Words of the Prophet

Q...Those who follow a radically violent interpretation of Islam have become a force to be reckoned with in the world; but are those who espouse terror as part of their ideology following the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed?

Those of you who have tried to read and comprehend the writings of Mohammed will understand when I say it can be very, very difficult! Over the course of 10 to 15 years I made many attempts to read and understand the Koran, failing badly each time; until I discovered a system which proved to be quite workable.

In my study of the Bible I had learned to separate one subject, one thought, or one verse, in order to concentrate my search for understanding. I decided to try the same thing with the Book of the Koran and it worked beyond my wildest dreams! I would like to share with you some of what I was able to discover -- from a Christian point of view!

In my personal study-paper on “Mohammed and the Scriptures” I have recorded many passages from the Koran and have made individual comments for each of them. The format of this blogsite is not ideal for the recording of the entire study-paper so what I shall try to do is provide a selection of those passages and comments for you to consider.

I apologize in advance if my inability to go into long explanations causes any confusion.

Excerpts from “Mohammed and the Scriptures”

“In preparing this work I found myself developing a profound respect for what I believe Muhammad was trying to do. I believe he wanted to know all he could about the one true God and His teachings; and tried to accept as much as he could from the learned men of his day. I believe Mohammad saw the error and confusion which existed in their teaching and tried to come to a more perfect, personal understanding. That he fell short of perfection seems undeniable; nevertheless, he should bear no more condemnation than that which is due to the leaders of the Christian community for the confusion they have created in their teaching of God’s Word.”

“I believe Muhammad also recognized that whereas God had sent at least one prophet to every other nation in the world, someone able to teach the people in their own language, no prophet had ever been sent to the Arabic speaking peoples. Throughout the writings of the Qur’an Muhammad repeatedly tells us he had been sent to his own people to bring them the words of God in their own “Arabic” language.”

“Muhammad’s respect and reverence for the Almighty Creator God should not be denigrated; instead, it should be acknowledged by all peoples and by all religions. Notice the following:

Sura 2.255 “Allah is He besides Whom there is no god, the Everliving, the Self-subsisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Great.”

In the following pages I have tried to select verses of the Koran for their interest and/or instructive value. For each selection I have tried to “Note” a comment that would be either helpful or thought provoking. The selection of certain verses is a principle taught by the Koran to assist those who would be believers and worshippers of God/Allah: e.g.

Sura 73.20 “…He has turned to you (mercifully), therefore read what is easy of the Quran. He knows that there must be among you sick, and others who travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in Allah’s way, therefore read as much of it as is easy (to you)…”

When a passage of the Koran is quoted, it will be prefaced by the number of the Sura and the verse or verses. Any word or words found within round brackets have been inserted by the producers of that version of the Koran in order to give clarification to the passage. Wherever I have added my own word or words into a verse you will find it/them placed within square brackets and italicized: e.g.

Sura 3.84 “Say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Ibrahim [Abraham] and Ismail [Ishmael] and Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel] and the tribes, and what was given to Musa [Moses] and Isa [Jesus] and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.”

The following are the verses selected:

Sura 2.62 Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
Note: Mohammed and the Koran certainly make allowance for those who are followers of Christ, those who are Jews, those who believe in the Last Day, and those who try to do good [works] in their lives. Why are there individuals among those who call themselves Muslim, who would by violence take it upon themselves to do that which God has not decreed?

Sura 2.65 And certainly you have known those among you who exceeded the limits of the Sabbath, so We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.
Note: Reference is made in this verse to the Sabbath! To what Sabbath does the Prophet refer? Most Christians look to Sunday; the first day of the week as their Sabbath. The people of modern Islam consider Friday to be their Sabbath; the sixth day of the week. The Jews [and some Christians] look to the Sabbath of “the Book”; the seventh-day Sabbath that begins with sunset at the end of the sixth day and lasts until sunset at the end of the seventh day. It should be remembered that according to the teachings of the “qur’an,” “the Jews were the keepers of the Book” -- to them was entrusted the oracles of God. Notice what is written about the Sabbath in the following verse from Sura 62:

Sura 62.9 “O you who believe; when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know.”
Note: If this verse is made in reference to Friday being the Sabbath I would point out that at the time of the call to prayer, the faithful are commanded to “leave off trading”! Does this not suggest that “they were trading” up until the time of the call to prayer -- “trading on the Sabbath”? Surely this would be against all Islamic teaching! On the other hand, if reference is being made to a Friday evening call to prayer then this verse becomes far more understandable. The seventh-day Sabbath of God begins on Friday evening and lasts until Saturday evening -- was the original message of the Qur’an that when the Friday evening call to prayer was heard Muslims should leave off trading “because the Sabbath was about to begin?”

Sura 2.87 And most certainly We gave Musa [Moses] the Book and We sent apostles after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium [Jesus, the son of Mary], clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! Whenever then an apostle came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.
Note: Here we have a specific reference to “the Book” being given to Moses. The question must then be asked: “How much understanding do the Muslims of today have about that which is written in “the Book” of Musa [Moses]; and the “clear arguments” of Isa, the son of Marium [Jesus, the son of Mary]?” For that matter: this same question could be asked of most of today’s professing Christians and Jews!

