurred as
well, as they did bring death and destruction with them, with all the
violence they perpetrated over the centuries until the Flood. So if
it is meant that Enoch did not see death in the world, it could be he
was transported to a remote location to live out his life in solitude
and peace away from the violence and sin, and die from natural causes
before the Flood, or the alternative is that God took his spirit from
his body at that time and just sent him to paradise.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another
interpretation might be that “death” is meant to mean being put
to death by someone else, or killed, not death from natural causes.
The Bible tells us that the violence and evil was so great that by
the time Noah came along God had to destroy the world to save it. If
Enoch was around for the incursion, and even before that, his
prophesying God's wrath upon a wicked world (the world was not all
righteous even before the incursion) would not have been accepted
with much tolerance. Given that prophets were usually martyred, it is
not far-fetched to assume that Enoch would have been hunted down to
be killed as was Elijah. In that case we can hypothesize that God
didn't want him to be tortured or murdered, and again either removed
him to a remote part of the planet where they could not reach him
until he did die, or God took his spirit and buried the body, so that
it could not be found and mutilated by those who hated him. It could
mean that God wanted to remove his life force so quickly that he
wasn't even aware he was dying. He just took him straight to
Paradise. In this case he was translated from life to Paradise
without going through the painful process of death.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says Enoch was
“translated.” Some like to equate this with the rapture, as in a
moment we are “changed”, so they say that he received a glorified
body and went to heaven, but that was already dismissed as a
possibility above. No man ascended to heaven before Christ, and
nobody receives the promise until we can all receive the promise. The
word “translated” means to be transported. It is the same word
that is used elsewhere when talking about moving from one location to
another here on this earth, such as when they moved Jacob's body in
Acts 7:16. (“carried” is the same Greek word “metatithemi”
that is translated as “translated” in Hebrews). Enoch was moved
or transported somewhere else. There are only the two possibilities.
He was moved to a remote location away from the rest of the world and
what was going on, so that he would not see the carnage and
destruction of death or be murdered, and he died of natural causes
before the Flood, or God took his spirit and transported it to
Paradise at that time, in which case he did not die a natural death,
he was just transported out of his body to Paradise and did not see
death in the sense that a normal person would. Either one of these
theories can work, as either way he died, as it says in Hebrews that
“all these died.” If one believes that the 365 years is
accurate, and we should believe that God's Word is accurate, then the
choice we should probably make is that God transported his spirit to
Paradise without him going through the process of a natural death.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624728134929059941noreply@blogger.com0