Openly Teaching Error

Last week I tried to show that our ministers are indeed teaching the basic truths and doctrines necessary to bring individuals to salvation. I also tried to convey my concern that much of their additional teaching often lacks accuracy -- and far too often it even lacks truth -- but is this also according to the will of God?

It is not my desire to open anyone up to ridicule; neither do I have any desire to offend; however, there are times when I must choose to discuss a subject which may strike close to a particular individual or group. I sincerely regret any discomfort this may cause.

One of the off-shoot Churches of God has been offering the six-volume “Bible Story.” It was written by Basil Wolverton and first offered during the 1970’s by the Worldwide Church of God. Almost two years ago, when I learned this group would be adding the “Bible Story” to their website it pleased me greatly. I remembered it from many years ago and looked forward to reading it again.

When it was posted and I began to read, I was shocked by the amateurish writing and the multitude of errors the story contained. Because I believed a mistake had been made by this group in posting the six-volume story to the web I decided to edit it myself and offer my observations to those individuals responsible for the website.

The first thing I did was to contact the Church website manager; I also contacted a deacon of the local Church and informed them of the more glaring errors in the story and suggested that something be done to correct the flaws as quickly as possible. It was my hope that I could save them and their Church unnecessary embarrassment. They ignored my concerns.

During the month that followed I continued to edit “Volume I” of the story in the hope that someone would eventually be willing to discuss my concerns. When my edit of “Volume I” was complete, I contacted them again. This time they did not even acknowledge my e-mailed messages.

I next separated what I considered to be the most glaring errors and sent yet another e-mail suggesting that if they do nothing else they should at least act on these few specific errors. Once again I was ignored. More than a year has passed since that time and the “Bible Story” with all of its flaws and errors is still being offered by this Church group; therefore, I shall now place a portion of the results of my edit before those of you who are my brethren.

I shall refrain from discussing many of the doctrinal questions prompted by the “Bible Story” and concentrate on errors of content and the more obvious errors of Scripture -- some of these are so egregious that those responsible for leaving them to mislead or deceive the readers should be ashamed! If you read nothing else of this posting, you should check out the passage concerning the bones being carried out of Egypt by the Israelites in Volume 1 -- Chapter 21 -- Page 4; and the discussion concerning “the third day” from Volume 1 -- Chapter 26 -- Page 2.

Excerpts from the “Bible Story”

Volume 1 -- Chapter 2 -- Page 9: “Adam lived a long time to see some of the results of his disobedience. He was nine hundred and thirty years old when he died. That’s only thirty years short of a thousand.”
Note: This is either a typographical error or carelessness. Obviously 930 years is 70 years short of 1,000 not 30.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 5 -- Page 2: “[The Tower of Babel] was to be the highest temple ever built, and a monument to the sun god in the center of a world-ruling government (Gen. 11:4).”
Note: It may be that the Tower of Babel was intended to be a temple to the sun god, but nowhere in the Bible does it say that it was. Many people having read “The Bible Story” will thereafter believe that the Tower of Babel was in fact such a temple. If God intended the scriptural record of this tower to have a special meaning for mankind, that meaning could very easily be hidden, or confused, if the true reason for the tower was something other than as a temple!

Volume 1 -- Chapter 6 -- Page 4: “Melchizedek, king of Salem, also came out to meet Abram. Melchizedek’s servants brought out bread and wine to Abram and his weary men (Gen. 14:13-16).”
Note: The correct supporting verses should be Genesis 14:18-20.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 6 -- Page 8: “Other asphalt deposits were set on fire, causing a chain reaction that made devastation there complete (Gen. 9:24-25).”
Note: The supporting verses are found in Genesis chapter 19 not Genesis chapter 9.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 8 -- Page 3: “The Bible refers to eight children Abraham had. All were sons. If there were others, the Bible doesn’t mention them (Gen. 25:1-4). Most of those sons were born to Abraham’s second wife.”
Note: Genesis 25:1-2 lists the names of the five sons that were born to Abraham by Keturah! Keturah is the wife referred to in this passage, but the Bible nowhere refers to Keturah as Abraham’s second wife! On page 5 of chapter 6 of “The Bible Story” it says: “Sarai told Abram that he should take Hagar as a second wife…” Anyone following along with this story will believe that Hagar, “Abraham’s second wife” bore him five more sons. It is recommended that this whole paragraph be edited to clarify who were the mothers of the eight sons of Abraham.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 9 -- Page 5: “Laban didn’t find out what had happened until the caravan had been gone for three days.”
Note: I find it fascinating how easily the words “on the third day” are consistently changed by our ministers to read “after the third day.” Genesis 31:22 clearly says: “And Laban was told “on the third day” that Jacob had fled.” “The Bible Story” suggests that the caravan “had been gone for three days” the implication being that three full days had passed before Laban found out the caravan had gone. Does this short sentence from a children’s story give us some insight into the workings of the Spirit of God? Is this but a small part of one of God’s great mysteries? In an earlier posting on this site I discussed the “Three Days and Three Nights” Jesus spent in his tomb. In that posting I wondered at the desire of the ministry to teach a resurrection “on the fourth day” rather than “on the third day” as Jesus himself said so many times. This apparent confusion within the ministry over the “third day” or the “fourth day” continues to fascinate me.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 9 -- Page 7: “Next morning Laban said good-bye to his daughters and their children, and set back toward Haran (Gen. 31:35). Jacob’s caravan moved on westward.”
Note: Genesis 31:35 refers to the refusal of Rachel to rise from her saddle when Laban was searching for his idols. The correct supporting verse for this passage is found at Genesis 31:55