Sura 2.97 Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel [Gabriel] -- for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah’s command, verifying that which is before it and guidance and good news for the believers.
Sura 2.98 Whoever is the enemy of Allah and His angels and His apostles and Jibreel [Gabriel] and Meekaeel [Michael], so surely Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers.
Note: According to the Prophet Mohammed, the Archangel Gabriel was the source of the revelation he received. Whatever the source of this revelation, that which was revealed to Mohammed seems to have been an understanding of the words and commandments of God as they were recorded in “the Book.” Mohammed is telling us, as he does throughout the Koran, that his words and his teachings “are a revealing of the Book”! We should constantly remind ourselves that the word “Koran” comes from the Arabic word “qur’an” meaning “recitations.” Mohammed did not write a book! When he makes reference to “the Book” he is not referring to the Koran! Many years passed after the death of Mohammed before his followers compiled a collection of his “recitations,” his “qur’an”; it is this compilation of his recitations that has become known as the book of the Koran.

Sura 2.101 And when there came to them an Apostle from Allah verifying that which they have, a party of those who were given the Book threw the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing.
Note: This verse apparently refers to those of the children of Israel who rejected the words of God as they were recorded in “the Book of Allah” (i.e. the Scriptures); it almost certainly does not refer to Mohammed himself and his teachings.

Sura 2.113 And the Jews say: The Christians do not follow anything (good) and the Christians say: The Jews do not follow anything (good) while they recite the (same) Book. Even thus say those who have no knowledge, like to what they say; so Allah shall judge between them on the day of resurrection in what they differ.
Note: I have no doubt these words of the Koran would have been true in the days of Mohammed and they are still true today! There are many hundreds of different and differing sects within professing Christianity; each looks to the Bible as their source for truth and understanding. Unfortunately, the same can be said of differences in the Jewish religion and of the followers of Islam! There is a virtual Babylon of religious belief in the world today; this makes it even more imperative that the individual strive to work out his or her own salvation -- with fear and trembling!

Sura 2.121 Those to whom We have given the Book read it as it ought to be read. These believe in it; and whoever disbelieves in it, these it is that are the losers.
Note: Can there be any doubt that this “Book” the Prophet refers to is the book that was given to Moses; the book that was given by God into the care of the children of Israel? Please notice that at the time Mohammad speaks these words, he states unequivocally that it is still possible to “…read [the Book] as it ought to be read”!

Sura 2.135 And they say: Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay! (we follow) the religion of Ibrahim [Abraham], the Hanif [the upright], and he was not one of the polytheists.
Note: Abraham is often referred to as “The Father of the Faithful”: this would be true whether we were discussing Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. Since [by definition] the word “Islam” means “the submission or surrender to God/Allah,” there should be no doubt that Abraham was [by definition] a follower of Islam. Since [by definition] the word “Muslim” means “a follower of Islam,” there should be no doubt that Abraham was [by definition] a Muslim. Does this mean that Abraham was a follower of the religion we refer to today as “the religion of Islam”? That would depend entirely on how much that religion of today adheres to the teachings of God. By the same token, it is very doubtful whether Abraham would have been able to follow the teachings of Christianity or Judaism as it was practiced in the days of Muhammad or as it is practiced in the world of today.

Sura 2.149 And from whatsoever place you come forth, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; and surely it is the very truth from your Lord, and Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.
Note: The “Sacred Mosque” referred to in this passage is almost certainly the Kaaba, located in the city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was also referred to as the House of God and was built at God’s command by the prophet Ibrahim [Abraham of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles] and his son Ismail [Ishmael: son of Abraham by Hagar]. In these more modern times the Kaaba is preserved as a small sanctuary near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca. For those who hold to the possibility that many of the teachings of Mohammed come directly from ancient biblical scriptures, consider the words recorded in the Psalms of David 5:7 “But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple!”
Also: I have heard some Christian preachers suggest that the Muslim practice of facing east when they pray is a hold-over from sun worship. As is so often the case, these preachers are incorrect in both their understanding and their condemnation. Muslims only face east to pray when they themselves are located geographically west of Mecca. Anyone living east of Mecca must of necessity face west when they pray. Those individuals located north of Mecca would face south; and those located south of Mecca would face north. Understanding and compassion are two of the most vital characteristics necessary for the true believer whether he be Christian, Jew, or Muslim -- these characteristics are unfortunately in very short supply among many followers of our modern-day Babylon of religious beliefs.

Sura 2.286 Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought: Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
Note: Occasionally my best response to a passage from the Koran will be to quote a corresponding passage from the Bible; this is such an occasion: 1st Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Sura 3.3 He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it, and He revealed the Tavrat [Law of Moses] and the Injeel [Gospel of Jesus] aforetime, a guidance for the people, and He sent the Furqan [a criterion of judgment between right and wrong].
Sura 3.4 Surely they who disbelieve in the communications of Allah they shall have a severe chastisement; and Allah is Mighty, the Lord of retribution.
Note: My reaction to these verses is one of wonder, of pleasure, and of hope! This passage seems to contain an element of reconciliation for the religions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; however, according to modern-day Islamic teaching that which came before the words of Muhammad has little or no value for true believers. While it is true that perversions have been done by many translators of the inspired ancient biblical manuscripts, it is my belief that the substance of Holy Scripture has been passed down to us by Almighty God in a way that is still of great value to anyone seeking truth and a path to righteousness.

