A Whisper Amid the Shouting

List of the 40 Weekly Messages

2007-06-07T22:21:00.000-04:00

In January of this year I delved into my studies of “The Original Passover” hoping to have a paper ready for this year’s Passover season. It was my hope that by clarifying each of the many events surrounding that important and fascinating time we could gain a more perfect overall understanding of our more modern Passover observances. As I worked with the information available to me I became more and more confused; after almost six weeks I had to admit defeat and cancelled (postponed) the project.

From my failure with “The Original Passover” I came to realize that during this past year my own personal studies had not progressed as they should. My ability to keep up with the teaching of the various Church websites had suffered; and there is at least one more blogsite I would like to study far more carefully. In short, as much as I have enjoyed being able to share my thoughts and understanding in weekly messages to this blogsite, I must take a break at least until after this upcoming summer or fall.

Listed below are the titles of each of the forty weekly “A Whisper Amid the Shouting” messages published on the blogsite to this point in time. Over the next few months I intend to read, study, and edit each and every one of them; and as is my habit I shall attempt to work with each subject as if approaching it for the very first time.

It is my hope and my prayer that some of you will also do this very same thing; in fact, I invite you to help me with any part of my understanding you believe to be in error. If you can state your initial comments as briefly as possible I shall try to understand what you’re referring to and will respond.

If what you have to say points me towards a more perfect understanding then perhaps we can initiate a more personal correspondence. All I ask is that you do as much as you can by yourself before making contact. Study all that I’ve written on the subject, search the Scriptures whether these things are (or are not) so, support your thoughts with as much Scripture as possible, then by all means contact me as a brother (or sister) and know that you will be made welcome.

There is another list, one which at the moment is little more than a series of thoughts and ideas. These thoughts need to be more thoroughly researched and studied before I can even consider publishing them to the blogsite. I doubt that any of you can understand how difficult it was for me to publish anything. The possibility that I might be guilty of disseminating error, even if no deceit was involved, absolutely terrified me. The thought that I might inadvertently place a stumbling-block before any of my brethren, a hurdle they may be unable to surmount, is something I cannot bear to consider.

If I can use the next few months wisely and well I may even be able to catch up on my reading; not only of the books and articles I’ve been putting aside, but also the Church websites and any new material they may have to offer. How I wish they would move away from the serving of warm milk and soft bread to the brethren, there is so much meat on our Father’s table; I feel sure He wants us to not only partake of it but to share, and to enjoy, and to be more fully and perfectly satisfied!

Forty Whispers Amid the Shouting: (...to be found in the Archives.)

01) A New Look at True Faith August 22, 2006

02) The Church of God Brethren August 29, 2006

03) Three Days and Three Nights September 1, 2006

04) Vinegar Mingled with Gall September 8, 2006

05) By Water and by Blood September 15, 2006

06) The Angels that Sinned September 22, 2006

07) Words of the Prophet September 29, 2006

08) The Scattered “church” of God October 6, 2006

09) The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 1 October 13, 2006

10) The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 2 October 20, 2006

11) The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 3 October 27, 2006

12) The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 4 November 3, 2006

13) The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 5 November 10, 2006

14) Why God Scattered His Church November 17, 2006

15) Openly Teaching Error November 24, 2006

16) For the Way of Peace December 1, 2006

17) That Man of Sin Revealed December 8, 2006

18) The Incarceration of Satan December 15, 2006

19) The Three Wise Men -- Part 1 December 22, 2006

20) The Three Wise Men -- Part 2 December 29, 2006

21) Daniel’s Seventy-Week Prophecy January 5, 2007

22) And the Dry Land Appeared January 12, 2007

23) Turning Water into Wine January 19, 2007

24) Bits and Pieces January 26, 2007

25) Shearing the Sheep -- Part 1 February 2, 2007

26) Shearing the Sheep -- Part 2 February 9, 2007

27) The Thief on the Cross February 16, 2007

28) Opening the Sixth Seal February 23, 2007

29) The Lord’s Anointed March 2, 2007

30) Bits and Pieces -- 2 March 9, 2007

31) Clear Proofs of Muhammad March 16, 2007

32) Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 1 March 23, 2007

33) Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 2 March 30, 2007

34) When We Die April 6, 2007

35) My Name is Legion -- Part 1 April 13, 2007

36) My Name is Legion -- Part 2 April 20, 2007

37) My Name is Legion -- Part 3 April 27, 2007

38) Bits and Pieces -- 3 May 4, 2007

39) Religious Confusion -- Part 1 May 11, 2007

40) Religious Confusion -- Part 2 May 18, 2007

May God our Heavenly Father bless each and every one of you and keep you safe until the gathering of our brethren by His Son Jesus our Saviour, our brother, and soon to be our King. Always remember he was raised from the dead to be the first-born of many brethren. Yearn for the day when he shall call you with the words: “Come, you blessed of our Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Religious Confusion -- Part 2

2007-05-31T08:29:00.000-04:00

Very few of those who profess to be followers of Christ properly understand man’s relationship with God the Father. Last week I tried to address a portion of this issue but the format of a blogsite does not allow for such a lengthy and important discussion; I shall therefore bend one of my own rules and suggest that those who are truly interested should contact one of the more prominent Churches of God and request some of their literature. Be warned that I do not find everything they teach to be accurate and true; however, they are by far much closer to the truths of God than are others of the mainstream Christian Churches.

Some Church of God websites offer an excellent variety of very helpful literature free-of-charge; they may limit the number of booklets you may request at any one time, but they will eventually send everything you request and will not in any way try to force their beliefs, themselves, or their Church upon you.

Having gone this far, I feel obligated to better define my recommendation. If you desire a more comprehensive understanding of the many truths and mysteries of God you would do well to search the websites of the United Church of God and the Living Church of God. I would especially recommend the sermons of Garner Ted Armstrong as offered by the website of the Intercontinental Church of God. These are only three of the more than 300 groups which separated from the Worldwide Church following the death of Herbert W. Armstrong. Truly the words are found in Scripture: “I shall strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep.”

The Worship of Idols

Exodus 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image -- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.”

Islam teaches that Mohammed was forty years of age when he received the first of many revelations from God/Allah; the angel Gabriel is said to have been the messenger of those revelations. I have come to believe that however the knowledge came to Mohammad, he saw the creation of graven images as a sin against God; and that the veneration of these images was an abomination.

The Koran relates many stories of the Patriarch Moses as he led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and into the Promised Land. There is a certain fascination awaiting those who take time to study the parallel accounts of Moses from both the Koran and the Bible. Many discrepancies exist between the two; and yet these discrepancies can actually add to the fascination as you search for truth as the Spirit of God may lead you. Moses was only one of the many Patriarchs who spoke out against idolatry.

Sura 7.138 “And We made the children of Israel to pass the sea; then they came upon a people who kept to the worship of their idols. They [the children of Israel] said: ‘O Musa [Moses]! make for us a god as they have (their) gods.’ He said: ‘Surely you are a people acting ignorantly...’”

Islam reveres the Patriarch Abraham as the Father of the Faithful -- as do followers of Judaism and followers of Christianity. There are many references in the Koran to the time when Abraham was still living in the land of his father; and according to most of these accounts Abraham’s father and his people were idol worshippers. In these stories Abraham took it upon himself to preach against the practice of idolatry; he even went so far as to destroy many of the images they had created.

Sura 21.51 to 54 “And certainly We gave to Ibrahim [Abraham] his rectitude before, and We knew him fully well. When he said to his father and his people: ‘What are these images to whose worship you cleave?’ They said: ‘We found our fathers worshiping them.’ He said: ‘Certainly you have been, (both) you and your fathers, in manifest error.’”

I find it interesting that the Koran’s account of Abraham’s destruction of the idols more closely resembles the biblical story of Gideon (a.k.a. Jerubbaal) than it does the story of Abram before his departure from the land of his fathers. In fact, anyone who tries to parallel many of the stories from the Koran with their biblical counterparts will almost certainly find similarities; but these similarities will often be identified with different times and/or different individuals than those referred to in the Bible. This is something I hope to address in a future blog; many of these parallel accounts can be truly fascinating.

When considering the revelations Mohammad received (whether through the Archangel Gabriel or otherwise), you need to determine for yourself what really happened and what Mohammad really began to understand. If you carefully study the words of the Koran you will see his continual reference to a “Book.” As I suggested in “Part 1” it is my firm belief that this “Book” is nothing less than the Holy Scriptures; the same Scriptures which have been handed down to us as the book of the Bible. The Taurat (the Torah) is a portion of that book; and the Injeel (the New Testament) is another portion of that book.

Sura 4.51: “Have you not seen those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They believe in idols and false deities and say of those who disbelieve: ‘These are better guided in the path than those who believe.’”

During the early years in the life of Mohammed, the religion of the people in Mecca included idol worship. Mohammed himself was born into the tribe of the Koriesh who were keepers of the Kaaba, the temple of idols at Mecca. But who were the people he refers to in Sura 4.51? Were they his own people; or were they followers of Christianity as it was being practiced by the Roman Catholic Church in the days of Mohammad? Notice that whoever they were, Mohammad describes them as “those to whom a portion of the book has been given.”

From historical antiquity the proliferation of idols and icons created and venerated by the Church of Rome is well known. In fact, during the 8th and 9th Centuries a disputation over the veneration of idols tore the Church of Rome apart. This disputation, referred to as the Iconoclastic Controversy, brought about the separation of the Roman Church from that which is now recognized as the Eastern Orthodox Church.

You may find it interesting that this Eastern Church was located within the Byzantine Empire (i.e. the Eastern Roman Empire), headquartered in the city of Constantinople. Constantinople is now known as Istanbul and is one of the major cities of modern-day Turkey; today, the population of Turkey is recognized as being almost 100% Muslim. Notice the following synopsis of historical information taken from the “Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation.” And remember that the Prophet Mohammad was born in the year 570 and died in the year 632:

“Prior to the year 628, the armies of Persia had occupied the nations of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. Up to that time the Byzantine Empire had to endure a long series of wars with the Persians. The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius finally terminated these wars with the Persians by a decisive victory in 628 and recovered Persian-occupied Syria, Palestine, and Egypt; however, exhaustion from this struggle and bitter religious disputes between rival Christian sects weakened Byzantine defenses and morale, leaving the empire unprepared to face another danger in the decade that followed.

“Between 634 and 642, Arabs, inspired by the new religion of Islam conquered Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. Constantinople weathered major Arab sieges in the 670’s and in 717-18; and Byzantine Asia Minor survived almost annual Arab raids. These major Muslim offensives halted at the beginning in the 9th century and it was during the 8th and 9th centuries that the Iconoclastic Controversy took place.”

I wonder how much (if any) the preaching of Mohammad concerning the practice of idolatry had to do with the controversy which separated the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Church of Rome. There is certainly no doubt in my mind that the blatant idolatry practiced by the Roman Catholic Church is anathema to the teachings of God and the Bible. The worship and/or veneration of idols is offensive to not only the followers of Islam but to those who follow the true teachings of Christianity.

Sura 39.17 to 18 “And (as for) those who keep off from the worship of the idols and turn to Allah, they shall have good news, therefore give good news to My servants, those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding.”

God’s Government

The following two paragraphs were used in a previous message but they have relevance to this present discussion so I hope you’ll forgive me for using them again:

Regardless of the many good intentions being put forward by our national leaders, this may be as good a time as any for those of the “church” and the Churches of God to remember that the government of God is not, was not, and never will be a democracy! We need to realize that when America attempts to spread its concept of democratic thoughts and freedoms to the peoples of the Muslim nations, many of them see it as nothing less than the spreading of Western immorality and licentiousness -- and who amongst us can say they are wrong?

As a nation, it may be argued that America has lost all moral justification to lead the world: greed, violence, illegal drugs, sexual immorality, and an almost unbridled selfishness run rampant throughout the land. Governmental arrogance, deceit, and corruption has reached levels which are almost beyond belief in the land many of us recognize as the fulfillment of the promise of national greatness God gave to Abraham.

Isaiah 1:4-6 “Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores...”

The proliferation of competing ministries within nominal Christianity has attached so many contradictory and confusing doctrines to the teachings of Jesus that it is sometimes difficult to accept the simplicity of the message he brought to mankind. Jesus came to proclaim the good news (the gospel) of the soon-coming Kingdom of God! The message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is that Jesus will one day reign as King of kings and Lord of lords over His Father’s Kingdom, here upon the Earth.

The inception of the Kingdom of God will presage the eradication forever of political influence and governmental corruption. No longer will mankind have to suffer the farcical political process with its resulting circus of lies, deception, and corruption. Those whom God has chosen will be placed in positions of authority and responsibility after having been thoroughly tried, tested, and trained for that position.

The government of God can be described as a benevolent dictatorship. Throughout man’s history, various societies have tried to set up such a government and have failed. In portions of the world today the leaders of modern Islam have set up their concept of an Islamic State; in their minds and their teaching this is nothing less than the government of God ruling over mankind from the top down. To this point in time all such attempts have failed; they have failed for the simple reason that mankind is incapable of true justice and righteous governance in the absence of the will and the actual leadership of our Creator.

1st Samuel 8:4-7 “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.’”

The Almighty Creator God ruled over the descendants of Jacob/Israel until the people decided they would rather have a human king to rule over them. You should read 1st Samuel 8:10-17 directly from your own Bible where you will learn that through Samuel, God gave Israel fair warning what would happen if they went ahead with their desire to replace the rule of God with that of a man. He told them how they would be made to serve their king (or their government) with their children, their possessions, even their very lives; and when they eventually realize how much better off they had been with God as their King it would be too late for He would refuse to listen.

1st Samuel 8:18 “And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

1st Samuel 8:19 “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

This is where we find ourselves today; carping and complaining no matter which form of governing party happens to be in power -- and we only have ourselves to blame. It could be argued that the fault lies with those of our fore-fathers who rebelled in the days of Samuel; but even today, each of us has the opportunity to choose whether we want a man to rule over us or the governance of Almighty God -- very few of us ever choose wisely.

Sura 1.1 to 1.4 “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.

The leaders of Islam profess their acceptance to the rule and the governance of God; they openly reject the rule and the governance of mankind and abhor what they see as the excess and licentiousness of Western democracy. In the Arabic language, the very word “Islam” means the surrender or submission to God. Likewise, the word “Muslim” refers to a follower of Islam -or- one who surrenders to God. To accept what they perceive as the immoral and corrupt Western concept of democracy, over the rule and governance of God, would be abhorrent to the majority of Islam. It is my considered and constant belief that they will continue to rebel against any form of democracy being imposed upon them.

Church of God Government

The “church” and the Churches of God give allegiance to their Heavenly Father and to His Son; but in doing so they readily admit to the blessing of living in a land governed by a democracy rather than a dictatorship -- benevolent or otherwise! The reason is quite simple; until we are governed by the righteous laws of God, and the wisdom and power of God’s leadership, any other form of governance will be imperfect.

In the lands of Western democracy we are free to keep the seventh-day Sabbath of God. We are free to reject the pagan celebrations of nominal Christianity so revered by our peoples and accepted and approved by our national leaders. We may worship and live our lives according to that which we have been given to understand; always mindful that we give offence to no man, government, or God.

1st Corinthians 10:32-33 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God...”

As part of the development of the begotten child of God, he or she must strive to never offend those with whom they must interact. It is a further part of their development that they show respectful obedience not only to the laws of God and His governance, but also to the laws and governance of the lands in which they now live, whenever those laws are not at variance with the will of God.

Finally: Many followers of Islam will be offended by those they consider nothing less than infidels; no matter what those infidels may do. Likewise, those Christians who are offended by Islam, or by any other of the many conflicting religions, will be offended no matter what those others may do. To those who are thus offended I shall quote the words of the Prophet of Islam: “And whoever disbelieves; let not his disbelief grieve you...”

Note: There is so much more which could be said, but I can see no merit in further striving with the long and somewhat shameful list of that by which we of the Western world offend both Islam and God; so I shall end it here. And as much as I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts through these weekly messages (even if they end up lost forever in the limitless void of cyber-space) it is time for me to return to my own personal studies.

This week’s posting is the fortieth since the inception of the blogsite; perhaps in the fall or early winter (God willing) I’ll be ready to begin again with a new set of thoughts and ideas which someone out there may find helpful. An important part of my studies will be to return to the first message of the forty; to study it again very carefully, searching the Scriptures whether these things are so, editing and improving wherever possible.

Whatever my present beliefs, I am forever striving to improve that which I have come to accept as truth. I freely admit that at this time, in this life, I am far from perfect. That which I have come to believe may therefore also be far from perfect. Nothing would please me more than to have one or more of you return to the first of these forty messages in your own search for a more perfect understanding and a more perfect truth; if you should find anything I may have overlooked, or have mistaken, or have misunderstood, then by all means share what you find with me and with others of our brethren.

Note: Nest week I shall endeavor to post a complete list of each of the forty weekly messages with the date each message was posted making it easier to find in the Archives. To those who have taken an interest in that which I have tried to say and do I thank you; and may God Our Heavenly Father bless you in every way!

Religious Confusion -- Part 1

2007-05-24T03:53:00.000-04:00

NOTE: On May 7th I travelled to Los Angeles for a much enjoyed visit with my elder sister. It had been my intention to publish messages 39 and 40 from her computer but had not anticipated her not having Microsoft Word to make this possible. I apologize to those few of you who may have wondered at my absence. Above all else, it is my hope that the words of this blogsite are meant for you to read.

Within the religion of Islam there are many differing thoughts, teachings, and ideals; but this diversity is often surpassed by the confusion found within the confines of nominal Christianity. This in no way suggests that the Islam of today teaches the unerring truths of God -- far from it! But it does suggest that a more perfect understanding of Muslim beliefs may help us to better understand the hatred which followers of radical Islam seem to have for everything Christian.

It would be foolish to believe that anyone may understand the truths and mysteries of God simply because they have access to a Bible. It would be equally foolish to believe that others may understand Islam simply because they have access to a Koran. Nevertheless, these are the books we must turn to if we are to even hope for a more perfect understanding -- it is then up to the individual to search for whatever he or she believes is truth according to that which the Spirit of God may direct them.

The message presented in this two-part series in no way suggests the correctness of Islam over Christianity; in fact, what I hope to show is that just as nominal Christianity has misunderstood and misrepresented the teachings of God as they are recorded in the Bible, so has nominal Islam misunderstood and misrepresented the teachings of Mohammad, as they are recorded in the Koran.

Whether you are Christian or Muslim; whether you believe the teachings of the Bible or of the Koran; I challenge you to consider the thoughts which follow and then to “search the Scriptures” whether what I suggest is or is not true. I would also suggest that you go to the “Archives” of this blogsite and read “Words of the Prophet” and “Clear Proofs of Mohammad” -- these messages were published September 29th 2006 and March 16th 2007 respectively. In them I try to prepare the way for those Christians who desire to have at least a rudimentary understanding of Islam; and offer a digest of some of the many surprises I discovered from my own in-depth study of the Koran.

This rather lengthy preamble would be incomplete if I did not try to impress upon you this final thought: whether you read that which I have written about the teachings of Mohammad, or whether you read the words someone else may have written; nothing can take the place of that which the followers of Islam claim to be Mohammad’s actual words. Therefore, as you study this very important subject be sure you have access to at least one version of the Koran, placing each and every passage carefully within its own scriptural context. You should also have an open Bible by your side with an Exhaustive Concordance so you can diligently “search the Scriptures” whether these things are so.

The Bible and the Koran

Do yourself a favor: do not reject the words of the Koran simply because some man has told you that Islam is anathema to the teachings of God. I readily admit the book of the Koran can be one of the most difficult books to read and to understand; however, there are many surprises waiting for those Christians who with open minds would study the teachings of Mohammad and then “search the Scriptures” to more perfectly understand.

Please understand that I am a Christian. I believe the Bible is a compilation of the words of God as they were given to men of old and passed down to us for our instruction and edification. To the people of Islam, the book of the Koran is a compilation of the words of Mohammad as they were given to him from God through the Angel Gabriel. But note this: “The Prophet Mohammad did not write the book we know as the Koran!”

Several years passed following the death of Mohammad before his followers compiled what they remembered, or had recorded of his teachings. From this “compilation of Mohammad’s recitations” they produced the book known by the Arabic name “Qur’an” (Anglicized to “Koran”); it is this book of the Qur’an which has been passed down to the Muslims of today for their edification.

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.

Throughout the Koran you will find constant references to “a Book” or “the Book” or to “followers of the Book.” If you place these passages in their literal context and study them very carefully, you will find there can be little doubt Mohammad was speaking of that which we have come to know as the Bible. More specific references are made to the “Taurat” (the Torah) the Hebrew name for the Mosaic Law, the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament; or as Mohammad refers to it in the previously quoted Sura 2.87 “And most certainly We gave Musa [Moses] the Book.”

Sura 5.46 “And We sent after them in their footsteps Isa, son of Marium [Jesus, son of Mary], verifying what was before him of the Taurat [the Torah] and We gave him the Injeel [the teachings of Jesus] in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of Taurat [of the Torah] and a guidance and an admonition for those who guard (against evil).”

Notice the following verse as offered by two of the most noted translators of the Koran:

Sura 2.97 (by YUSUFALI): “Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel -- for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe...”

Sura 2.97 (by PICKTHAL): “Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he it is who hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by Allah's leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers...”

It is the teaching of Islam that God revealed His truths to the Prophet Mohammad by revelation through the angel Gabriel. If you do nothing more than carefully study these three verses (i.e. Sura 2.87; Sura 5.46; and Sura 2.97) I believe you will gain a vitally important insight into the teachings of Mohammad.

From my own study of the Koran, I have come to accept that Mohammad was following the path of an apostle of God to his own Arabic speaking peoples; just as he understood Moses and Jesus and many other prophets and apostles had done before him to their own nations and peoples. I believe the message Mohammad preached was according to his understanding of Holy Scripture -- that is to say: the Old Testament as it was recorded and preserved by the Patriarchs; and the New Testament as it was recorded and available to the world at that time.

Sura 26.191 to 197 “And most surely your Lord is Mighty, the Merciful. And most surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. The Faithful Spirit has descended with it, upon your heart that you may be of the warners in plain Arabic language. And most surely the same is in the scriptures of the ancients. Is it not a sign to them that the learned men of the Israelites know it?

That which Christianity has come to know as the New Testament of the Bible is referred to in the Koran as the “Injeel” (Arabic: “good news”). Mohammad explains the “Injeel” as the good news (Old English: “gospel”) teachings of Jesus. He even refers to these teachings as “verifying what was before him [before Jesus] of the Taurat [the Torah].” However, according to the teaching of present-day Islam, that which Christianity has come to accept as the Old and New Testaments are false records of that which God originally inspired to be written.

Sura 10.37 “And this Quran is not such as could be forged by those besides Allah, but it is a verification of that which is before it and a clear explanation of the book, there is no doubt in it, from the Lord of the worlds.”

When we see the diversity of interpretations offered in almost limitless versions and publications of the Bible, (not to mention the countless contradictory books written about the Bible), we may find reason to forgive those who would condemn all Scripture as heresy. And yet, from the Exhaustive Concordances of the Bible the ardent searcher may gain an understanding of each and every word of Scripture as those words were originally inspired to be written; from this, he or she may still find accuracy and truth as the Spirit of God may lead them.

Sura 2.136 “Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Ibrahim [Abraham] and Ismail [Ishmael] and Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel] and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Musa [Moses] and Isa [Jesus], and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.

I am the LORD your God

Exodus 20:1-3 “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.’”

It is the teaching of Islam that “There is no god but God, and Mohammad is His prophet.” Within nominal Christianity you will find little argument with the belief that there is no god but God; however, the one true God of Christianity usually refers specifically to God the Father. Christianity teaches the deification of Jesus as the Son of God and Islam sees this as anathema to the belief in One God. Add to this the somewhat nebulous individual referred to as either “God the Holy Spirit” or “God the Holy Ghost” and you may begin to appreciate why Islam believes the Christian doctrine of the Trinity offends their belief in the One True God.

Sura 4.171 “O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium [the Christ, Jesus son of Mary] is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be it from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.”

The Trinity of today’s nominal Christian teaching consists of God the Father; Jesus the Son of God; and God the Holy Spirit (sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost.) That there are three parts to one individual seems to be a constant to this teaching; and yet each of the three seems to have a definite individuality. During his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed to His Father many times; and although he is quoted as saying that if we have seen him, we have seen the Father, to equate this with Jesus and the Father being one and the same person is to say the least tenuous -- and to say the worst, foolishness!

Sura 5.73: Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three, and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.

I must admit to having a less than perfect understanding of the Trinity -- nor do I wish to have a more perfect understanding of that which I believe to be a flawed interpretation of Scripture. I doubt if there could be a more confusing doctrine in an already confused and confusing set of pseudo-Christian doctrines. My own understanding of the Trinity has never been able to get past the fact that in the Bible, the Almighty God is consistently referred to as God the Father of Jesus; and yet, which of the “Three” fathered Jesus?

Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together -- she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

Whereas the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is anathema to the followers of Islam, it should be understood that in the days of Mohammad the “Three” were identified as God the Father; Jesus the Son of God; and Mary the Mother of Jesus. Regrettably, some of today’s Christian teaching does deify Mary as the mother of God; this is a teaching which only further confuses an already confusing doctrine. In the days of Mohammad, that which had become known as Christianity had spread to the Middle-East from the Church in Rome; and to this day the deification of Mary is one of the principal doctrines of this Church. As far as the doctrine of the Trinity is concerned, it is unclear in my mind how the deification of Mary fits in with the teaching of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost -- and once again, I’m not sure I even want to know.

Sura 5.116 “And behold! Allah will say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Did you say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah?’ He [Jesus] will say: ‘Glory to You! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, you would indeed have known it. You know what is in my heart, You I know not what is in Thine. For You know in full all that is hidden.’”

It is my profound belief that there is no god but God; but in the original inspired texts the Hebrew word translated “God” is not recorded in the singular sense. From a study of the uni-plural meaning of that Hebrew word we may understand that it is used in the sense of a “family” -- and so I believe it should be understood. In whatever way the doctrine of a Holy Trinity may be explained, I want you to clearly understand that I do not accept this as a true teaching of the Bible!

Sura 6.101 “Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort, and He (Himself) created everything, and He is the Knower of all things?”

The man we have come to know as Jesus constantly referred to the Almighty God as his Father. We are taught through his words to the disciples that when we pray we should refer to God as Our Father; and at the time of his baptism the Bible records the words of God as He spoke directly to the newly baptized Jesus: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

Sura 18.4 to 5 “And warn those who say: Allah has taken a son. They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers; a grievous word it is that comes out of their mouths; they speak nothing but a lie.”

Mohammed did not believe that Jesus (or anyone) should ever be referred to as a child of God; throughout his dissertations he denies such a thing is even possible and for most of professing Christianity there is likewise little depth to the understanding of this question. Since this is neither the time nor the place for such an important discussion, I shall simply ask these questions: “If God wanted to raise up for Himself a son, could He do it? Is there any man, even one so revered by his followers as the Prophet Mohammed, who would dare tell the Almighty and Everlasting God that He cannot take to Himself a son?”

Sura 19.88 to 19.92 “And they say: ‘The Beneficent God has taken (to Himself) a son.’ Certainly you have made an abominable assertion. The heavens may almost be rent thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in pieces, that they ascribe a son to the Beneficent God. And it is not worthy of the Beneficent God that He should take (to Himself) a son.”

Who is this man that would tell the Almighty God of Creation He is not worthy if He should take to Himself a son? Take care with your condemnations O man -- do not overstep the limits of your religion which God has placed upon you! That which God should choose to do is for God alone to determine! As for myself, I shall repeat what I have said so many times before and will surely say again: “There is no god but God -- and Jesus is His Son!”

Post Script: A better understanding of Islam may help bridge the widening gap between Muslim and Christian; but such is not the principal reason for this blogsite. Those who shall be given positions of importance in the soon-coming Kingdom of God will be required to offer both understanding and compassion to those who have embraced Islam in this lifetime; such compassion can only derive from a more perfect understanding of the words and the will of God. When the Messiah returns to gather together his brethren from the four corners of the Earth, he will begin to more perfectly prepare each of them for the positions of governance they will assume in their Father’s Kingdom. Each of us as individuals must prepare for that Day of our Lord; each of us as individuals must do everything we can to make ourselves ready -- as a people prepared for their Lord.

Note: There is much more which needs to be said on this very important subject. How does Islam view the veneration of idols and icons so prevalent within certain cultures of professing Christianity? What does Islam teach about man’s use of God’s name; or his obedience to God’s laws; or even the acceptance of God’s governance? Next week I hope to touch on at least some of these questions as we conclude this discussion with the posting of “Religious Confusion -- Part 2.”

Bits and Pieces -- 3

2007-05-04T00:20:00.000-04:00

This is the third time a few bits and pieces have been selected as one of my weekly blog offerings. What began as a hopeful way to present snippets of information instead of a full-blown essay has become most enjoyable. This format has not only given me a useful way to present new thoughts and ideas, it has actually become a fun way for me to share what I once considered subjects with too little information to be of value. I hope these additional bits and pieces will add to your pleasure in that first love of new understanding; and will also bring you the joy of sharing something of value with myself and with others of our brethren.

The Name of Jesus

The 2002 Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia tells us that the word “Jesus” is derived from a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” or in full “Yehoshuah” (i.e. Yahweh is deliverance). The word “Christ” is derived from the Greek word “christos” and is a translation of the Hebrew “mashiakh” (i.e. anointed one, or Messiah.)

When we look into the life of the man we know as Jesus, how many of us really consider his name? The English pronunciation of the word “Jesus” is certainly close to the phonetic sound of the original Greek word “ee-ay-soose” used in the Bible; but it is important for us to remember that any difference in pronunciation between languages really doesn’t matter -- the man we know as Jesus did have a name; and in English we know and pronounce that name as Jesus.

If there is a problem with the form of address we use, then that problem exists with what most people have come to accept as his full name -- “Jesus Christ” is a form of address and should not be mistaken for the full name of our Lord! He may have been known as Jesus the carpenter, or Jesus the carpenter’s son; perhaps even Joshua the carpenter, or Joshua the carpenter’s son. Whatever name he was known by at that time, he lived in the town of Nazareth and we often refer to him as Jesus of Nazareth.

We may refer to him as Jesus “the Christ” or Jesus “the Messiah” for so he was, and so he is; in fact there is nothing wrong with referring to him as “Jesus Christ” so long as we remember this refers to his title, or his position, but not to his name. The word “Christ” was not, is not, and never has been the surname of Jesus!

To repeat what was earlier quoted from the Encarta Encyclopedia: the word “Christ” as it is used in the New Testament of the Bible is the English translation of the Greek word “christos.” In fact, the word “Christ” is nothing more than an Anglicized form of that original, biblically inspired Greek word. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible shows the word “Christ” as 5547 “christos” = anointed i.e. the Messiah.

John 1:45 quotes the Apostle Philip as saying: “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One promised to come throughout the writings of the Old Testament and that is precisely what the original Greek word “christos” means.

By simply Anglicizing the original Greek word into the English word “Christ” the translators have inadvertently obscured the true purpose of the original text. Recently, I have taken to mentally translating the word “Christ” to myself as I read it. In Acts 2:38 instead of reading “...and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” I read to myself “...and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus, the Messiah.” In Romans 8:2 I read to myself “For the law of the spirit of life in the Anointed One Jesus,” instead of reading “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus…”

These alterations do not disturb the true meaning of the originally inspired words of the Bible. Speaking for myself, I find they have added a new, albeit a very small dimension to my understanding; and yet I am very grateful for it.