Volume 1 -- Chapter 10 -- Page 1: “When Jacob’s family saw that the two brothers had met as close friends, the wives, children and servants came near and bowed. Jacob explained that they were his two wives, his twelve children and his servants.”
Note: On his return from the land of Laban to his father’s home in Canaan, Jacob brought with him his two wives, “his eleven children,” and his servants! Benjamin, Jacob’s second son by his wife Rachel, had not yet been born.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 13 -- Page 1: “Several years later Joseph’s brothers arrived safely at their home in Canaan. When Jacob their father saw that eleven of them had returned safely, he was very happy.”
Note: To travel from Egypt to the land of Canaan may have taken several weeks, or even several months, but it most certainly “did not take several years”!

Volume 1 -- Chapter 19 -- Page 3: “Pharaoh then asked them how many of their people were expected to leave. He hoped only the women and children would have to go, so that he could keep the men working.”
Note: Nowhere does the Bible even suggest that Pharaoh or anyone else thought it possible that only the Israelite women and children would leave without the men. Such a suggestion by “The Bible Story” is ludicrous! Exodus 10:11 tells us that Pharaoh wanted “only the men” to go into the desert. The implication being that if the women and children remained in Goshen, the men would have no choice but to return.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 19 -- Page 4: “Then go!” Pharaoh exploded, angered by the reply. “But you’ll regret leaving! You’ll soon wish you had stayed in Egypt!”
Note: Notice that Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron they could go (into the desert); however, God still had Moses bring on the plague of locusts. Moses had said to Pharaoh: “We will go with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds…” Pharaoh had replied: “Not so! Go now you who are men and serve the LORD, for that is what you desired.” The permission from Pharaoh “that only the men” could go was unacceptable to God!

Volume 1 -- Chapter 21 -- Page 4: “The Israelites divided themselves into their twelve tribes, formed rough ranks, and started on their way. With them were taken the bones of Jacob and his twelve sons, according to Jacob’s wish many years previously.”
Note: This error should be corrected immediately; “the Israelites did not carry the bones of Jacob” with them when they left Egypt! The 50th chapter of Genesis describes the death of Jacob and his burial in Canaan many years before the children of Israel left Egypt. Joseph had asked Pharaoh for permission to take the body of his father Jacob for burial and after a seventy day period of mourning did exactly that. “It was the bones of Joseph” that were to be carried with them when the people of Israel finally left Egypt.
It may be possible, perhaps even probable, that Joseph’s brothers made this same request. However, it must be noted that the Bible nowhere says that the bones of the other sons of Jacob were removed from Egypt. It should also be noted that if we count the bones of Joseph first, we cannot have another twelve sons of Jacob! You would either have Joseph and eleven more; or you would have Joseph and thirteen more if you count both Ephraim and Manasseh.

Volume 1 -- Chapter 26 -- Page 2: “After three days had passed, the more than two million people on the valley floor out from and below the mountain nervously wondered what would happen. The first thing unusual was that thick, dark clouds formed to obscure all but the base slopes of Mount Sinai. The clouds weren’t merely masses of water vapor. There was much smoke mixed in, causing growing alarm to the onlookers. Flashes of lightning, followed by stunning peals of thunder, caused every man, woman and child to tremble.”
Note: The way this paragraph has been presented is both fascinating and disturbing. Much of what Jesus came to understand during his lifetime was revealed to him from the ancient scriptures; scriptures such as the passage from Exodus 19:10-11 where it says: “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.’”
It is my belief that from this scripture and others like it, Jesus came to understand that after his death he would be resurrected “on the third day!” The ministers of the many Churches of God teach that Jesus rose from the dead “after” or “at the end of” three days. This belief originated with the teaching of Herbert W. Armstrong and has been perpetuated to this day; I believe this to be an erroneous understanding and teaching!
No matter how many times the writers of the New Testament tell us that Jesus rose, would rise, or has risen “the third day,” our ministers steadfastly maintain that the resurrection took place “after three days.” (Note: A resurrection “on the third day” in no way contradicts the fact that Jesus spent 3 days and 3 nights in his grave -- as he said he would!)
In the scripture recorded at Exodus 19:11 there should be no doubt whatsoever that it says “For on the third day the LORD will come down…” Nevertheless, “The Bible Story” records the event as happening “After three days had passed…”

Finally: Those who strive to honour and serve our Heavenly Father must choose whether we are to continuously search for truth -- or we are not! Either our ministers should do their utmost in God’s service to preach and teach only the truths of God -- or they should not! Either we are to accept and believe only the perfect truths of God -- or we are not! But if we fail to maintain a burning desire in our hearts and minds for the absolute truths of God -- then we deserve to believe a lie!