Sura 5.51 O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Note: This verse is best understood in context; in fact you would be wise to study all of the verses from 5.44 to 5.54 in order to more perfectly understand. Mohammed is telling believers that most Christians and Jews -- have rejected the teaching of the Book! He admits in Sura 2.62 and repeats in Sura 5.69 [quoted below] that there are those, even among Christians and Jews who have followed God/Allah; but the believers must be careful to determine who they are. These verses do not contradict each other; they do in fact compliment each other.

Sura 5.69 Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoever believes in Allah and the last day and does good -- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.
Note: This is a repeat of the verse found at Sura 2.62 and it further explains the previous passage. Muslims are not being told to shun all Christians and Jews; only those who have -- rejected the teaching of the Book!
Also: If you read this verse very carefully you will see that Muhammad believed there was no need for Christians and Jews to convert to Islam!

I must cut short this discussion even sooner that I had hoped; perhaps you have been motivated to take some time of your own to look into the writings of Muhammad. If you take it slowly, choosing no more that a few verses at a time to study more carefully, you should derive as much understanding and satisfaction as I did. Good luck with it!

Note: This coming Sunday evening begins the annual Day of Atonement. While this day is kept as a solemn day of fasting, meditation, and prayer, the prophetic message revealed by it is one of incredible promise. It is my hope and my prayer that this day will be as fulfilling for you as I expect it to be for me.

Two weeks from now I hope to begin a five-part series dealing with my understanding of “The Unpardonable Sin.” This was a very difficult paper for me to write because much of the subject matter includes an understanding of many Bible truths that diametrically oppose the teachings of the ministry.

With this in mind: next week I hope to offer one of my “Open Letters to the Ministry.” These are letters I have written in the past but have never sent; some of them have been in my computer files for several years. The letter I have in mind is entitled: “Ezekiel Thirty-Four” and I hope it will act as an introduction to the following week’s message of “The Unpardonable Sin.”

The Angels that Sinned

1st Corinthians 6:2-3 “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”

How do the Churches of God explain this statement made by the Apostle Paul? Is it the teaching of our ministers that the angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion have already been condemned; are they truly destined for the lake of fire? If the angels that sinned are already committed to certain destruction, the only angels remaining would be the angels of God -- but surely God’s angels have never sinned and are in no need of our judgment. Why then does Paul say quite clearly “...that we shall judge angels”?

Q...How well do we truly understand the fate of the angels that once sinned?

Q...If these angels are destined for a fate “other than destruction,” how prepared are we to serve in their judgment and in their governance?

Before the original creation of the Earth (science shows this to have been more than 13 billion years ago) God created angels. The Scriptures suggest there are many millions, perhaps even billions of angels and at some point in time the Archangel Lucifer was placed in a position of authority over one third of them.

At some point in time Lucifer began to covet the position and power of God. He led the angels over which he governed in a rebellion against God; and the war which ensued completely destroyed the surface of the Earth and caused the massive destruction still evident throughout the cosmos.

Approximately 6,000 years ago God recreated the face of the Earth to make it habitable for mankind; and on the sixth day “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” From that time until this, the Archangel Lucifer, whom we now know as Satan, has done whatever he could to disrupt the plan that God is working out here upon the Earth.

Q…When God created angels did He not foresee the possibility that hundreds of millions of them might one day follow Lucifer in a rebellion?

Q…If God did not foresee such a possibility, does this suggest a wisdom that is somewhat short of perfection?

Q…If God did foresee the possibility of such a rebellion, would He in His infinite wisdom condemn those untold millions of angels to what we have come to believe is their certain destruction in a lake of fire; with no chance for a future reconciliation? Is this the God of wisdom, mercy, and compassion we have come to know and love?

Q…We are told in Hebrews 1:14 that the angels are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”; does this speak only of God’s initial purpose at their creation? Was that purpose somehow misdirected by the rebellion of Lucifer; or may “the angels that sinned” still have an important part to play in the destiny of mankind?

One third of God’s angels followed Lucifer in his rebellion. From the time of their rebellion they could no longer be thought of as righteous angels before God; and yet I believe there is no longer any good reason to continue thinking of them all as demons. I believe that the vast majority of the angels that sinned have long since repented of what they did and are waiting, as we are waiting, for a day of judgment to arrive.

Q...Can there be any hope of redemption for those angels, “...which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation…reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto judgment of the great day”? This is a question I believe needs to be answered with far more thought and consideration than it has so far received.

The passage quoted in the previous paragraph is from the Book of Jude; it tells us that these angels have been “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto judgment of the great day.” This does not say they have already been judged and condemned; only that they have been “reserved unto a future day of judgment”!

In Matthew 25:31-46 when speaking of those humans who shall be accepted by Jesus at his return, we are told that those who are rejected are to: “...depart…into everlasting [or unquenchable] fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” From this we can know that at least some of the angels that followed Lucifer have indeed already been condemned; but can we assume this statement from the Book of Matthew includes all of them?

Q...The Lord of the Old Testament was the one who gave up his exalted position to become the human we know today as Jesus. Did he simply waste his time and energy when he: “...went and preached unto the spirits in prison which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a-preparing” (1 Peter 3:19-20)?