Babylon the Great

Most of you have a reasonably clear picture in your mind of King Nebuchadnezzar’s great statue; the one with a head made of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet made of iron partly mixed with clay.

This statue was a prophetic representation of a series of world-ruling empires, beginning with the Empire of Babylon led by King Nebuchadnezzar. I once believed that Satan was responsible for setting up each of these world-ruling Empires and that any prophecy concerning the duration of their influence must include the Empire of Babylon -- but this may not be so! The passage found at Daniel 2:37 makes it quite clear that it was: “...the God of Heaven [who] gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom, his power, his strength and his glory.”

If we think back to the original creation, the archangel Lucifer, (now referred to as Satan) was given some form of dominion over the Earth; but this was before his rebellion and long before the creation of man. During the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, Satan claimed to have the power to set up and to tear down kings and kingdoms; this claim was not disputed by Jesus. As I have come to understand the term of Satan’s power over the nations, it could only have had its beginning following the reign (or the kingdom) of Nebuchadnezzar and will last only as long as it takes for the anointing of the Messiah as King of kings over the nations and peoples of the Earth.

With what has been recorded for us in the book of Daniel, it may be possible to develop a prophetic timeline which has as its conclusion the end of this present age and the setting up of the Kingdom of God. I have long believed that the prophecy of Daniel Four gives us such a timeline; and once again we may need to consider the duality so prevalent in biblical prophecy to find the answer.

The end of this present age will eventually give way to the beginning of the Millennium and the time of God’s Kingdom. In historical parallel and scriptural duality, the downfall and destruction of the political and military union now being created in Europe, (shown as the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s great statue), will be heralded by a specific statement recorded in the book of Revelation. Notice:

Revelation 18:2 “And [the angel] cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen; is fallen…’”

Is it possible that a prophetic timeline has been recorded for us beginning with the original fall of the temporal Empire of Babylon and concluding with the fall of the end-time spiritual Babylon? If so, then there is a distinct possibility that the actual words of King Nebuchadnezzar, as recorded for us in the fourth chapter of the book of Daniel, may give us some indication as to when the final fall of Babylon the Great may take place.

Miracles and Deception

The ministers of the Church of God teach that the Beast of the end time will do great miracles in the sight of men; and by these miracles mankind will be deceived into believing a lie. Most of us understand miracles as supernatural events, and being deceived means not knowing the truth; but there is an alternate understanding to all of this that needs to be considered before accepting any of it as the perfect truth of God.

Revelation 13:13-14 “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth -- by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast…”

The apostle John was the narrator of the Book of Revelation; he lived almost two thousand years before the events he was able to see in his vision. He understood that the power behind the beast had the ability to “make fire come down from heaven on the Earth.” But even in his wildest dreams John could never have imagined that mankind in these latter years would have the ability to deliver weapons of incredible destructive power by means of intercontinental ballistic missiles?

I’m not even sure that the word “miracle” is necessarily the best translation for the original inspired Greek word “simeion” used in verse 14. This word has been translated in other parts of the Bible to read “sign” or “token” or “wonder.” There is no question that to see a man-made device falling from the sky to deliver the destructive force of a five-megaton nuclear bomb would indeed be seen by John as a “wonder” if not a “great miracle” -- but if what John saw was a man-made device, then it is not a miracle!

Now notice that the power behind the beast is able to “…deceive them that dwell on the earth by those miracles…” The word “deceive” has been taken from the original Greek word “planao” and could just as easily have been translated to read “to (cause to) roam from safety, truth, or virtue.” If the power behind the soon coming Beast has the ability to use nuclear weapons, then he will have a powerful tool with which to force his will upon the peoples of many nations and/or religions.

Normal usage of the word “deceive” bears the connotation that the one deceived does not realise that he or she is being deceived; I have grave doubts that this conveys the correct meaning of these scriptures. In the end-time the power behind the Beast will have the ability to impress his will upon mankind; and he will be able to back up his demands with the threat of (and the actual use of) nuclear weaponry. He will have the power to demand obedience from those nations under his influence; and it may come to pass that one of his demands will be that no one Judaize by observing the true seventh-day Sabbath.

The possibility exists that threats from the Beast may force mankind to “roam from safety, truth, or virtue,” so as to keep Sunday as the Lord’s Day -- and if it were possible, he might even be able to coerce such obedience from the very elect!

Michael the Archangel

Whether there will or will not be a place of safety for the elect during the time of the Tribulation is a question which has often bedevilled the Churches of God. I can’t say that an actual “place of safety” has ever been one of my strongest beliefs; but at one time there was an aspect to this story which greatly disturbed me. I wondered: “If the elect are to be taken to a place of safety, would their children and other loved ones go with them; or would they be left to fend for themselves during the horrors of the end-time?”

I had great difficulty believing the elect would be able to relax and enjoy three-and-a-half years of protection, knowing their loved ones were being forced to endure horrors almost beyond the imagination. It was then that I perceived a whole new meaning of the words recorded in the book of Daniel as if referring precisely to this subject:

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the [children] of your people...”

Note: I quote this verse from the New King James Version but have taken the liberty of changing the word “sons” to read “children” as it is recorded in the Authorized King James Version. Regardless of how we understand the meaning of this passage, the intent of God’s word cannot be that only the sons would be protected and not the daughters.

It has been my experience that ministers of the Church of God use this passage to show the Archangel Michael watching over the people whom God has set apart for His holy purpose -- I have no great dispute with this belief. I do however question the teaching that Daniel 12:1 refers specifically to the “church” and the Churches of God during the time of the Tribulation. Speaking for myself: I have always taken comfort from the belief that this passage refers to our children -- not to ourselves!

Who are the actual people of Daniel if not the Jews; and by extension, the entirety of the descendants of Israel? However, if this passage is meant to be understood in the spiritual sense, then Daniel’s people must be spiritual Israel i.e. the true “church” of God! Who then are those individuals referred to as “the children of [Daniel’s] people”? Surely they must be the children and/or the loved ones of those who are the elect of God.

Whether there is or is not an actual place of safety should be seen as a separate issue. It is my belief that the assurance given by Daniel 12:1 is that in the end-time God will send the Archangel Michael to protect and care for our children -- no matter where the elect may be.

Picture the Actual Resurrection

How many of you have really tried to understand what went through the mind of Jesus when he experienced his very first moment of conscious thought following his death? In fact; how many of you have truly taken to heart the scripture which admonishes us to: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”?

I would strongly recommend that each of you set aside a little quality time for meditation, (perhaps on an upcoming Sabbath day), when you can attempt to experience what your own thoughts and feelings will be at the precise moment of your own future resurrection.

Try to experience the elation and the wonder associated with such an event. Will your imagination picture great excitement with many trumpets sounding and hosts of angels? Do you expect to see many friends and family both old and new? How do you envision your first meeting with some of the prophets; or with the Patriarchs and/or Matriarchs of the Bible? Can you picture your very first meeting with King David; or with Moses; or with Jesus himself?

The resurrection of Jesus took place within a sealed tomb hewn out of solid rock! I hesitate to say he awoke in darkness because I must believe the angels that were there to tend him would have provided more than sufficient light as they removed his bindings and prepared him for his awakening. If you had lived the life of Jesus and had died his death, what would be your first conscious thought in that first moment of awareness? What would be your first physical reaction in that first moment of consciousness?

Of course it would! With a heart filled with rejoicing and eyes filled with tears, you would humble yourself before the Living God in worship and in prayer! The only question might be how long would you spend on your knees or prostrate on your face, rejoicing with tears of thanksgiving before the Great and Almighty God; the God who was now truly your Heavenly Father? If Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day following his death, he would have had ample time to reminisce, in tearful prayer with his Father, all that had happened to him throughout his lifetime before having to leave his tomb!

Note: Next week I hope to begin a two-part series dealing with many of the reasons for the “Religious Confusion” that mankind seems powerless to resolve.

My Name is Legion -- Part 3

2007-04-27T00:44:00.000-04:00

Some day, I may share with you the events which led to my belief in the potential for spirit-possession of the lower animals; but now is not that time. This much I can tell you, and I make no apology for it: during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren, it is my great desire that I be given a position of trust over the fate of the angels that sinned so very long ago.

Note: From the previous week you may remember that Jesus had commanded the spirits possessing the man of Gadara to “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit(s)”:

“And they begged Jesus that he would not command them to go out into the deep.”

From the parallel biblical accounts, we find that the spirits begged Jesus:

(a) That he would not send them away out of the country.

(b) That he would not command them to go out into the deep.

What at first appear to be two somewhat different requests are in fact almost exactly the same. When the spirits begged Jesus not to send them away out of the country, the words used in the original text are “away” 649 = “apostello” i.e. to set apart; and “country” 5561 = “chora” i.e. empty expanse. Therefore the original text could have been translated to read: “The spirits begged Jesus that he would not set them apart into the empty expanse.”

The similar account, as it is recorded in Luke says: “They begged Jesus that he would not command them to go into the deep.” The word “deep” 12 = “abussos” depthless, is also translated in other parts of the Bible as “abyss”; or the “bottomless pit.” Ask any professing Christian about the fate of Satan and his demons and they will almost certainly tell you about the “lake of fire.” If you’re interested, you will find the lake of fire referred to in the book of Revelation chapters 19 & 20.

Having read what transpired between Jesus and the spirits to this point, you may find it as interesting as I do that these unclean spirits never even mention the lake of fire. What does seem to concern them is being sent off into emptiness, or into an abyss, or into a bottomless pit. There is an Old Testament reference which bears directly on this discussion; you will find it in the book of Leviticus 16:2-34.

Once a year, every year, on a specific day called the Day of Atonement, the high priest carried out a ceremony which involved two goats. One goat was to be killed, sacrificed as an offering for the sins of Israel. And then in Leviticus 16:21-22: “[The high priest] shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all of the sins of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the [live] goat, and he shall send it away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon it all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.”

As mentioned before, this ceremony was carried out each year by the high priest, on the Day of Atonement. The sacrifice of the first goat was prophetic of the coming of a Messiah; the blood of whose sacrifice would cover the sins of mankind -- once for all! That prophecy was fulfilled with the sacrifice of Jesus.

You should understand that only once a year, on the annual holy day called the Day of Atonement, could the high priest of the temple go behind the veil and enter the Holy of Holies where the mercy seat was located. This mercy seat was the earthly symbol of God’s heavenly throne; so that to enter behind the veil was to symbolically approach the very throne of Almighty God. Only the High Priest could pass behind the veil to enter this most holy place; and even then, only after an abundance of ritual-cleansing and blood-sacrifice.

The need for these rituals and sacrifices ceased with the death of Jesus. At the moment of his death, when the veil of the temple was torn in two, Jesus became our High Priest forever “after the order of Melchisedec.” From this we know that Jesus would for evermore have unlimited and unrestricted access to the actual throne of Almighty God.

Now we need to consider what happened to the second goat; the live goat that was “taken away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.” Notice Revelation 20:1-3: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit [the abyss].” The unclean spirits inhabiting the man from the tombs must know that at the appropriate time, at the end of this present age, it is the destiny of Satan that he be cast into the abyss where he will be kept in restraint for a thousand years.

I believe these spirits were concerned they may eventually have to share Satan’s fate. They were reasonably sure it was not yet time for this to happen; but they were still concerned that Jesus was actually going to cast them out into the deep. If you are still wondering when the lake of fire comes into play, you will find the chronology listed in Revelation 20:1-10.

“There was a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain.”

More than thirty years have passed since I first took a great deal of interest in this verse. At that time I asked myself: “In a land inhabited by, and surrounded by a population who had as an important part of their religion an abhorrence of pig meat, why on earth would there be a herd of about two-thousand swine?” I was fascinated by the answer I came up with; and to this day I continue to believe the reasoning behind that answer is sound. For those of you who are interested, I discuss these thoughts in a short essay, published as part of “Bits and Pieces -- 2” which you will find in the Archives of the blogsite.

“And [the spirits] begged Jesus that he would allow them to enter into the swine.”

We are aware of examples where the human host was harmed in some physical way by possession, but such was not always the case. Consider the account of the damsel Paul and Silas encountered in the land of Macedonia:

Acts 16:16-18 “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And [it] came out that very hour.”

What we do not know is exactly why Paul finally became agitated; but I would draw your attention to the verse where it says: “And this she did many days…” If Paul knew this was a case of spirit possession why did he wait “many days” before casting out the offending spirit? Was it of little or no importance to Paul that the girl was possessed? Did it only become important to Paul when the possession began to disturb him?

Since Paul saw no pressing need to exorcise the spirit, is it reasonable to assume that he did not consider this possession to be a malignancy? Then again, if the spirit did not possess the girl “with evil intent,” why did it take possession of the girl?

If we admit to the inherent weakness of man, and agree to the power and immortality of angels, why would any angel ever want to inhabit a human body? The answer (if what I have come to believe is true) can be quite fascinating; I hope you will bear with me as I try to share my thoughts on why some of the spirit-world not only prefer, but seem to have a great need for possession of a life other than their own.

I mentioned earlier that at one time the angels may have believed that since possession had been condoned by God, it may also be justifiable by them should justification ever be necessary. The dictionary definition of the word “CONDONE” is “to overlook an offence or a shortcoming -or- to allow to be continued what ought to be stopped.”

The angels that were bound to the Earth following Satan’s rebellion had to wait an incredible length of time from the destruction of the Earth to the re-creation. What they did during this extended period is one of the many things I wait with great anticipation to discover. But if during all that time, the whole of the Earth existed only in a state of “chaos and confusion” (see Genesis 1:1-2), then where did the angels spend those millennia -- or does the condition of their habitation mean little or nothing to the spirit-world?

There is a little known legend which tells of a portion of the Earth where life could exist without regard to surface destruction. Interesting perhaps, but not relevant to our present discussion except in one possible respect. What if, long before the creation of man, even before the rebellion of Lucifer, some of the angels used possession of the lower animals as a form of existence and as a source of knowledge and understanding? We must always remember that although their first estate was to keep the Earth, their ultimate destiny was “...to serve those that [one day] shall inherit salvation.”

In order to carry out their ultimate destiny, I must believe that the more intimate their knowledge on every subject the better -- and there is much truth in the saying that you cannot properly understand another until you have, “spent a day in that other persons shoes.” By taking possession of a lower life-form, and living out the complete lifespan of that creature, the possessing-spirit would not only experience every facet of that creature’s life, but would in some vicarious way offset what had become the numbing boredom of its own existence.

Whatever the reason for the very first instance of spirit-possession, it seems this became a preferred form of existence for many of these angels. It would not surprise me to learn that such a vicarious form of existence made life more bearable for them while they waited throughout the eons for their destiny to unfold.

How long did it take from the creation of man for the first human possession to take place? Why did it take place? Whatever the reason for the first human possession, I believe the spirit(s) involved learned much from the experience; I can even accept that what they learned made it possible for them to claim justification of possession as a potential future benefit to mankind?

The threat of “the deep” hangs like the Sword of Damocles over all of the angels that sinned. They know that unless they are somehow pardoned for past wrongs their fate may be to follow Satan into the abyss. They know there will be a Day of Judgment for them and I believe they have a fair idea as to when that Day of Judgment will begin.

Almost two thousand years have passed since the time Jesus walked the Earth and still that Day of Judgment has not arrived. If Jesus had at that time cast out the spirits “into the deep,” then now, two thousand years later, they would still be there waiting for the thousand years of Satan’s incarceration to begin! Is it any wonder they were in such dread of being cast out “into the deep”?

These thoughts and questions may or may not have merit; but Jesus is now telling these spirits, with great authority, that possession of humans was wrong and would no longer be tolerated! Realizing they must obey Jesus and leave their human host, the greatest fear of these possessing spirits was not that they would simply be cast out; but that they would be cast out into “emptiness.” “And all the devils begged Jesus, saying: ‘Send us into the swine that we may enter into them.’”

Have we come any closer to answering the question: “Why would any angel make such a request”? The only reasonable answer I can come up with is that inhabiting a living body, even that of a pig was preferable to having no other living habitation! For whatever reason, these angels not only desired the habitation of a living being, they apparently felt a compelling need for it!

“Jesus said, ‘Go’!”... “And Jesus gave them leave.”... “And Jesus [allowed] them.”

I hope for your sake you understand what is happening here. Jesus gave these angels permission to enter into the swine! Jesus was letting them know that the possession of animals other than man was permitted!

I accept this as confirmation that to this day, some, perhaps most, of the angels that sinned are living out their waiting days by sharing the life experience of many of the lower animals. I believe that for the most part this is a benign possession; desiring only a habitation that would offer interest and variety to offset what for untold millennia must have become an existence with little or no purpose.

I believe that not only were they no longer allowed to inhabit man, but it was implicitly understood they must not involve themselves in any way (as spirit beings) with man. I am prepared to believe that some few demon spirits ignored this; but I believe the vast majority of the angels that sinned have remained obedient, and since that time to this have carried on their lives in complete non-interference with mankind.

“Then the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and was drowned.”

Did Jesus play a dirty trick on the spirits? Did he somehow deceive them into believing that if they would only leave the man and enter the swine they would be satisfied? I must believe that moving from the man to the swine was the spirits’ idea. Obviously it was not their first choice; their first choice was to inhabit the man; to inhabit the swine was simply a better choice than having no “living habitation” at all.

Please note what it says in Luke 11:24: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, [it] walks through dry places, seeking rest: and finding none, [it] says, I will return unto my [dwelling place] whence I came out.” For these spirits in the land of the Gadarenes, returning to the man from the tombs was not an option! Their only choice was to inhabit the swine or to: “…walk through dry places seeking rest.”

Note: To what does this refer when it tells us they “...walk through dry places”? We know that one of the first things God did at the time of the re-creation was to “separate the waters from the waters.” Can we assume from this that waters covered the Earth from the time of Lucifer’s rebellion to the time of the re-creation? Is it possible that the angels were made to exist in such an environment throughout what must have been countless millennia?

Genesis 1:9-10 “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear’; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”

Did the spirits knowingly cause the swine to run down a steep place and drown? This I cannot believe! Surely the swine died in spite of the needs and desires of the spirits. I can believe that since they did not have time to prepare the swine for something as invasive as possession that the swine, as a collective herd, went completely out of control. For those of you who know anything about the “herd mentally” you know it often takes no more than a few swine, cows, sheep, buffalo, or even men, to upset and stampede the whole herd. In this case we are talking about the immediate and simultaneous possession of about two thousand animals; is it any wonder they acted the way they did?

When the swine died, what happened to the spirits? The answer is that nothing happened to them! Certainly, they must have had to wander for a while “seeking rest”; but at least they had not been sent to the bottomless pit -- not yet anyway! It is my belief, my hope, and my prayer, that the vast majority of those angels who once sinned will never see the inside of that pit. God willing, they will have a full, productive, and important part to play in the days to come during the time of God’s Kingdom here upon the Earth. But possibly, just possibly, even in the short time leading up to the triumphant return of Jesus and the setting up of His Father’s Kingdom.

Note: As much as I enjoy launching my thoughts into cyber-space each week, I find that my own studies have been suffering because of it. I doubt that anyone could properly understand (or believe) the work that goes into each message; or the fear I live with that something I say may cause one of my brethren to doubt or to stumble in their faith. It may be that I must soon place a pause in this blogsite -- at least long enough to catch up on the many subject-studies I’ve been delaying. Next week I hope to offer you a few more of the “snippets” of information I refer to as “Bits and Pieces -- 3.”

My Name is Legion -- Part 2

2007-04-20T00:06:00.000-04:00

We learn from the Bible that “the Saints shall judge angels.” If there is to be any hope of redemption for the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion that hope must lie in the judgment of the Saints; but how prepared are we to effect righteous judgment? Who are these angels? Where have they been since the time of Lucifer’s rebellion? What have they been doing all this time? Are they all “demon spirits” worthy only of banishment or destruction in the lake of fire; or have some repented of their sin, wanting only to atone and to fulfill their created purpose as servants to the Saints? And now, the meeting of Jesus with the spirit whose name was Legion:

“When Jesus arrived in the country of the Gergesenes...”

Comment: Jesus and his disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee from the land of Galilee to the country of the Gergesenes -or- to the country of the Gadarenes. Matthew refers to it as the country of the Gergesenes (1086 = “one of the native inhabitants of Palestine.”) Mark and Luke refer to it as “the country of the Gadarenes” (1046 = “an inhabitant of Gadara.”) There is no conflict here; the Gergesenes were inhabitants of Gadara.
Also: The Sea of Galilee has been known at various times as the Sea of Galilee; the Lake of Gennesaret; Lake Chinnereth; and/or the Sea of Tiberias.

“...there met him two men...”

Comment: According to the account in Matthew, two men came out of the tombs to meet Jesus. Both of these men were possessed by devils but apparently only one of them played a significant part in the events which followed.

“...who had been possessed by devils [or evil spirits] for a long time.”

Comment: Before getting more deeply involved in this study, it may be helpful to show the original words used in the Bible when referring to spirit-beings and where that word is located in the passages under discussion. I suggest that you open your Bible and note the context of each word; try to understand why that particular word was chosen.
Also: I realize that much of the introduction to this study can be somewhat dry and uninteresting; all I can say is that it does get much, much better as we go along:

1139 = to be exercised by a demon -or- to be used by or possessed: Matthew 8:28 & 33; and Mark 5:15.

1140 = a demonic being: Luke 8:27 & 30 & 33.

1142 = a demon or supernatural spirit: Matthew 8:31; Mark 5:12; and Luke 8:29.

169/4151 = an unclean or impure spirit; Mark 5:2 & 8 & 13; and Luke 8:29.

“The possessed man had his dwelling among the tombs...”

Comment: It is apparent that this man lived in, or in the area of the tombs. The account recorded in Luke is a little more specific in that it tells us he “lived not in a house.” Whether this means he lived out in the open or had found shelter in a cave or mausoleum is not known.

“...exceeding fierce so that no man might pass by that way...”

Comment: No man could pass by way of the tombs because of the fierceness of the men who were possessed; however, the people who lived in the land must have on occasion used force to subdue these men, because:

“...he had often been chained and fettered, yet he always broke the chains and fetters to free himself.”

Comment: Once subdued, the movements of these men were then restricted by leg fetters and chains. Assuming that the chains and fetters were forged of iron, and well made, it must have taken great strength to break them. And yet we are told that the man always managed to break his bonds; he always managed to free himself. We are also told that no man could tame him; was it natural strength or madness that gave this man physical powers which were greater than normal? There are many examples of humans showing almost super-human strength in situations of adversity; was that the case here?

“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.”

Comment: In Mark and Luke we are told that the man was driven into the wilderness by the spirits and that day and night he would cry aloud and cut himself with stones. Did the demons force the man to injure himself? Does God permit demons to cause physical harm to those whom they possess?

In the book of Job 2:3-7 God allowed Satan to “smite Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto the crown of his head”; while in the New Testament there are several examples of illness or infirmity being healed by casting out an offending spirit. For some obscure reason not fully understood at this time, it appears that God did allow, and possibly still does allow, the possession of humans by spirit beings. However, while I do not believe they have God’s permission to arbitrarily injure those whom they possess, I can understand where the one possessed, in torment and confusion, might do harm to themselves.

Why would God ever allow possession? Assuming a greater power and intellect than man, why would any spirit, any angel, ever want to take over or possess a physical body? If, as I suspect, the incidence of human possession is far less today than in the time of Jesus, why would this be so?

“When [the possessed man] saw Jesus afar off, he ran and fell down before him and worshipped him...”

Comment: Was it the man, or the spirit in possession of the man, that fell down before Jesus and worshipped him? As much as I want to believe the man retained sufficient control and awareness to beg relief from his torment, the context makes it quite clear that the supplicant in this case was the spirit, not the man. There is also the probability that this man would have been unable to recognize Jesus for whom and what he was; the spirits however would have known Jesus, and would have had little or no choice but to show him a certain level of respect and obedience.

To what extent is the spirit world aware of what goes on in the temporal world? Their knowledge and experience predates the original creation where we are told they sang for joy at the beauty and perfection of it. They experienced the rebellion of Lucifer; they even played some part in that rebellion and saw the destruction and devastation it caused. They saw the re-creation of this world and experienced the introduction of man.

I believe the angels have the ability to see, experience, and remember everything that has taken place from the moment of their creation. I am, however, uncertain as to how much understanding they had, or have, of things yet to come. I do especially wonder at what point in time the Archangel Lucifer came to understand the destiny which God has prepared for mankind. How did Lucifer accept this understanding? What part, if any, did this knowledge play in his rebellion?

“Jesus said: ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.’”

Comment: According to the original scriptural texts, the words used by Jesus with reference to this spirit were “akathartos pneuma”; that is to say “akathartos” 169 = “unclean or impure” and “pneuma” 4151 = (figuratively) “spirit.” Jesus believed he had the authority to demand obedience from these possessing spirits. The words he used were in the form of a command; it was not a request. The spirits did not dispute Jesus’ authority; neither did they question their need to obey; however, although they did in fact comply with his demand that compliance was not immediate.

We need to remember that earlier in his ministry, Jesus had, “...rebuked [the spirits] and ordered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ” (Luke 4:41). In the account of the men from the tombs we find a spirit, or spirits, that remained neither silent nor immediately obeyed.

To get an even better understanding of the varying attitudes found within the spirit world you should read in Matthew 10:1 where Jesus sent out twelve of his disciples, “...giving them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out.” Then in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 we find a man whose son was possessed by a spirit; this man brought his son to the disciples but they were unable to cast out the spirit. Jesus explained to his disciples that their attempt failed due to their lack of faith. He further explained: “...this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.”

There are several things to be learned from all this. The disciples had previously been successful in casting out many spirits and in this case must have given their command fully believing the spirit would obey. Why then did they fail? Jesus said it was due to their lack of faith; but having succeeded many times before, why would they have reason to doubt in this case? Is belief in a successful outcome not faith? If their belief was not realized does this constitute an absence of faith; or simply a lack of sufficient faith?

Is there a way for us to measure belief? Jesus said: “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove…’” When the disciples failed to cast out the spirit troubling the young boy, did not one of them “have faith as a grain of mustard seed”; or is it that we have an inaccurate or incomplete understanding of the message Jesus was trying to convey?

The faith of the disciples had been sufficient in previous attempts to cast out evil spirits, but it is my belief that in this case the power of this particular spirit was greater than the faith of the disciples! Jesus was telling them there are different spirits; some are more powerful, and some are more evil. If what I believe is true, then it may also be that some are patiently awaiting judgment while others believe they have gone beyond the point of redemption and have rejected all thought of repentance. Nevertheless, in this instance Jesus said: “This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.”

“And behold, [the spirits] cried out saying, ‘What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Are you come to torment us before our time?’”

Comment: When Jesus ordered the spirits to come out of the man, did he expect immediate obedience? He didn’t get it! What was the response of the spirits and how was that response received by Jesus? How I wish these scriptures had been written to give us a better understanding of His emotions during this encounter. Was he upset; or offended? Did the apparent disobedience of the spirits make him angry? Can we be sure that the response of the spirits was disobedience? There is so much to wonder about in the words spoken by the spirits that once again I feel it necessary to break down the whole and examine it line by line, point by point:

(a) “And the spirit(s) cried out with a loud voice...” Did the spirit actually speak out loud? If so, what language did it use? There are scriptural examples of Jesus hearing words spoken by God or angels that others could not hear. In this case, especially when it was recorded by three different disciples, I tend to believe they were able to hear and understand this confrontation.

(b) “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you son of God…” Boy oh boy oh boy! I can almost hear the spirits speaking in the vernacular of today and saying: “Don’t bother me man, I know my rights!” They recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. They knew he had been given power and authority by God the Father. But they also knew that Jesus had come to fulfil a specific purpose in the plan of Almighty God; a plan which He is working out here upon the Earth and that it did not, at that time, include any form of dispensation towards the angels that once had sinned. It was not yet time for these angels to be judged -- and they knew it!

(c) “Are you here to torment us before our time?” The spirits know that the time is coming when they will be called to account for their past conduct. It is my hope that a majority of them will be received with understanding and with compassion; God willing, for most of them judgment will not be overly severe. However, the Scriptures make it quite clear that within the realm of angels, as it is amongst men, there are those that face a future without redemption.

The Bible, when referring to the sins of mankind is quite explicit when it tells us “the wages of sin is death.” For those to whom the sacrifice of Jesus will either be refused or rejected that punishment will amount to death for all eternity. Those who believe in a literal hell, whose fires torment the sinner forever, do not even begin to understand the basic compassion of our Creator. For those who cannot, or will not live within the bounds of righteousness, oblivion for eternity is the only merciful solution.

My understanding of the Scriptures leads me to believe that for the angels this option of oblivion may not apply. The angels are spirit, and spirit has eternal life; so that logically we are being told the angels cannot die. Whatever the future holds for “impure spirits” is yet to be determined, but for these spirits in the land of the Gadarenes what mattered most was that their time of judgment was not yet! “Are you here to torment us before our time” they said. This question, or statement, was one which Jesus did not dispute.

(d) “You son of God” ... “Son of the Most High God” ... “Son of God most high” Whether you call these angels unclean spirits, impure spirits, devils, or demons, the previous three statements show a profound respect for the Almighty and Everlasting God. Those of you whose understanding of devils and demons originates from stories such as “The Exorcist,” I would be interested to know how this show of respect and obedience might influence your opinion.

(e) “I adjure you by God, that you torment me not.” Do you realize what this scripture is telling us? The spirit is using the word “horkizo” 3726 = as an oath, or something sworn; and it calls on God as an authority to back up that oath. In other words, the spirit is using God as its authority when it tells Jesus, (or is it ordering Jesus) to, “Torment [or torture; or punish] me not!”

The fact is that Jesus was not trying to torment the spirit. In fact, it is fair to say that Jesus also knew the time for judgment of the angels was not yet. However, He was letting them know they would no longer be allowed to inhabit this man from the tombs. By extension, it is my belief that the spirits have since come to realize that while the possession of humans may have been acceptable or at least justifiable in the past; it would no longer be so.

“And Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And [the spirit] answered, saying, ‘my name is Legion: for we are many.’”

Did Jesus really expect the spirit(s) to give him an actual name; or was he simply asking them to somehow identify themselves? A Roman Legion numbered between 3,000 and 6,000 men, so when the spirit answered, “My name is Legion; for we are many,” it was apparently giving Jesus an honest and somewhat factual answer. But again the questions must be asked: Why would so many spirits want to invade the body of the same human host? Why would any spirit ever want to invade the body of any human host? I do have some theories which may answer both questions, but in the meantime I hope you will make some effort to answer these questions for yourselves.

Note: Next week I hope to complete this study with the posting of “My Name is Legion -- Part 3”

My Name Is Legion -- Part 1

2007-04-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Some time before the original creation of the earth (science shows this to have been more than 13 billion years ago) God created angels. From the Scriptures, we can determine that there are many millions, perhaps even billions of angels and at some point in time the Archangel Lucifer was placed in a position of direct authority over one third of them. In a previous message on this blogsite, I discussed my belief that the vast majority of the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion have long since repented of their sin and are waiting -- as we are waiting -- for a day of judgment to arrive. I would recommend that now or later, you go to the Archives of this blogsite and take time to read and consider “The Angels that Sinned.”