2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish -- because they did not receive the love of the truth…”

Note: At this time I have not yet decided what to publish in next week’s posting. I was prepared to discuss the revealing of “that man of sin, the son of perdition.” However, the continuing escalation of troubles in Iraq makes me wonder whether now may not be the best time to address this problem instead.

I have resisted adding to the abundance of those warning of the last days and the soon-coming “Day of the Lord” and I don’t intend to begin now. Nevertheless, there was an article published in the May 1968 Plain Truth Magazine which bears directly on the problems America is facing today in Iraq. I had thought to eventually discuss the scriptural truth contained in the statement “The way of peace they know not” as it pertains to Iraq -- and next week I may try to connect this thought with the Plain Truth article -- we’ll see!

Why God Scattered His “church”

There have been many opinions expressed as to why the Worldwide Church of God, as led by the late Herbert W. Armstrong, failed as quickly and as completely as it did. I have no doubt that many of the reasons already expressed have merit; I am even willing to believe that much of the blame can be placed on the heads of a few specific groups or individuals; however, I would like to add one more reason for you to consider.

We as individual members of the “church” of God need to realize that the dissolution of the Worldwide Church could not have happened unless God allowed it to happen! From the experience of a long life I can safely say that God did not need to do anything to the Worldwide Church of God and its ministry to bring about its destruction. History has repeatedly proven that whenever any group of men come together to organize anything they will eventually fail! However, we must constantly remind ourselves it was the Worldwide Church of God that failed -- not the “church” of God!

Rather than go through many of the same insufficient and inconclusive answers we have heard over the years for the dispersal of the brethren, I want to suggest some different and provocative questions which I hope will add a new dimension to your thinking.

I have consistently voiced my belief that we (and our ministers) have accepted error as part of our understanding. I further believe that since our faith is based upon that which we believe to be true, if we have accepted a flawed understanding of God’s truths then our faith must also be flawed. It is my often repeated belief that if an error in our understanding could have, and should have been found and corrected, I cannot believe God will honour the faith we have built upon that error.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. [Surely this refers to a faith built upon truth -- not blind faith -- not wrong faith!]

If a Tibetan monk lives a life of seclusion and deprivation in a mountain monastery, he does so by faith: is this the type of faith that pleases God? If a young woman takes on the rites and trappings of a Catholic nun, vowing to speak to no one for the rest of her life, she does so by faith: would this gesture of faith be pleasing to God? If we willingly accept wrong doctrine as part of our beliefs, simply because the source of that doctrine happens to be one of God’s ministers, will God be pleased with the faith we build upon that error?

In our search for the truths and the mysteries of Almighty God we must not be afraid to ask any question, search any doctrine, or meditate upon any point of scripture our studies may bring to our attention. When we ignore that which the Spirit of God is trying to teach us we place ourselves in the position which led Saul of Tarsus to persecute and afflict the disciples of the early Apostolic Church. Notice:

Acts 9:3-5 “And as [Saul of Tarsus] journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ And [Saul] said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks [i.e. animal prods].

I believe that for some time Saul of Tarsus (later known as the Apostle Paul) had been receiving prods to his conscience over his persecution of the “church” of God! When this voice and vision appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he was only too ready to accept that his actions against the disciples had been wrong. It had become very difficult for him “to ignore the prodding of the Spirit of God!”

The Bible teaches that if we ignore the guidance of God’s Spirit it will leave us. Whenever we find ourselves wondering about a point of scripture; or if we find that something we’re reading or being told “just doesn’t feel right” it may be that the prodding of the Spirit of God is telling you “it isn’t right!” If you ignore that feeling, you may be ignoring the power and direction of God’s Spirit -- I can assure you that next time, it will be even easier to ignore that feeling.

Teachings of the Churches of God

If we are to believe that God set in place those who minister over us, then we must believe He did so with a purpose in mind. However, when we see the chaos that has effectively scattered the “church” of God (arguably caused by many of these same ministers) then we must believe He allowed this scattering with a purpose in mind.

For the most part, the ministers of the many differing Churches of God do a good work. I believe that with very few exceptions they are indeed the true ministers of God. When they do a good work or preach a true gospel they deserve our respect and our obedience.

When their teaching seems somewhat less than perfect they still deserve our respect; however, we must always follow the scriptural admonition to: “...work out our own salvation, with fear and trembling.” We must also remember that each of us as individuals will be held responsible for our own shortcomings; the failings of the ministry will in no way excuse our own faults. Therefore “Let no man take your crown!”