God had made up his mind to destroy life from the face of the Earth by means of a great flood; for more than one hundred years he ignored mankind and went to preach to those angels who had sinned when they followed Lucifer in his rebellion. If Satan and all his angels are destined for this everlasting (or unquenchable) fire, then why waste time preaching to them? The implication I take from this is that “not all of these angels” are without hope of redemption; there must be at least an element of hope for some of them.

Q...If God did actually preach to these angels for 120 years, what was His message? If their fate was already assured, do you truly believe He simply went from one angel to the next telling each and every one of them they were doomed to the lake of fire? Was that the message of His preaching? Does such a belief make any sense to you?

The Bible makes it clear that some of these angels are hopelessly lost; incorrigibles that are beyond redemption. These are those demon spirits that can, and one day shall, cause much trouble for mankind -- and for the “church” of God! However, my main interest in this discussion lies with those angels the Bible seems to indicate have not yet been condemned. It is my belief that God has decreed a most wonderful, if not yet fully understood part for many of them to play in the world to come.

Q...How prepared are you for the return of our Saviour? If you should be asked to take part in the judgment and governance of the angels that sinned, how prepared would you be to accept this responsibility? If your entire effort as a Christian has been designed around “the hope of your own salvation” then I truly wonder about your personal readiness to serve!

There is already more than enough concern about individual salvation in the teaching of the Churches of God. Having already received from God “the promise of our salvation” we need to be more concerned with preparing ourselves to serve and to govern in the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

Q...Do you truly understand that “to this very day” Satan maintains the authority and the governance which God gave to him so very long ago? The angels that were placed under his rulership have never been released from his authority!

If the possibility exists that some, if not most, of the angels that sinned can be redeemed, that redemption cannot truly begin until Satan has been taken out of the way. On the day which fulfills the prophecy of the Day of Atonement, when Satan is finally removed and incarcerated in the bottomless pit, these angels will be without a governor for the first time in more millennia than the mind of man can properly imagine.

It is my belief that during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren, the saints will be given a form of governance over these angels. In the original creation they were created “to serve those who would be heirs to salvation” and that is precisely what they will be required to do! For 1,000 years we will be able to watch, and work, and learn from them; so that when their time for possible redemption finally arrives we will be far more able to sit in judgment over them.

Q...When will the final day for judgment of these angels take place?

The answer is that I really do not know -- but I wonder about the day following the 1,000 years of Satan’s incarceration. When Satan is once again released from the abyss everyone remaining on the Earth, man or spirit, will have to make a fateful decision as to where his or her allegiance really lies.

Note: This evening begins the day of the Feast of Trumpets. To all who are my brethren, wherever you may be, I wish you peace and joy on this holy day. Next week, I hope to share with you some excerpts from my study-paper entitled “Mohammed and the Scriptures.” As much as nominal Christianity has misunderstood and misapplied the teachings of the Bible; so has nominal Islam misunderstood and misapplied many of the teachings of their Prophet. In next week’s posting of “Words of the Prophet” you may come to a better understanding of what Mohammed really tried to do.

By Water and By Blood

The first comprehensive booklet I ever read concerning baptism was entitled “All About Water Baptism.” It was produced and distributed by the Worldwide Church of God and I found the content of that booklet disappointing; especially so when the title’s descriptive “All About” suggested a complete and in-depth discussion. Since then I have read several other Church publications and have found them to be similarly lacking.

In fact, there is an almost total lack of information in any of these booklets as to “the origin of the rite” of baptism as it was understood, taught, and practiced by John. I also question several of the supposed facts being presented as doctrine in these publications.

1st John 5:6 “This is He who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.”

This verse almost certainly refers to the baptism and sacrifice of Jesus. I say almost, because the statement is somewhat ambiguous and is open to possible error through faulty interpretation. In fact, if you were to spend some time in meditation over this single verse, you might begin to wonder (as I did) whether it may be pointing us towards a more perfect understanding of one of the many mysteries of God -- the mystery of the virgin birth of the Messiah.

Luke 1:76-77 [Zacharias the father of John the Baptist is quoted as saying:] “And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways: to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.”

And in Luke 3:2 we are told: “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”
Note: There is no direct reference in any of this to the rite of baptism; nor does it tell us how it should be carried out or why it should be accepted as a sanctified rite of cleansing.

There are examples that could be used to explain the practice of baptism, such as the passing of Israel through the Red Sea; and apparently the Jews in the time of John and Jesus practiced a form of immersion for individuals wanting to enter Jerusalem. But to my knowledge there is no evidence of explicit instructions ever being given to John as to how baptism should be carried out by him.

That having been said: there is no question that the rite of baptism as taught and practiced by John had the blessings of God our Father and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, who is the Christ. Therefore, in the absence of any direct evidence to the contrary, we must accept that the instructions given to John were both explicit and correct. But when and from whom did he receive those instructions?

We have been taught, and many of us blindly accept, that knowledge of this form of justification from sin was given to John by divine inspiration. There is no question that the Spirit of God can, and often does, spiritually inspire individuals in many wonderful ways; but I wonder if sometimes we have a habit of dwelling on “spiritual things” when the answer we’re looking for is more factual than spiritual.