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

One of the more important questions I hope to answer over the next few weeks will be whether or not some of the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion do now, today, on occasion inhabit the bodies of lower animals. I do with some reservation believe this happens; and when it does this “possession” is not a short term or temporary occurrence but an event which covers the lifetime of the animal. However, I want to impress upon you that I do not see this possession as a malignancy; neither do I believe that the angels in these cases are those referred to in the Bible as “demon spirits.”

Are all of the lower animals possessed? No; I don’t believe so! Are some humans also possessed? I admit to believing this possibility exists: but if some humans are or have been possessed in these most recent times it would have been by “demon spirits.” It is my belief that demon spirits belong to a very small minority of the angels which long ago followed Lucifer in his rebellion.

Let me repeat that last statement and expand upon it. Of the one-third of all of God’s angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion, it is my belief that relatively few should be classed today as demons. Can there be any hope of redemption for the angels: “...who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode; [God] has reserved [them] in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day...” (Jude 6)? This is just one of the many important questions we need to more carefully consider.

The present state of the angels that sinned is a question I believe needs to be given far more thought and consideration than it has so far received. Anyone truly interested in this subject should begin by going to the Archives of this blogsite to locate and read the previously published message “The Angels that Sinned.”

Why God Created Angels

There is so much that mankind has yet to learn; and so very much we could learn from those angels that have been bound to the Earth since their rebellion -- at least, from those who have truly repented of their sin. They must have built up a storehouse of knowledge and experience from before the original creation, through the rebellion, the destruction, and then the re-construction of the world as we now know it; down to this present day and beyond. The very thought of being able to benefit from their service, and from their vast experience, seems wonderful to me.

According to the writings of the Apostle John, the Lord of the Old Testament was the one who gave up his position as God to become the human we know today as Jesus. Did he simply waste his time and energy when he, “...went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (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.

Did God actually preach to those angels for 120 years; if so, what was His message?
Was their fate already assured? Do you truly believe He went from one angel to the next telling each and every one they were doomed to the lake of fire -- and this for one hundred and twenty years? Does such a belief truly make any sense to you?

Why were these particular beings created? Why did they rebel? And if they did in fact rebel how can there be any hope for their redemption? If they did receive words of hope in the preaching they heard during the days of Noah and if some of them did in fact heed those words and repent, what have they been doing from that time until now?

At this point I want to draw your attention to a few Bible facts. First, from the book of Hebrews 1:14 when speaking about angels it says: “...are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister [to serve] for them who shall inherit salvation?” Next, from 1st Corinthians 6:2 we are told “the saints shall judge the world”; and if that’s not enough to humble anyone who aspires to sainthood then read on in verse 3 where it tells us: “Know you not that we shall judge angels!”

What angels does the Bible refer to when it says they shall be judged by the saints? God’s angels are without sin; they are in no need of judgment! The demons of Satan are already condemned and are destined for the lake of fire. There must then be a third category of angels and it is them that I see as a potentially fascinating source of help, information, and knowledge in the age and life to come -- does Hebrews 1:14 not assure us they were originally created to serve those who shall one day inherit salvation?

Possession -- Malignant or Benign

There are many New Testament examples of possession by demons and/or unclean spirits; but a careful study will show that not all of these cases were overtly malignant. That is to say, not all instances of possession show an evil intent on the part of the offending spirit. Nevertheless, the words and the actions of Jesus in casting out these spirits clearly show that human possession of any kind would no longer be permitted.

It is apparent that in the time of Jesus, and to a certain extent in the time of the apostles following Jesus, spirit possession of humans was not uncommon. If human possession still takes place today, then I must believe these instances are very isolated and far from common. It seems reasonable that if these statements are true then something must have happened to change the frequency of human possession. The question may then be asked: “Why were there so many instances of possession in Jesus day?” I hope we can answer this question as we go along.

When a simple word from Jesus or the disciples was not enough to force an offending spirit to depart, there were instances where the situation became quite exciting. One example in particular would not have been too out of place in the fictional story of “The Exorcist”; and since it did not involve either Jesus or his followers, why don’t we take a look at that one first.

In Acts 19:11-16 we read: “And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from [sick people] and evil spirits went out of [those who were possessed].” At this time there were seven men who were sons of a Jewish chief of the priests named Sceva; they considered themselves to be exorcists. These men were apparently not followers of Jesus, Paul, or any other of the apostles. They took it upon themselves to attempt an exorcism of evil spirits from some people who were possessed, invoking the power of God by saying: “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

These gentlemen obviously expected the evil spirit to immediately depart and for the individuals possessed to once again be free; but such was not the case. The evil spirit answered the men by saying: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” At this point the man in whom the evil spirit resided leaped upon the seven men, overpowered them and tore off their clothing so that they ran away naked and injured.

Note: I have paraphrased parts of the preceding so you really should read it for yourself from your own Bible, but I’m sure you will agree that this event must have been quite exciting and in a very real sense somewhat frightening.

In most cases the spirit or spirits left their human host without causing a great deal of fuss; it is this that prompts the next question which must be asked. Why were some of these spirits apparently quite reasonable while others were markedly unreasonable? Let me begin by saying that the New Testament words most commonly used when referring to devils or evil spirits are listed in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance under the reference numbers: 1140 = a demonic being; 1141 = demon-like; 1142 = a demon or supernatural spirit; and most commonly 1139 = to be exercised by a demon or: to be used by or possessed (by).

There are others which the Bible refers to as “unclean spirits” and these are found under the reference numbers 169 and 4151 as follows: 169 = unclean or impure; and 4151 = spirit.

I believe that as there have been degrees of unrighteousness in man, so have there been degrees of unrighteousness in angels. In Ezekiel 28:15 when speaking about Lucifer (now known as Satan or the Devil) God says: “You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created until iniquity was found in you.” Here we have on the one hand Lucifer, an Archangel of God who was created without sin; and on the other hand the extreme opposite in Satan. Likewise, as we shall see later, some of the angels that sinned so very long ago appear to be more disagreeable, more powerful, and even more evil, than many of the others.

From the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ he performed miracles and healed all manner of sickness and disease among the people. Matthew 4:24 also tells us: “...they brought unto [Jesus] …those which were possessed with devils…and he healed them.”

In Matthew 8:16 it says: “And [Jesus] cast out the spirits with his word…” You can find many places where the spirits were obedient to the words of Jesus and left their human host with little or no difficulty, but such was not always the case. In fact, in the first recorded example of an exorcism, found in the book of Mark, Jesus had to repeat his command and the second time his command was said more sharply than the first time:

Mark 1:23-26 “And there was in [the] synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out saying, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth, are you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ And Jesus rebuked him saying, ‘Hold your peace, and come out of him.’ And when the unclean spirit had torn him and cried with a loud voice, he [or it] came out of him.”

Some time later we read in Mark 1:34 “He [Jesus]…cast out many devils; and suffered them not to speak, because they knew him.”

One of the more fascinating stories of possession concerns a man Jesus encountered in the land of the Gadarenes. The account of this meeting as it is related in Matthew begins by speaking of two men; but by studying all of the scriptures together it appears that of the two individuals encountered by Jesus only one of them actually played a prominent part in the events that took place. You will find this confrontation recorded in Matthew 8:28-32; Mark 5:1-13; and Luke 8:26-33; and it is this confrontation I intend to discuss over the next few weeks. If you take time to study each and every one of these examples by yourself, I believe you will find an abundance of fascinating information.

Jesus and his disciples had crossed the Sea of Galilee and had entered the land of the Gadarenes where they met a man who had been possessed by devils for a long time. This man apparently lived in the tombs; but sometimes the spirits would drive him into the mountains or into the wilderness. He was quite fierce and obviously very strong; for many times he had been bound with fetters and chains, each time managing to free himself by breaking both the fetters and the chains. This man was so troubled that he never wore any clothing; and both day and night, whether in the mountains or in the tombs, he would cry aloud and cut himself with stones.

Question: Do the possessing spirits make their human hosts act in such an erratic and troubled manner? Do they force their hosts to harm themselves; cutting themselves with stones? There is even an example in Matthew 17 where a possessing spirit would cause a young boy to fall into the fire or into a body of water? Could this troubled behaviour arise from the fact that humans object to being possessed and have sufficient intellect to feel angry and offended by that possession?

In any event, this man in the land of the Gadarenes saw Jesus and ran toward him worshipping and pleading and calling Jesus by name. When Jesus asked the spirit, “What is your name” the spirit answered, saying, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” It is important that you hear all of the words attributed to the possessing spirits from each of the accounts as written. In Matthew the initial greeting of the spirits was, “What have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God? Are you come here to torment us before our time?” In Mark it says “What have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God that you torment me not.”

Note: At this point I came to realize that trying to show each separate account of the incident in this present format would be most confusing. What I chose to do instead was paraphrase each recorded portion of the incident in my own words; however, you should study each account for yourselves, as they were recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, directly from your own Bibles.

For each statement, I have added a clarifying “Comment” giving you some insight into how I personally understand the events of this meeting. Hopefully by examining point-by-point everything that happened, we will be able to isolate and identify far more than we could by trying to glean understanding from the gospels as they are written.

Does that sound overly pretentious to anyone? Does it even smack of sacrilege to suggest that man may improve on inspired scripture? Allow me to draw your attention to some direction on this from the Old Testament book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 28:9-11 “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk; [or] those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people...”

I intend to use these instructions to help us learn as much as possible about the possessed man in the land of Gadara; and the devils, demons, or unclean-spirits that possessed him:

Note: Next week, in “My Name is Legion -- Part 2” I hope to immediately immerse each of us in the actual meeting of Jesus with the man in whom there were a “Legion” of possessing-spirits. In preparation, I would strongly suggest that you become as familiar as possible with this event as it has been recorded in Matthew 8:28-32; Mark 5:1-13; and Luke 8:26-33. I am convinced that as you gain a more perfect understanding of what actually took place, you will find it as absolutely fascinating as I do.

When We Die

2007-04-06T00:20:00.000-04:00

On this blogsite I have tried to resist sermonizing; those who minister over us have been trained to this service and I am more than happy to leave the preaching of sermons in their capable hands. That having been said: the following essay was prepared several years ago as a guide for the funeral service of a friend. Every so often I review its contents and each time I actually find the selected scriptures quite comforting; I thought perhaps you would find them as comforting as I do.

Note: It had been my intention to read only the words; without quoting the references (Book of the Bible, chapter, and verse.) However, there are times when for the sake of continuity and clarity a reference could, and perhaps should be given; but I leave this choice up to you as you read along

Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”

Job 1:8 “Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’”

Job 1:9-11 “So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!’”

What happened next may seem to contain a certain amount of senseless tragedy. If ever a man could expect the complete protection of God it should have been Righteous Job. Instead, God allowed Satan to afflict him in the most horrible ways; his servants were killed and all of his livestock either died or were stolen. All of his children died; and Job himself ended up sitting on an ash heap scraping pus off boils that covered his entire body. And what was the reaction of Job?

Job 1:21-22 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

Job 14:1-5 Later, Job was speaking to God about his understanding of death when he said: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.” (Verse: 5) “His days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”

Job 14:10-13 “But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he? As water disappears from the sea, and a river becomes parched and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, [will they] not awake nor be roused from their sleep? Oh, that you would hide me in the grave; that you would conceal me until your wrath is past; that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Then in verse 14 Job asks God a question. He asks: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” Then Job immediately answers his own question: “All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer you; you shall desire the work of your hands.”

And in Job 42:17 it says quite simply: “So Job died, being old and full of days.”

Another of the great men of the Bible was the prophet Daniel. The Book of Daniel is just one of the many fascinating and informative books which make up what is commonly referred to as the Old Testament. We need to remember that when Jesus and the apostles made reference to the Scriptures, there was no such thing as the New Testament; only that which we now refer to as the Old!

The tenth chapter of the Book of Daniel is fascinating, but I would draw your attention to the part where an angel of God was referring to Daniel when he said: “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved.” But even though Daniel was greatly beloved of God he still had to follow the destiny of mankind and go to his grave. However; notice the way the angel referred to the passing of Daniel in the last verse of the final chapter.

Daniel 12:13 “[The angel said:] ‘But you [Daniel] go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Almost everyone has heard of David, the shepherd boy who fought and killed Goliath, the giant of Gath. It was this same David whom God chose to be king over the people and nation of Israel.

In the Book of Acts 13:22 we are told: “And when [God] had removed [King Saul], He raised up for [Israel] David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.’”

2 Samuel 7:12 And yet, the prophet Nathan said to David the king, “When your days are fulfilled, you shall sleep with your fathers.” So then David, King of Israel died; yet the Bible refers to his death in this way:

1 Kings 2:10 “So David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.”

Acts of the Apostles 2:29-35…These are the words that were spoken by the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost shortly after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, when the Spirit of God was manifest with power over the apostles. Peter said: “Men and brethren let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit upon his throne [i.e. the Messiah would one day sit upon the throne of David]. He [David] seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he would not be left in the grave nor would his flesh see corruption.

(Peter continued...) “This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out [that Spirit with power] which you now see and hear. (Listen to the words of Peter when he says...) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, ‘The Lord said unto my lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’”

This may all seem a little complicated, but Peter began this part of his speech by saying: “King David is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre [his grave] is with us to this day.” And Peter ended by saying: “For David is not ascended into the heavens!”

I know you remember Moses; it was Moses who led the people of Israel out of Egypt. He led them to the borders of the Promised Land but Moses was not allowed to enter into this Promised Land. Moses was not allowed to enter even though -- God had promised this land would be given to Moses and to his people forever!

Deuteronomy 31:16 “And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, you will sleep with your fathers…”

Job; Daniel; David; Moses; is it possible that all these great men of God are still in their graves?

John 3:13 These are the words of Jesus the Messiah; long after the time of Job, and Daniel, and David, and Moses; Jesus said: “And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is [from] heaven.”

The book of John was written long after the death, resurrection and ascension of the Christ, the Messiah; and yet here it is telling us that only Jesus has ever gone to heaven!

We have read about Job and Daniel; Moses and David; but there were so many other great men and women in the Bible:

Hebrews 11 is known as the “Faith” chapter; a most beautiful chapter of the Bible. Abel; Enoch; Noah; Abraham; Sarah; Rebekah; Ruth; “These all died in faith, not having received the promises…” It goes on to mention Isaac; Jacob; Joseph; Gideon; Barak; Samson; Samuel and many, many others: “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions … And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

This bears repeating: “That they [the Patriarchs] without us should not be made perfect!” Does this sound to you as if they are all in heaven? Or does it sound as if they are all still asleep; waiting for a future day of resurrection and redemption?

1st Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now Christ [is] risen from the dead -- and [has] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (Verse: 23)…“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits: afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”

Notice: “They that are Christ’s at his coming” refers to those who will live again at the time of the first resurrection: “...they [shall live and reign] with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Revelation 20:5 “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. (Verse: 12)…“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Notice: They shall not be judged by the works of this life, but by their works in the life to come; at a time when they will be allowed to understand that which is written in the books!

The vast majority of those who have lived and died upon the earth have never even heard the name “Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Of those who have heard his name, very few have ever taken the time to learn anything about him or about his message. Of those who have tried to understand, the Bible says: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This does not in any way condemn those who at this time have not been chosen; nor does it elevate in stature those who, for whatever reason, have been chosen. God our Heavenly Father will do everything according to His own will in working out His mysteries here upon the Earth. Those who believe they have for some reason been “set apart” by the Almighty God at this time, should read and carefully heed Paul’s letter to the people of Corinth:

1st Corinthians 1:26-29 “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world and things which are despised God has chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

The man we know as Jesus came to proclaim the “gospel,” the “good news” of a coming world kingdom that shall be governed according to the laws of God; and to become a living sacrifice so that man may one day live again. He took to himself a few disciples for a special purpose -- but he did not even try to teach the people! Even his own disciples learned very little until after Jesus died and had risen from the dead.

Mark 4:11-12 “And [Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without [to most of the people] all these things are done in parables [or puzzles]: that seeing they may see and not perceive: and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”

Luke 24:44-45 Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, he met with his disciples and said to them: “These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures!”

Would God condemn those who in this life He Himself has not allowed to understand?

2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 “But if our gospel [our good news] is hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost [in this life]: in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them.”

And who is the god of this world? Revelation 12:9 “And the dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world.”

We have almost reached the point in man’s history which is referred to in the book of Revelation 20:1-3 “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him [for] a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years should be fulfilled…”

Revelation 20:12-13 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books [of the Bible] were opened [to their understanding]: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

NOTE: At this point I was uncertain as to how to go about finishing this work. You need to remember it was being prepared for a funeral service which never took place. Since I would have been speaking to people with only a bare understanding of the Scriptures I was reluctant to mention any of God’s Holy Days; but without some understanding of those days there can be no real understanding of the wonderful plan of God. How can anyone discuss the resurrection of “the rest of the dead,” without even mentioning the Last Great Day? Here, now, today, I must!

There is some indication that the period of time in which these people will be judged will last for one hundred years and will take place following the Millennium. “And the sea gave up the dead [who] were in it; and death and the grave delivered up the dead [who] were in them: and they were judged everyone according to their works.”

The Bible lists a series of special high holy days which those who honour God observe every year. These days allow us to understand a sequence of events in the spiritual progression of mankind. The last few of these special High Holy Days are observed each year in the autumn; they are the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. The Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration of the prophesied thousand-year reign of Christ as King of kings over the Earth. Immediately following the Feast of Tabernacles, (actually referred to in the Bible as the eighth day of the feast), is the Last Great Day.

John 7:2 & 37 “Now the [Judean] feast of tabernacles was at hand”; [as opposed to the feast which was held at the same time in Samaria.] (37) “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, ‘If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink…’”

At the end of the Feast of Tabernacles the Last Great Day begins -- and at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus over the Kingdom of God the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Last Great Day will begin. At this future time the vast majority of the people who have already lived and died upon the Earth will be given their first opportunity to understand the mysteries of God. This is not a second chance for these people -- for the very first time the books of the Bible will be opened to their understanding. Teachers will be available to help anyone who cannot fully and completely understand. It will then be up to each of them, as individuals, to choose for themselves whether they will or will not live their lives in obedience to the laws of God.

For the preceding one-thousand years (the time known as the Millennium) the Earth will have been renewed by those who had laboured according to the precepts of God. Working together under His laws they will have been able to carry out the restoration of the Earth; bringing it back from the desolation that will take place at the end of this age, to the paradise it shall be by the end of the thousand years. At this time: “…the rest of the dead, both small and great, [shall] stand before God.” When these people open their eyes, their first conscious thought since they “fell asleep” will be to appreciate the beauty which is one of the material benefits that come from obedience to the laws of God.

When we fall asleep, it doesn’t matter whether we sleep for one hour or more than a thousand years; our next conscious thought will take place in the blink of an eye. The patriarch Job summed this up perfectly when he said: “All the days of my appointed time I will wait, until my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.”

Note: Those who have read “The Angels that Sinned,” previously published to this blog-site, are aware of my belief that most of the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion have long since repented of their sin and are waiting, as we are waiting, for a day of redemption to arrive. Many years ago I asked myself: “What have these angels been doing since the time of their rebellion until now?” Over the next few weeks I shall attempt to answer a portion of that question as I discuss the “unclean-spirits” which possessed the man in the land of the Gadarenes who told Jesus “My Name is Legion.”

The Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 2

2007-03-30T00:22:00.000-04:00

The best way to begin this week’s discussion may be to repeat a question that was asked towards the end of “Part 1.” Why is it that throughout the writings of the Apostles there is absolutely no mention of John ever exhibiting even one of the powers of Elijah? Those who believe that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah must provide an acceptable answer to this question; if only to themselves.

Have you ever taken the time to search the Old Testament account of Elijah; and of Elisha who not only took up the mantle of Elijah but also inherited his powers? If you have not, then perhaps it’s time you did.

In 1st Kings 18:22 Elijah said of himself: “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD”; and yet, if we are to understand the full powers of Elijah we must also research the experiences and abilities of Elisha. Notice 1st Kings 19:15-16 “[The Lord said to Elijah:] ‘Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.’” And then in 2nd Kings 2:9 “And so it was ... that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’”

2nd Kings 2:15 “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw [Elisha], they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.”

Remember: it is not the actual Elijah who fulfills the prophecy, but someone who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah! You must decide for yourself, in the light of Holy Scripture, whether this was fulfilled by John the Baptist -- or by Jesus the Christ.

The following passages compare the powers displayed by the Old Testament prophets Elijah and/or Elisha with the powers which were manifest by Jesus. Rather than insert comments of my own with each example, I would prefer that you determine for yourself what these comparisons may or may not mean. It is also strongly recommended that you read each and every one of these passages by yourself, from the pages of your own Bible, placing each pertinent fact carefully within its own scriptural context:

1st Kings 19:7-8 “And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched [Elijah], and said, ‘Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights...”
Matthew 4:1-2 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry.”

1st Kings 17:10-16 “The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.”
Matthew 14:15-21…The five loaves and two fishes feed a multitude -- and Matthew 15:32-38 the seven loaves and a few fishes also feed a multitude.

2nd Kings 5:1-27...Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, is healed of leprosy by Elisha.
Matthew 8:1-3 “When [Jesus] had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

1st Kings 18:37-39…The miracles of Elijah cause the people to say: “The Lord he is the God.”
John 4:48 “Then Jesus said: ‘Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.’”

1st Kings 17:17-23…When the son of the widow of Zarephath died: “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the [life] of the child came back to him, and he revived.”
Mark 5:35-42…The daughter of a ruler of the temple had died … “[Jesus said], ‘Little girl, I say to you, ‘arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked...”

2nd Kings 6:4-7 “…the axe head fell into the water…[Elisha] cut down a stick and cast it into [the water] and the iron did float.”
Matthew 17:27 “[Jesus said to Peter:] ‘...go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money...’”

2nd Kings 6:15-17 “And when the servant of [Elisha] arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And [the servant] said to [Elisha], ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So [Elisha] answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Matthew 26:51-53 “And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?’”

In a previous posting to this blogsite “Turning Water into Wine” I discussed what it must take for anyone to carry out his or her first miracle. For even Jesus to successfully carry out a miracle, he would not only have to believe the miracle would work, but know it was correct (before God) to even make the attempt.

Before turning the water into wine at the feast of Cana, Jesus had survived a fast of forty days and forty nights, a feat no human could accomplish without the intervention of God; and at the completion of this fast God’s angels had come and ministered unto him. Both of these events were manifestations of miracles which were carried out for, not by Jesus -- miracles which had also been carried out for, not by the prophet Elijah!

The Bible refers to yet another event which I consider one of the most beautiful examples of God’s mysteries. This event is mentioned in a rather offhand and obscure way so you may need to spend a little time thinking about it; but consider the deep meditation which must have been the habit of our Saviour and try to learn from it. Notice:

2nd Kings 6:8-12 “[The secret plans of the king of Syria were being relayed to his enemy, the king of Israel, and he was convinced there was a traitor in his house:] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, ‘Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?’ And one of his servants said, ‘None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.’”

Now consider the first meeting of Jesus with Nathaniel, who later become one of His twelve principal disciples:

John 1:45-47 “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ And Nathanael said to [Philip] ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’”

From this passage it may be assumed that both Philip and Nathanael were well versed in their knowledge of the Scriptures and were actively looking for someone of prophetic importance to appear. Now notice the reaction of Nathanael as the meeting continues:

John 1:48-49 “Nathanael said to [Jesus], ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.’”

You really need to study each of these passages, in context, from the pages of your own Bible. The immediate reaction of Nathanael to the statement made by Jesus tells me Nathanael had not only studied the scriptural accounts of Elijah and Elisha -- but had been anticipating the arrival of someone manifesting that spirit and those powers! When Jesus revealed what must have been a secret between Nathaniel and his God, Nathaniel readily accepted this as proof of something! Was that something the manifestation by Jesus of one of the many powers of Elijah -- a power which had been inherited from Elijah by Elisha?

This would be a good time to remind you that the object of this paper was to identify who it was that should come in the spirit and power of Elijah. So far we have only made reference to the times of Elijah and Elisha, and of Jesus and John; but it is important to remember that the message of Malachi 4:5-6 refers specifically to “the time of the end” -- the time immediately preceding the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Revelation 19:15-16 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’”

This is the one whose power will draw down fire from heaven to destroy the armies of the kings of this world -- just as Elijah did! He will destroy the false prophets and the false priests -- just as Elijah did! He will set up an organized system of education to teach the people understanding, wisdom and truth -- just as Elijah did! Can anyone still believe ANY of this is referring to John? It certainly wasn’t Herbert W. Armstrong!

Jesus was the one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah! When he returns it will be with powers far greater than most people could even imagine. The next question you ask might be, “When will He return?” I believe, in a general way, the answer to this question can be found in the seventy-week prophecy of Daniel Nine. It may also be answered in a more definitive way in the dream and the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar recorded in the fourth chapter of the Book of Daniel. But ultimately we must wait, and watch, and pray: “[For] of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Note: During the past few years I have read two separate articles, written by ministers of two separate Churches of God, supposedly “proving” that Herbert W. Armstrong was the end-time Elijah and that before his death in 1986 he had already “restored all things” in preparation for the return of Jesus. I can accept and excuse blindness when it comes to understanding scripture; but when I see my brethren torn apart and scattered by the same men who would teach such ignorance and foolishness then I tend to lose patience.

The following is a direct quotation from one of those articles; notice the adamant and dogmatic attitude which seems to pervade so many of those who would minister over us:

Quote: “To deny that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come before the end-time is either ignorance or willing denial of what is true concerning our history and what God did through him.”

Well I do deny it; and I do so with what I pray is a God-given confidence and humility! I remember Herbert Armstrong as a wonderful old man through whom God revealed many new truths. The ministry of Herbert Armstrong, as he proclaimed the good news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God, was truly inspired of God. However, the ministry of Mr. Armstrong was almost completely devoid of miracles -- it is certain that overt miracles in the spirit and power of Elijah, were not in any way a manifestation of his ministry.

Through the teachings of Herbert Armstrong, the Almighty and Everlasting God restored many truths to the “church” of God. Through his ministry he did indeed turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Through his ministry Mr. Armstrong did indeed turn many of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He did indeed prepare the way for the one who shall soon come in the spirit and power of Elijah -- but Herbert W. Armstrong was not that Elijah!

Because I have an abhorrence of confrontation I have tried (until recently) to keep most of my thoughts and beliefs to myself. Lately I have become more and more convinced that it may have been wrong for me to remain silent. Not long ago this blogsite was made available to me by my eldest son; through his gift I have found not only an outlet for many of my concerns, but an immense relief from what I had begun to perceive as a mounting responsibility over that which I have come to believe.

I thank God for His mercy, His compassion, His many blessings, and His seemingly infinite patience towards me and towards my brethren. Until the return of our Saviour and the setting up of Our Father’s Kingdom I shall continue to pray; “Thy will be done!”

Note: Next week I want to share with you a series of scriptures I put together when I believed I was to be asked to speak at a friend’s funeral. I have never enjoyed any form of public speaking, so I was relieved when my services were not required. Nevertheless, several times since then I have enjoyed going over my notes on “When We Die” and sincerely hope you will find them as interesting and comforting as I do.

The Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 1

2007-03-23T00:05:00.000-04:00

The leaders of at least two of the major off-shoot Churches of God believe that Herbert W. Armstrong fulfilled the end-time prophecy of the one who would come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah. My immediate reaction is to condemn this as absolute nonsense. However, having made so very many mistakes of my own in this lifetime, I must try to show the compassion God has always shown me and consider their beliefs (and their teachings) in the light of Holy Scripture.

The problem as I understand it is that while Mr. Armstrong may be seen as having come in the spirit and power of John the Baptist, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” his ministry was not blessed with any of the overt powers of Elijah. But in our continuing search for a more perfect truth, what we in the “church” and the Churches of God need to realize is -- neither did the ministry of John!

The ministry of John the Baptist succeeded in making ready a people prepared for the Lord; but as it was with Herbert Armstrong, the ministry of John was not blessed with any of the openly displayed powers of Elijah! Therefore, rather than try to show why Herbert Armstrong was not, and could not have been the prophesied Elijah to come; I intend to show that neither did John the Baptist fulfill that prophecy!

Malachi 3:1 “‘Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”

Matthew 11:9-10 “[Jesus said:] ‘But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”

There seems no reason to doubt that John the Baptist was the messenger prophesied to prepare the way before the Lord. However, there tends to be a problem when we try to equate him with the prophesied Elijah. Most of professing Christianity accepts that John fulfilled this prophecy -- as do the ministers of the Churches of God -- but can such a belief stand up to a close, in-depth scrutiny of the Scriptures? There are several passages which on the surface do appear to point directly to John, but we need to take a very close look at each of these -- then consider all other passages which bear on this subject -- before accepting any of it as biblical truth.

Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

This passage is the focal point of the prophecy. While it should be important to each of us that we clearly understand who it was that came in the spirit and power of Elijah, it should also be of great importance that we discover whether or not God has allowed us to accept error in our understanding! If we as a Church have somehow misunderstood the message of this prophecy, then it is imperative that we not only discover the truth of the matter but that we also understand why we were allowed to accept error as truth in the first place! If this was done by the will of God, there must have been a reason!

All right then! I said there were several passages which apparently point to John as the fulfillment of the Elijah to come. In my opinion the first is the most crucial:

Luke 1:13-17 “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”

This seems to say quite clearly that John was to be the prophesied Elijah. The words themselves are apparently a statement made by the angel Gabriel, in private, to a clearly agitated Zacharias. Zacharias must therefore be the sole human source upon whom the accuracy of this quotation depends.

Note: If there is one grave danger for the individual who attempts to understand scripture it is when he or she tries to manipulate the inspired words of God in order to make them fit into a preconceived idea. This danger is especially true when we are found to be adding to, or taking away from, the words as they were inspired to be written: (see Revelation 22:18-19).

That having been said, the meaning of Luke 1:17 changes completely by adding a comma and the words, “whom is,” into the line “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah].” Watch this: “And he shall go before him, in whom is the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah].” According to the enhanced sentence it would be the person before whom John goes who will manifest the spirit and powers of Elijah.

The question that needs to be completely researched and answered in this and subsequent passages of the Bible is whether it was John the Baptist, or Jesus the Christ, who actually fulfilled the prophecy of the Elijah to come. But before considering any possible inaccuracy or misunderstanding in Luke 1:17 we need to look at another passage which seems to point directly to John. Please note that the following passage is quoted in both the Authorized and the New King James Versions:

Matthew 11:13-15 (NKJV) “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Matthew 11:13-15 (AKJV) “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive it, this is Elias [Elijah] which was for to come. He, that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus is the one being quoted in this statement. But whenever Jesus or the Scriptures say, “He, that has ears to hear, let him hear,” it is usually in reference to a mystery, or a parable, or a puzzle that has just been put forward; the implication being that only by the Spirit of God will the hearer be able to understand. In this case, I doubt there are more than a handful of people in the whole of professing Christendom who do not believe that John the Baptist was the promised Elijah!

I believe this verse does indeed contain a mystery and it lies in the words: “And if you will receive it, ‘this is Elias’ who was for to come.” By these words I believe Jesus was making a veiled reference to himself! Notice the similarity in the following passage from the writings of Matthew:

Matthew 16:18 “[Jesus said:] And I also say to you ‘That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...’” (Those of you who are of the “church” of God, and who understand to what I infer by using this passage, will also understand if I repeat the words of Jesus when he said: “He, who has ears to hear, let him hear!”)