The following is only a partial list of the many good works our ministers hold as part of their collective doctrines:

1. They teach the gospel, the good news, of the coming Kingdom of God.

2. They teach the true Jesus; crucified and resurrected as the firstborn Son of God.

3. They teach a doctrine of repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands.

4. They teach a 7,000 year plan of God with a 1,000 year Millennium soon to begin.

5. They teach the need for an increased, spiritual obedience to God’s commandments.

6. They teach the need to keep the weekly Sabbath Day and the Annual Holy Days.

7. They teach the imminent return of Jesus to set up His Father’s Kingdom on the Earth.

8. They teach the resurrection of the saints to be kings and priests during the Millennium.

9. They teach the eventual resurrection of all who have ever lived upon the Earth.

10. They effectively warn the world of the impending end-time and the day of the Lord.

With little or no exception the ministers of the many differing Churches of God hold true to the doctrines listed above. They should be commended for the good works they perform and they deserve our respect and our prayers in support of the work they do. However, we cannot allow ourselves to accept that which they believe and teach if we harbour even the slightest doubt that what they believe and teach may be wrong! If the Spirit of God is the source of that doubt then we dare not ignore it!

Q...If we are to believe that those who minister over us were chosen to do so by Almighty God, at what point would it be correct for us to question or reject their teaching?

Q...At what point was it correct for the present ministry to reject the teaching and authority of those whom God had placed over them in the Worldwide Church?

Q...Concerning the angels that God placed under the authority of the Archangel Lucifer: at what point would it have been correct for them to question his decision to mount a rebellion against the very throne of God in heaven?

Acts 23:1-5 “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said: ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

The Apostle Paul shows us in this passage that those whom God has placed over us deserve our respect -- and when their teaching conforms to the truths of God they deserve our obedience. However, we should also remember that at the time of the ministry of Jesus, Caiaphas was the High Priest of God in Jerusalem. As much as Caiaphas was worthy of respect for the position he held over the people, his teachings were to be ignored, even reviled, when they did not conform to the truths and the commandments of Almighty God!

Our ministers want to be the teachers and arbiters of the truths and mysteries of God. And yet, even Jesus did not openly teach those truths; he allowed the Spirit of God to lead even his closest disciples to a more perfect understanding. Notice the following exchange between Jesus and His disciples and the final comment He made to Simon Peter:

Matthew 16:13-19 “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’”

Jesus knew that only by the power, inspiration, and direction of the Spirit of God can any of us come to truly understand the perfect truths of God. Each of us as individuals must learn to follow wherever the Spirit of God may lead us. Will we make mistakes? Of course we will! But a major part of the faith we are trying to build within ourselves is the faith that God is able to do that which He has promised.

We have all read the scriptures which tell us: “Seek and you shall find.” “Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” There are many such passages and they are either true or they are not true! This in no way means that as soon as you ask you shall find. Neither does it mean that as soon as you try to understand, all things will be opened up to you. What it does mean is that if you consistently study to show yourself approved unto God; if you diligently search the Scriptures whether these things are so; if you unashamedly fill yourself with a zeal for God’s word and His mysteries, you will eventually begin to understand.

There is no doubt that the way to a more perfect understanding can be a very long, slow, even arduous process; but the rewards are well worth the challenge. You will appreciate those rewards in this life when you begin to truly understand; and there will be rewards in the life to come when our Saviour sets you apart and tells you: “Well done, you good and faithful servant.” If you allow the power, direction, and inspiration of the Spirit of God to become part of your very character, you will be well on your way to a more perfect understanding -- and a more perfect destiny!

So then: If the teaching of Herbert Armstrong and the ministers of the Worldwide Church had been perfect, there would have been little need for the Spirit of God to take a more active part in your life. If the teaching of the ministers of the many end-time Churches was more perfect, there would be no need for them (or for us) to remain separated one from the other. But the Worldwide Church was scattered; and the end-time Churches do remain divided, and those of us who cannot trust any man with our salvation will continue to work out our own salvation until the return of the only one we can trust.

1st Kings 22:17 “And [Michaiah: a prophet of the Lord] said, I saw Israel scattered upon all the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, ‘These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.’”

Q...Do you believe that any of God’s sheep are lost forever, ‘having no (human) master’?

There are those of us who have learned through the bitterness of deceit, the true depth of the saying “let no man take your crown.” There are many of God’s “sheep” who can no longer trust any man with their destiny, and yet: “…he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep -- the sheep hear his voice -- he goes before them, and the sheep follow him -- for they know his voice -- a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him -- for they know not the voice of strangers!”

Jesus is the one true shepherd; for some of us there can be no other!