I’m not sure how most people believe the inspiration which led John to the rites of baptism was manifest, but in times past I believed it had come to him in a dream. Another possibility is that John himself saw the parallel of the Israelites passing through the Red Sea and after much study, prayer and meditation, devised on his own (by spiritual inspiration) the rite of baptism as we have come to know it. There is however at least one other possible answer to the question.

We need to remember that Jesus and John were related through their mothers! There was only a six month difference in their ages! They lived within a reasonable travelling distance from each other and both they and their parents had shared many wonderful and miraculous events surrounding the time of their births. Both of these boys became young men with an extraordinarily well developed faith and sense of whom and what they were. Is it reasonable to believe that they grew up totally unaware of each other?

It is my belief that Jesus and John were not only related (as second-cousins through their mothers) but that they also became very close friends and confidants! I believe that as they grew older, they developed a relationship which allowed them to confide in each other and that together they were able to discuss their individual understanding of scripture to a truly wonderful degree.

I believe in the very real possibility that together, Jesus and John under inspiration of God came up with the idea of baptism as it was to be practiced by both of them; not only the method, but the reason behind it and the purpose for it! There is a very good reason why I believe this and I shall try to explain; but you must understand that there is very little direct scriptural evidence to support what at this time can only be accepted as theory.

There is one further comment that must be made before we begin: Even if Jesus did confide in John, it would have been done in a very limited and subtle way. Contrary to what many Christians believe, Jesus did not bring any of his followers to a clear and perfect understanding of the many mysteries of God! In fact, during Jesus’ ministry even the closest of his disciples were often allowed to drift along in ignorance.

With regard to whether Jesus and John knew each other -- I have heard at least one of our ministers use the following passage as proof they did not know each other and had probably never even met until the day of Jesus’ baptism. Notice:

John 1:29-34 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.’ And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ‘And have seen and testify that [Jesus] is the Son of God.’”

Take time to really study this passage. John said: “I did not know Him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit…’” Is John telling us he did not know his cousin Jesus -- or is he saying that he did not know Jesus was the promised Messiah? He does say that “someone sent him” to baptize with water! He also says that “someone told him”: “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit…” Who was that someone? Was it God speaking directly to John in a dream -- or was it his cousin Jesus speaking to him as his friend, his confident, and his mentor?

Even when the ministry of John was over and the ministry of Jesus was well under way, John still did not know for certain whether Jesus was the Promised Messiah. Notice:

Matthew 11:2-3 “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”

This question asked by John in the final few days of his life raises yet another mystery which I hope to discuss sometime very soon. You should open your Bible and read the reply Jesus gave. Think carefully about His answer and allow the Spirit of God to direct your understanding -- no matter how improbable that understanding may seem to be!

Note: Thought, conjecture, meditation, and prayer; all these tools and many others are of value when studying the word of God. The knowledge and understanding of the many keys to Bible understanding also have great value; but above all else the begotten child of God who strives for perfection must do so in righteousness, with faith, humility, and compassion, knowing that only by the Spirit of God can all things be revealed.

It has been my habit when studying the Bible to allow myself to question everything! Some time ago I asked myself why it would be necessary for the Messiah to be born to a virgin. There is no doubt that for a virgin to conceive would be a truly wondrous event; if such a birth were to be prophesied then the actual fulfillment of that prophecy would surely reveal the hand of God.

The young Jesus heard from his own parents the story of his virgin birth -- by this and by many other miraculous and incontrovertible events he knew that he was indeed the prophesied Messiah. However, I believe Jesus also saw a prophecy within the prophecy of the virgin birth! It is this hidden prophecy (if indeed such a prophecy exists) that may have led to a discussion between Jesus and John which in turn may have led to the conception of the rites of baptism.

I would like you to consider the duality inherent in the way a human child is born of the flesh and the way a child of God will one day be born of the Spirit. Both come by water and by blood!

The human child is introduced into life from a water-filled sanctuary; and with every birth some blood is involved. The child of God is begotten after he or she has risen from the watery grave of baptism; but without the blood of Jesus, baptism in little more than a simple gesture of faith.

Note: At first glance the concept of this duality having anything to do with the rite of baptism may seem tenuous; please bear with me for just a little longer.

Man is born of the flesh by water and by blood. Man may one day be born again of the Spirit, by the water of baptism and by the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus was born of the flesh by water and by blood; however, the human birth of Jesus was exceptional in that he was born to be both Messiah and King. The rebirth of Jesus as the first-born son of God was also exceptional in that at the moment of his death he also became: “Our High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.”

For those who do not fully understand the function of the High Priest you need to search the scriptures and learn for yourself. Pay particular attention to the instructions found in Leviticus 16 concerning the High Priest and his entry into that Most Holy Place within the Temple of God. Once a year, and only once a year, the High Priest was allowed to pass “beyond the veil” and enter the Holy of Holies -- even then, only after strict observance to rituals of cleansing which involved much water and blood sacrifice. Behind the veil in the Holy of Holies could be found the mercy seat which typified the very throne of God.

Once a year, on the annual holy day known as the Day of Atonement, the High Priest went into this Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice for the sins of all Israel. The rituals to be followed by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement were in fact a prophecy which saw its partial fulfillment on the day Jesus was crucified. At the moment of his death Jesus “became our High Priest forever” -- and at that very instant “the veil of the temple was torn in two” (Matthew 27:51).