Now consider this next passage:

Matthew 17:10-13 “And his disciples asked [Jesus], saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.”

There are many conflicting questions and answers in this passage; we need to look more closely at all of them in hope of finding a little more clarity. Why do the disciples even ask such a question? John was already dead, the ministry of Jesus was well under way, and yet it is apparent from these verses that the possibility of John being the prophesied Elijah had not even occurred to the disciples.

Does the answer made by Jesus clearly tell us John was in fact the prophesied Elijah; or was Jesus doing what he did continuously throughout his ministry, giving his disciples a confusing statement they would understand only if and when the Spirit of God gave them understanding? If there is anything in this exchange between Jesus and his disciples that may be taken as a specific point of truth, it should be the statement made in verse 13: “Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.”

Every time I have heard this verse quoted, or used in a sermon, the speaker has placed emphasis on the first word “then”: “Then the disciples understood...” The implication being that the disciples have finally come to realize what they should have known all along. But what does this verse actually say? It tells us that from the explanation given by Jesus, the disciples understood, or believed, or put together, or surmised that Jesus spoke unto them of John the Baptist. It does not specifically say that Jesus was speaking about John -- only that the disciples believed he was speaking about John!

In order to accept the possibility that the disciples may have misunderstood the answer of Jesus we need to find scriptural evidence to support such a possibility. Contrary to popular opinion, during his earthly ministry Jesus did not make much of an effort to teach his disciples or to help them understand the mysteries of God. Consider the following statement made by Jesus following his death and resurrection.

Luke 24:44-45 “Then [Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.’ And he opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

It may be inferred by this statement that while Jesus was yet with them he told them of many things concerning the mysteries of God, but that much of what he told them they were not able to understand. You need to search the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John by yourself to come to a more perfect personal understanding of this, but the following scriptures may be helpful examples for you to consider:

Matthew 13:10-51 Jesus had been speaking to the people in parables and his disciples came to him and said: “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Jesus explained that the mysteries of God were not given to the people in general; therefore he spoke to the people in parables so they would not be able to understand; however, to the disciples it was given that they should understand. Jesus did on many occasions explain the parables to his disciples; even then, they were not always able to understand. When that happened, Jesus was quite content to leave them in a state of ignorance. Notice verse 51 where Jesus still had to ask them: “Have you understood all these things? They say unto him, ‘Yes Lord.’” Did they in fact understand? Perhaps they did; perhaps not!

Matthew 15:12-16 Jesus had made a statement he apparently expected his disciples to understand: “Then Peter answered and said to [Jesus], ‘Explain this parable to us.’ So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding?’”

Matthew 26:51-54 Even on the night when Jesus was arrested, the Apostle Peter did not understand that these events had to take place: “One of those who were with Jesus ... drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear ... [Jesus said] ‘But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled...?’”

Acts 1:1-6 Following the death and resurrection of Jesus his disciples still did not realize that he would not be setting up the kingdom of God at that time. Notice Acts 1:6 “Therefore, when [the disciples] had come together, they asked [Jesus], saying, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”

Matthew 27:62-63 The chief priests and the Pharisees said to Pontius Pilate: “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’” Apparently the chief priests and Pharisees had a better understanding of what Jesus had prophesied than did his own disciples.

Mark 9:31-32 “For [Jesus] taught his disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after he is killed, he will rise the third day.’ But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him!”

The purpose of these examples is to show that simply because the disciples believed Jesus was saying John was the prophesied Elijah does not necessarily make it so! What we must do now is expand our search of the Scriptures looking for evidence pointing to a more perfect understanding of who it was that actually fulfilled the prophecy of the Elijah to come!

Matthew 11:2-5 “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?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.’”

Q...Why did John send his disciples to ask this question of Jesus; what was it that John wanted to know?

Q...Why did Jesus answer the way he did; what was he trying to convey to John?

Surely the answer to John’s question must be found in the reply given by Jesus. He told John’s disciples to return to John and tell him about the works and the miracles that were being carried out!

Jesus was proving by actual deed that he was in fulfillment of something; it is my belief that he was confirming to his cousin John that he, Jesus, was the one prophesied to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. But in order to more perfectly understand, we need to research the powers and abilities of the original Old Testament Elijah. Whoever was destined to fulfill the prophecy in the time of Jesus and John would have the scriptural example of those powers to guide him.

Q...Have you ever taken the time and the trouble to search for yourself the scriptural account of Elijah -- and of Elisha who not only took up the mantle of Elijah but also inherited his powers?

Those who believe that John was the one who came in the spirit and the power of Elijah must ask themselves why it is that throughout the writings of the Apostles there is absolutely no mention of John ever exhibiting even one of Elijah’s powers!

Note: Next week I hope to complete this search into the identity of the Elijah to come with the posting of “Part 2” of “The Spirit and Power of Elijah.”

Clear Proofs of Mohammad

2007-03-16T00:02:00.000-04:00

Many proponents of both Islam and nominal Christianity seem to believe that God is engaged in a titanic struggle against the forces of evil. They seem to believe that God will lose this struggle unless His followers do everything in their power to fight on His behalf; such ignorance and arrogance is almost beyond belief. In these latter-days of man’s futility the scourge of radical Islam is threatening to bring about the holocaust so feared by many; and to their eternal shame and damnation, they carry out their atrocities in the name of God. But what has any of this to do with God, or with the teachings of Mohammad?

From the recorded dissertations of the Prophet Mohammad (i.e. the Koran), he is quoted as saying: “Whoever will see, will see; whoever will be blind, will be blind; and he is not a keeper over you!” Nevertheless, many of the leaders and clerics of modern-day Islam teach a form of religious ruthlessness which in no way emulates the wisdom and mercy of Almighty God -- or the teachings of Mohammad. I readily admit that much of that which is recorded in the Koran can be very difficult to understand; but why should there be such confusion over the many plainly spoken words and teachings of Mohammad?

Sura 6.104 “Indeed there have come to you clear proofs from your Lord; whoever will therefore see, it is for his own soul and whoever will be blind, it shall be against himself and I am not a keeper over you.”

If the followers of Islam accept the truth of these words, why do they continue to show such virulent hatred towards those who do not (or cannot) believe? Has God not blinded the unbeliever because it His will that (at this time) they should not understand? If there are followers of Islam (or Christianity) who take it upon themselves to force their beliefs upon others, have they not placed their own will against the will of God?

Sura 6.25 “And of them is he who hearkens to you, and We have cast veils over their hearts lest they understand it and a heaviness into their ears; and even if they see every sign they will not believe in it; so much so that when they come to you they only dispute with you; those who disbelieve say: This is naught but the stories of the ancients.”

Now notice the parallel teaching from the Bible:

Isaiah 6:9-10 “And [the Lord] said, ‘Go, and tell this people, ‘Hear indeed, but understand not; and see indeed, but perceive not.’ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and be healed.’”

Mohammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam, came to his people as an apostle of God to teach them in their own Arabic language the truths and mysteries of God as he (Mohammad) understood those truths. Nevertheless, he tells us time and time again in the writings of the Koran that at this time God is not trying to convert all of the people. God decides who shall understand; and God blinds the minds and hearts of those He does not want to understand -- may God forgive those who would force their own beliefs upon others.

Sura 14.4 “And We did not send any apostle but with the language of his people, so that he might explain to them clearly; then Allah makes whom He pleases err and He guides whom He pleases and He is the Mighty, the Wise.”

Sura 29.18 “And if you reject (the truth), nations before you did indeed reject (the truth); and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering (of the message).”

If you take time to search the teachings of the Koran you will find many such statements. Time and time again Mohammad tells us he is only an apostle of God/Allah, sent out to preach and teach God’s truths to his own people in their own Arabic language; and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering of the message.

What I also want to share with you is my belief that Mohammad tried to teach that which he had come to understand of the writings of the prophets and the Patriarchs; writings preserved for us in the Holy Scriptures of God and referred to in these latter days as the Bible.

Sura 29.16 to 29.27 “And We sent Ibrahim [Abraham], when he said to his people: Serve Allah and be careful of (your duty to) Him; this is best for you, if you did but know: and Lut [Lot] believed in Him, and he said: I am fleeing to my Lord, surely He is the Mighty, the Wise. And We granted [to] him [i.e. to Abraham] Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel], and caused the prophethood and the book to remain in his seed, and We gave him his reward in this world, and in the hereafter he will most surely be among the good.”

These words of Mohammad make the book of the Koran one of the major sources of confirmation for the legitimacy of Isaac! The Koran tells us many times that the inheritance passed from Abraham, through Isaac, then through Jacob/Israel to the children of Israel -- at no time do the promises of inheritance pass from Abraham through the line of Ishmael to the Arab peoples.

Perhaps it is time the teachers of Islam began to more perfectly heed the words of their own Prophet: “We granted him Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel], and caused the prophethood and the book to remain in his seed!” ---- Mohammed was not of the seed of Isaac or of Jacob/Israel. It may be argued that whereas “the book” was passed down through the seed of Abraham through Isaac, then Jacob/Israel, then Judah (hence the Jewish people); the prophethood need not have exclusively followed that same path. It is possible that the prophethood may also have passed from Abraham through Ishmael (Abraham’s first-born son and father of the Arab peoples) as well as through Isaac and Jacob/Israel; nevertheless:

Sura 32.23 to 32.25 “And certainly We gave the Book to Musa [Moses] so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel. And We made of them Imams to guide by Our command when they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications. Surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they differ.”

Mohammed was speaking to his own people, in their own Arabic language, when he said; “We gave the Book to [Moses] ... and We made it a guide for the children of Israel.” Note this carefully: “…and We made it a guide for the children of Israel!” The proponents of modern-day Islam teach that God/Allah has assured the providence of the Koran; does He not offer that same assurance of providence to the words recorded in “the Book” (i.e. the Bible) as clear proofs from your Lord? Does Mohammad not speak in God’s name when he says: “...so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it”?

Sura 33.7 “And when We made a covenant with the prophets and with you, and with Nuh [Noah] and Ibrahim [Abraham] and Musa [Moses] and Isa, son of Marium [Jesus, son of Mary], and We made with them a strong covenant.”

Throughout the Koran there is great importance placed on the Patriarchs of the Bible. Do the modern day followers of Islam ever reference the Bible in order to more fully understand who and what these Patriarchs were? To this point in time I have been unable to find anyone with whom I can openly and intelligently discuss the many questions I have about the Koran and the teachings of modern-day Islam. This is not surprising; to this point in time I have been unable to find even one Christian minister with whom I may openly and intelligently discuss the many questions I have about the Bible and the teachings of modern-day Christianity -- and in this I include the ministers of the many different and differing end-time Churches of God!

Preaching Jonah and the Whale

Sura 34.34 “And We never sent a warner to a town but those who led lives in ease in it said: We are surely disbelievers in what you are sent with.”

In sura 37.139 to 37.148 you will find the story of Jonah who was sent to the city of Ninevah with a warning. The Koran tells us that the people of Ninevah did indeed heed his warning; and they repented with sack-cloth and ashes. Therefore, contrary to the statement made in Sura 34.34 there was at least one town where the people repented of their sins, heeding the words of a warner. This is just one of several examples where a story recorded in the Koran seems to contradict other stories recorded in the Koran; even those relating to the same event. However, the possibility exists that only when Jonah first arrived did “those who led lives in ease” in the city of Nineveh tell Jonah “We are surely disbelievers in what you are sent with.”

Sura 37.139 to 37.148 “And Yunus [Jonah] was most surely of the apostles. When he ran away to a ship completely laden, so he shared (with them), but was of those who are cast off. So the fish swallowed him while he did that for which he blamed himself but had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he would certainly have tarried in its belly to the day when they are raised. Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick. And We caused to grow up for him a gourd plant. And We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded. And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.”

I raise this account of Jonah and the great fish for a very specific purpose: Those who have a more perfect understanding of the biblical story of Jonah may see this Qur’anic rendition as overly simplistic. And yet, I challenge you to deny the truth that the story of Jonah as told by the Prophet Mohammad is no less perfect than that which may be heard each and every Sunday morning from the pulpits and/or Sunday Schools of thousands of nominal Christian Churches throughout the world.

In what way does Mohammad portray this story any differently than the stories told by ministers and teachers of the so-called “Christian” Churches? Perhaps the difference lies in the fact that Mohammad has a more perfect understanding of the coming resurrection than do most so-called “Christian” ministers. Notice: “...but had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he [Jonah] would certainly have tarried in [the belly of the great fish] to the day when they are raised.”

Forced Conversion of the Infidel

Whoever submits himself wholly to Allah fulfills the definition of the word “Muslim” i.e. a follower of “Islam.” Unfortunately, in many ways the modern teaching of Islam is in contradiction to the teachings of God as those teachings are recorded in the Koran. Anyone who would deny this need only read and consider the following passage:

Sura 31.22 to 31.23 “And whoever submits himself wholly to Allah and he is the doer of good (to others), he indeed has taken hold of the firmest thing upon which one can lay hold; and Allah’s is the end of affairs. And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you; to Us is their return, then will We inform them of what they did; surely Allah is the Knower of what is in the breasts.

It is God/Allah who will teach disbelievers the error of their ways in the day of His own choosing. It is not the business of any man to take upon himself that which Allah has taken for himself: “And whoever disbelieves let not his disbelief grieve you.” Many modern day followers of Islam, in their own self-righteous indignation, have taken it upon themselves to condemn others for the way they do or do not follow God’s teachings -- this is a right which belongs to no one but God!

Sura 35.23 to 35.25 “You are naught but a warner. Surely We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and a warner; and there is not a people but a warner has gone among them. And if they call you a liar, so did those before them indeed call (their apostles) liars; their apostles had come to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating book.”

How many times did Mohammed try to convince his people without them being able to understand? How many times does Mohammed try to teach his followers today, through the words of the Koran, without them being able to understand? Listen carefully to the words of Mohammed: “…their apostles had come to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating book.”

The clear arguments of the apostles were being offered long before the preaching of Mohammed! The scriptures being used to produce those clear arguments were being used long before the preaching of Mohammed! The illuminating book used to produce those clear arguments was being used long before the preaching of Mohammed. And all that Mohammad refers to in this passage took place long before the Qur’anic record of his preaching!

Sura 39.18 “Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding. Allah has revealed the best announcement, a book conformable in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder the skins of those who fear their Lord, then their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah; this is Allah’s guidance, He guides with it whom He pleases; and (as for) him whom Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.

The apostles of the early “church” of God were taught directly by the man we know as Jesus. They warned against men who would claim divine authority and said, as did the Apostle Paul to the people of Corinth, that even the apostles themselves did not have “dominion” over the people’s faith but were instead to be helpers of their joy. Look it up at Second Corinthians 1:23-24 and read it for yourself.

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.

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. Is Mohammad not telling his people there are Jews and/or Christians who’s devotion and obedience to God is such that their forced conversion to Islam is unnecessary? In fact, is he not suggesting that there are Jews and/or Christians who conform to the very definition of the word “Islam” in that they have chosen to submit themselves and their very lives to God?

Note: Over the next two weeks I hope to discuss the question of the Elijah to come; did the spirit and power of John’s ministry fulfill this prophecy? Some present-day ministers of God actually believe and teach that Herbert Armstrong fulfilled the prophecy of the end-time Elijah; but can this be true? It is my belief that we still await the return of the prophesied Elijah -- but will we be able to recognize him when he does appear? I truly believe in the possibility that nothing I have thus far published to this blogsite is as important to our collective understanding than the true identification of the one who came (and shall yet come) in the “Spirit and Power of Elijah.”

Bits and Pieces -- 2

2007-03-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is a continuation of the “Bits and Pieces” offered in a previous blog. As I have previously mentioned, each week I try to place before you what I have to say in not less than four and not more than six “Microsoft Word” pages. Some subjects require more explanation than this; in these cases I have found that splitting them over two or more weeks works quite well. This leaves me with those subjects which are little more than snippets of information -- I have decided that these occasional little bits and pieces should be dealt with in this way!

The Questions of a Child

As a boy I often asked myself the question: “If God made us, who made God?” As difficult as it is for the mind of man to comprehend, the Bible tells us that God has always existed and shall always exist.

There have been times in my life when I have tried to understand how such a thing was possible; in the end I have been forced to accept that just as man’s powers of sight and hearing have their limitations, so do his powers of reason and understanding. And for those who would deny the existence of God; it is not enough to deny His existence by simply saying that since He cannot have lived forever, He therefore cannot exist now.

By using the logic of man we believe that whatever we can see, hear, smell, taste and touch does in fact exist; and that in its existence it must have had a beginning and shall surely have an end. But how then can something exist without there being a first-cause for its existence?

The logical progression of such reasoning must lead us to an attempt to understand what originally caused the first causative factor to exist. Eventually we must reach the point where we agree there must have been a beginning; and yet in order to have that beginning there must have been yet another causative factor. To pursue such reasoning with the human mind is to pursue madness!

There is much that we can and should search for in our attempt to understand the truths and the mysteries of God; but that which is at this time beyond the understanding of man we must accept as such and leave the questioning to another day. As far as the existence of God is concerned, I believe it is ably and correctly described by the Apostle Paul:

Romans 1:19-20 “Because that which may be known of God is [made clear] to them; for God has shown it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

Executed for Sedition

The night Jesus was arrested he had a good idea as to the events that would follow. He knew that according to the higher morality of God’s laws he was in no way guilty of any crime; but he also knew what the Scriptures have to say in Isaiah 53:12 “…and he was numbered with the transgressors.”

At no time did Jesus ever promote insurrection either among his disciples or among the people who listened to his preaching; and yet the passage recorded at Luke 22:36-38 makes it clear that he made a conscious decision to make it look as if he could be guilty:

Luke 22:36-38 “Then said [Jesus] unto them, ‘But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, ‘And he was reckoned among the transgressors’: for the things concerning me have an end.’ And they said, ‘Lord, behold, here are two swords.’ And he said unto them, ‘It is enough.’”

What did Jesus mean when he said “It is enough” -- enough for what? Two swords were not enough to carry out an insurrection against the armies of Rome, but they were more than enough to indicate guilt in the eyes of the chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin.

“Let this cup pass from me...”

The evening before the arrest, trial, torture, and execution of Jesus, he pleaded with God in prayer: “Please Father, I understand what you have planned for me but I’d rather not go through with it; if it is at all possible would you please get me out of this?”

Jesus had a clear expectation of the horrors awaiting him so is it any wonder that given a choice he would rather not suffer in such a horrible way? With his exceptional and vivid understanding of scripture, we may wonder what would make him think it was even possible to avoid such suffering and death.

Of the many examples of prophetic duality scattered throughout the Bible there is the exceptional story of Abraham (the Father of the Faithful); and God (the Father of us all). Abraham had a son by the name of Isaac; it was Isaac who was chosen to inherit all of the promises God gave to Abraham. And yet, in the Old Testament book of Genesis we find:

Genesis 22:2 “And [God] said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.’”

If you place this passage in its proper context you will see a distinct parallel between Abraham and Isaac, God and Jesus. As you read through the passage you will see that at the last minute the God of the Old Testament removed the burden from Abraham and substituted a ram as an offering of sacrifice in place of Isaac. Did his understanding of this passage give Jesus some hope of relief from his torment; is that what prompted him to say in fervent prayer: ‘O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me’?

All I know for sure is summed up in the final comment Jesus made to the dilemma he was facing; he said: “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

What Does This Mean

There is a short passage in the Old Testament book of Job which I have been unable to find referenced in any of the Bible Commentaries; neither have I seen it explained in any Church of God literature or heard it mentioned in any ministerial sermon. It may be of so little importance it is unworthy of even a scrap of our valuable study time; but that is often what attracts me to a question raised by scripture; much to the annoyance of some!

In defence of myself and what some ministers consider a monumental waste of time and effort, I believe that if for any reason doubt causes even one of my brethren to stumble it is worthy of all my attention and all of my effort to bring about a more perfect clarity. I shall therefore make no apology for that which some may call foolishness!

Job 14:12 “So man lies down, and rises not: till the heavens [are] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” (Authorized King James Version)

Job 14:12 “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.” (New King James Version)

When is this time Job refers to as: “Till the heavens are no more”? Is it possible he was referring to the time of the new heavens and the new Earth? But surely the new heavens and the new Earth will not come about until long after the Millennium? Surely Job does not expect to be left in his grave until the 1,000 year Sabbath of God is complete?

Through trials that would have destroyed most normal men, Job proved himself to be righteous before God. There should be no doubt that he will stand with his brethren on the day the Messiah returns to gather His brethren from the four corners of the Earth -- in preparation for the beginning of the Millennium -- long before the time of the new heavens and the new Earth!

It may be that Job was referring to the time of “the rest of the dead,” those who will not be included in the first resurrection; but how does this fit in with our understanding of events to come? Do we not believe that the White Throne Judgment must take place long before the creation of the new heavens and the new Earth?

Perhaps Job was referring to the time described in Revelation 6:14 when “The sky [will recede] as a scroll when it is rolled up...” But this event leads into the time referred to as “The Wrath of God” and if I understand this time correctly, it can only take place after Satan has been locked away in the bottomless-pit and the resurrection of the “Saints” has already taken place. Note: For those who would question any of this I suggest that you first go to the Archives of this blogsite and read “Opening the Sixth Seal.”

It is my belief that the passage we are discussing was in fact a continuation of the questions Job was asking of God and of himself. In this passage I believe Job made a statement, then asked a question, then answered his own question! See what happens with Job 14:12 if instead of the words “they will” we use the words “will they.” Notice:

Job 14:12 “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, [will they] not awake nor be roused from their sleep?”

Then Job proceeds to answer his own question:

Job 14:13-15 “Oh that you would hide me in the grave; that you would conceal me until your wrath is past that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer you; you shall desire the work of your hands.”

Swine in the Holy Land
In preface to the following story, I should explain that it comes from a comment I made concerning the New Testament account of the man living in the land of the Gadarenes -- the one who was possessed by many demons. When Jesus cast the offending spirits out of the man they entered into a herd of about 2,000 pigs and I remarked on there being so many pigs in a single herd in that one place and at that time.

While I don’t want to get too involved with any of this, I really would like to explain why the story was important to me personally, and why my attitude towards Bible study was effectively altered because of it. From the example of the herd of 2,000 swine I began to look at the messages of the Bible not only from a spiritual point of view, but also from the practical.

It was more than thirty years ago when I first asked myself the question: “Why were there so many pigs being kept in one herd, in an area where so many of the inhabitants had as an important part of their religion an absolute abhorrence of pig meat?” Not long after asking this question I was reading a book on organic gardening and noticed that pig manure was perhaps the most perfectly balanced of all the domesticated animals in the basic nutrients NPK.

The letters NPK are of course symbols for the three main nutrients found in fertilizer: N = nitrogen: P = phosphorus: and K = potassium. Bit by bit I asked myself the questions which led to what I considered to be a most interesting theory. Try to imagine what the farmers’ fields must have looked like in Jesus’ day. The Bible speaks of ploughs, ploughshares, and ploughmen, so we know they had that most excellent implement used for millennia to break up the sod and prepare the fields for cultivation. However, when the fields were ready to be planted, all of the seeding, thinning, weeding, pruning, and the eventual harvesting of the crop had to be done by hand.

If the product grown was one of the many grains, the harvesters would have left behind a field full of stubble. If the crop was one of the many vegetables, the harvesters would have left in the field any and all vines, bushes, leaves, and stalks; as well as those vegetables deemed unfit for human consumption. No matter what the crop, the field would have been littered to some extent with unwanted vegetable matter; and the soil would have been depleted of those nutrients needed to grow that particular crop.

From personal experience, I know the scene of devastation even a small garden may become at the end of the growing season when everything of value has been harvested. The gardener of today, with a few bags of well balanced fertilizer from the local hardware store and a few hours of walking behind a power-driven roto-tiller, can have his or her garden ready for next year’s planting with little or no difficulty. Unfortunately, the farmers in Jesus day did not have access to such conveniences -- or perhaps they did?

You should know that the swine, or hogs, or pigs we see today are a product of decades, if not centuries, of selective breeding; the objective of this selection was to produce a more desirable meat for human consumption. I do not intend to get into a discussion of the merits (or not) of pig-meat as food, but suffice to say that the pigs of today must be quite different from the pigs being herded in the time of Jesus. It should also be safe to say that those swine were closer to their cousins of the wild and that they were more able than today’s animals to root and scavenge for themselves.

With very little difficulty, I can picture in my mind’s eye a large herd of swine moving over a recently harvested field, consuming everything in sight. With their snouts they would have been able to plough the earth to the depth of a foot or more, digging up and consuming roots, vines, potatoes, carrots, or anything else which may be edible. What with many pigs rooting, eating, urinating, and defecating, I must believe that when the herd moved on the field would be well cleared, tilled, and fertilized. After a few months the organisms in the soil would have made the field ready for the next year’s planting.

Since very few farmers could afford to keep such a herd for his own fields, there must have been swine-herders whose lot in life was to travel from field to field throughout the land offering their services to any farmer willing to pay. The loss of a herd of about two thousand swine must have been devastating to their owners. It is my belief that those who owned this particular herd blamed Jesus for their loss; and this was, at least in part, one of the reasons why the people asked Jesus and his followers to leave their country.

Note: Those of us who hope to receive a position of responsibility in God’s Kingdom will have to deal with many problems which mankind has thus far been unable to correct. One of the more pressing needs will be to minister to those who in this lifetime have devoted their lives to the One True God of Islam. As much as there are Christians who have embraced with sincerity a wrong understanding of Holy Scripture; so there are Muslims who have embraced with sincerity a wrong understanding of the writings of Mohammad. Next week I hope to discuss many of the “Clear Proofs of Mohammad” and how those proofs may have been misunderstood by today’s teachers of Islam.

The Lord’s Anointed

2007-03-02T00:09:00.000-05:00

The following essay was written more than three years ago; nevertheless, I believe the message (and the lesson) it contains still has relevance for us today:

On Wednesday March 3rd 2004 a news commentator on CNN was heard to say: “Senator John Kerry is now the newly anointed leader of the Democratic Party.” I wonder how many Americans are even vaguely aware of how important those words are and what they represent. More importantly; what does the concept of having an anointed leader mean to the people and the nation known to the world as the United States of America?

If John Kerry is the anointed leader of the Democratic Party, was George Bush at one time anointed as leader of the Republican Party? What about when George Bush became President of the United States; was he anointed to that position?

The Americans of today are a deeply divided people. There is seldom a subject of national importance where any unity of mind or purpose exists. The governing authorities, from the lowest to the highest powers in the land, have apparently agreed to disagree simply as a matter of course. Their leaders appear to follow their own personal and political desires rather than that which their conscience should direct them.

Common sense alone should tell us that a nation divided against itself cannot survive; and yet this truth has also been recorded for us in the instruction book God gave to mankind:

Mark 3:24-25 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

Nevertheless; as problematic as this division has been for the United States of America, I believe an even greater threat can be traced to a far more specific sickness; a sickness that has afflicted almost all of the American people:

Exodus 22:28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse the ruler of your people.”

The time has come when no matter what the President of the United States does or does not do he will be seen as having done wrong! Everyone in America, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, has taken to themselves the right to revile and condemn their duly appointed leader.

George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America. He is arguably the most important and the most powerful man in the world today. If the Holy Scriptures can be believed, he is also the leader of the country and the people God promised as a national inheritance to the patriarch Abraham. If this is not enough; then if the Holy Scriptures can be believed, George W. Bush was raised to the position he now holds by the Almighty and Everlasting God -- and he was anointed to that position!

In the book of Acts, beginning in the 21st chapter, the apostle Paul was being questioned by the authorities of the temple in Jerusalem. Paul was being wrongly accused and beaten concerning matters related to what the authorities referred to as “that way.” Even so, when Paul came to realize who was in charge of his accusers, he understood it was demanded of him by God, through His written word, that he show the proper deference and respect:

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 Old Testament of the Bible speaks of a time when God ruled over the children of Israel. But the people of Israel wanted a human king; they wanted to be like the other nations round about them:

1st Samuel 8:6-7 “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.’”

A man named Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, was chosen to be their king; and Saul was anointed to rule over the children of Israel:

1st Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on [Saul’s] head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over his inheritance?’”

Saul was a very poor king; so God chose instead a young shepherd boy named David to take his place. While Saul remained king, David grew in power and in stature as a man and as a warrior. David knew he would one day take Saul’s place as king over Israel; and yet, when David had the power and the opportunity to remove Saul from his throne he did not:

1st Samuel 24:1-6 “Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, ‘Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.’ Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’”

David had already been anointed by the prophet Samuel to take the place of Saul as king over Israel. Nevertheless, when the opportunity was presented to him to make this happen, David chose instead to show respect to the one who at that time occupied the position of God’s anointed!

Because of the sickness that afflicts the nation and the peoples of the United States of America, they are and shall continue to be a nation divided against itself. Unless they can learn to show the appropriate respect and forbearance towards those who have authority over them, their nation and their people are headed for a sure and certain destruction:

Romans 13:1-3 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For [those who have rule over us] are not terrors to good works, but to evil…”

Whether you like him or not; whether you respect him or not; George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America. If there is a God, and if the Bible is the written word of God, then George W. Bush is the anointed leader of the peoples of the United States of America.

Take heed! David once ruled as king over Israel -- and he shall do so again! The Scriptures tell us that David shall one day assume a position of authority directly under Christ in the soon-coming Kingdom of God here upon the earth! The very words of King David are recorded in scripture as a warning for us today: “Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” Take heed -- be warned!

Finally: Someone witnessing before the committee conducting the 9/11 inquiry condemned George Bush for not attacking Afghanistan before the Trade Centre attack on September 11th 2001. My reaction to such nonsense is a profound belief that:

NOTHING CAN SAVE US NOW

(...written on March 24th 2004)

There seems to be no end to the condemnation of President Bush for his “so-called” unilateral attack on Iraq. It doesn’t seem to matter that for years the United Nations continued to warn, and to warn -- and do nothing!

He is now being condemned for not attacking Afghanistan before September 11, 2001.

If he had attacked Afghanistan before 9/11 and the attack had averted the destruction of the World Trade Centre so that the Centre would still stand today, he would have been condemned as a warmonger for attacking and killing innocent Afghanis for no good reason!

If he had attacked Afghanistan, and destruction of the Trade Centre had still taken place, the destruction of the Trade Centre would have been blamed on President Bush because of his attack on Afghanistan!

The condemnation of President Bush at the 9/11 inquiry for not attacking Afghanistan before 9/11 is apparently based on his failure to respond to what is perceived (in 20/20 hindsight) as a known threat!

If he had not attacked Iraq and Iraq had developed their resources to the point where they carried out another armed incursion on a neighbouring country, or a terrorist attack anywhere in the world, the world would have (in 20/20 hindsight) condemned President Bush, (not Saddam Hussein) for not responding to a known threat!

No matter what the President of the United States does or does not do from this point on, he will be seen as having done wrong! No matter what the country of the United States of America does or does not do from this point on it will be seen as having done wrong -- no matter who is President!

George W. Bush is reviled for his perceived divisiveness -- has everyone chosen to forget that he initially came to power by virtue of “the hanging chads of an obscure Florida constituency”? The nation was already divided long before the days of President Bush. The peoples of America will remain divided long after President Bush has washed his hands of their bickering, their back-biting, and their own self-destructive foolishness.