The Bible teaches that the scattering of the “church” of God was not only anticipated but prophesied. An earlier posting to this blogsite entitled: “The Scattered ‘church’ of God” discusses this very subject; I invite you to go to the “Archives” and read it. Carefully consider the fact that the prophesied scattering of the brethren has indeed come to pass according to the great and wonderful plan of God!

Note: Next week I hope to offer a little change of pace. Those of you who were members of the Worldwide Church may remember “The Bible Story.” It was a six-volume edition, written by Basil Wolverton and illustrated in a very entertaining way. It was enjoyed by adult and child alike and when I discovered that one of the end-time Churches of God was about to post it to their website I was very pleased -- until I began to read!

The Unpardonable Sin (Part 5)

Four weeks ago I began to share my thoughts with you on “The Unpardonable Sin”; this week’s posting is the fifth and final part. It is my hope that these words have given some comfort, and inspiration, to those who have chosen to separate themselves from their brethren. They are not lost to us forever!

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Some believe that in the parable of the separation of the sheep from the goats, while the sheep are to inherit the kingdom, the goats are to be sent away into eternal punishment. You should read and study the entire parable recorded at Matthew 25:31-46. Keep in mind that it is recorded as a parable (i.e. it is a riddle -- a puzzle)!

Did you notice what appears to be the eventual fate of “the goats” that were placed “...on the left hand”? It says in Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” I have heard this passage used to support the belief that those who are not “the sheep who inherit the kingdom” will be cast into the lake of fire; punished (or destroyed) for eternity (i.e. eternal punishment).

If we are to believe that “the goats on the left hand” are those of our brethren who have “fallen away” then we must also believe they are destined for the lake of fire! If the Word of God is to remain inviolate, and if the Word of God tells us they are lost to us forever, then we must accept what is the very will of God. But what is the truth; and what is the will of God? John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” And in Matthew 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that [even] one of these little ones should perish.”

There are many of us who appreciate with incredible excitement and wonder the words “Come, you blessed of Our Father, inherit the kingdom…” Because of this, and for those of us who feel a deep concern for those of our brethren who may one day be “left out,” I recommend taking a much closer look at this entire parable.

Matthew 25:31-33 “When the Son of Man [returns] in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Note: These initial verses of the parable tell us “it is the nations of the world” which will be brought before the returned Messiah. The “nations” will be separated as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats! It should also be remembered that in the beginning of the Millennium Jesus is to rule over “the descendants of national Israel.” From this humble beginning all knowledge will flow outward to the other nations and peoples of the world.

Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…”

Note: At this point, “The King” appears to be speaking to individuals: those he refers to as the “blessed of His Father” and they are to “inherit the kingdom.”

The verses from 35 to 46 describe those who had lived a temporal life filled with works of righteousness as opposed to those who did not. It will be the righteous who inherit the kingdom while the unrighteous will be cast off into eternal punishment -- but what of our brethren; those who were once with us and who have now fallen away: are they the “goats of the left hand”? [It is vitally important that you read each and every one of these verses from Matthew 25:34-46 before continuing!]

Did they who were once with us never feed those who were hungry; did they not give drink to those who did thirst; were they never kind to a stranger; did they not give of themselves and their possessions to those who were needy; did they not visit the sick or those who were in prison? God forbid that such a thought should ever enter our hearts or our minds -- some of them had a zeal for God that would make many of us today feel shame for our comparative indifference!

The two deacons mentioned earlier were among the most zealous of our brethren. When it came to the needs of the Church, the ministers, the brethren, or the strangers that were in our midst, there was no one who cared more for those needs. They who were once among the forerunners in the race for salvation and reward cannot be mistaken for those who are described as the “goats of the left hand.” They may have forfeited their reward; but I cannot in all good conscience believe they would ever forfeit “or reject” the gift of the Spirit of God!

Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Note: This final verse of the parable seems to leave no room for doubt that the “goats of the left hand” are to “…go away into everlasting punishment.” However, we need to continually remind ourselves that “this is a parable!” It is a riddle -- a puzzle! What we need to determine is whether or not there may be a more perfect understanding than that which immediately comes to mind. Remember the biblical admonition often used in situations such as this: “He, who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Whenever I come across a verse or a passage that doesn’t seem to fit into the context of the message being presented, I usually begin my study with a much closer look at each word as it was originally inspired to be written. In Matthew 25:46 the word “these” seems to point to “the goats on the left hand”; but instead of “these” this word could have been translated “he” or “this man.” In fact, it could have been translated into several other words all meaning “one or more individuals” without specifying anything or anyone in particular.

Those who consider themselves students of the Bible will recall the Old Testament reference to “one specific goat” that is fated to “go away into everlasting punishment.” If you are unaware of the rites which governed the Old Testament Day of Atonement, you would be wise to carefully study the entire chapter of Leviticus 16.