It doesn’t really matter whether Jesus realized the actual veil of the temple would literally be torn in two at his death. What does matter is that he knew one of the positions the Messiah was destined to assume was that of High Priest. I believe he became aware of this part of his destiny from his understanding of the prophecy of the virgin birth.

The Female Hymen

The hymen is that which in a physical sense denotes virginity in the human female. It is a thin fold of mucous membrane found at the entrance to the vagina. I find it interesting that in the past I have heard the hymen referred to as “the maiden veil.” The Bible tells us that Mary the mother of Jesus was a virgin when she conceived and that Joseph her husband: “…knew her not [in the biblical sense] until she had brought forth her firstborn son.”

Is it reasonable to assume that until the birth of Jesus the hymen of Mary remained intact? If so, then the human birth of Jesus would not only have been by water and by blood, but also by the tearing of his mother’s maiden veil. In duality, his birth as the firstborn son of God was by the water of baptism, and by the blood of his sacrifice, and by the tearing of the veil of the temple.

Were the rites of baptism as practiced by John the brainchild of Jesus himself as devised by him according to what he understood his destiny to be? Did the understanding of the rites of baptism come to John in discussion with his cousin Jesus? Is it reasonable to assume that as boys and as young men both Jesus and John enjoyed each other’s company in the beauty and seclusion of the wilderness; and is it possible they may have discussed at length their separate understanding of their own individual destinies?

I find quite interesting, the definition given by Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of “word” as it is used in Luke 3:2. Notice: “word” = 4487 = “rhema” = an utterance (individually, collectively, or specifically); by implication a matter or topic (especially of narration, command, or dispute.) As I understand this: we are being told in Luke 3:2 that: “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness, by means of command, discussion or narration” -- (but if so, by or with whom)?

Please Father; increase our understanding, strengthen our faith!

Note: Next week I hope to discuss the fate of the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion -- are they all destined to follow Satan into the lake of fire? If they have already been found guilty and condemned; does this not make you wonder about the words of the Apostle Paul when he said: “Know you not that you shall judge angels?

Vinegar Mingled With Gall

This is another of the many Bible passages where my understanding differs from that of the ministry. It is also one of the many passages they generally consider to be of such little importance that in their opinion we should not waste valuable study time on it. However, in my belief that a better understanding of all scripture is profitable, I would like to share with you my understanding of the vinegar mingled with gall.

Matthew 27:34 “They gave [Jesus] vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”

Throughout my childhood I endured many bouts of sickness, sometimes vomiting until there was nothing left but greenish/yellowish bile which my mother explained came from something called the gall-bladder. At some time I must have checked with a dictionary because I came to believe the words bile and gall were synonymous.

I was twelve years old and a patient in the I.O.D.E. Hospital in Toronto, Canada, when this scripture first came to my attention. Once each week some well meaning people brought individual booklets of the New Testament for me and the other children to read and to study. The Book of Matthew was the first of these booklets and I distinctly remember my revulsion when I read that Jesus had been given something with gall, or as I thought of it, “bile,” to drink. Drinking vinegar seemed bad enough; even without being fouled with gall!

Later in life, when reading a book on herbal or natural remedies, I discovered that vinegar, or sour wine, had been widely used in olden times to raise energy levels in humans; even so, the thought of it being mixed with gall or bile seemed revolting.

It was not until the early 1990’s that this verse once again became a subject for my scriptural questioning. I was preparing for the time of the Passover and as is my habit I was reviewing all I had come to believe concerning the Passover and the following days of Unleavened Bread. It is seldom that my attention is not drawn to something I had previously overlooked and this time my attention was drawn to the vinegar mingled with gall.

Note: In my opinion, one of the most valuable tools anyone can wield in his or her search for biblical knowledge and understanding is “the question”! Without there first being something to wonder about, little else can happen! I shall repeat what I have stated many times before: “There is no question I will not ask again and again in my search for the knowledge and understanding of God and His mysteries. There is no scripture, no belief, and no doctrine I will not search and search again. There is nothing I will not tear apart and rebuild in my quest for understanding and truth. Every miniscule truth newly discovered becomes a building block to my faith. When an error has been found and corrected, it brings joy to the workman who need never be ashamed -- and joy that Our Father has seen fit to correct a child that He loves.”

Q...Why does the Bible record something as seemingly insignificant as this vinegar mingled with gall?

Q...How did the gall find its way into the vinegar? Did it get there by accident; or did the Roman soldiers put it there on purpose?

Q...What was this “gall” anyway? Was it nothing more than bile as I and others have always suspected it to be; or was it something else entirely?

A very prominent minister and evangelist of one of the latter day Churches of God is of the opinion that the soldiers offered Jesus the tainted wine or vinegar on purpose. He can be heard in one of his recorded sermons stating that they only did it to further humiliate our Saviour. He even used the passage found at Luke 23:36 to support his belief.

Luke 23:36 “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.”
Note: This verse could be used to bear out such a belief -- however it is questionable whether their mocking was the offering of vinegar; or whether the mocking and the offering of vinegar were not two separate and distinct acts.