America is a country divided against itself; and a country divided against itself cannot stand. I have finally come to the realization (and to the acceptance) that nothing can be done to avert that which must now come to pass.

For my part, I shall no longer accept blame for not warning my people, my brethren, or my family. As far as I’m concerned, the times we now live in are an indelible repetition of the year 1936 and we are a family of Jews living in the heart of Germany. I have done everything one person can do to protect my friends and my loved ones, yet they have consistently ignored my warnings. I must now look to myself and leave them to face the coming devastation as best they can.

It can only be hoped that a few will make it past the horrors of the end-time; and if they do, I pray I’ll be given the opportunity to finally share with them the wonders of the life to come. How I wish I could have done more in this lifetime to save them from the unspeakable horrors of that which now must come.

Six million Jews died in what the world continues to refer to as “The Holocaust.” How can anyone even envision more than two hundred million of our own people being slaughtered within the next few years? By the end of this age, more than four billion will have been wiped from the face of the earth! Such horror could have been averted; but now must surely come to pass. And when it does: God help us all!

Note: Several weeks ago I published a selection of “Bits and Pieces” to this blogsite. I truly enjoyed working with what I had previously considered nothing more than snippets of information and suggested that I would publish more of these “snippets” some day soon. Next week I intend to do just that as I offer you “Bits and Pieces -- 2.”

Opening the Sixth Seal

2007-02-23T00:09:00.000-05:00

A minister of one of the end-time Churches of God has written and published a book wherein he asserts his belief that the “Sixth Seal” of Revelation has already been opened. As such, he assures us, we only await the opening of the fateful “Seventh Seal.” Can this possibly be true?

Revelation 6:12-13 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”

The following quote is a short excerpt taken from that book:

Quote: “At this point, it should be interesting to the reader to know that six of the seven seals have already been opened, and the seventh seal is very soon to follow.”

Whenever I read or listen to the words of any of our ministers, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. I listen to what they have to say; then I “search the scriptures” before forming any definite opinion. Nevertheless, my initial reaction to this minister’s statement concerning the “Sixth Seal” was to say the least, incredulous!

We read in Revelation 6:12-13 that the “Sixth Seal” unleashes a “great earthquake”; the “sun becomes black as sackcloth”; the “moon becomes like blood”; and the “stars of heaven fall to the Earth.” As weak as it may seem to be, the minister in question explains his belief this way:

Quote: “Yes, on that day, 9/11, every nation and country, large and small (prophetic mountains and islands), was moved by what happened. They were startled and sobered. It was a prelude to that time which is about to come. Yes, the time for God’s great wrath is about to unfold. Who will be able to stand? That is the announcement of this sixth seal.”

From this, and from the context of the story this passage was taken from, I must assume that “the stars of heaven [which] fell to the earth” were the planes full of passengers the Islamic terrorists flew into the towers of the World Trade Centre. The “sun [became] black as sackcloth” from the dust as the towers fell; and the “great earthquake” was the shocked reaction of the nations and the peoples of the Earth.

I must admit (with great reservation) that I can almost see what this man is getting at. There is at least the hint of a parallel between the “Sixth Seal” of Revelation and the events of 9/11; it may even be that the events of 9/11 will have its duality in the more cataclysmic events foretold by this prophecy. Nevertheless, this does not change my opinion that to teach such a belief as “a revealing of God’s truth” is to trivialize the power and the wisdom of the plan of Almighty God!

Is there a biblical answer to the events described in the opening of the Sixth Seal? I believe there is! And today we’re going to investigate what the Bible may have to tell us about the events described at the opening of the Sixth Seal. Be prepared to see words you have almost certainly read many times before -- but in a completely different way.

Revelation 6:9 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”

There is a consensus within the teaching of the Churches of God that the “Fifth Seal” describes a time of tribulation for the Saints of God. Keep in mind that during the end-time Satan will not only be allowed to “make war with the Saints” -- he will also be allowed to “prevail against them!” Have you ever asked yourself why God would allow Satan and his followers to prevail against those whom God had chosen as His people; His “church”? Are you prepared to believe that God would only allow this to happen if He had a definite purpose in mind?

Q…If God has chosen a specific time for fulfillment of the prophecy of the Tribulation, is He the one who will actually bring about the misfortunes destined to come upon His “church”?

Q…If Satan hates the people who make up the “church” and the Churches of God, why does he not simply go after them now -- why has he not gone after them with more determination before this -- why does he wait?

Satan hates those who try to follow the truths and the commandments of God -- he always has and he always will. I have believed for many years that the reason behind the original rebellion of Lucifer was not only God’s decision to create mankind, but His desire to set before man the awesome destiny which awaits us. Even Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam understood this: he is recorded in the Koran as saying the reason for the fall of “Iblis” [Lucifer] was the creation of mankind; not only their creation, but that the angels would one day be placed in a position of submission to mankind.

From the beginning of man’s history, in the very Garden of Eden, Satan did what he could to disrupt the ongoing plan of God. Following the birth of Jesus, Satan caused King Herod to slaughter every male child in and around Bethlehem, hoping to kill the newborn Christ before he could even begin to follow his destiny.

Following the baptism of Jesus and his begettal as the first-begotten Son of God, Satan once again did all he could to disrupt the plan of God. Each and every time, he failed -- but each and every time he was allowed to try -- what I want you to realize is that Satan’s many failures will not deter him from trying at least one more time!

As often as Satan has tried and failed to disrupt the plans of God, this one fact we must accept as truth -- each time, Satan believed he could succeed! You must also try to understand that at all these times, and in all these ways -- God allowed him to try! Not only was Satan allowed to try -- he was allowed to succeed in a very limited way!

During the soon-coming end of this age, Satan will once again attempt to upset the plans of God; and once again God will allow him to succeed in a very limited way. I believe this illusion of success will lead to the eventual downfall of the Archangel Lucifer -- but not before he has caused great tribulation towards the “Churches” and the people of God!

Q…What does your Church and your minister have to say about the original rebellion of Lucifer? Do you believe that Lucifer led his angels in an assault upon God’s heavenly throne? Do you believe that the angels of God defeated Satan and his angels? Do you believe that the destruction caused by this war was truly awesome? Do you believe that when they were defeated, Satan and his angels were cast down to the Earth, to be kept here in restraint until the time of their judgment?

If you do believe these things then we agree; for I also believe! But have you considered the duality in all this to what you see prophesied for the end-time? Lucifer would not have made the original attempt against the throne of God unless he believed he could succeed. Satan will only make his final assault against God’s throne because he still believes he can succeed.

Towards the end of the movie “The Devil’s Advocate” there is what I consider to be one of the most powerful cinematic speeches ever presented. Al Pacino plays the part of Satan the Devil and proclaims within that speech: “Can anyone doubt that the Twentieth Century was my time?” Now that we are well into the Twenty-First Century -- can anyone doubt that the success of Satan has not only continued, but has increased and prospered?

Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

If we can accept that the confidence of Satan has reached a point where he is beginning to believe he can finally fulfill his dreams of omnipotence; what will his confidence be like when God allows him to prevail against the Saints of God’s “church”?

Daniel 7:21 “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

Q…Is it your understanding that the “Tribulation of Saints” (the “Fifth Seal”) will come to pass immediately before the “Heavenly Signs” (the “Sixth Seal”); if so, then we agree, for I also believe -- but what are these “Heavenly Signs” and what causes them?

Revelation 12:7 “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, neither was a place found for them in heaven any longer.”

Earlier on this blogsite I discussed my belief that many, (if not most) of the angels that followed Lucifer in his original rebellion have long since repented of their sin and are waiting, as we are waiting, for a day of judgment to arrive. Anyone who wants to read “The Angels that Sinned” will find it in the “Archives” of this blogsite. If what I believe is true, then the end-time war between Satan and the angels of God will not cause the absolute devastation of Lucifer’s original rebellion; however, signs of this final conflict will still be clearly evident in the heavens. Satan and his angels will lose this final battle and will be cast back down to the Earth for the very last time.

Revelation 6:12-13 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”

Q…How much destruction can we expect to see from this final battle of the angels?

Revelation 6:14-17 “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”

Will this final heavenly battle of angels rock this Earth of ours so badly it will literally be shifted from its present axis? Will the resulting devastation cause the sun to become black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood? Will Satan and his angels be cast back down to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when shaken by a mighty wind? I do wonder!

So then: Have we uncovered a more perfect explanation for the yet to be fulfilled events referred to as the “Great Tribulation” and the “Heavenly Signs” -- or must we accept that they were already fulfilled by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001?

Note: George W. Bush has little more than one year left in his presidency. When his term in office is over there will be a sigh of relief heard from every corner of America; if not from every corner of the world. And yet, no sigh of relief will be more heartfelt than the one emanating from the President himself that his ordeal is finally over. Why anyone would choose to lead such a congregation of stiff-necked, back-biting, second-guessing complainers, is beyond my comprehension. Next week I hope to offer what I choose to believe are scripturally inspired thoughts in “The Lord’s Anointed.”

The Thief on the Cross

2007-02-16T00:11:00.000-05:00

One of the more popular evangelists and leader of one of the end-time Churches of God wrote the following comment concerning the thief who was executed beside Jesus at the time of the crucifixion:

Quote: “The Bible [gives] us an example of a repentant person who was not baptized but was promised that he would be with Christ in the Kingdom of God. It took place during Jesus’ crucifixion. Two thieves were also being crucified at that time. One expressed his belief in Christ and asked if Jesus would remember him when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus replied that the man would see Him in Paradise. Christ obviously promised salvation to the thief beside him at the crucifixion; because the thief was repentant; because he recognized Christ!”

Luke 23:39-43 “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed [Jesus], saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’”

It is the statement “Christ obviously promised salvation to the thief beside him...” that I take exception to. There is nothing obvious about it! It may be that Jesus did in fact promise salvation to the thief; but if we were to “search the Scriptures whether these things are so” we may find reason to doubt -- in fact, I think the belief that Jesus promised salvation to the thief is dead wrong!

Before we begin, let’s deal with the problem of sentence structure within this passage; it is a problem which most of you are already well aware of: “And Jesus said to [the thief], ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’”

As this sentence is punctuated, with the commas placed as they are, Jesus seems to be telling the thief that “today,” (i.e. on the day of their death), the thief would be with Jesus in Paradise. Those who understand and believe that Jesus had to remain buried in his tomb for three days and three nights know he could not have also been in Paradise. Instead, Jesus was telling the thief “on that day” (i.e. at that time -or- on the day of their crucifixion) that “one day” (i.e. on a future day -or- on the day of the thief’s resurrection) he would be with Jesus in Paradise.

The problem is brought about by a misplacement of one of the commas. Notice: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say unto you today, you will be with me in Paradise.’” By placing the comma after, instead of before the word “today,” we can know that Jesus was assuring the thief he would “one day” be with Jesus in Paradise. Whether Jesus was referring to the beginning of the Millennium as one of “the Saints,” or the end of the Millennium as one of “the rest of the dead,” is the question which needs to be answered.

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection; over these, the second death has no power -- this is what is meant by salvation! But Jesus did not promise the thief salvation! Jesus promised the thief that he would one day be with Him in Paradise!

If there is one thing every member of the many Churches of God should agree upon it is that at the beginning of the Millennium, when the “church” of God (i.e. the “ekklesia” -or- the “called-out-ones”) will rise up to take their place in the Kingdom of God, the Earth will be anything but a Paradise! During the final three-and-a-half years of this present age more than two-thirds of the Earth’s population will die -- as many as nine-tenths of the English-speaking peoples of America and the British Commonwealth may die and those few left alive will be in a truly pathetic state of existence. Most if not all of the cities will be destroyed; the lands will be devastated; the waters fouled to the point of uselessness; and the air will be hardly fit to breath.

Mankind will have proven beyond any doubt that he is incapable of governing himself and the time for the Kingdom and the governance of God will have arrived. But anyone who believes the returned Messiah and His brethren will simply wave a magic wand and make all things new again, does not even begin to understand the awesome wonders of the plan the Almighty God is carrying out within His creation!

God has set aside 1,000 years in which to show mankind how the governance of the Earth could have been; and should have been. This is the Sabbath of rest which God foretold when he created the Sabbath Day almost 6,000 years ago on the seventh day of the re-creation. The soon-coming 1,000 year Sabbath of rest for the Earth will be in prophetic fulfillment of that seventh-day Sabbath; there will be 1,000 years of God’s rejuvenating governance following 6,000 years of Satan’s (and man’s) futility!

Jesus and His brethren will have this time in which to work, and to teach, and to assist mankind in the proper use of God’s laws; to turn this long abused Earth of ours into the Paradise it always should have been. I have no doubt that miracles will be done during these 1,000 years; but miracles will be the exception rather than the rule. The true purpose of the Millennium will be to show what could have been done if mankind had shown the respect, the reverence, and true obedience to the will and the laws of God.

Revelation 20:5 “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.”

Unless there is something about the resurrection of physical Israel which differs from our understanding of the resurrection of “the rest of the dead,’ it will not be until after the Millennium that the thief will rise from the dead. Three thousand years will have passed from the time he suffered and died beside our Saviour; but time will have passed for him like the twinkling of an eye. In one moment of consciousness he was hanging from the stake enduring incredible pain and torment; in his very next moment of consciousness he will behold a new reality. Will that new reality be the Paradise Jesus promised; or will he still have much to learn and to accomplish as his part in its re-creation?

Note: There is much more that needs to be wondered about in our understanding of the Millennium. What will the first day be like? How long will it take to set up the ruling government? Will a working government be immediately set up over every nation of the Earth; or will the nations of the modern-day descendants of Jacob/Israel be given preference in the restoration? These are subjects I hope to discuss more fully at some future time. In the meantime I would like you to consider the following question:

Who will enter the Kingdom of God?

For many years I encountered an element of scriptural confusion in my understanding of those who would, and those who would not enter the Kingdom of God. Notice:

Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.’”
Note: This verse seems to say that the scribes and the Pharisees will not be allowed to enter God’s Kingdom -- can this be true -- do we not believe that even the most grievous sinner will eventually rise up at the resurrection of “the rest of the dead”?

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Note: This verse seems to say that only those who do the will of God will enter. Does this mean that those who refuse to do the will of God will not be allowed to enter?

John 3:5 “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”
Note: This verse seems to say quite clearly that unless an individual is properly baptized and begotten by the Spirit of God, he or she cannot enter the Kingdom of God -- how then can “the rest of the dead” be resurrected into the Kingdom of God?

What do these three verses say to those of us who believe the majority of mankind will continue to live and die never having been allowed to understand the will and the wonders of Almighty God? Will there or won’t there be a resurrection of “the rest of the dead”? Will they or won’t they be resurrected into the Kingdom of God? Will they or won’t they “see the Kingdom of God” when they are resurrected?

The problem is solved by simply realizing that in almost every instance where the Bible refers to the “Kingdom of God” it is the governing body that is being discussed! Only those whom God has specifically chosen will take part in the government during the first 1,000 years of His Kingdom. The scribes and Pharisees will one day see the Kingdom of God but they will have no position of responsibility in it. The same can be said for those who do not do the will of God in this lifetime; or who have not experienced a heartfelt repentance and conversion followed by water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit.

“All men must die; and after this the judgment...” All who have ever lived and died will be raised from the dead to live again during the time of God’s Kingdom -- no one will be left out! But only a very few will be allowed to enter as part of the Kingdom of God (i.e. as part of the Government of God); whether during the 1,000 year Millennium or on into the limitless depths of eternity.

In an earlier posting to this blogsite I discussed at greater length the difference between God’s gift of salvation, and the rewards we may earn over and above that great gift. It is my belief that all who have experienced a true repentance, a true conversion, a true baptism by water and by the Spirit, and have been truly begotten of the Spirit of God, will be resurrected at the return of the Messiah. However; this does not mean they will all be given a position of honour and responsibility in God’s Kingdom. Notice carefully the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church of God in Corinth:

1st Corinthians 3:14-15 “If any man’s work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved…!”

Each of you should read all verses from 1st Corinthians 3:1-15 in order to more perfectly understand -- I would also recommend that you go to the “Archives” of this blogsite and find “The Unpardonable Sin -- Part 2” for a more in-depth discussion of this subject.

Post Script: Some important questions remain in my thoughts over where and when “the rest of the dead” will be resurrected. I need to spend far more time with these questions; but when I’ve done so I’ll try to address the entire issue in a future blog. In the meantime, I want to share some of these concerns with you in advance:

Q...Will physical Israel be resurrected as part of “the rest of the dead” following the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren; or does the Bible suggest that during the Millennium Israel will be dealt with separately and uniquely among the nations?

Q...Does the account of “the valley of dry bones” support the possibility of a separate resurrection of physical Israel?

Q...At the end of the Millennium, can we assume the Earth will have been renewed as a “Paradise” for the resurrection of “the rest of the dead”; or is it destined to be radically cleansed “as if by fire” in preparation for the receiving of New Jerusalem and the throne of God the Father?

Q...If “the rest of the dead” must wait until after the first 1,000 years of God’s Kingdom, and if the Earth is to be cleansed in preparation for the throne of God, will the “rest of the dead” be resurrected to a place other than this place we call the Earth?

Q...When the final fulfillment of the Day of Atonement takes place, Satan is to be removed to a place which is not inhabited -- does this refer to a place which is not inhabited at that time but which one day may become inhabited?

I realize that many (if not all) of these questions border on the fanciful; but I can assure you that a renewed zeal for the truths and understanding of God often comes from such questions. Far too many of our brethren have lost what I have always considered to be “that first love” i.e. the burning desire to understand the truths and the mysteries of God, and the limitless joy in the increased faith that comes with a more perfect understanding.

I must repeat what I’ve said before: “Will you make mistakes? Of course you will! So what? Are we not God’s workmen; rightly dividing the word of truth? There is no shame in being wrong; there is only shame in clinging to the wrong when a more perfect truth has been opened before us. If you even suspect that your spirit of understanding has become little more than lukewarm then I caution you to give heed to the words of God as revealed by to us our Saviour:

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from [God] gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Note: Next week I hope to answer some of the many questions concerning the opening of the Sixth Seal of Revelation -- at least one of our ministers believes the Sixth Seal has already been opened? Is this what you also believe; or are you still waiting, as I am still waiting, for the events foretold by that fateful seal to be revealed?

Shearing the Sheep -- Part 2

2007-02-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

Ezekiel 34:1-6 “And the word of the LORD came to [Ezekiel], saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, [neither] have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.’”

The Final Few Months

As unrest and controversy began to spread throughout the congregations of the Worldwide Church of God, many of us began to discuss what was happening amongst ourselves. We were brethren, we were friends, and we recognized that problems had arisen within the Church which could affect not only our temporal lives but our very hope of salvation. And yet, Sabbath services were often accompanied by stern warnings from our local ministers not to discuss amongst ourselves that which God had placed in the hands of His ministry.

Were these men speaking to us in God’s name when they told us: “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the ways thereof are the ways of death”? They directed us “not to look to our own understanding,” in fact, the catchword of the day had become “look to the ministry!” The wonders of “that first love,” the joy I had experienced as truth and understanding was being revealed to me from the very words and mysteries of Almighty God, slowly turned to ashes in my mind and in my heart.

Note: Before continuing with this, there is something you need to understand about the way I perceive my position with regard to those who are the ministers of God. They are God’s ministers! He selected them and set them apart for His holy purpose! They are anointed to His service and have my unequivocal respect for the position they hold and for the words they speak -- when they speak the words of God!

It is my habit today, as it was my habit back in the days of the Worldwide Church, to listen to every word spoken by our leaders and our ministers. It is my habit today, as it was my habit back in the days of the Worldwide Church, to read every word written by our leaders and our ministers. It is my habit today, as it was in my latter days with the Worldwide Church, to “search the Scriptures” whether that which our ministers preach and teach is indeed the word and the truth of God. And now I must ask you a question: “When I am unable to accept their teaching as truth; when I truly believe that what they are teaching is false; is it my duty before God to say nothing -- or am I commanded by the Word of God to speak out?”

I beg you to read the words I used to introduce everyone to this blogsite. I said:

“Please understand that I am not a minister. I was baptized into the “church” of God several decades ago before what can arguably be called the great “falling away.” I am not a teacher, neither am I affiliated with any of the many surviving Churches of God.”

Many years ago, when I read from the book of Ezekiel, one particular passage affected me deeply. The strength of the words and the message they present has never lessened in my mind or in my heart. I recognize there must be at least the appearance of vanity that I should see this passage of Scripture as a direct message to me and to my conduct within the “church” of God; nevertheless, the words represent both a curse and a blessing that I have managed to postpone over the decades -- but could never completely ignore!

Ezekiel 3:18-21 “ When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.’”

So I ask again, and this time I include you in my query: “When [we are] unable to accept [the teaching of our ministers] as truth, is it [our] duty before God to say nothing -- or [are we] commanded by the Word of God to speak out? And if our ministers refuse to heed our concerns, is it not our responsibility to discuss these concerns with our brethren?

For those who would say that our ministers are always ready to listen; I reject your position! It was my experience of long ago that they hear only what they want to hear and reject even the consideration of everything else. It is my experience of today that they are even less willing to hear what they don’t want to hear, and far more willing to reject that which they refuse to even consider (with the possible exception of the previously mentioned “Council of Elders”); and therein lies a principal reason for the continued separation of the many different and differing end-time Churches of God.

Springtime Holy Day 1974

Over the years, as I re-read many of the old “Plain Truth,” Tomorrow’s World,” and “Good News” magazines, I came to realize I had been blind to many of the problems already existing within the Church until my eyes were opened in the latter half of 1973. I have mentioned the rancor which existed over the financial position of the ministry, and I have mentioned the doctrinal disputation over counting the days to Pentecost. Now it is time to finally address the actual problem or problems, as the events unfolded, which led to my separation from the Church.

I want you to read the following excerpt from the “Good News” magazine published in September/October 1970:
“Those at Headquarters [Pasadena California], as well as the ministers in the field, often sacrifice by working long extra hours. They do it willingly because they know they are helping to carry out the greatest Work on earth! They realize they are helping to save humanity from utter destruction, and are proclaiming the reason why God created man. They feel a sense of great accomplishment.
“You can feel this same sense of accomplishment. God in His magnificent generosity has allowed you to help financially support His Work. This is how you sacrifice and serve. Can you comprehend what an honor it really is?”

When I read those words back in 1970 I believed, and agreed with everything that was said. The people in Pasadena, and the ministers in the field, were indeed carrying out the greatest Work on Earth. Those of us, who were privileged to support their efforts in any way we could, considered ourselves truly blessed and honored; and in retrospect I openly admit to feeling that exact same way today! There was no doubt in my mind that we were then, and remain to this day, the begotten children of God -- and as such, at that time we were truly carrying out the greatest Work on the face of the Earth!

From the latter half of 1973 and during the days and weeks that followed, I felt no animosity towards any individual member of the ministry. What did anger me was that my faith in what I had perceived to be the one and only true Church of God had been shaken -- shaken, but in no way destroyed -- unfortunately, that destruction was only a few days away!

During that fateful springtime Holy Day one of the local ministers gave a sermon on the dedication of the ministry and the trials they had to endure in carrying out their service to God and to the brethren. This time there was no mention of their “pumping iron down at the club” or “having to endure smokers while they dined out at one of the better dining-establishments”; (many of the brethren will remember such statements.)

This time the references were of lay-members murmuring and complaining about a luxurious lifestyle among the ministry which this man assured us did not exist. He told us of the many ways these servants of God went far beyond that which they were paid to do -- and then he gave an example -- and my feelings of disapproval and disbelief quickly turned to hurt and an almost palpable anger.

He said: “When most of you are sitting at home with your family, God’s ministers are out visiting the brethren, including the sick and the needy. Many times they have to enter an apartment building where the smell of fish or boiled cabbage hits them as soon as they step off the elevator.”

I, my wife, and our three children lived in such a building. Until that moment we had felt blessed that we had such a home when so many others did not. Those few words, spoken in such a selfish, arrogant, and thoughtless way rotted the very marrow in my bones.

My older children aged 10 and 11 were sitting beside me listening to this; the look on their young faces spoke volumes. I was hurt as I had seldom been hurt before -- and I was ashamed! And then the young man from Pasadena began to preach his sermonette.

As I listened to the same old arguments made in the past to prove a Monday observance for Pentecost; I remarked to myself on the seemingly deliberate omission of the passages pointing to Sunday. Was this young man being used as a sacrificial goat? Was he being made to preach the words the ministry hoped would silence the brooding masses? These thoughts were quickly silenced -- it turned out this young man was a true believer!

As his message drew towards its conclusion he wrapped it up in true Ambassador College and Spokesman Club tradition. He said: “Let me assure you that MY GOD (with great emphasis on ‘My God’) would never allow the Holy Day of Pentecost to fall on Satan’s Day -- Sunday; the day of the Sun!”

My reaction was immediate; and straight from the heart. I said: “I’ve heard more than enough of this s--t!” I turned to my wife and said: “Come on -- we’re leaving!”

A Minister’s Final Visit

Several days later we received a call from a minister requesting a visitation; I had great hopes that he might actually want to openly and fully discuss my concerns -- silly me!

When he arrived, he was accompanied by another of the young ministerial assistants fresh from Pasadena -- let me deal with him first. To my recollection, he said not one word the whole time he was in our home; this is not to say that his presence was not apparent -- it was only too apparent!

This young man had a small vial in his waistcoat pocket; it was no more than a quarter or half an ounce in size and contained what I must believe was a mouthwash of some kind. As we sat there discussing our concerns he would take this vial from his pocket, remove the little rubber stopper, place the open end of the vial against his tongue, then quickly tip it up and down again; he would then replace the stopper and put the vial back in his pocket. It was only after the third or fourth time that I actually began to notice what he was doing.

You must believe me when I tell you that I felt no anger at this; neither was I in any way offended by what I rightly or wrongly perceived as his distaste for our conversation. I did however have a very difficult time holding back my incredulous laughter. This young man was showing me as clearly as if it came directly from God, the spirit of selfishness and arrogance which had begun to manifest itself within the ministry -- and I began to relax and feel at peace with what I believed was taking place.

The minister who came to visit us was a man I both liked and respected. Nevertheless, from the very outset I realized he was not there to discuss anything; he was there to carry out a purpose -- a purpose which I had already surmised and no longer faced with regret.

I was allowed to go over many of the scriptural concerns my studies had brought to my attention; but not once did he exhibit any sign of compassion for these concerns. Neither did he even once try to show me where my understanding was in error; until I mentioned a sermon he himself had given not many Sabbaths before. He had been preaching about flaws in the teaching of other Christian organizations and had singled out the habit of those who take their message to the very homes of the people they are hoping to reach; and in support he had quoted the Scripture which says: “Go not from house to house!”

I brought this up in our discussion; no longer even trying to be diplomatic. I reminded him that when Jesus used these words He did so as a warning to his disciples as He sent them out “as lambs among wolves” to preach the gospel. He warned them not to go looking for better lodgings than that which they would be offered. They were not to go looking for accommodations where the food might be better, or the hospitality, or even with more luxurious surroundings; they were to be satisfied with whatever they received and they were not to go from house to house looking for something better!

To which this minister angrily replied: “You’re right -- but that’s not what we teach!”

The silence probably lasted no more than a few seconds; but it seemed to go on forever. Finally I said to him: “I really don’t think we have anything left to discuss.” To which he answered: “Neither do I.”

If my shock and dismay from earlier in the visit had long since disappeared, it quickly returned in a moment of sheer amazement. He turned to my wife and said: “This of course in no way affects you. You are more than welcome to continue attending services and we’ll look forward to seeing you and the children next Sabbath.”

I had often been very proud of my wife; but never more so than when she replied: “No thank you! I agree with everything my husband has said and I won’t be coming back to Church either.”

What to Do Now

I have no doubt that some of you are wondering why I don’t simply go to this minister who actually came to my home; the one who actually carried out my disfellowship, and discuss this present-day dilemma with him face to face -- man to man. Would that I could...! It is my understanding that he left the Church of God many, many years ago; long before the mass exodus from Worldwide, and not too long after he ejected me from the congregation. This then, leaves only the minister I mentioned before; the one of whom some have assured me actually ordered my expulsion.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been able to listen to several recorded sermons, recently preached by this very minister. From what I can determine, very little has changed over these many years past. What I perceive from his preaching leads me to believe there is little cause for hope that a compromise could be reached between us; I must believe that the differences which still exist in our personal and scriptural understanding would continue to keep us apart.

In order to once again enjoy the fellowship of my brethren, I could simply go to this man with an offer of false repentance; but this I will not do! This I cannot do! Should I go to him with the hope that he would finally, after all these years, be willing to carefully and thoughtfully consider our differing views of scriptural understanding? I can see nothing but stumbling-blocks and stagnation in such a hope. Yet what other choice do I have?

Eventually I must return to where I’ve been for so many years; and where I find myself today. As much as I miss the fellowship of my brethren; and as much as I miss the spiritual strength found each Sabbath day as one of a congregation gathered together in worship and prayer; it may be best for all concerned if I continue in spiritual seclusion until the return of our Saviour and His gathering together of myself and my brethren.

As I have prayed so many times before: “Thy will be done; thy Kingdom come. So be it my Lord and my God: “Thy will be done; thy Kingdom come!”

I have not enjoyed the preparation of these last two messages. Neither do I believe any personal good has come from the purging of these metaphoric poisons of the past. Those of you who understand will realize that my bitterness and condemnation was never towards the ministry, but to that which the ministry allowed to happen within the Church of God. Let me leave you with the words of our Saviour as he sent his disciples out to spread the gospel message -- the wonderful news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God:

Luke 10:3-7 “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, nor knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.’” -- He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Note: Next week I hope to discuss the biblical account of “The Thief on the Cross.” In every sermon where the thief on the cross was mentioned, it was the teaching of the minister that Jesus promised this supposedly “repentant” thief salvation. But did Jesus truly promise him salvation; or is there a more perfect understanding to this story?

Shearing the Sheep -- Part 1

2007-02-02T00:37:00.000-05:00

Some time ago I read a quotation which at first glance made me laugh -- not long thereafter, as old memories began to flow, it brought great sorrow. Naming the source of the quote would serve no useful purpose; neither do I have any desire to equate the substance of the message it suggests with the ministry of the present-day Churches of God -- or with any other ministry for that matter. I shall however, use the words of the quotation to discuss a subject that has been a lump in my heart for almost thirty-five years. But first the quotation:

“If God didn’t want them to be sheared, he would not have made them sheep.”

From the time of the inception of the modern-day Church of God, the brethren have had one primary function within the body of Christ; that is to provide the funds necessary to keep the ministry and the “Work” of God alive. This does not prevent them from adding their prayers to those of their brethren for some special need within the congregation or within the Church; or even their setting out chairs to prepare for Sabbath services; but from the outset, certain of the “gifts of the Spirit” have been closely held within the confines of the ministry.

You may read in the Scriptures that in the last days your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall see visions; and your old men shall dream dreams. If the Churches of God in these latter days are anything like the Worldwide Church of the 1970’s then I caution those sons and daughters who feel the need to prophesy -- they will almost certainly be ridiculed and told to keep quiet in the presence of their elders. Those who begin to see visions will almost certainly be censured for their foolishness -- if not summarily ejected from the congregation. And it is hoped that those old men who dream dreams will have been in the Church long enough to know better than to say anything -- ridicule and censure do have their effect; and are eventually learned -- even by old men.