Each of us understands God’s mysteries according to that which the Spirit of God allows us to understand. I believe that the Levitical rites previously carried out on the Day of Atonement show that the goat sacrificed for the people can be none other than Jesus Christ our Redeemer -- He alone is our Passover, sacrificed that we may one day live again. The goat that is led off into the wilderness can be none other than Satan the Devil; and upon his head will eventually be placed the sins of mankind!

Following the removal of Satan, the ascension of Jesus to His throne will finally take place. Those who are referred to in Scripture as the “Saints” of God will at last find themselves at one with the Almighty and Everlasting God; from that time forward they will truly be known as the children of God. Those individuals who have overcome the world and have somehow managed to “endure unto the end” will be invited to: “Inherit the Kingdom, prepared for [them] from the foundation of the world!”

Those who for whatever reason “failed to endure” will be asked to stand aside until such time as they can show they have overcome the faults which led to their falling away. For some this may mean the entirety of the 1,000 year reign of their brethren. They will have lost the reward that once was so important to them; but their destiny as the children of God for the remainder of eternity will draw them on towards perfection. They will not be lost to us forever!

Just a few additional thoughts and comments:

It has taken a great deal of study, meditation, prayer, and “soul-searching” in order to arrive at the conclusions put forward in this work. Next week, and over the weeks that follow, I hope to discuss additional portions of these studies and the conclusions leading to what I have come to accept as a more perfect truth.

Q…Is that which I have come to understand the perfect truth of God? God forgive me for even asking such a question! In this life I am not yet perfect; as such, I readily admit that my understanding is not yet perfect. But this fact is exactly why I take such great pains to ask, and try to answer, the many questions that enter my mind!

I believe that Jesus will return on a day prophesied by the Feast of Trumpets; this will be several years before the setting up of God’s Kingdom! He will immediately set out to gather together those of His brethren who are still alive and scattered throughout the world. He will begin to prepare them for the work and positions they will assume when the time of their 1,000 year reign begins.

I believe that the first half of the final prophetic week of Daniel’s “Seventy Week Prophecy” was fulfilled almost two-thousand years ago when for three-and-a-half years Jesus ministered to His disciples. The final half of that week (i.e. the final three-and-a-half years) must still be completed; and I believe it shall be completed when our Savior returns to prepare His brethren for the positions and responsibilities they are to be given during their millennial reign!

During the first two of the final three-and-a-half years, many who have lived and died since the time of Christ’s ministry (and who are to be given positions of authority in the Kingdom) will be resurrected to physical life, to take part in their preparation.

During the third year, those whom we consider to be the prophets, patriarchs, and saints of the Old Testament will also be resurrected to physical life. It is my belief that most of these individuals will have learned far more of spiritual value in their lives than we have in ours; but they will still have much to learn, if only to understand what has been happening with mankind during the time they waited in their graves. As such, many of them may need no more than a few months orientation to prepare them for the Kingdom.

Q…Can this be an answer to my long-time question of the passage which says: “But many who are first will be last and the last first”?

It should also be remembered that since there is no other name than Jesus whereby we may be saved, those who lived and died before His ministry will know nothing about Him or His teachings other than through prophecy.

Some time after the physical resurrection of “the dead in Christ” (but during the third of the final three-and-a-half years) the time for the incarceration of Satan will arrive. With the removal of Satan as the ruler of this world, the way will be cleared for the anointing of Jesus as King of kings -- but not yet for the beginning of His reign!

We must remember that whereas the return of our Saviour is foretold by the annual holy day of the Feast of Trumpets; the time for the removal of Satan is foretold by the Day of Atonement; and the day that foretells the beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren is the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles are three separate and distinct festivals which I believe are prophetic of three separate and distinct events yet to be fulfilled!

I realize that our ministers teach the return of the Messiah, the incarceration of Satan, and the beginning of the Millennium will all take place at the sounding of “the last trump”! But to believe that all three of these momentous events, prophesied by three separate and distinct holy days will all take place at one and the same time, on one and the same day, seems ludicrous to me; and inconsistent with the scriptural sequence of the fall holy days.

Note: It fills me with great trepidation to finally be putting many of these thoughts before my brethren; and yet I also find myself experiencing an element of profound relief. I hope and pray that my words have given offence to no one; and that I have in no way placed a stumbling block before anyone who cannot surmount it. Nevertheless, in order to complete this work I must ask just one more question.

Q…How clearly have we been given to understand the following passage? Psalms 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

It is my belief that the wrath of Almighty God (i.e. God the Father) must be poured out upon the inhabitants of the Earth before the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren can begin; this should take slightly more than one full year to complete! From the time of the removal of Satan (as foretold by the Day of Atonement) until the setting up of the Kingdom of God under the rulership of Jesus and His brethren (as foretold by the Feast of Tabernacles), God the Father will prepare the way for them by carrying out what the Bible refers to as the time of “The Wrath of God.”

Note: Next week I hope to discuss one of the many possible reasons for the dissolution of the Worldwide Church of God. If we are to believe that only God could have allowed this to happen, we need to ask ourselves: “Why God Scattered His Church?”