I believe the question, “Was the mingling of the gall with the vinegar an accident or not” is answered in the Book of Psalms 69:21 “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” It seems to me that this use of the word “gall” with reference to someone being given vinegar to drink too closely parallels Matthew 27:34 to be coincidence. Is it possible that this verse from the Psalms was a prophecy which found its fulfillment in the vinegar mingled with gall at the crucifixion of Jesus?

Some people have suggested that Jesus refused to drink the vinegar because it had been rendered unclean by the addition of gall. The idea being that at a time as important as his crucifixion, Jesus could not allow himself to be “polluted” by imbibing something that was unclean. To those who may profess such a belief I must answer: “By the time he knew the vinegar was tainted it was too late -- he had already tasted thereof.”

Perhaps this would be as good a place as any to find out just what the word gall means within the context of these passages of scripture. The word used in Psalm 69 “gall” is found in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance under -7219- “a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head.)” This same word is also found several times in the Book of Jeremiah and I have copied those verses below for you to consider.

Jeremiah 8:14 “Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defended cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.”

Jeremiah 9:15-16 “Therefore thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel; ‘Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known…’”

Jeremiah 23:15 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; ‘Behold, I will feed them wormwood, and make them drink water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem has gone forth profaneness into the land.’”

Place each of these scriptures properly in context. Try to understand what each verse means with regard to other scriptures. Do they, or do they not, give the impression that this water of gall has qualities which may dull the mind and/or put people to sleep?

The word “gall” as it is used in Matthew 27:34 comes from the Greek word listed in Strong’s as -5521- “gall or bile, i.e. (by analogy) poison or an anodyne (wormwood, poppy, etc.).”

In Mark 15:23 the account is recorded as: “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” The word “myrrh” as it is used in this verse is listed in Strong’s as -4669- “to tincture with myrrh, i.e. embitter (as a narcotic).

And finally; in the Webster’s Dictionary you will find the word “anodyne” explained as follows: “1. (as an adjective) painkilling, soothing. 2. (as a noun) something which kills pain.”

“…and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink!”

How I wish I could share with you some of the emotion that passed through me when I first began to realize what I was beginning to understand. The more I searched and studied; the more I came to believe that Our Saviour was being given the opportunity to ingest something which would reduce the torment and the suffering he was being forced to endure.

Having accepted the fact that God had chosen him to be the sacrifice spoken of by the prophets, Jesus acknowledged that he must bear all of the pain and the suffering without the use of any pain killing drug. It was also vital that Jesus retain full use of his faculties. If he should at any time succumb to the pain and condemn either God, or the part he had been chosen to fulfill, it is doubtful whether his sacrifice would have been accepted.

Thanks be to the Almighty and Everlasting God the sacrifice of Jesus was accepted; and by his life and his sacrifice we have the hope of a destiny which otherwise would be beyond the wildest dreams of any man!

Note: Next week I hope to share with you my thoughts concerning the inception of the rites of baptism as taught and practiced by John. How well do we truly understand the meaning of the rites of baptism? Do we rise from the waters of baptism cleansed from sin; or does this rite have an entirely different meaning?

Three Days and Three Nights

Some ministers of the Churches of God have been reluctant to discuss questions I believe should be answered. Their usual response has been to either ignore, or summarily reject requests to discuss potential errors in their teaching. On this site we shall attempt to do that which these ministers have thus far refused to do.

To begin this venture I have chosen a question which many will feel certain they can answer without fear of contradiction. If what happens on this blogsite does nothing more than entice you to “search the scriptures” once again, I will be more than satisfied -- but don’t be too sure you already know the answer to today’s question!

Q...How much time passed from the moment of Jesus’ death to the moment of his resurrection? Was it exactly three days and three nights; less than three days and three nights; or more than three days and three nights?

Note: If the length of time Jesus was dead has an important prophetic meaning (and I believe it does), then we would do well to understand the perfect truth as it has been recorded for us in Scripture.

Luke 18:31-33 “Then [Jesus] took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished -- for he will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge him and kill him. And the third day he will rise again.’”

Q...Jesus said many times he would rise from the dead “the third day.” If he actually meant “on the third day” did his understanding originate from the Scriptures?

Q...Is the sentence “and the third day he will rise again” part of that which can be found “written by the prophets”? If so, where “in the prophets” can this prophecy be found?

Q...What is the teaching of your Church and your ministers on the question of whether the resurrection of Jesus took place “on the third day” or “after the third day”?

Q...Can the resurrection of Jesus only have taken place after his having been three days and three nights in his tomb?

Q...If the resurrection of Jesus took place after he was three days and three nights in his tomb, how could he have risen from the dead “on the third day”?

Matthew 12:38-40 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.’ But he answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’”

Note: Many continue to believe that the resurrection of Jesus could only take place at the end of the three days and nights he spent in his tomb. They are convinced this was the proof Jesus spoke of in his answer to the scribes and the Pharisees. I believe this to be an incorrect understanding first taught by Herbert W. Armstrong many years ago. Notice:

The following statement is an excerpt from the booklet “The Resurrection Was Not On Sunday,” written by Herbert W. Armstrong and published in 1952. (Emphasis is as quoted in the booklet):
“These Christ-rejecting Pharisees demanded PROOF. Jesus offered but one evidence. That evidence was not the fact of the resurrection itself -- it was the LENGTH OF TIME He would repose in His grave, before being resurrected.
Think what this means! Jesus staked His claim to being your Saviour and mine upon remaining exactly THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE TOMB. If He remained just three days and three nights inside the earth, He would PROVE Himself the Saviour -- if He failed in this sign, He must be rejected as an imposter!”