One of the more successful of the end-time Churches of God makes no apology for their teaching that if God should choose to open up a new or more perfect understanding of Scripture, He will do it through the ministry. Throughout their literature, they make it abundantly clear that God would never allow a new or more perfect understanding of doctrine to pass through anyone who has not first been anointed to His service!

Another of the larger and more successful of the Churches has adopted a more liberal and generous attitude; they allow those who question, or even oppose Church doctrine to submit a study-paper for ministerial consideration. This doctrinal contribution is then studied by a group of 5 ministers who make up what is referred to as a “doctrinal committee”; the men of this “doctrinal committee” are all members of the Church’s 12-man “Council of Elders” and of course, they are all ministers of the Church.

If this 5-man “committee” sees merit in the doctrinal submission they then pass it on to the full “12-man Council of Elders.” This Council of Elders is made up of 12 ministers who have been elected to this position by those who form the entire ministry of the Church. If this 12-man “Council” continues to see merit in the submission it is then passed on to the “General Council of Elders” who are (you guessed it) each and every other minister of the Church!

Where do the lay-members enter the equation? They are the ones who submit their tithes and offerings so that the ministers can effectively perform the “Work of God” and care for the needs of the Church; including the determination of what the Scriptures do or do not say. Other than that, the lay-member has virtually nothing to say regarding any question of doctrine. When (or if) a decision is made on any point of doctrine, the lay-member will be given the decision as a ministerial edict and allowed little or no choice except to follow the edict or reject the authority of the ministry.

I have always believed it was this very attitude which created problems within the Worldwide Church and eventually led to the dissolution of the brethren. When the ministry took it upon themselves to be the sole arbiters of what the Bible did or did not say; when they began to demand that the brethren “look to the ministry” for their scriptural understanding, the Church as we knew it was doomed.

Nevertheless; even if everything I’ve said to this point is both accurate and true, I can see no better way than that which this Church and their Council of Elders has adopted. It may be possible to include some of the lay-brethren in discussions concerning Church doctrine, but in the imperfect world we live in the addition of anyone not absolutely necessary to the functioning of Church organization should be resisted. We who are the “church” of God are therefore left with our constant and comforting prayer: “Thy will be done -- thy Kingdom come!”

Reliving the Past

As I sit here contemplating how to continue with the subject at hand, I realize that the sun has not yet risen to begin a new day. The night which even now seems reluctant to end has been very difficult for me as memories of events long past keep flowing through my troubled mind.

The days and weeks leading up to my separation from the Worldwide Church of God kept replaying in my thoughts with a clarity that was almost overpowering. The memory of my final Sabbath service was almost more than I could bear. Until you have actually experienced the depths of betrayal described by King Solomon in his book of proverbs, you cannot fully appreciate the feeling of rottenness which can literally permeate the very marrow of your bones:

Proverbs 12:4 “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

For those of us who experienced what we perceived to be the betrayal of our ministers, the woman who caused this shame was the one we had come to look to as our spiritual Mother; the very Church of God who nourished our minds, our bodies -- our very souls!

It was many years before I came to accept that the secular organization known as the Worldwide Church of God was the source of that betrayal -- not the true “church” of God! But how many of our brethren have since fallen asleep believing they were betrayed by the very God who was, and is, and shall yet be their Heavenly Father?

To relive the memories of that time is to relive the sickness, the shame, the frustration, and the anger. I have never been one to believe in the allegorically therapeutic qualities of opening old wounds that the poisons may drain out -- but in this case it may be that the lessons of the past can help not only myself, but others of my brethren to heal; while still others may learn from the errors of the past and determine that they never be repeated.

My Side of the Story

My final Sabbath Day service with the Worldwide Church of God was held in a large banquette hall in the eastern Canadian city where we lived; it was early spring in the year 1974 and it was an annual High Day. If my memory serves, it may have been the last of the seven Days of Unleavened Bread -- however, the possibility remains that we may have been observing the Feast of Pentecost. In the afternoon, a young man recently graduated from Ambassador College and sent to our local Church as a new ministerial assistant, was just finishing a sermonette on the counting of the days to Pentecost; the anger and frustration which had been building in me long before this day even began, erupted with the words: “I’ve heard more than enough of this s--t!” I turned to my wife and said: “Come on -- we’re leaving!”

It has been my long-time belief that to hear one side of any story is to hear fantasy. This does not suggest that everything you hear in a one-sided story is false; only that it cannot be accepted as truth until that truth has been proven. By relating that which I remember of so long ago I accept that it is only “my side of the story”; but in fairness, I must try to assure you that until today, as far as the brethren are concerned, my side of the story has never been heard!

The year 1973 was a time of great upheaval within the Church of God. The spirit of joy and anticipation which to that point in time had been my experience was being replaced by a spirit of discontent, confusion, and disillusionment. For most of the congregation, a clear understanding of the underlying cause of this unrest was not immediately apparent. Rumor and innuendo filtered down to the brethren from no one knew where, only to add to the confusion and fuel the discontent.

At some point, my eyes were opened to a new reality; from within the spiritual cloud that had allowed me to thrive for more than three wonderful years, I was forced to accept some very human truths -- and those truths filled me with confusion and with shame!

The sacrifice I had willingly accepted on behalf of myself and my family showed definite signs of tarnish. The life we had willingly accepted as children of the Living God began to appear more and more like the pathetic existence of foolish and unsuspecting sheep being led to their slaughter -- while being closely and effectively sheared along the way!

One of the more damaging rumours which had filtered down to the brethren was that the ministers were being paid what many perceived to be an unconscionable amount of money. At a time when I was earning the princely sum of $7,200 each year, it came to my attention that our ministers were earning in excess of $40,000. Even so, I continued to believe that as the chosen ministers of God, they deserved whatever we could do for them.

From the subsequent preaching of Garner Ted Armstrong, Herbert Armstrong’s son, the claim has been made that the actual income of the ministry may have been far greater than the rumored $40,000. Reimbursement of expenses and other fringe-benefits may have increased the overall amount; but I can assure you that at the time, what little we were beginning to learn was more than enough to fuel not only discontent, but anger!

This was the third year since my baptism. Those of you who remember the Church of God of the 1970’s will realize what it means that this was my third year. From my gross income of $7,200 I faithfully tithed 10% to the Church for the “Work” of God. A second tithe of 10% of the gross was put aside to be used only for the Annual Holy days; more specifically, the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles at one of the many “Feast Sites” scattered throughout the world. This being my third year, a third tithe of 10% of the gross was given to the ministry to be used for the relief of those widows and orphans (and other special needs) amongst those who were our brethren.

From that which remained of our incomes, the brethren were commanded by Scripture to make special “Holy Day Offerings” during each of the seven annual Feast Days. To all this was added our free-will offerings which were actively solicited by what many of the brethren came to regard as “begging-letters” from Pasadena. And then there was the “Building Fund” and the separate but equally demanding “House for God” -- and I readily admit that for me, it was this “House for God” that finally broke my spirit.

Please understand: at that time I was glad to do all that could be done to further the “Work” of God and the workings of His Church and His ministry. The “begging-letters” and the additional pleas for the building of “God’s House” were acknowledged as the part we were privileged to play in what we perceived to be the ongoing plan of God. It was only when my eyes were opened to what was really happening that I realized my dedication was being carried out at the expense of my wife and my children. The tithes, the offerings, and the additional free-will gifts were being taken from the mouths, the feet, and the backs of my family -- and I was ashamed! And with the shame came anger!

Leading up to that Day

At that time in the history of the Church there were many doctrinal issues belaboring the ministry and the congregations. One of the more contentious was the counting of the days from the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Day of Pentecost. From the time Herbert Armstrong first came to understand it was incumbent upon all followers of Christ to not only keep the weekly Sabbath but the annual Holy Days as well, the Church had been keeping the Day of Pentecost on a Monday. Now it was being rumored that some of the ministers (and a few of the brethren) believed it should be observed on a Sunday!

Controversy over when to keep Pentecost had created a growing rift within the ministry; what began as a heated discussion threatened to become a fire-storm when knowledge of the controversy became more widely known amongst the congregations. Many of the brethren went to the Scriptures in search of a more perfect, personal understanding; and I include myself as one whom with much study, meditation, and prayer, chose to search out my own understanding according to that which the Spirit of God gave me direction.

I readily admit that until this trial came upon the Church I had been somewhat naive in accepting whatever the ministry, and especially what the Church leaders Herbert and Garner Ted Armstrong, had to teach me. When I listened to a sermon, or read a booklet or an article on any subject of Scripture, I followed the passages used to support that particular teaching but refrained from actually “searching the Scriptures, whether these things were so.”

With the controversy over Pentecost came the realization that understanding within the ministry was neither a constant nor a mirror to perfection; I therefore began to realize that neither was their preaching nor their teaching a mirror to perfection. In virtually no time at all I began to see flaws in the Church of God which for a time actually shook my faith.

Almost immediately I came to realize we had been wrong to keep the Day of Pentecost on a Monday; in fact, a careful study of the Scriptures made it clear to me that Pentecost should be observed on a Sunday. Eventually, the hierarchy of the Church and the ministry agreed (amongst themselves) that from that time forward, the Church would observe the Holy Day of Pentecost on a Sunday rather than a Monday -- and so it has been since that time in virtually all of the Churches of God.

Unfortunately, (or perhaps not), the change from Monday to Sunday came only after I had been ordered to stay away from the Church and to refrain from any and all contact with those who were my brethren. This ministerial banishment was referred to as my having been “disfellowshipped” -- and I have had no formal contact with any minister of any of the many different and differing Churches of God from that day to this.

My Present Dilemma

And now a minor personal dilemma has presented itself which I would like to share with you. There is no local congregation of any Church of God in the small town where I live; hence, there has been no reasonable opportunity for me to attend Sabbath services with any of the scattered Churches. During the first week of May I hope to be in Las Vegas, Nevada, on my way to Los Angeles, California. I know that one of the more successful end-time Churches of God has a local congregation in Las Vegas and it had been my intention to ask permission to attend Sabbath services -- and thereby the dilemma!

It turns out that the pastor of the local church from which I was disfellowshipped 33 years ago still ministers with this particular Church organization; not in Las Vegas, but I’m not at all sure his geographical location really matters. It has always been my understanding that he was the one who ordered my expulsion from the Worldwide Church; if this is true, and if he did so by the authority and the will of God, it is conceivable that the edict to refrain from any and all contact with the brethren still applies.

In the 33 years since my separation from the Church no minister has ever contacted me in an effort to “bring back that which was driven away”; neither to my knowledge has any minister ever tried to “seek that which was lost.” In fact, from what I’ve been able to determine concerning those of our brethren who either “fell away,” or “were lost,” or “were driven away” so many years ago, it was as if the attitude of the Worldwide Church ministry was “out of sight, out of mind”; no matter the turmoil and the tribulation their actions unleashed on the families of those who were once their brethren.

So the question remains: Do I ignore the events of our distant past and fulfil my desire to attend services in Las Vegas; or do I continue under the ministerial edict to separate myself from the brethren? Then again; is there not a third choice? Can I not simply repent of that which led to my disfellowship? If only it was that simple I would leap at the chance!

Note: What I had hoped to accomplish in one quick (though painful) cleansing of old wounds must of necessity be spread over one more week. I take no pleasure in any of this; and believe that what must be done in the latter part of this message will be even less palatable. There is a need to discuss much I have never before touched upon, and a need to clarify much that has previously been suggested; to that end, next week I shall try to be even more forthcoming as I conclude this work in Part 2 of “Shearing the Sheep.”

Bits and Pieces

2007-01-26T00:18:00.000-05:00

This blogsite has given me a wonderful opportunity to place my thoughts and my understanding before those who may choose to read them; this is a personal blessing I had almost given up hope would ever happen in this lifetime. Each week I try to record what I have to say in not less than four and not more than six “Microsoft Word” pages. Some subjects require even more explanation; in these cases I have found that splitting them over two or more weeks works quite well. This leaves me with those subjects which are little more than snippets of information -- I have decided that these occasional little bits and pieces should be dealt with in this way!

The Hours of the Day

How perfectly do we understand the scriptural use of the word “hour” when referring to the timing of an event? I am somewhat concerned that the biblical passage which records the time of Jesus’ crucifixion may have created an error, or at least a misconception in the minds of many of us.

Mark 15:25 “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified [Jesus].”

In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible there is a marginal reference to this verse which states simply “9 a.m.” From this, many of us have come to accept that the third hour of the day is in fact 9 o’clock in the morning; the sixth hour would then be 12 o’clock noon; the ninth hour would refer to 3 o’clock in the afternoon; and so on and so forth. We may therefore have a mental picture of our Lord being crucified at 9 o’clock in the morning; the sun being blotted out at 12 o’clock noon; and the darkness remaining until the death of our Savior at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

For many years it has been my habit to use every little snippet of available information to better understand all that has been recorded for us in Scripture. Whenever I can better define my understanding by clarifying or perfecting even the smallest truth, I believe this adds to my overall understanding and therefore adds to and strengthens my faith.

Matthew 27:45-46 “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is [to say], ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”

If the third hour of the day is in fact 9 a.m. then the second hour would be 8 a.m. and the first hour would be 7 a.m. making 6 a.m. the twelfth hour of the night. I am quite willing to accept all this as truth; but I wonder if it is really necessary to be so precise in stating that “the third hour is 9 a.m.” I believe it would have been far more instructive if the marginal reference had suggested “from 8 to 9 a.m.” instead of the more precise 9 a.m. The first hour would then have been from 6 to 7; the second hour would have been from 7 to 8; and “the third hour of the day” would have been the hour from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m.

It should be noted that if the following passage from the book of Amos refers not only to the end-time, but also to the time of the crucifixion, it does specify 12 o’clock noon as the time for darkness to cover the Earth. Whether or not this is helpful to our discussion is for each of you as individuals to determine for yourselves; but I would caution you to place the passage from Amos in its proper context before trying to equate it with the time of Jesus’ death.

Amos 8:9 “‘And it shall come to pass in that day,’” says the Lord GOD, ‘that I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.”

I should also point to a passage from the New Testament book of John which has caused a little confusion in the minds of some; if only for a short time:

John 19:13-14 “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And [Pilate] said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’”

We need to keep in mind that Jesus was brought before Pilate not long after his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. His various trials took place in the middle of the night; so when it says that Jesus was brought before Pilot at the sixth hour it is referring to the sixth hour “of the night.” According to the marginal direction of Mark 15:25 we must believe this means midnight; but then again, it may be a little more correct to say that Jesus was brought before Pilate about the sixth hour -- from 11 p.m. to midnight!

A Strange Reaction

Many years ago, an incident took place during one of the regular Worldwide Church Bible studies that had a profound and lasting influence on me. It involved the local pastor of the congregation I was attending before my disfellowship. To this day I still have difficulty trying to comprehend his reaction to what should have been a simple and easily answered question.

In the early 1970’s there was a 6-volume edition of the “Bible Story” being offered by the Worldwide Church; it was written and illustrated in a very entertaining way and I took pleasure in reading it to my children before settling them down to sleep. One evening we were reading about the feast of King Belshazzar of Babylon (as it is recorded in the 5th chapter of the book of Daniel) and we had come to the part where the fingers of a man’s hand supernaturally appeared and wrote on the wall the words: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” Notice the interpretation given by Daniel:

Daniel 5:25-28 “[Daniel said to the King:] ‘This is the inscription that was written: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’ This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and [to the] Persians.’”

To be perfectly honest, it was my eleven-year old son who noticed that the word first written on the wall as “UPHARSIN,” was now being referred to as “PERES.” He asked me for an explanation and I had absolutely no idea what to tell him -- it didn’t seem to make any sense to me so I had what at the time I considered to be an inspiration -- silly me!

I told him that when he had a question he couldn’t answer, and I was unable to help him, he should go to the ministry and ask them for an explanation. “In fact,” I told him, “this would be a perfect question for you to ask the ministers at the next Bible study.”

The evening of the next Bible study I prepared the question and put my son’s name on the request form. My son and I share the same name, and to this day I cannot remember whether I did or did not put (Jr.) after his name -- but in retrospect, I really don’t think it would have made any difference.

When the question was read out, the head pastor of our local congregation stepped to the lectern and began to personally respond with a belligerence that was most difficult to understand. He berated the person who would waste the time of the Church and the congregation with something so inconsequential and unedifying; he made it clear (at least to me) that his tirade was meant for me personally. He never did address the question!

To this day I still do not fully understand his reaction, but at the time my concern was for my son; I know he had looked forward to hearing his question asked at Bible study and I had no idea what this shameful exhibition from our pastor would do to him. I need not have worried; that evening, my eleven-year old son showed far more class, confidence, and control than did this Ambassador College trained professional.

By the way: the word “upharsin” has been translated from the Chaldean word “parac.” The word “peres” has been translated from the same word “parac.” According to the Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible the word “parac” means to split-up, or to divide, and refers to the rending away of the kingdom from Belshazzar to become the joint-kingdom of the Medes and the Persians. Why the translators have chosen to use two different words to explain the same meaning of “division” I have absolutely no idea!

Lucifer was their King

As I watched the excellent movie “David and Bathsheba” with Gregory Peck and Rita Hayworth there was a scene which describes with some eloquence a possible justification for the angels that sinned when they followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God.

For those who do not know the story, Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite when she became the lover, then the mistress of David, King of Israel. When Nathan the prophet sought to condemn Bathsheba as an adulteress, King David (Gregory Peck) said in her defence: “I made her come to me. I was the king, could she refuse her king?”

At the time of Lucifer’s rebellion he had one-third of all of God’s angels under his direct command. God had placed Lucifer in a position of authority over these angels and had given them a commission that they should watch over the Earth. If Lucifer chose to rebel against God, and if he chose to lead his subjects in open rebellion against God, at what point would it have been correct for those angels to refuse to obey Lucifer?

If at any time they had refused, would they not have been in direct disobedience to Lucifer; and in so doing would they not have also been in direct disobedience to the commandment of God that they honour and obey Lucifer?

Consider for a moment that until the time leading up to Lucifer’s rebellion there may have been no such thing as sin! In fact, at the time leading up to Lucifer’s rebellion, disobedience to the edicts of God must have been completely unknown. If this is so, then I cannot even visualize the concept of disobedience being understood by the angels that followed him!

Job -- Righteous or Not

The LORD of the Old Testament was conversing with Satan about the man we have come to know as Job: and the Lord said in Job 1:8 “There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and avoids evil.”

If ever a man could expect to be protected from all things evil then surely it should have been Righteous Job; however, God allowed Satan to afflict Job in the most horrible ways. The question must then be asked: “Why would God allow such a thing to happen?”

You need to read the whole story of Job, as it is recorded in the book of the Bible by that name; in it you may discover a very important lesson which all of us who strive to be true Christians need to learn. Many believe the sin of Job was an excess of vanity due to self-righteousness. This may be true; but God described Job to Satan as a truly righteous man! I doubt that any man can be truly righteous when he harbours within himself the sin of vanity -- or as is suggested by many “self-righteousness!”

It is true that no matter what we do in our service to God, no matter how obedient we are to His commands and desires, we can do nothing more than it is our duty to do. However obedient and righteous any mortal man may be we are still unprofitable servants -- we can only hope to return to God a small portion of that which is His due and nothing more.

Therefore, the question must remain that if Job was a truly righteous man, why would God allow Satan to afflict him so horribly? My honest answer is that I simply do not know -- except perhaps that the Jewish Talmud may be correct when it suggests that the book of Job is a parable, a story, and that Job as a real person never did exist!

The Fear of the Lord

How can the belief in a loving, forgiving, and benevolent God, square with the atrocities which exist in the world today and with the horrors prophesied for the days to come?

Many scriptures can be used to shed light on this question but perhaps we can use a short passage from the Proverbs of Solomon as a single definitive answer. Notice:

Proverbs 1:24-29 “Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regards; but you have set at nothing all my counsel, and did not want my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear [6343] comes; when your fear [6343] comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when pain and sorrow come upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear [3374] of the Lord.”

In the previous passage the word “fear” is used three times but has been translated from two very different Hebrew words. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible tells us that “fear” [6343] = “pachad” = alarm (properly: the object feared) -and- “fear” [3374] = “yiraw” = fear: reverence.

With this in mind, the last part of the previous passage could have been rendered: “…for that they hated knowledge and did not choose to regard me with the deepest respect and affection!”

Note: I have enjoyed putting these bits and pieces together. Throughout my notes I have recorded many thoughts and comments not worthy of a full essay but which may well be of value in further offerings of “Bits and Pieces.” I hope to do this again sometime soon.

Next week I expect to begin a two part series on a subject I would much rather not have to discuss. The reasons for my separation from the Worldwide Church of 1974 have always been a very private matter to me; I have occasionally alluded to those reasons but have never discussed them fully and openly with anyone. Over the next two weeks I shall try to clarify my side of the story in the two-part series “Shearing the Sheep” and put to rest with one quick blood-letting a subject I don’t even enjoy thinking about.

Turning Water into Wine

2007-01-19T00:53:00.000-05:00

The New Testament book of John records the first openly displayed miracle of Jesus; he miraculously turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Have you ever wondered why he would do such a thing? I can think of no spiritually edifying reason for such an open display of God’s powers; why it should be the first miracle of Jesus’ ministry has been a long time mystery for me. Surely this act can in no way suggest that we use the powers of Almighty God to further our pleasures through over-indulgence at a wedding party! Why did Jesus turn the water into wine?

John 2:11 “[Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast;] this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

Here we are told that by turning the water into wine Jesus “manifested his glory” {i.e. he openly displayed His powers) and in so doing he convinced the disciples to “believe in Him” -- but what was it the disciples were convinced of?

No matter how often I consider these questions, or how deeply I meditate on them, I cannot help believing that by this miracle Jesus was not trying to convince anyone of anything -- except perhaps his mother Mary! In fact, I don’t believe this was a miracle Jesus even wanted to carry out; it was simply not in his nature or his character to openly display himself or his abilities in this way.

Do you remember when you first began to understand the truths and the mysteries of God? I don’t doubt that most of us experienced an almost overwhelming urge to share our good fortune with others. I also have no doubt that in almost every instance our desire to share ended in disaster -- in far too many instances our need to share these truths led to the alienation of close friends and members of our own family.

Jesus not only had a more perfect understanding than we will ever have in this lifetime, he also knew he could exhibit the powers and abilities which would one day become an important part of his ministry. And yet, I must believe that he felt no compelling need to share with others that which he knew they would be unable to understand or accept.

Do those of us who make up the “church” and the Churches of God truly understand all that can be known about the ministry of Jesus Christ? We know he was the Messiah; the Redeemer sent by God to become the embodiment of the Passover sacrifice. He was sent to die that all may one day live again. But do we truly understand why his ministry openly displayed the very powers of Almighty God? Sometime in the next few weeks I hope to discuss this very subject with you with far greater depth and purpose than we shall today. Is it possible that we have misunderstood the power and the spirit which motivated the ministry of Jesus? But first; the water and the wine!

Understanding the First Miracle

John 2:1-3 “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’”

Notice that it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who made this request. But why should Mary be concerned if the wedding feast had run out of wine?

John 2:9-10 “When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, [he] then [sets out] the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’”

This passage suggests it was the responsibility of the bridegroom to supply food and drink for his wedding guests. Is it possible that this feast was a celebration following the marriage of one of Mary’s other sons, one of Jesus’ younger brothers? If so, then by extension we may assume that Mary as mother of the groom, and Jesus as the elder brother would share in the groom’s responsibilities. Whatever the truth of the matter -- it was Mary who made the request that Jesus do something about the lack of wine!

However, I do not believe this was simply a matter of Mary wanting to provide more wine for the wedding guests? I do believe this was a conscious decision on her part to prompt Jesus to openly display his powers. Notice the reaction of Jesus to her request:

John 2:4 “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come’”

What was this “concern of Mary” if something other than providing wine for the feast? How do the writings of the Apostle John record Mary’s response to this seemingly negative reaction of Jesus? Did she back away from her request? She did not!

John 2:5 “[Mary] said to the servants, ‘Whatever he tells you to do, do it!’”

Every student of the Bible must be aware of the many wonders and miracles experienced by both Jesus and Mary in their lives. As a young woman, Mary had been in direct contact with an angel of God; she knew she had been a virgin when she conceived her son Jesus; she remembered the appearance of angels at the time of His birth; and she most certainly would have remembered the visit of the “Wise Men” who came to honour their new-born King.

Mary was with Jesus as he grew from a baby, to a child, to a youth, and then to a man. It should be fair to say that Mary knew Jesus as well as, or better than any other human could possibly have known him -- and she knew he was destined for greatness!

Luke 1:29-33 “Then the angel [Gabriel] said to [Mary], ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’”

So far so good; but does any of this bring us any closer to understanding why Jesus would carry out something as innocuous and seemingly unnecessary as the turning of water into wine? As far as miracles are concerned, surely this had little or no spiritual or instructional value. It may have helped everyone at the wedding enjoy the feasting a little more; but is this how we are to believe the miraculous powers of God should be used?

What was Jesus thinking when he agreed to turn the water into wine? Why would he want this act to be the first manifestation of his powers? Is it even possible that we could ever truly understand the very mind of Christ? Nevertheless, this much I do believe: until anyone successfully performs his (or her) first miracle, he (or she) must harbor at least an infinitesimal degree of doubt.

From Childhood -- to Manhood

Jesus spent the first thirty years of his life preparing for his ministry. When he was only twelve years old his understanding was already so advanced he was able to astonish even the learned men of the temple in Jerusalem with his understanding. And yet, can we appreciate what it must have taken even Jesus to perform his very first miracle?

Without going into a deep discussion concerning the need for faith in the working out of any supernatural event, let me offer you this singular comment: “Belief in a successful outcome is not enough to perform a miracle!” The addict who dives through a penthouse window may believe with absolute certainty that he or she can fly; but to my knowledge no one has yet succeeded. In a biblical sense, there is an account recorded in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 where the disciples of Jesus were unable to cast out an evil spirit which had taken possession of a young boy. Prior to this failure the disciples had successfully exorcised many spirits -- they must have ordered this spirit to depart fully expecting it to obey; yet they did fail!

Note: To those who feel the need to more fully discuss the question of faith, as it is required to do miracles, I would suggest that you first go to the “Archives” of this blogsite and read “A New Look at True Faith.”

In order to turn water into wine, it was necessary for Jesus to carry out a conscious act. I believe he knew beyond any doubt he would succeed; and as I said earlier it is my belief that he felt no compelling need to test himself -- and yet he did carry out this miracle!

Perhaps even Mary had no doubt that Jesus could do miracles. What if the only reason for her request was to force Jesus to manifest his powers before those who were his closest friends; those who were to become his most ardent followers and disciples?

It seems probable that prior to the time of the feast in Cana Jesus had shared many of his thoughts and meditations with his mother. Jesus clearly believed he was the fulfillment of someone prophesied to come and that signs and miracles would be part of his ministry. It may also be that Mary understood and agreed with everything Jesus believed -- then again, perhaps not -- how I wish we could know for sure!

As much as I would like to more perfectly understand all that can be known about this event, I wish even more that we could understand the emotion with which Jesus said the words: “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” How much longer was Jesus prepared to wait before displaying his God-given powers? How much longer would he have waited if not for the prompting of Mary?

Manifesting the Powers of God

For anyone, even Jesus, to successfully carry out a miracle, he or she would not only have to believe the miracle would work, but would also have to believe it was correct to make the attempt. If Jesus truly believed he was the living fulfillment of prophecy, he would not only believe it was correct to attempt such a miracle, he would also believe it was his duty and his responsibility to do so. With the scriptural record of Elijah and Elisha to follow, Jesus would even have many scriptural examples to guide him as to what form those miracles may take.

However, there was an even more compelling reason why Jesus knew his attempts would succeed. He had recently been the focal point of two incredibly miraculous events! He had survived a fast of forty days and forty nights, a feat no human could accomplish without the intervention of God; and at the completion of this fast God’s angels had appeared and had ministered unto him.

Both of these events were manifestations of miracles that had been carried out for Jesus -- not by Jesus! It is important to note that these same miracles had previously been carried out for, not by, the prophet Elijah!

Q...Have you ever wondered why Jesus performed the miracles that he did?

Q...Have you ever tried to consider how perfectly the miracles of Jesus parallel the miracles performed by the prophets Elijah and Elisha?

Q...Have you ever wondered why the writings of the Apostles never show John the Baptist as having openly displayed any of the powers of Elijah?

John 1:19-20 “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not!’”

Q...Why is it that virtually everyone within the realm of nominal Christianity believes that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the one promised to come in the spirit and power of Elijah? Is this belief based solely on the Scripture found at Luke 1:17?

Within the bounds of professing Christianity, there are few doctrines more widely accepted than that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the “Elijah to come.” Because of my profound belief that the true identity of the end-time Elijah is of vital importance to all who are of the “church” and the Churches of God, I intend to present in an upcoming blog-offering a digest of a study-paper concerning the Elijah to come.

Note: From the inception of this blogsite I have tried to discuss my thoughts on a different subject each week. It was inevitable that not every subject would have the substance, or the instructive value, worthy of a full essay. I have been going over these snippets of information and have tried to flesh out some of them into what I believe may be a format you can enjoy. Next week I hope to offer a selection of these under the heading of “Bits and Pieces.”

And the Dry Land Appeared

2007-01-12T02:55:00.000-05:00

It is important that you realize there is little or no scriptural evidence with which to prove much of the scientific theory put forth in the following essay. With that in mind, there are portions of this work which must be considered little more than fiction -- however, I would remind you that when it comes to science, many of the so called “scientific proofs” put forward as facts in the past, have since been replaced by more recent “scientific proofs.” These more recent “scientific proofs” therefore reduce the previous “scientific proofs” to little more than works of fiction.

If you are willing to accept the tongue-in-cheek disclaimer put forward in the previous paragraph, then perhaps we can barge ahead and have ourselves a little fun. Just don’t take too seriously the parts which (at this time) are obviously not provable; unless of course you have an overly-active imagination -- as I most certainly do!

The Original Creation

Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep…”

An in-depth study of the original inspired texts shows that the first sentence of Genesis 1:1 has been poorly translated. A more correct translation would have been…“And the earth became a wasteland and darkness was on the face of the deep...” Since God is not the author of confusion, and would not have created the world as we find it in Genesis 1:1, we must wonder how and why the Earth came to be in the state of chaos and confusion suggested by the words: “The earth was without form and void...”

Genesis 1:2 “And the Spirit of God [hovered] over the face of the waters.”

Genesis 1:6 “Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’”

Genesis 1:9 “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear’; and it was so.”

From the pages of the Bible the ardent and determined searcher can discover the story of the original creation; it was a creation so perfect and so beautiful that the angels of God shouted for joy at the wonder of it. Unfortunately, that perfection was destroyed by the rebellion of Lucifer, one of three great Archangels created by God.

The Rebellion of Lucifer

Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! You are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations: for you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, then I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol [the grave], to the lowest depths of the Pit.”

Following the original creation, the Archangel Lucifer was given charge over the Earth and one-third of all of God’s angels were placed under his direct command. For reasons which may be discussed later, Lucifer rebelled against God. Lucifer led his angels in an attempt to place himself and his throne beside the very throne of God; and a great war was fought in the heavens, a war in which Lucifer and his angels were defeated and were cast back down to the Earth.