The Unpardonable Sin (Part 4)

For the past three weeks I have been trying to share my thoughts on the subject of the “Unpardonable Sin.” Next week I hope to conclude this work with the posting of (Part 5). It is my continued desire that these words will give comfort, and inspiration, to those who have chosen to separate themselves from their brethren. It is my true belief that they are not lost to us forever!

The Resurrection of the Saints

If there is a single point I want to make to you it is this: I believe that no one who experiences true repentance, true conversion, true baptism, and is truly begotten of the Spirit will ever be rejected by God! I sincerely believe that the promise of salvation is the wonderful and freely-given gift of God and I cannot believe He would ever allow the begettal by his Spirit of anyone whom He would later reject as one of His children.

On the other hand, I do believe that those who have been begotten of God (in this lifetime) will be given the opportunity (after their resurrection) to either accept or reject God’s gift of salvation. This potential rejection of the Spirit “at that time” is what I have come to accept as the only sin which cannot be forgiven! It is my belief that rejection of the Spirit is by definition “The Unpardonable Sin”!

We have already determined that whereas salvation is an unmerited gift, there is also the promise of a reward for good works. Those who truly understand the message Jesus brought to this Earth (i.e. “the Good News of the soon-coming Kingdom of God”) they wait in anticipation for that Kingdom with the certain hope of a position of responsibility during the millennial reign of Jesus and his brethren. The position of authority the individual child of God may or may not be given in the Kingdom will depend on the value of the works and development of character of that individual during this lifetime.

It is unfortunate, but it is also a fact of biblical truth: those who (for whatever reason) “fall away” and fail to return to God and His “church” will lose any chance of reward during the coming Millennium! When I think back to the deacons mentioned earlier; no one in the Church had any doubt whatsoever that they, of all others in the congregation, would one day assume positions of great honor and responsibility in the Kingdom. If they have indeed fallen away and have remained unrepentant, then the rewards they had earned for themselves will have been lost: “…but they themselves shall be saved…”

When they rise up in the resurrection and realize what they have forfeited by not being able to “endure unto the end,” I fear their immediate reaction will be one of devastation! If I remember rightly their true worth and strength of character (and I’m sure I do) then I must believe they will quickly overcome their disappointment and will work twice as hard from that time on. Within the scope of everlasting life, the first thousand years will pass for them like the blink of an eye -- their destiny as the children of God throughout what remains of eternity will beckon them on towards perfection!

There are others many of us have known in the Church who will not be nearly so understanding. Whether they were ministers, elders, deacons or lay-members, there are those whose opinion of their own worth, or of the position they effected in the Church, was so lofty that anything less than rulership in the Kingdom would be seen as an insult. For them to accept that they had followed wrong doctrine or had preached a false gospel may be too terrible for them to even consider!

For them to be rejected from all positions of authority during the Millennium may be more than they would willingly endure. Eternal life that must begin with 1,000 years of menial servitude may be seen by them to be totally unacceptable. In these circumstances, it is conceivable that some would rather embrace eternal oblivion than accept what they perceive to be a deep and abiding personal shame. For such individuals, rejection of (or refusal to accept) the life-giving power of the Spirit of God may be seen as their most desirable option -- rejection of the Spirit would be the ultimate, and the unpardonable sin!

The Rite of Baptism

The rite of baptism is wholly symbolic -- it is therefore our responsibility to determine what the Bible does or does not teach about the meaning of those symbols. While we attempt to more perfectly understand what the rite of baptism “does mean,” we should also try to understand “what it does not mean”!

I have discussed my thoughts concerning the inception of the rites of baptism in a previous posting to this blogsite; it is entitled “By Water and by Blood” and is available in the “Archives.” I hope you will take the time to read and consider that which I have come to believe.

We are told that the water of baptism cleanses us from our mortal, carnal sins, and removes the penalty of death for those sins: however, “...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” All men must die! If water baptism does indeed remove the penalty for past sins, it is a reprieve of infinitely short duration; lasting only as long as our next carnal sin. It is my belief that water baptism does not remove the penalty of death -- it symbolizes our resurrection from death -- cleansed from carnal sins!

We are told that to be baptized is to symbolically bury one’s carnal self in a watery grave; thereafter to be symbolically resurrected from death as we emerge from the water:

Colossians 2:12 “[You were] buried with [Jesus] in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

On this singular point I agree completely with the teaching of the ministry, but will go one step further in pointing out that following baptism the individual rises from his or her watery grave cleansed from sin -- but not yet having been spiritually begotten! According to the symbolism of baptism, the Spirit of God has not yet been given and will not until during or after the laying-on of hands of the minister!