Within this quotation Mr. Armstrong has made an assumption that, (should it turn out to be in error) may have caused a serious misunderstanding of these scriptures. He says: “That evidence was not the fact of the resurrection itself -- it was the LENGTH OF TIME He would repose in His grave, before being resurrected!” If those last three words are to be taken at their face value then Jesus would not have been able to “rise from the dead” until his 3 days and 3 nights in the grave had expired.

For this statement to be true, then the length of time it took to have him removed from the stake and carried to his tomb would have to be added in order to come to the total time Jesus was actually dead. If Jesus remained dead for a period of time longer than 72 hours then surely this would be in disagreement with the many scriptures where he himself is quoted as saying that he would rise again “the third day”!

Here is another quotation from the same booklet: “As Jonah was in the “GRAVE” (see marginal reference, Jonah 2:2) 72 hours, after which he was supernaturally resurrected by God, by being vomited up, to become a saviour to the people of Ninevah upon proclaiming the warning to them, so should Jesus be 72 hours in His grave, “thereupon being resurrected” by God to become the saviour of the world.” Once again, the implication is that Jesus would not “live again” until he had been in his grave for 72 hours. Whatever the truth may be, of one thing we can be absolutely certain: if Jesus was dead for more than 72 hours, he could not have risen from the dead “on the third day” or “during the third day”!

You should understand that I had, and continue to have, a great respect for the work that was accomplished by Herbert W. Armstrong. I remember him as a wonderful old man to whom God revealed many amazing new truths. But I also remember the very human faults he displayed. I have also subsequently come to realize that he had an incomplete and often incorrect understanding of many scriptures. I shall always remember him and be grateful for his success in understanding and teaching of scripture; especially for what this has meant to me personally -- but I will no more trust him with my eternal life than I would trust any man. Mr. Armstrong, in the human life he lived was a great and wonderful man -- but in this life he was not yet perfect!

Note: Earlier in this message I suggested: “If the length of time Jesus was dead has an important prophetic meaning (and I believe it does), then we would do well to understand the perfect truth as it has been recorded for us in Scripture.” With this in mind, consider the following Scriptures as Jesus may have done during his lifetime:

Exodus 19:10-11 “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’”
Note: This was the time when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on tablets of stone. This was the time when God began a new covenant with the people of Israel. “On what day” did God say He would come down in the sight of all the people? Is it possible this is a prophecy for the “church” in these last days -- that we should be prepared to receive our salvation during the third of the final three and a half years?

Jonah 2:1 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly!”
Note: If we are to take the story of Jonah literally, then we must be ready to accept that he was not dead for the entire three days and three nights he spent in the belly of the great fish: “Jonah prayed…from the fish’s belly”!

Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, and let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, but he will heal us; he has stricken, but he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.”
Note: When Jesus read this scripture, did he ascribe its meaning to his own resurrection? Does this scripture truly say “ON the third day he will raise us up”? Is it possible this may also be a prophecy for the “church” in these last days -- that those who are “dead in Christ” may be resurrected during the third of the final three and a half years?

Genesis 22:1-14…This passage records the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. You should read the entirety of this passage for yourself,
Note: It has been said that the trying of Abraham’s faith by the proposed sacrifice of Isaac has in its duality the sacrifice and subsequent resurrection of Jesus. From the time the commandment for the sacrifice was given from God, it was as if Isaac was already dead to Abraham. When God spared the life of Isaac, it was as if he had been resurrected to his father Abraham. The near sacrifice, and the subsequent symbolic resurrection of Isaac, took place “on the third day” from the time God first commanded that the sacrifice of Isaac should take place.

Joshua 1:10-11 “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ‘Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’
Note: Is this not prophetic of the soon-coming inheritance of the Saints -- when Christ will say to his brethren: “Come, you blessed of my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”? Does Joshua not tell them to prepare to cross over Jordan “…within three days”?

I have heard more than one of our ministers respond to questions like these with a comment such as: “Why is any of this important?” Some of them are so wrapped up in what they refer to as “The Salvation Process,” they seem to believe there is little or no value in pursuing anything unless “Salvation” is the goal of that pursuit.

To this I must answer: “The salvation of our Father is a wonderful, almost unimaginable gift. Nevertheless, salvation of and by itself is not enough! Salvation is a beginning -- it is not an end unto itself! Upon repentance, conversion, baptism, and the laying-on of hands, we are given the promise of salvation from our God. Having received this promise, we should thereafter strive for the rewards He desires us to win for ourselves.”

Consider the ultimate reward God has waiting for those who will follow the King of kings into our Father’s Kingdom -- do you even know what that reward is? Each of us should be fervent and zealous in our desire and determination to reach that goal. We need to more clearly identify the rewards God has promised; and then with great determination: “Let no man take your crown!” He, who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Note: Next week, I hope to share with you my understanding of the vinegar mingled with gall. This was the mixture offered to Jesus at his crucifixion and he refused to drink. Some people still picture the crucified Christ as a poor, pathetic creature hanging from a cross; next week you will learn the true strength of this great man.