Revelation 12:7-9 “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

One-third of the angels which God created, under the leadership of one of the most powerful beings imaginable, made war against the angels of Almighty God. We cannot know how long it took for Lucifer’s rebellion to fail, but the resulting devastation is still clearly evident throughout the cosmos for all of us to see.

The Earth which had been created so perfect and so beautiful was destroyed; it was torn apart into innumerable heavenly bodies which were then scattered throughout the cosmos. That which we have come to know as our Earth is but a tiny speck of that original creation; as such, it is almost lost in the vastness of the universe!

The Re-Creation

It can be shown from an in-depth study of the scriptures that almost six thousand years ago God carried out a re-creation of the Earth. It was during this week-long re-creation that God created man:

Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

What we want to consider in this present study is this: “If there was a re-creation of the earth approximately 6,000 years ago, what was the state of the Earth and the cosmos immediately prior to that re-creation?”

The Time Between

In the depthless reaches of outer space, with little or no energy radiating from any nearby star that which remained of the Earth would have been little more than a frozen mass of rocks, metals, and gases. A state of zero degrees Kelvin (i.e. minus 273.16 degrees Celsius) would have been reached where no life could exist and where the gases of Earth’s atmosphere would have reverted to their liquid state. The surface of the Earth would have been completely covered by this frigid, fluid mass “...and darkness was on the face of the deep!”

Few of us ever consider the incredible thinness of the veil our atmosphere represents in relation to the size of the Earth. I have heard it described as being far less in comparison than the lacquer, or varnish, on a miniature globe of the world sitting on a student’s work desk. However, the importance of that veil to the survival of everything that exists upon the Earth cannot be over-stated.

The atmosphere of our Earth consists of a mixture of various gases. Each of these gases has an individual “boiling point”: conversely, each of these gases has a “point of liquefaction.” It is important to realize that none of these gases can reach a frozen state even at absolute zero -- they exist only as gaseous or liquid! The following chart shows the boiling point and the point of liquefaction for each of the gases in our atmosphere.

Note: I must apologize for the following chart; it is supposed to be separated into 4 individual columns but the format used by the blogsite would not allow me to do this. It may be that the fault is mine, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make it work -- as an old man, I can only plead computer illiteracy as my excuse.

Gas Symbol Boiling Point F Boiling Point C

Carbon Dioxide CO2 -109.3 F -78.5 C

Xenon Xe -160.8 F -107.1 C

Krypton Kr -243.2 F -152.9 C

Oxygen O2 -297.3 F -182.9 C

Argon A -302.3 F -185.7 C

Nitrogen N2 -320.4 F -195.8 C

Neon Ne -411.3 F -246.3 C

Hydrogen H2 -422.9 F -252.7 C

Helium He -452.2 F -269.0 C

Note: Any element found at a temperature higher than its individual boiling point would be found in its gaseous state. Any element found at a temperature lower than its boiling point would be found in its liquid state.

Scientifically speaking, “absolute zero” is reached at -459.4 F or -273.16 C; this state is referred to as “zero degrees Kelvin.” At zero degrees Kelvin, all atmospheric gases would exist only in their liquid state. If the temperature of the entire mass should rise from zero degrees Kelvin to -269.0 C or above, the Helium in the mass would be first to boil and would separate from the other liquids as it reverted to its gaseous state.

One by one, as the temperature of the entire mass increased, each of the elements would reach its boiling point and would separate from the others as it reverted from its liquid form to become an atmospheric gas. Can this in any way provide a clue to the mystery of the dividing of the waters from the waters?

Death of the Dinosaurs

Several billions of years passed from the time of Lucifer’s rebellion until God’s renewal of the Earth. What happened during those many eons can only be guessed at; but there are scientific hints which should be considered in the light of biblical understanding.

Science has proven that the many vast deposits of petroleum found scattered throughout the Earth are nothing less than the remains of ancient animal life -- specifically, dinosaurs from Earth’s pre-historic past. What science has so far been unable to explain is how those vast deposits of petroleum came to be.

In the world as we know it, when animals die they rot, they decay; their basic molecular components are returned to the earth -- they do not turn into petroleum! If science agrees on any one specific point with regard to this subject, it is that in the world as we know it today no further deposits of petroleum are being created.

There have been many theories put forward as to how the original deposits came to be; nevertheless, it is the general scientific consensus that the creative force of the substance known as petroleum remains a mystery. Consider this admission in the light of Scripture:

Romans 1:18-22 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

The intent of this passage is not to offend or insult anyone in the scientific community; it is to show our need to consider the truths of God with regard to anything and everything we do not fully understand. If there is even the slightest possibility that an omnipotent Creator Being may have been responsible for something that exists, then in the absence of any definitive scientific clarity we must consider the possibility of a biblical answer.

Rocks that Burn

Try to picture the Earth as it must have been in the time of the dinosaurs. It is known to have had a tropical or semi-tropical environment where huge creatures existed in vast herds; they fed on a thick growth of lush grasses, ferns, bushes and trees. Now picture the Earth as it experiences a sudden, overwhelming devastation; an event so cataclysmic that it completely and suddenly destroyed all life then in existence.

Huge rafts of vegetation would have been swept away either afloat on raging waters or quickly buried under many thousands of tons of earth as storms and earthquakes ravaged what was left of the Earth. Science has proven that the almost limitless deposits of coal found in vast quantities throughout the Earth are nothing more than pre-historic vegetation which in ages past had been quickly buried then subjected to incredible pressure for an unspecified period of time. What adds to the mystery is that in addition to great pressures, heat was required to turn that vegetation into coal!

There is one more interesting fact about coal which needs to be understood -- science has shown it requires a raft of vegetation 40 feet deep, quickly buried and subjected to immense pressure and heat, in order to produce a 1 foot thick seam of coal. In some of the world’s larger deposits, seams of coal have been found more than 6 or 7 feet thick!

When it was suggested that heat must be added to the pressure required to create coal my first thought was that a great conflagration must have accompanied the devastation of the Earth; however, this need not be so! Great pressures, of and by themselves, create an abundance of heat -- whether this would be enough to transform vegetation into the hard carbon of coal is questionable. Nevertheless, there is another possibility clearly evident in the structure of the Earth itself.

Even in this present day and age, the deeper we go into the Earth the higher the temperature rises. We can only begin to speculate as to the heat produced by the Earth’s core in the days of our pre-history. Add to this the absolute certainty that any great cataclysm would unleash eruptions and lava flows to an extent unheard of and beyond the imagination of any of us today.

That which would one day become the coal that has fuelled the homes and industry of our recent past, and which may yet become the fuel of tomorrow, would have been subjected to irresistible pressures from above and incredible heat from below -- but still, there may have been much, much more added to the equation!

If this speck of dust in the vastness of the cosmos which we call our Earth was to be cast off into nothingness, many light years from even the smallest star or other source of heat, the surface would quickly revert to the virtual death of absolute zero degrees Kelvin. Every gas in our atmosphere would be transformed into its liquid state and would flow as a great turgid sea to a depth of more than half a mile over the surface of the Earth -- the incredible weight of that sea could only be guessed at.

What would this do to the recipe for turning mosses and grasses into coal? For that matter, what would it do to the process required to transform the remains of animal life into petroleum? There would be great heat from below, trapped beneath incalculable weights and pressures from above; weights and pressures accompanied by temperatures lower than mankind has so far been able to measure. Time would not be a factor in the recipe; countless millennia would pass before the Earth would once again feel the warmth of any star -- or until the frigid Earth came within the orbit of our own life-giving Sun.

Genesis 1:2-4 “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God [hovered] over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good...”

Note: Next week I hope to discuss the first of many miracles performed by Jesus. Why would he choose something as seemingly unnecessary and spiritually unedifying as the turning of water into wine as the first manifestation of his powers?

The Seventy Week Prophecy

2007-01-05T03:18:00.000-05:00

If there is one unquestionable truth I hope each of you take away from these weekly messages it is that at this time, in this life, I am far from perfect. Because of this, I accept that my understanding of many subjects may also be far from perfect. This realization drives me to a greater search of the Scriptures in an effort to more perfectly understand the mysteries of God; and prompts me to share with you the results of my studies rather than try to teach what I have come to believe. With this in mind, I shall place before you my understanding of the Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine -- and the reasons why I believe as I do.

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.”

This single verse is the focal point of the entire prophecy which has become known as “The Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine.” As it is with many prophecies, this one can be especially difficult to understand; nevertheless, if there is truth to be found within any mystery recorded for us in the Bible it is our duty to put forth some effort to find it.

Daniel 9:1-2 “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -- in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Before going on, it would be wise for you to go to your own Bible and read the whole of Daniel chapter nine. Understand that Daniel set out by prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes to ask God’s mercy and forgiveness for himself and for the whole of Israel. He also wanted to better understand a prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah wherein Jerusalem would become a place of desolation and for seventy years its people would be made to serve the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah 25:11 “And this whole land shall be desolation and astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

The prophecy of Daniel Nine was God’s answer; specifically verse 24 which bears repeating: “Seventy weeks are determined upon your people, and upon the holy city [Jerusalem], to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring everlasting righteousness, and to seal up [bring an end to] the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.”

Bible scholars generally accept that Jesus was born in the year 4 B.C. He was thirty years old in the year 27 A.D., and at this time his ministry began. The ministry of Jesus lasted three-and-a-half years until his death by crucifixion. I agree with each of these facts and believe the seventy week prophecy of Daniel Nine gives us scriptural substantiation of what we have previously come to learn from history. For the sake of clarity, I have decided to use point form to explain my understanding:

1. History and Bible chronology suggest that Jesus began his ministry in the year 27 A.D. This was the time of Jesus’ baptism, his temptation by Satan in the wilderness, the time when he began to gather his disciples, and the time when he began to preach the gospel -- i.e. the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.

2. Daniel 9:24…Seventy weeks are determined as the time period from the beginning of the prophecy until the end of the prophecy and the anointing of the Most Holy. It is important to realize that if the anointing of the Most Holy refers to Jesus being anointed as King over the Earth, this is an event that has not yet taken place; and will not until the time immediately before the setting up of His Father’s Kingdom. Remember what Jesus himself had to say in John 18:36 when Pontius Pilate asked him: “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” In many other places the Bible clearly points out that Jesus will one day return to set up the Kingdom of God here upon the Earth. As of this moment in time, January 2007, Jesus has not yet returned; He has not yet set up his Father’s kingdom; He has not yet brought everlasting righteousness to the Earth; and He has not yet been anointed as king; therefore -- the prophecy of Daniel Nine has not yet been completed!

3. Daniel 9:25…Bible scholars recognize that several different decrees were given over a period of many years to rebuild Jerusalem and/or the temple; they agonize over which decree should be used as the starting point for the seventy-week prophecy. I have never seen this as a problem. Notice: the timing of the prophecy begins “…from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem…” Ezra was a scribe in the Law of Moses, and we are told that in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king of Persia, Ezra went forth with the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem -- he arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon with a letter, a decree, that Jerusalem was to be restored and rebuilt (Ezra 7:1-28). Historical records have shown that the seventh year of Artaxerxes coincides with the year 457 B.C. -- surely then, 457 B.C. is the starting point for the seventy-week prophecy!

4. Daniel 9:25…“From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three-score and two weeks…” Seven weeks plus three-score and two weeks equals sixty-nine weeks (7 + 60 + 2 = 69). Therefore, according to the prophecy it would take sixty-nine weeks from the beginning of the prophecy until the Messiah the Prince.

5. The principle of a year for a day when determining time periods within prophecy is widely understood by Bible scholars. The reader should check the passages recorded at Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:1-8 to see where God himself explains this principle. If the principle of a year for a day applies to the prophecy of Daniel Nine then sixty-nine weeks from the starting point until the arrival of the Messiah would be 69 x 7 = 483 days = 483 years. If Ezra carried the decree from Artaxerxes in the year 457 B.C. then the 483 years would bring us to the year 27 A.D. the year Jesus was baptized and began his ministry. (Note: there can be some difficulty calculating time when passing from a date B.C. to a date A.D. I would therefore recommend that each of you do the calculation for yourselves.)

6. Turn your attention back to verse: 25 and the way the sixty-nine weeks to the arrival of the Messiah were calculated. Notice that it was to be seven weeks and (or plus) threescore and two weeks. Then in verse: 26 it states that: “After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (or killed), but not for himself.” What happened to the first seven weeks? Apparently it took 49 years (i.e. 7 weeks x 7 days = 49 days = 49 years in prophecy), from the beginning of the prophecy until the restoration of Jerusalem was completed. From that time (i.e. from the restoration of Jerusalem) until the coming of the Messiah was to be 62 weeks! Messiah would be killed after this; that is, after the 7 weeks and the 62 weeks. Therefore, Messiah would be killed, (i.e. “cut off, but not for himself”) -- after the 69th week of the prophecy!

7. What we must always remember is that the total time period of the prophecy, from the beginning to its conclusion, is to be seventy weeks. When verse: 26 tells us that Messiah would be cut off after seven weeks plus sixty two weeks, we need to realize there is still one full week left in the prophecy! Daniel 9:27 tells us that after the sixty-nine weeks: “He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week -- and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease…” Let’s try to be quite sure that we understand what the prophecy is telling us about this final week; and let’s remember that one week = 7 days = 7 years in prophecy. The Messiah would begin his ministry 483 years after the prophecy begins; 483 years from 457 B.C. brings us to 27 A.D. the date we generally accept as the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He was to confirm the covenant for one whole week, and was to be cut off (or killed) in the midst (or in the middle) of the week -- i.e. in the midst of the last week following the first 69 weeks -- i.e. in the midst of the last 7 years following the first 483 years! Again, it is generally understood that the ministry of Jesus lasted three-and-one-half years and ended the day he was crucified. Let us also remember that Jesus died “not for himself” and that the sacrifice made by him “once for all” made the continuation of the Old Testament blood sacrifices and oblations for sin no longer necessary. His sacrifice as “the lamb of God” caused the need for sacrifice and oblations to cease!

8. So then; following the death of the Messiah we are left with half a week, or three-and-a-half days = three-and-a-half years in prophecy, yet to be completed. I believe the completion of that final week will take place following the return of the Messiah when He shall gather together His brethren from the four corners of the Earth. For three-and-a-half years He “shall confirm the covenant” and “seal up the vision and the prophecy” by preparing those who are to reign with Him during the time of the Millennium.

9. Since the vision and the prophecy cannot be sealed up until the covenant has been confirmed (i.e. until the end of the final three-and-a-half years); and the anointing of the Most Holy must take place before he can rule over His Father’s Kingdom; it must therefore be true that everything Daniel saw must be completed prior to the beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren!

Once again I must suggest that a more perfect understanding of the prophetic timing of the Autumn Holy Days as suggested in an earlier post here entitled The Incarceration of Satan is vital to understanding this and many other prophecies. To believe that the return of Jesus, the incarceration of Satan, and the beginning of the Millennium must all take place at one and the same time on one and the same day does not allow for the completion of the final three-and-a-half years of this prophecy!

Now is not the time, or the place, or even the format for a discussion into when we can expect the return of the Messiah. I shall even go so far as to say that anyone who would try to set dates for the fulfillment of any prophecy sets himself up to be a fool. However, this much I shall say: It is misleading when our ministers use the passage from Matthew 24:36 to “prove” to us that we cannot know the time for Messiah’s return. Notice:

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

If we study Matthew 24 with a view to understanding when these events may come to pass, I doubt we could even accurately determine the specific event expected to take place “at that day and that hour.” Nevertheless, it is my personal opinion that the event being referred to is “the initial return of the Messiah” when He shall return to gather together His brethren -- but I cannot know this with any certainty. This much I shall say: I am not overly concerned with “the actual day” or “the actual hour” of His return! However, if there is even the slightest chance that we might know the approximate time; or even the approximate year of His return, I believe it is our duty to find out!

We can even look with some justification of this hope to the Old Testament book of the prophet Amos where it records for us: “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (I shall continue to wonder!)

Note: Next week I hope to offer a somewhat tongue-in-cheek theory for the existence of the vast deposits of oil and coal located in such profusion throughout the world. Science cannot positively explain the process by which petroleum came to be; even with coal they admit to having a less than perfect understanding. Perhaps there is something hidden in the ancient biblical texts which may help us -- to this end, I have written: “And the Dry Land Appeared”!

The Three Wise Men -- Part 2

2006-12-29T01:13:00.000-05:00

Many books and booklets attempt to prove the modern day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel. For most people, a more perfect understanding of their identity has little or no meaning; however, for those who understand the scriptural promises of national and spiritual inheritance God made to Abraham, the identity of those who are today the legal heirs of those promises is of vital importance!

Many religious groups have used the modern day identity of these missing tribes to increase the size of their congregations and their incomes. The most successful by far was a booklet written by Herbert W. Armstrong and published by the Worldwide Church of God; it was called “The United States and Britain in Prophecy.” Since the break up of the Worldwide Church and the scattering of its congregations, many of the hundreds of off-shoot groups have published their own version of this booklet.

It is my personal opinion that none of these publications, including the one originally published by the Worldwide Church, provide the comprehensive understanding of the lost tribes as it is recorded in the book written by Mr. J. H. Allen entitled: “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright.” To my mind, this is the original source of the information; information that was available long before Herbert Armstrong “revealed” it to the world. This book was first published in the year 1901.

J. H. Allen’s “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright” is far more detailed, and far more informative, than any of the copies produced by any of the Churches that later used this important information so successfully. Even today Mr. Allen’s book is widely available at a very reasonable cost and is easily obtained directly from bookstores or over the internet. For those who are serious about their search for the truths and the mysteries of Almighty God, this book is invaluable!

Last week we tried to determine what the “wise men” were not. This week we must try to understand what they were -- or at least, what they may have been! However, if you have not made the effort to research the modern-day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel, the remainder of this work will have little or no meaning for you.

The format of this blogsite does not lend itself well to a full explanation of “the lost tribes,” I must therefore leave it up to you to do most of your own research -- or not! For those who would reject this knowledge without even trying to understand; you have my sympathy, even my pity. Events which are even now beginning to take place upon this Earth, and especially upon our English speaking peoples, will shock you into the realization that the information was there for you to find; yet you chose to ignore it!

For those who would learn more about the modern-day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel, I heartily recommend Mr. Allen’s book.

Who were the “Wise Men” that visited the Christ Child?

As mentioned last week, I believe that the birth of the Messiah was the single most important event since the creation of man. To believe that three obscure Oriental astrologers were chosen by Almighty God as the only men worthy to receive the heavenly sign which led them to this Christ child seems ludicrous to me!

The “spiritual purpose” for the birth of Jesus was that he should one day become “the lamb of God.” Jesus was born to become the sacrifice that would make it possible for man to once again be reconciled with God. This discussion concerning the “wise men” gives proof of the “temporal purpose” for the birth of Christ. He was born to rule -- and that rule must begin over the people of Israel! Jesus and His brethren will one day rule over all peoples and nations here upon this Earth; but before expanding the Kingdom of God to include all nations, they must first rule over the nations of Israel! It is therefore my belief that these “wise men” travelled from afar to pay homage to this newborn child -- who would one day be their king!

Jesus said in Matthew 15:24 “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And in Micah 5:2 we are told: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the One to be Ruler in Israel.” And Matthew 2:6 repeats the passage from Micah: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Until I am given compelling evidence to the contrary, I shall reject the teaching of nominal Christianity concerning the tradition of the three wise men. I shall believe that the identity of the lost sheep of the house of Israel has indeed been proven. I shall believe that at the time of the birth of Jesus these so called “lost tribes” were located in western and north-western Europe and the British Isles. I shall believe that to the leaders of these tribes God sent a messenger, or an angel, or a heavenly sign, letting them know that the birth of their future king would soon take place.

I believe that at least one emissary from each of the ten tribes of the house of Israel travelled to the Holy Land in order to pledge allegiance to their newborn king! But as it is with everything God wants men to do, the journey they undertook did not go without its share of problems. It is my belief that these emissaries travelled by way of Assyria and/or Babylon -- before they went to Jerusalem! In fact, I believe that the star, or the angel, led them there -- and probably left them there -- to be seen again only after their audience with King Herod!

There is so much that the reader should already know! For example, you should have already studied the scriptures which deal with the sins of the house of Israel and their eventual defeat at the hands of the Assyrians. The people of the house of Israel were removed from their homeland and were taken as captives to Assyria. From the land of Assyria, history and the Scriptures tell us they were assimilated into so many other nations that their own individual national identity became lost.

More than one hundred years after the defeat and dispersal of the house of Israel, the house of Judah also sinned against the LORD God of the Bible. The Empire of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar came against Judah and Jerusalem and defeated them. The people of the house of Judah were taken as captives to Babylon; and among the captives of Judah there was a young boy by the name of Daniel.

Daniel 1:17 “As for these four young men [i.e. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah] God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Daniel became great in the household of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. This same Daniel is the author of the Old Testament book which bears his name. In the Book of Daniel there is a prophecy which has become known as: “The Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine.” It is my understanding that this prophecy gives a timeline which leads to the coming of the Messiah and to the beginning of his ministry. For those who have not yet researched the meaning of this prophecy, I strongly suggest that you do so.

The house of Judah was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar more than one hundred years after the house of Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrians! The book of Daniel was written many years after the house of Israel had been dispersed from Assyria to the lands which became their new home. Therefore, the dispersed peoples of the house of Israel would have had no opportunity to read the prophecies of Daniel!

IF the “wise men” were emissaries from the lost-tribes of Israel; and IF they travelled from the western parts of Europe; and IF the star led them to the area of Assyria and Babylon; then I believe it was because that is where they would find the writings of the prophet Daniel! That is where they would find the learned men of the house of Judah and the learned men of the Levitical priesthood. That is where those of the house of Israel would find the scriptures God had inspired to be written during the time they were far removed from their spiritual homeland.

I believe that the star which led them to Assyria and/or Babylon left them there. They would then have had to make their own way to Jerusalem according to that which they came to understand from the writings of Daniel. It may even be that a representative from each of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi joined those who had travelled from the western parts of Europe. I believe that these men, accompanied by many attendants, travelled to Jerusalem in search of the child that was born to rule over them. Following their audience with Herod they rejoiced when the star reappeared and they followed it directly to Bethlehem.

The seventy week prophecy of Daniel would have given these men an indication of the expected time for the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah; the learned men of Judah would have been able to explain to them that only when a man reached the age of thirty years could he begin his service in the temple. From these two pieces of information, the “wise men” would have been able to determine the approximate time for the birth of the Messiah.

Numbers 4:46-47 “All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry…”

Luke 3:21-23 “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, ‘You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.’ And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age...”

When the year marking the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah is known, it becomes an easy matter to figure back thirty years in order to reckon the year for His birth. The problem with this, (if we need another problem in this story) is that the only location mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy with regard to the Messiah is the Temple of God in Jerusalem. IF the “wise men” received this additional information in Assyria or Babylon, then the next place for them to go must be Jerusalem -- and they would arrive in Jerusalem “from the east”!

At this point, our next question might be: “Why did they not know about the scripture in Micah 5:2 ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth unto me someone that is to be a ruler in Israel?’”

When we look at this verse in hindsight we can see that it does indeed refer to the birth of Jesus. But try to look at it from the point of view of someone who knew little or nothing at all about Jesus, or about his birth, or about the place of his birth. This verse from Micah could refer to just about anyone or anything. It could even refer to the place from whence the Messiah would begin his ministry; thirty years after the time of his birth!

We know that when Herod questioned the chief priests and the scribes of the people, they told him that “Messiah” would be born in Bethlehem; but as far as the “wise men” were concerned, when they arrived in Jerusalem the location of his birth was as yet unknown.

We must also remember that the “wise men” had at some point in time lost sight of the star. It was only: “When they had heard the king [Herod], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

Finally: I strongly believe the previous verse should read: “When they heard the king [Herod], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they [had seen] in the east, went before them…” It must be understood that in order to follow the star from Jerusalem to Bethlehem it must lead them towards the south, not towards the east!

Note: Recently I have made several references to the “Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine” without really trying to explain what it means -- or what it may mean. Next week, in keeping with the spirit of this blogsite, I shall try to place before you the way I have come to understand the “Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine” -- and why I believe it is as important as I do.

The Three Wise Men -- Part 1

2006-12-22T00:29:00.000-05:00

It may be that the story of the “wise men” as told to the boy Jesus was as much a mystery to him then as it seems to us today. The modern depiction may contain much truth. It may also be so inaccurate as to be of little or no value to our understanding. I believe it is time to dispel many of the myths surrounding this supposedly “Christian” tradition.

If the story of the “wise men” was a mystery to the boy Jesus, then to whom would he turn for understanding? Would he turn to his mother and father? Of course he would! Would he ask those who had witnessed the events surrounding his birth and the visit of these “wise men”? Yes, certainly, he would want to ask them too! But he would also seek understanding from the Scriptures; and look for help and guidance from the teachers and learned men of his day?

Luke 2:46-47 “And it came to pass, that after three days [his parents] found [Jesus] in the temple [at Jerusalem], sitting in the midst of the doctors; both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.”

What I would like to do in this week’s blog offering is concentrate on what the boy Jesus may or may not have been able to learn about the visit of these “wise men.”

Ask any professing Christian and they will almost certainly describe for you a scene wherein three dignified personages (believed to be from the Orient), follow a star to the town of Bethlehem. There they find the newborn Christ child lying in a manger, with his mother and father standing beside him and with several adoring shepherds nearby. These three “wise men” arrive riding on the backs of camels, and they enter the area of the stables bearing gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, which they present to the baby Jesus.

This “nativity” scene usually includes a few baby lambs, at least one cow-calf unit, one donkey and (a most touching recent addition) the little drummer-boy. Given time, future adaptations will probably include Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch from Whoville! What bothers me about all this is that as far as I can determine, almost none of it bears any truth whatsoever!

How wonderful it would have been to listen in while Mary and Joseph told the young Jesus what actually took place concerning the visit of these “wise men.” Who were they? Where did they really come from? How many of them actually did arrive to pay homage to this child who was born to be a king? And why, why, were these men the only ones chosen to receive a heavenly sign; a star seen shining in the east, possibly seen by them many months before the Christ child was even born?

Before attempting to determine what the Bible does say, or even what the Bible might say about these “wise men,” let us be quite clear about what the Bible does not say!

1) The Bible does not say the “wise men” found Jesus in a manger. Matthew 2:1 “And when [the wise men] were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother…”

2) Joseph may have been there; but the Bible does not say Joseph was there.

3) No shepherds are mentioned as being in the house; and surely the lambs, the cow-calf, and the donkey would have been left back at the stables.

4) My apologies for even mentioning the little drummer-boy, Frosty, and the Grinch.

5) Were there only three “wise men” or could there have been more; or even less? However many there may have been, let us be quite clear that the Bible does not tell us there were three! Certainly they presented three categories of gifts; there was gold, there was frankincense, and there was myrrh. Was Jesus presented with only one gift from each category? If so, then this would tend to show only three gift givers. Unfortunately we cannot really know because the Bible does not tell us there were only three gifts -- or only three gift givers -- the Bible only tells us there were three categories of gifts!

6) Were the “wise men” from the Orient? Perhaps they were but I doubt this very much! Matthew 2:1 tells us they: “...came from the east to Jerusalem.” That’s nice! However, it’s not much to build a traditional belief on. If you live in Chicago, and a friend from California comes to visit but has business in New York to take care of first, he will arrive in Chicago “from the east.” He lives in the west, and his trip to Chicago began in the west, but he arrived in Chicago “from the east”! The scriptural account does tend to show that the “wise men” travelled for many months; this probably translates into a considerable distance. What the Bible does not tell us is that the distance travelled was always from the east; only that they arrived in Jerusalem “from the east.” Consider for a moment looking up into the night sky and noticing one particular star “shining in the east.” Think about it! Picture it in your mind! Position yourself geographically! If you decide to move towards a star that is shining in the east, then surely you must be travelling from the west! Assyria and Babylon are both located to the east of Jerusalem but neither of these places would require a journey the length of time apparently taken by the “wise men.” However, if their journey originated in the west, and they travelled by way of Assyria and/or Babylon, they would most definitely arrive in Jerusalem “from the east.” But if they were coming from the west, why would they travel first to Assyria and/or Babylon; why would they not go directly to Jerusalem? If they did originate in the west, then from where in the west did they come? Who were these “wise men” anyway?

7) Several modern translations of the Bible tell us that the “wise men” were astrologers. The problem with this is that the original text from which our English Bibles were translated does not say they were astrologers! However, let us consider for a moment the possibility that they might have been astrologers. They saw a star shining in the eastern sky. They determined that it signalled “the birth of the King of the Jews”; and they believed that if they followed this star it would eventually lead them to this newborn king. It certainly sounds as if they could have been astrologers; but the Bible does not say they were astrologers. For three centuries before the birth of Jesus, Babylonian astrology was both a science and a religion. Astrologers studied and worshiped the power of the stars. And yet, the book of Jeremiah 10:2 clearly tells us: “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them!” The birth of Jesus was arguably the most important event to take place since the creation of man. The traditions of professing Christianity would have us believe that the only people chosen by God to travel any great distance to worship the Christ child were three obscure Oriental astrologers! Such a belief seems ludicrous to me! It is my belief that we can prove from history and from the Scriptures that the “wise men” were emissaries from each of the lost tribes of Israel. At least ten men (more probably thirteen), almost certainly with many servants in attendance; who came a very great distance -- to worship the newborn child who was born to be their king!

8) How long, and how far, did the “wise men” travel to find the Christ child? A better question might be: “How long before they found the child did the star first appear to them?” Once again the answer must be that the Bible does not tell us! The reaction of Herod, and his subsequent infamous slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem, points to a time of not more than two years. One modern translation of the Bible quotes this verse as follows: “…for the astrologers had told [Herod] the star first appeared to them two years before.” Why those who produced this version of the Bible have chosen to interpret God’s word in this way must be left to the judgment of Almighty God; but search the original text yourself! Prove to yourself that the Bible does not say “two years before”! So then, what does the Bible say? Matthew 2:7 “Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.” What did the “wise men” tell the noble Herod? Did they tell him six months; or nine months; or perhaps they said fifteen? If so then he must slaughter every boy child up to two years of age -- to justify such infamy he must make absolutely certain this “King of the Jews” must die. But did they say two years? Then to be sure he must also kill every boy-child aged two-and-a-half to three!

9) Astrologers and astronomers study and chart the positions and movements of the sun, the moon, and the stars. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; in fact, God in His wisdom has said in Genesis 1:14 “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years…” The Bible states clearly that this beacon of the “wise men” was a star. In fact, since they were using it to guide them to the “king of the Jews” they referred to it as “his star.” There is also the possibility that the biblical use of the word “star” in this case refers symbolically to an angel. See for example Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” Whatever the true explanation, the star of the “wise men” was certainly unique in that they were able to use its light to guide them from their homelands to the general area of the Holy Land. Apparently at some point in time they lost sight of the star, but after their audience with King Herod they saw it once again and they rejoiced. This time it led them directly to the town of Bethlehem, to the very house where Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child were living. Was the star of the “wise men” an actual star; or did an angel from heaven lead them to the house in Bethlehem?