John 1:32-34 “And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and [it] 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.’ This I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus was baptized! And yet, as he rose from the waters of baptism in a symbolic resurrection -- he had not yet received the Spirit of God! It was not until sometime after his symbolic resurrection that the Spirit of God, in the form of a dove, came down from heaven and landed on Jesus -- “at that time” a voice from heaven said: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

The ministry of John the Baptist was one of repentance from sin. John was the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the LORD…” Nevertheless, the rite of baptism, as taught and practiced by John, was imperfect -- because it was incomplete!

Matthew 3:11 “I [John] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…”

Did John come to his understanding of the rites of baptism (as he was to practice them) from a conversation he had with his cousin Jesus? I believe that he did! But however he came to understand the rites he must follow, those rites lacked perfection in that they did not have the ability to impart to the individual the power of the Spirit of God.

This does not in any way denigrate the ministry of John. We need to remember that Jesus also carried out baptisms as part of His ministry -- and the rites Jesus used were those of the baptism of John!

Two Separate and Distinct Baptisms

Acts 19:1-6 “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them…”

On the Day of Pentecost, shortly following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Spirit of God was first given to the disciples. The event referred to in the previous passage between the Apostle Paul and the people of Ephesus shows that the baptism of John (i.e. water baptism alone) lacked perfection. It was necessary for Paul to “lay hands on them” so that the Holy Spirit of God may come upon them.

Q…Did these people of Ephesus need to go through the whole process of water baptism again? It is my belief they did not!

I believe that Paul went to each and every one of these previously baptized individuals and laid his hands upon their heads, baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus that they might receive the Holy Spirit of God. They had already received the water baptism of John; it was only necessary that they receive the further baptism of the Spirit!

The Begotten Child of God

There is a need for us to more perfectly understand why Jesus requested that John baptize him; we can discuss this more fully at a later time, but for now it is enough for us to realize that -- Jesus was baptized!

Mark 1:10 “And straightway coming up out of the water, [Jesus] saw the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descending upon him.”

Q…Can it be true that Jesus was not “spiritually begotten of God” until “…the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descended upon him?”

When can we expect to be given the gift of God’s Holy Spirit? Acts 2:38 tells us “…be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins “and you shall receive” the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This seems to say quite clearly that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit following baptism but it doesn’t tell us how long after! It also specifies that we shall “receive” the gift of the Holy Spirit -- but what we need to realize is that “to receive” does not necessarily equate to “being begotten” of that Spirit!

If the symbols described in the rite of baptism are prophetic of things to come, then it is not beyond reason that “the dead in Christ” shall be raised from the dead (as Jesus may have been) in a physical resurrection, with flesh uncorrupted. Thereafter to be offered the gift of eternal life when he was “…presented to the Father.” We need to always keep in mind “…it is appointed unto men once to die -- but after this the judgment!”

What an incredible experience it would be if (some time following our physical resurrection) our Savior then said to us as individuals: “Come, you blessed of Our Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then to have him (as our High Priest) put his hands upon our head that we may receive eternal life by the power of His Spirit -- could anything be more wonderful?

Those who failed to endure in this life would be asked to stand aside until the positions of responsibility were distributed: this will be a time of great pain and sorrow for many of our brethren. They will be made to wait for a portion of (or for all of) the Millennium to be completed before they can begin to serve in any position of importance; something they had once hoped for, and had once strived for, but had lost by “falling away.”

Physical or Spiritual Resurrection

We are told by our ministers that as a spirit-being Jesus had the power to transform from spirit to flesh and bone and then back to spirit again; in this way he was able to move through stone walls into a locked room. However, we are also told that if our own faith is strong enough, even as physical, mortal, human beings we can say to a mountain “…be removed and be cast into the sea, and it will be done.”

Why does it seem necessary that Jesus must change from physical to spirit in order to enter a locked room? If a physically resurrected Jesus wanted to enter a closed room, surely it would happen without the need for anything other than his desire to make it so! Jesus said he was not spirit! Jesus said he was flesh and bone! Why do we find it necessary to question His words?

If Jesus was flesh and bone after his resurrection, how could he also be spirit-born? In John 3:6 Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Following his resurrection, how could Jesus have been a spirit-born Son of God and still be flesh and bone? Perhaps the answer lies in extending the thought raised by the following two scriptures:

1) Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”

2) Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…”

It is the clear teaching of the Bible (with a few innocuous exceptions) that a resurrection from death is simply that; a resurrection from death into life! What we need to consider is not the composition of the risen Christ (for he clearly said “he was not spirit”); what we need to consider is -- the life-force that powered his existence!

The Bible tells us: “The life of the flesh is in the blood…!” God and the Bible, scientific knowledge, and good old common-sense, all tell us it is the oxygen in the air we breathe which keeps us alive. If we stop breathing or if there is no oxygen in the air we breathe, we’ll die; it’s as simple as that! However: if our life-force was by the power of the Spirit of God we would have no need to breathe air whether that air was rich with oxygen or totally lacking in it.

Note: Next week I hope to complete my thoughts on “The Unpardonable Sin” by posting “Part 5” of this series.