10) Did the “wise men” use the actual words “King of the Jews,” as it has been translated in Matthew 2:2? Jesus is quoted in Matthew 15:24 as saying: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is neither the time nor the place for an in-depth discussion into the difference between “Jews” and “the house of Israel”; I shall therefore simply state that the people of the “house of Israel” are not, were not, and never have been Jews! If the reader doubts this, then he or she must search the subject for themselves from the pages of the Bible. A good place to begin would be in the King James Version 2nd Book of Kings 16:6 where it is recorded that the house of Israel is at war with the Jews! The word “Jews” (a people) as it is used in Matthew 2:2 could also have been translated “of Judea” (a country). There is a consensus that Micah 5:2 prophesies the birthplace of the Messiah and here it refers to someone: “...that is to be ruler in Israel.” The quotation from Micah is repeated and expanded in Matthew 2:3-6 “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where [the Messiah] should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’” The word “Governor” may be more properly translated as, “have the rule over.” Therefore, Matthew 2:6 may have more properly been translated: “For out of you shall come someone to rule over my people Israel.” If so, then Matthew 2:2 would more properly be translated “King of Judea” rather than “King of the Jews.” Whatever the truth of the matter, each and every one of us must search all things for ourselves from the pages of our own Bible -- we should always remember the scriptural admonition to: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.”

Based on everything that has been discussed so far, the following is my personal re-statement of the facts concerning the visit of the “wise men” as it is recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. An effort has been made not to add to, or diminish from, the story as it was presented by the Apostle:

“After the birth of Jesus, when he and his parents had moved from the stable of an inn to a house, Jesus and Mary his mother were visited by certain individuals referred to in the Bible as “wise men.” These men said that some time before, while still in their own homelands, they had seen a star shining in the eastern sky. They came to believe that this star was a sign foretelling the birth of one they referred to as the “King of the Jews”; or as “one who would be ruler over Judea”; or as “one who would rule over Israel.” They followed the star and eventually arrived at Jerusalem from the east. When they arrived in Jerusalem they questioned the people as to where they might find this child. Herod, who ruled over Judea at that time, summoned these “wise men” to come before him where he questioned them privately, and at length, as to when they had first seen the star. After their audience with King Herod, the “wise men” once again saw the star and rejoiced. This time it led them southward, directly to the town of Bethlehem where they found the Christ child and his mother living in a house. The “wise men” bowed down to pay homage before this newborn king and presented him with gifts of gold; and of frankincense; and of myrrh.”

The questions may well be asked: “Does it really matter if there is more to this story?” “Should we look for something other than that which is easily understood from the Scriptures?” I believe the answer to both questions must be: “Yes: of course!” If there is anything we can uncover about the mysteries of God, no matter how minor or seemingly insignificant, it is our duty and our responsibility to find it.

Note: Next week, to complete this discussion of “The Three Wise Men,” I hope to present some additional thoughts which may lead to a more perfect understanding of their identity. Were they nothing more than three obscure Oriental astrologers as the traditions of nominal Christianity would have us believe; or were they specifically chosen emissaries from each of the scattered tribes of Israel, sent by Almighty God to pay homage before their newborn King?

The Incarceration of Satan

2006-12-15T01:52:00.000-05:00

Before beginning this week’s message I want to share with you one of the principal reasons for this blogsite. As much as I want to help others come to a more perfect understanding of Scripture, I continue to hope that others will help me perfect my own understanding. To that end, I had someone draw my attention to an error I made in the December 1st 2006 offering “Openly Teaching Error.” I wrote:

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.

A few days ago someone close to me asked: “What about Dinah?” He then offered the following scripture: Genesis 30:20-21 “And Leah said, ‘God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.’ So she called his name Zebulun. Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.” -- I missed this completely! -- It seems that when Jacob met his brother Esau he did indeed introduce “...his two wives, his twelve children, and his servants.”

Can you understand the pleasure it gives me that someone took the time to correct me in this? Now my understanding of God’s word is a little more perfect today than it was yesterday -- and I hope and pray it will be a little more perfect tomorrow than it is today.

The Incarceration of Satan

I have no doubt that every member of the “church” of God has researched the scriptural account of the Day of Atonement to his or her own satisfaction; but I wonder whether each of us understands it exactly the same way. What causes me some concern is the removal of the “Azazel” goat into the wilderness. Does this refer to the time of Satan’s 1,000 year incarceration during the reign of Jesus and His brethren; or does it refer to his eventual removal and banishment from the face of the Earth at the end of the Millennium?

For those who need to refresh their memories concerning the Day of Atonement, I would recommend that you begin with a study of Leviticus 16:1-22. I would also recommend that you refresh your understanding of God’s annual Holy Days as they are recorded in Leviticus 23:1-44. However, I first want to deal with the 1,000 years of Satan’s imprisonment in the bottomless pit and its relationship to the Millennium.

Revelation 20:1-3 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

Q…Do the 1,000 years of Satan’s incarceration run concurrent to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren; or are they two separate and distinct periods of time?

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness [of] Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

This passage refers to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren. Take time to read each of the verses from Revelation 20:1-4 very carefully. Notice that the imprisonment of Satan and the reign of the Messiah are both of 1,000 years duration; but nowhere does it say that both events are to run concurrently! The belief that each period of time runs exactly parallel to the other is based on an assumption -- an assumption I believe to be incorrect!

The problem, as I see it, has been created by an imperfect understanding of the timing of the annual Holy Days. Many believe that the return of the Messiah, the imprisonment of Satan, and the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus and His brethren will all take place on one and the same day. I believe this to be a wrong understanding of Scripture!

We have been taught that the Feast of Trumpets will begin a series of trumpet sounds, prophesying a series of climactic events, culminating in the return of Christ at the sounding of “the last trump”! We have also been taught that at the time of Christ’s arrival, the prophecy of the Day of Atonement will be fulfilled by the removal of Satan and his imprisonment in the bottomless pit. Finally, on that same day, Jesus and His brethren will stand on the Mount of Olives and their reign of 1,000 years will begin. What we need to do is take another very hard look at each of these events separately in the light of Scripture.

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of God’s annual “Autumn Holy Days”; it is observed on a separate and distinct calendar day from each of the other annual holy days. I have no doubt that the day of the Feast of Trumpets is prophetic of a series of events as shown by the blowing of a series of trumpet sounds. I also have no doubt that the sounding of the last trump will herald the triumphant appearance of Jesus to begin His reign as King of kings over the peoples and nations of the Earth. But I also believe that the actual day of the Feast of Trumpets, foretells the actual day of the return of Christ -- three-and-a half years before the inception of God’s Kingdom and the beginning of the Millennium!

I want to repeat that! It is my belief that the return of the Messiah will take place at the sounding of the first of a series of trumpet sounds, as prophesied by the actual day of the Feast of Trumpets. This unheralded appearance will be for the specific purpose of assembling His brethren. It is my belief that Jesus must return to gather together His brethren from the four corners of the Earth -- before the time of Satan’s removal -- and several years before the setting up of His Father’s Kingdom!

I could go into a great many reasons to support the previous statement, but at this time I shall mention only one; and I readily admit that one is very controversial. I believe “The Seventy-Week Prophecy” of Daniel Nine has yet to be completed! There is still a period of three-and-a-half days left in the prophecy which has yet to be fulfilled -- and if you will remember, three-and-a-half days in prophecy translates to three-and-a-half years in actual fulfillment.

It is my belief that Jesus will return three-and-a-half years before the inception of the Millennium in order to prepare His brethren for the duties and responsibilities they will be asked to perform during their 1,000 year reign.

One more time -- just to be sure:

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the annual fall Holy Days of God; as an annual Holy Day it is separate and distinct from the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. I agree with the teaching of the ministry that the Feast of Trumpets is prophetic of a series of events which will culminate in “the triumphant appearance of Jesus” as King of kings, and Lord of lords. However, according to their teaching, this is the initial return of the Messiah and it will not take place until the sounding of “the final trumpet”; while I believe He will have already returned “unheralded,” at the sounding of the first trumpet several years before.

It also bears repeating that the Day of Atonement is observed several calendar days after the Feast of Trumpets, and several calendar days before the Feast of Tabernacles. In fulfillment of this prophetic Day of Atonement, I believe Satan will be chained and incarcerated during the third of the final three-and-a-half years of this present age, and at least one full year before the Millennium begins. It is during the third of the final three-and-a-half years that the entire “church” (including the resurrected “dead in Christ”) will finally be at-one with God!

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.”

When Satan is Released

Revelation 20:7 “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.”

Q…Is it your understanding that Satan’s imprisonment will end following the completion of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren? If so, then you must believe that the final battle referred to in Revelation 20:7 will take place following the completion of the Millennium? Do you truly believe this final battle between God and Satan can take place beyond the 7,000 year plan of God?

If we can accept that the annual holy days of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles are prophetic of separate and distinct future events, then we can understand that the 1,000 years of Satan’s imprisonment will begin some time before the inception of the 1,000 year reign of the Saints -- and will end some time before the Millennium is complete.

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here.’”

Q…Do you believe that the brethren of the Churches of God are ready, at this time, to do battle with Satan and his followers? Perhaps you believe that the very moment you become a spirit-being (if such is our destiny) you will immediately have the ability to defeat those who were created as powerful spirit-beings untold millennia ago? If you do so believe, then once again I must truly wonder at the naiveté of mankind!

It may be that by the end of 1,000 years of service toward God, with 1,000 years of experience, instruction, development, and strengthening of and by the Spirit of God, we may indeed be ready for such a fight -- but certainly not at the beginning!

At the end of this present age, following the incarceration of Satan, God the Father will pour out His wrath upon the peoples and nations of this world. He will prepare the way (as David did for his son Solomon), so that the reign of Jesus and His brethren may begin in an atmosphere of relative peace. In duality, I believe that Jesus and His brethren will fight the final (end of the Millennium) battle against Satan and those whom Satan will gather together from the nations of the Earth. At that time, Satan and all who follow him will be defeated by Jesus and His brethren, preparing the way for the arrival of the New Jerusalem and God the Father.

Revelation 21:1-3 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”

It may be that the events recorded in Revelation 21:1-3 will take place immediately following completion of the Millennium. Whether immediately, or after a considerable length of time, the new heaven and the new Earth and the arrival of the New Jerusalem, can only take place following the completion of the 7,000 year plan of God.

John 7:37-39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart, rivers of living water will flow.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Q...At the end of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles -- what happens next? When everything that has been prophesied up to the end of the Millennium has been fulfilled -- what happens next? At the end of every calendar week -- what happens next? At the end of a prophetic week of 7,000 years -- what happens next?

I apologize for the excessive repetition; but I want to be absolutely sure you grasp what it is I want to say. The annual holy day we refer to as the “Last Great Day” is observed following the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles; and I wonder if the emphasis we have placed on it being “the last day” may not have created some unnecessary confusion.

The “Last Great Day” is indeed the final day of the feast; but as it follows the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles is it not prophetic of a new beginning? We need to remember that the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles is prophetic of the entire 1,000 years of the Millennium -- and at the end of every week, a new week begins!

As we have come to understand the 7,000 year plan of God: it will only be complete at the conclusion of the millennial Sabbath Day. When that first millennial Sabbath is over, and the first 7,000 years since the creation of man has been completed, is it possible that the first day, of the first week, of the first year, of a new millennium in the on-going plan of God will begin?

Note: This is the season when many Christians unknowingly (or knowingly) observe the pagan festival of the Saturnalia; those of the “church” of God are well aware of the many satanic rites and celebrations which accompany this observance. Next week, rather than discuss the non-Christian nature of the keeping of this Xmas festival, I would prefer to discuss the mystery surrounding “The Three Wise Men” who visited the Christ child?

That Man of Sin Revealed

2006-12-08T02:04:00.000-05:00

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4 “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

This passage from Paul’s letter to the Church in Thessalonica leads into a discussion of “the lawless one” or “the man of sin” or “the son of Perdition.” This “man of sin” is one of the signs many of the Churches of God are watching for; because according to the teaching of some ministers, he is to sit in a newly erected Temple of God in Jerusalem proclaiming that he is God!

Notice carefully that “the day of Christ” will not come until the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin! It is my belief that the day of Christ refers to the actual day of the ascension of Jesus to His throne -- the day when Satan has been removed from his seat of power and Jesus will be anointed to rule over the kingdoms of the Earth.

Paul specifies two events which must precede the day of Christ; they are the falling away; and the revealing of the man of sin! It could be argued that through the dissolution of the Worldwide Church the “falling away” has already taken place. However, I recognize that the lack of accuracy in biblical truth being taught by many of the latter-day Churches of God is setting the brethren up for yet another rude awakening. If an outsider should begin to show them how much of that which they believe is wrong, another great “falling away” would be a distinct possibility.

When the prophesied “falling away” has taken place, the revealing of the “man of sin” becomes of increased importance. However, in order for him to sit in a newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem such a temple must first be built. It is therefore the building of a new Temple that the Churches would be looking for -- not that man of sin!

But what if there is to be no new Temple? Consider the following:

1. Jesus is known as the Son of Man, the Son of God -- who then is this “man of sin” who is also called the “son of perdition”? The phrase “man of sin” uses the Greek word “anthropos” meaning “human” as opposed to a “spirit being” but I want you to consider whether this “man of sin” may still refer (in type) to Satan the Devil.

2. This man of sin, the son of perdition, “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshiped.” Throughout the Scriptures there is only one individual described in this way. The Archangel Lucifer (now referred to as Satan) is the only one who has ever openly opposed God and has tried to “exalt himself above all that is called God or is worshiped.”

3. This man of sin, the son of perdition, wants to “sit as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Throughout the Scriptures there is only one individual who has openly proclaimed his desire to rival the position and authority of God. In the original rebellion Lucifer led one third of the angels in an attempt, by force, to set up his own throne in heaven. He failed; but he has been steadily gaining confidence in these latter days and will soon be ready to try one more time. God will even allow him to “overcome the saints” in what we have come to refer to as the “Great Tribulation” and in so doing Satan may begin to believe that he finally has the power to complete what he started so very long ago.

2nd Thessalonians 2:5-8 “[The Apostle Paul said:] ‘Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.’”

As difficult as this passage may be to understand grammatically, the familiarity of repetition may help you to better understand. It is God who withholds understanding from mankind. He has even kept many of His truths from the ministers of the Churches of God -- but only because they have chosen not to believe! God is the one who restrains [withholds understanding] and He [God] will continue “to restrain” until he [Satan] is taken out of the way.

Satan is the one who has always been the only true adversary of God. Satan is the one upon whom the sins of mankind will be placed at the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Day of Atonement. Satan is the author of the “lawlessness [which] is already at work” in the world; and God will allow this “spirit of lawlessness” to continue until He decides it should end. This will almost certainly be on the day when Satan is chained and locked away in the “bottomless pit” -- for is this day not referred to in Scripture as the “Day of At-one-ment” with God?

2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan. With all power, signs, and lying wonders; with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie; that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Over the past few years I have tried to get various ministers of the Churches of God to consider the possibility that they may have allowed error to form part of their doctrines -- so far not one of them will even enter into a reasoned discussion of this possibility.

I will be the first to admit that many of our ministers have an excellent understanding of the Scriptures! I will even go so far as to say that some of them come close to having 96% perfection in their understanding and their teaching. Unfortunately, this means that at least 4 % of what they teach is wrong! If that 4% contains information “we could have had, and should have had,” then we may be furthering and nurturing a problem which we ourselves created. If the strength of our faith has been weakened by accepting error where truth should have prevailed, I cannot believe God will honour that faith!

Very few people truly understand and accept the existence of the Almighty Creator God. Scriptural reference to a created being named Lucifer, an Archangel of God, is seen by many as too fantastic to believe. For them to accept that Lucifer, now referred to as Satan the Devil, may be responsible for the vast majority of the sins and horrors in the world today is simply too fanciful for them to accept. Even members of the present-day Churches of God have a less than perfect understanding of the workings of Satan.

When we watched and experienced the dissolution of the Worldwide Church did we not blame the ministry and the executives of the organization? When we see the breakdown of our society, and the political dissention which threatens to destroy our very way of life, do we not blame our politicians and the political process in general?

When we see the spread of terrorism, do we not blame it on an ideology based on a perverted understanding of religion? When we see the fouling of our natural resources; our air, our water, the arable land from which we grow our food, do we not blame it on individual or corporate selfishness, arrogance, and greed?

We need to continually remind ourselves of the meaning of the rites once followed on the annual Holy Day knows as the Day of Atonement. Notice:

Leviticus 16:21 “Aaron [the High Priest] shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.”

On that future day which shall fulfill (at least in part) the prophecy of the Day of Atonement, God will send an angel to remove Satan to the place known in Scripture as “the bottomless pit,” where he will remain for a period of 1,000 years. On that day, all who are alive and remain upon the Earth will be fully aware that Satan is real -- God will have revealed to all mankind the identity of the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition”!

Actual or Spiritual Temple

Any discussion concerning the prophetic “man of sin” must include an attempt to more perfectly understand the biblical meaning of the end-time Temple of God. As is so often the case, to come to that more perfect understanding we need to return to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong.

Towards the end of his life and his ministry, Mister Armstrong believed and taught that the Messiah would not return to any physical, material temple, but to a spiritual one:

Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Those of you, who are aware of the history of the “church” and the Churches of God over the past few decades, will recognize the name Joseph W. Tkach (Sr.). He was the one Herbert Armstrong chose as his successor to lead the Worldwide Church of God; and as such, Mr. Tkach was as much or more responsible for the dissolution of the Church and the scattering of its membership as any one man could be.

At least one of our ministers refers to Mr. Tkach as the one who fulfills the prophecy of “the man of sin” in that he “sat in the Temple of God (i.e. the Church of God) showing himself that he is God.” This minister goes on to say that when the majority of the brethren were cast off from the main body of the Church it fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus in his pronouncement of events concerning the “last days.” Notice:

Matthew 24:1-2 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’”

Anyone who has followed the weekly messages presented on this blogsite will be well aware of my belief that the Worldwide Church of God (of and by itself) was not at any time the true “church” of God; but that in the days of the strength of the Worldwide Church, the “church” of God (i.e. the “ekklesia” or the “called-out-ones” of God) were a major part of that Worldwide Church. Without endorsing the beliefs and the teachings of this or any other minister, I can readily believe that the actions of Mr. Tkach led to the scattering of those who comprised the “Spiritual Temple of God” and as such could be seen as having fulfilled that part of the prophecy of Jesus where the “stones” of the Temple were thrown down.

Note: For a more definitive discussion on this point I would suggest that you go to the “Archives” of this blogsite and read the essay on “Why God Scattered His Church.”

I want to leave you with the following thoughts:

Q…Do you believe that the Feast of Trumpets presages the return of the Messiah? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

Q…Do you believe that the Day of Atonement presages the incarceration of Satan? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

Q…Do you believe that the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles presages the setting up of the Kingdom of God and the beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

However, what you need to very carefully consider is that these three annual Feast Days are three separate and distinct annual Holy Days presaging three separate and distinct events in fulfillment! Our ministers would have us believe that these three events will all take place on one and the same day, at the sounding of “the last trump”!

It is my fervent belief that these three festivals (Trumpets; Atonement; and Tabernacles) are shadows of events which shall each take place at separate, specific, and distinct times in the great and wonderful plan of Almighty God! To assume that the return of Christ, the removal of Satan, and the beginning of the Millennium will all take place at one and the same time, on one and the same day, is in my opinion a horrendous error of understanding!

Q…If the Feast of Trumpets foretells the blowing of a series of trumpets, can it be that Christ will return to gather together His brethren at the sounding of the first trumpet; at the beginning of a three-and-a-half year period, towards the end of this present age?

Q…The Day of Atonement foretells the incarceration of Satan and the at-one-ment of the “church” with God. Is it possible that this event may take place during the third of the final three-and-a-half years?

Q…When Satan has been removed to the bottomless pit, and the Saints have received their promised salvation, what cataclysmic event must yet take place? Is it possible this event may take more than one full year to complete?

Psalms 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.’”

Do we truly understand this statement? I have come to believe that Jesus and His brethren will be made to sit back and wait while God their Heavenly Father puts down all opposition on the Earth. Just as the reign of Solomon began in an atmosphere of relative peace following the victories of his father David over their enemies; so shall the reign of Jesus and His brethren begin in an atmosphere of relative peace following the outpouring of the “Wrath of God.”

Note: Next week I hope to discuss Satan’s imprisonment in the bottomless pit; (as well as a more perfect understanding of each of God’s Autumn Holy Days.) According to your understanding; when can we expect these events to take place? Will Satan be imprisoned for a full 1,000 years; or less than 1,000 years? Will he be released from the pit before, or after, the end of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren?

“For the way of peace...”

2006-12-01T00:58:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 59:7-8 “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace”

This passage from the Old Testament book of Isaiah could be used to describe the terrorists of Islam whose rabid radicalism is creating such havoc throughout the world; but if you read each verse beginning with Isaiah 59:1 you will see that it could also apply to many other peoples throughout our sin-sick world -- including those of the United States of America.

As a nation, it may be argued that America has lost all moral justification to lead the world: greed; violence; illegal drugs; sexual immorality; and an almost unbridled selfishness run rampant throughout the land. Governmental arrogance, deceit, and corruption have reached levels which are almost beyond belief in the land many still consider to be the home of the brave and the land of the free.

Regardless of the many good intentions being put forward by our national leaders, this may be as good a time as any for those of the “church” and the Churches of God to remember that God’s government will not be a democracy! We need to realize that when America tries to spread democratic thoughts and freedoms to the peoples of the Muslim nations, many of them see it as nothing more than the spreading of Western immorality and licentiousness -- and who among us can say they are wrong?

For decades I have believed the western nations have been protected from a concerted threat of Islamic terrorism by the innate nature of the Arab peoples themselves -- they have been so involved with internal disputes and sectarian divisions they have not had the time, the will, or the ability to mount a sustained attack on Christianity and the Christian world. This truth was even foretold in a prophecy concerning the latter-day descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar and the father of the Arab nations. Notice:

Genesis 16:11-12 “And the Angel of the Lord said to [Hagar]: ‘Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.’”

To this we can add the comforting thought that throughout the ages we have had the Almighty and Everlasting God as our benefactor and our protector. He has watched over America and the peoples of the British Commonwealth in a way our leaders never could. But that protection is about to end -- and it seems we are determined to do everything in our power to bring this about, and to bring on our own destruction!

Jeremiah 30:12-15 “For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.’”

In the Middle-East, several of the Western powers led by the United States, are engaged in a desperate effort to unite the fractured alliance of the Muslim peoples. During the brief war in Iraq, America and the coalition forces destroyed a weak and ineffectual army; now our leaders are doing all that can be done to create a new Iraqi force capable of waging modern-style warfare. Many nations of Islam who have been mired in the backwardness of the middle-ages are being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. And if all this is not enough to put fear into every one of us, we and our leaders seem intent on arming them with state-of-the-art weaponry enabling them to fight and win a modern-day war! Can it be that we and our leaders are really that stupid?

Bible prophecy suggests that America will finally seal itself off from the rest of the world in a forced or self-imposed isolationism. With Iran seeming to emerge as the leader of a united, reorganized, and re-armed King of the South, we need to remember that it is the King of the South who is prophesied to rise up and threaten the peoples and nations of modern-day Europe -- and for this Europe will blame America!

America has tried to be the policeman to the world, and she has most certainly been the savior of many nations in their times of trouble; but no one will remember any of this when the ravages of worldwide distress truly begin. From now on, no matter what good works America tries to accomplish in the world she will fail. As trials and tribulations increase upon the peoples and nations of the world, they will see the United States of America as the villain and they will react with a spirit of bitterness and blame towards her. If by that time America has been increasingly weakened by continued political, economic, and spiritual foolishness then I must say, “God help us all!”

America has consistently tried to win the support, if not the affection, of other nations. She has shared her strength and her treasure trying to win the approval of peoples and nations who respond to her largess with nothing more than jealousy and contempt.

Ezekiel 16:25-30 “You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry. You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very fleshly neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry to provoke me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you, diminished your allotment, and gave you up to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied. ‘How degenerate is your heart!’ says the Lord God, ‘seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.’”

The subject of America’s self-inflicted foolishness could be discussed time and again and at length on this blogsite; but I prefer to leave it to those of the Churches who feel that an end-time warning must continue. I have no desire to argue the point; but neither do I have any desire to join them in preaching that which the world no longer wants to hear.

I found the following article concerning America and the Vietnam War fascinating; it was published as part of the May 1968 Plain Truth Magazine. Every time I read the words “Vietnam” and “Vietnamese People” I thought “Iraq” and the “Iraqi People”; I would recommend that you try this for yourself. It will also add to your understanding if every time you read the word “Communism” you think “Radical Islam” and every time you read “Southeast Asia” you think “Middle East.”

I realize this article was written almost 40 years ago, and for a different war, but once you’ve read it I think you will agree that we must have learned very little from the horrors of that war in Vietnam.

The Plain Truth Magazine -- May 1968

...excerpt from an article written by Raymond F. McNair and Wayne Cole

“[The Communists] can see that the U.S. dollar is in a weakened position, and they know the $25 billion which we are pumping annually into Vietnam is enough to seriously weaken the U.S. -- if it is kept up.

“[The Communists] know full well that the U.S. will have to bow out of Southeast Asia, or will have to pour much more into that area if she is to continue to defend it. They [the communist nations] are jockeying for military advantage, and are getting ready to put pressure on the U.S. in as many areas of Southeast Asia as possible. At any time, they can stir up things in Korea and can cause the U.S. to have to put tremendous resources and men into Cambodia, Thailand and other countries -- if they wish.

“Few realize that the Communists (in Russia and China especially) don’t really [want to see] an early victory in Vietnam. They would prefer to have the U.S. continue to pour astronomical sums of money and men into Vietnam for some time to come. This would accomplish the following important objectives:

“Firstly, it would bleed the U.S. white -- would in time so weaken America that she would be forced to pull back her troops from the Orient due to economic necessity -- as Britain [was then] having to do.

“The Communists know that ‘money is the sinews of war.’ They well know that it takes money to build planes, tanks, guns, ships, and other war armaments. If the Communists can get the U.S. so overextended in national commitments that she is led to the brink of international bankruptcy, then they can thereby force America’s hand and make her pull back from treaty obligations in Southeast Asia. This would then give the Communists a free hand to engulf all Southeast Asia.

“Secondly, the war in Vietnam is generating immense anti-Americanism throughout the whole world, as well as plenty of ill-will at home.

“Many people have little or no conception of the tremendous difficulties which the U.S. faces in trying to rout the Communists from South Vietnam.

“The South Vietnamese people are rather backward, semi-illiterate people. Many of them don’t really understand why the war is being fought. Many (if not most) of the Vietnamese people are very apathetic. They aren’t willing to work hard to build up their country. Neither are they able to bear the brunt of the fighting.

“The Vietnamese just want to make sure they get their rice, and have freedom from fear of being attacked and killed by the Communists, the Americans, or anyone else! They don’t want to have to pay too heavy taxes. Beyond these points, they couldn’t care less which government rules over them!

“Another weakening factor in South Vietnam is widespread corruption! Because of it, there is no real foundation on which to build a stable government. Corruption, graft, bribery are commonly reported to be rife throughout South Vietnam -- from the top right down to the bottom of the social strata.

“In other words, the whole society is tired, dispirited -- (and) rotten to the core!

Note: The next four paragraphs of the article contained information specific to Vietnam and had little to add to our discussion of America’s woes in Iraq; they have been deleted from this excerpt. Continue:

“The South Vietnamese have needed to put their shoulder to the wheel and push, doing their bit, without which there is little hope that the U.S. or any other country can ever establish a stable society in South Vietnam.

“In contrast, there is comparatively little corruption among the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong! Communists have as one of their goals the stamping out of corruption!

“America has begun to wage, in Vietnam, a second war (the ‘Other War’ -- a war of pacification) to try and educate the South Vietnamese to the serious responsibilities of running their own affairs. But so far they have gotten virtually nowhere. America’s pacification program has gone very slowly, and could, at best, only be referred to as ‘creeping pacification.’

“The U.S. has the very difficult task of fighting an enemy which she often can’t even identify, since the South Vietnamese look exactly like the Viet Cong (South Vietnamese Communists). Sometimes the Viet Cong even use the same dress as other South Vietnamese. This further confuses American and South Vietnamese troops, since the only way they can really tell who their enemy is, is when he fires at them.

“The terrain of South Vietnam is such that it makes it very difficult for the U.S. troops to find or destroy the Viet Cong. The U.S. hasn’t yet found a way to effectively flush and destroy the furtive Viet Cong from the South Vietnamese countryside.

“Another reason why the U.S. is not winning the war is that the nation has not wholeheartedly entered the Vietnam War. In fact, America has not even officially declared war on the North Vietnamese -- though she has been bombing their cities for a long time.

“Many Americans believe that the only way for America to fight a war is to go in and win! They feel this would cause the North Vietnamese to sue for peace -- and quickly! Such ‘hawks’ believe Russia, China, and other Communist nations would not dare risk having their cities blasted with America’s nuclear might -- merely for the sake of saving Ho Chi Minh’s neck!

“But long ago, God Almighty prophesied that the day would come when we would lose the pride in our power! And that day has arrived! God said: ‘And I will break the pride of your power’ (Leviticus 26:19).

“America still has overwhelming military superiority -- over all of the Communist nations put together. Many ask: ‘Why is [America] afraid to use that power?’ She appears obsessed with a fear of what other nations will think -- is fearful of ‘world public opinion.’ But we are still like the lion among the nations -- if we only knew it!”

Note: The reference made to a “lion among the nations” comes from Micah 5:8-11. Those who do not yet understand the identity of the peoples who colonized the original thirteen States of America owe it to themselves to seek out and find this vital information. Some of the scattered Churches of God have published booklets showing the modern-day identity of the American and British peoples; nevertheless, I still prefer to recommend J. H. Allen’s book “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright” -- in my opinion, it is by far the best and most comprehensive source available.

Micah 5:8-11 “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, who, if he passes through, both treads down and tears in pieces, and none can deliver. Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. ‘And it shall be in that day,’ says the Lord, ‘I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots. I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.’”

The previous passage from the Old Testament book of Micah and the following passages from the book of Isaiah are telling us that America’s position of prominence and power must soon come to an end; the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” must soon begin -- God help us all on that day!

Isaiah 59:1-4 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”

Isaiah 59:7-8 “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” [God help us all!]

Note: As I finalize this week’s message, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is visiting the predominantly Muslim nation of Turkey. He seems bent on promoting a doctrine of “reciprocity” wherein the countries of Islam would grant followers of Christianity the same rights and freedoms Muslims enjoy in Christian countries.

I cannot believe the leaders of Islam would ever allow such a thing to happen -- and I wonder whether this Pope knows it cannot happen! A rejection of reciprocity by the leaders of Islam would surely lead to an intense rejection of all things Muslim throughout the lands of Christendom -- and throughout the nations of Europe in particular!

Will the countries of Europe ever demand the dismantling of Muslim Mosques as the leaders of Islam do with Christian Churches within their own lands? Will the laws of Europe ever outlaw all manner of Muslim dress; disallow all outward display of Muslim worship; no longer support any organized state-sponsored Islamic system of education?

I must believe that nothing could widen the division between Christianity and Islam faster than a rejection of “reciprocity” -- and I ask again: “Does this Pope know it?”

Next week: I hope to discuss the revealing of “that man of sin, the son of perdition.” Who is this “man of sin” and when can we expect his identity to be revealed?

Openly Teaching Error

2006-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

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”

2006-11-17T04:10:00.000-05:00

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!