The Second Temple (Herod’s Temple)

Posted by Brother John Jones on March 22, 2021
Posted in: Herod's Temple, Lord's Supper, Passover, Religion, The Second Temple. Leave a comment

The Second Temple (Herod’s Temple)

The Second Temple (Herod’s Temple)

Matthew 24:1,2

1 As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings.

2 But he told them, “You see all these things, don’t you? I tell all of you with certainty, there isn’t a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down.”

The rebuilding of the Second Temple was begun by Herod the Great, king (37 bce–4 ce) of Judaea. Construction began in 20 bce and lasted for 46 years. The area of the Temple Mount was doubled from the size of the First Temple and surrounded by a retaining wall with gates.

This was the Temple that existed when Jesus Christ lived, instituted the Lord’s Supper on Nisan 14, and existed when he was crucified.

The Second Temple was not only awe inspiring because of its religious significance, but also for its physical dimensions, its grandeur and its beauty. Thus, as the Roman generals sat surveying Jerusalem and considering the Temple’s future they hesitated before ordering its destruction. Jews, from that day to this, have yearned and prayed for its rebuilding, and tourists and religious people alike have come to behold the site on which it once stood.

Unfortunately our impressions of the Temple are at best incomplete. Since its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE, the only available sources of information about the Temple have had some religious or political bias. The New Testament, the Mishna [the rabbinical exegesis of the Old Testament], and the works of the Judeo-Roman historian Josephus provide the bulk of our knowledge of the Temple. These in association with archeological evidence at the site all point to a building so wondrous that even today its construction remains a mystery.

An appreciation of the Temple is enhanced by a clearer understanding of the geographical and historical setting in which it was extended. During the period in question, Jerusalem was under Roman rule but remained the capital of Judea and the international centre of Judaism. Normally a city of 100 to 200 thousand people, three times a year on the pilgrim festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, Jerusalem’s population swelled to 1 million souls (the exact number depending on the source of population estimates). On these occasions this small ancient city had to cope not only with the throng of people but also their sacrificial animals and offerings, necessitating temporary increases in food supplies, accommodation, ritual bathing facilities, and all aspects of commerce. It was Herod, installed by the Romans as governor of Jerusalem, who faced these logistical problems, and who consequently set about renovating the city and the Temple to accommodate this massive periodic influx.

In order to meet the enormous increase in capacity the Temple required for these festivals and to comply with the limitations placed on its dimensions by Jewish law, Herod built a great plaza around the Temple. This plaza is the Temple Mount of today where the Dome of the Rock and the El Aqsa mosque stand. To construct this platform, Herod built a box around Mount Moriah and filled it in. The plaza covered this box and expanded the available land at the peak of the mountain. The plaza is approximately 480 x 300m (about the size of six football fields). The retaining walls of this box were themselves cause for wonder and the “Kotel” or Western Wall (the holiest site in modern Judaism) is one part of the western retaining wall (but not actually a wall of the Temple proper). The walls are 5m thick and made up of enormous stones weighing between 2 and 100 tons (there is even one that weighs 400 tons) with an average stone being about 10 tons. There is no mortar between the stones and they sit so closely together that not even a piece of paper can fit between them. Such fine maneuvering of the stones is incomprehensible given that even today’s modern machinery cannot move such heavy stones.

Also worthy of comment was the overall appearance of the walls which were about the height of a 20 storey building. Normally, standing at the base of a twenty storey building an illusion is created in which the building appears to be falling down on top of the viewer, but standing at the base of the Temple’s retaining walls this did not happen. It was prevented by the fact that the margins carved around the edge of the stones differed, being slightly wider on the bottom than on the top. In addition, each level was staggered with successive courses of stones indented 3 cm relative to the course below. The precision with which stones weighing over 100 tons were placed 2000 years ago is astounding and mystifying. Furthermore, these stones were merely part of the retaining walls that supported the plaza on which the Temple stood and thus only a prelude to the even more incredible sight of the Temple itself.

Before work began on the Temple, Herod spent eight years stockpiling materials for its construction. Then, a workforce of over 10,000 men began its construction including a contingent of 1,500 specially trained priests who were the only ones permitted to work on the innermost and holiest parts of the Temple. Building continued for a further twenty years, though the Temple was in a sufficiently ready state within three and a half years of its commencement to be dedicated.

If one was a pilgrim coming to Jerusalem, one would probably first go to the bank to change money as the coins of the realm, engraved with the head of Caesar were unacceptable for use in the Temple. The central “bank” in Jerusalem and some of the Law courts could be found on the Temple mount platform in a building called the royal portico or stoa. To reach this building (from which there was no direct access to the rest of the plaza) one climbed the stairs to an overpass that crossed over the main road and the markets that ran by the western wall. This overpass was another unique feat of engineering being the width of a four lane highway and possessing an arch made with stones having a combined weight of over 1,000 tons. In order to build this overpass the workers had to literally build a hill, construct the overpass on it, and then remove the hill leaving the overpass standing. Josephus describes the stoa that one reached via the overpass as follows: “…It was a structure more noteworthy than any under the sun. The height of the portico was so great that if anyone looked down from its rooftop he would become dizzy and his vision would be unable to reach the end of so measureless a depth….”; this from a man who had seen Rome in all its glory. He also describes the one hundred and sixty two columns that stood in the stoa as being so large that three men standing in a circle could just hold hands around one of their bases.

After changing money and before entering the Temple, the people were required to immerse themselves in a ritual bath. Despite the arid climate and meager natural water sources there were many such baths in the city, filled using a series of aqueducts and pipes that stretched over 50 miles, 80km. After ritual immersion the Temple was then accessed via the southern or Hulda gates. These gates led to tunnels built under the plaza that then emerged on to the plaza itself. The walls of these tunnels were lined with candles and the ceilings were carved and painted with intricate geometric designs simulating a Persian carpet.

Despite the magnificence of all that has already been detailed, undoubtedly the centrepiece of this majestic complex was the Temple itself. A building of shining white marble and gold, with bronze entrance doors, it was said that you could not look at the Temple in daylight as it would blind you. The attention to detail in its construction is exemplified by the placing of gold spikes on the roof line of the building to prevent birds sitting on the Temple and soiling it.

On their arrival pilgrims could hear the sounds of the Levites who sang and played musical instruments at the entrance. The pilgrims would circle around the Temple seven times and then watch the various rituals, sit under the columned porticos that surrounded the plaza and listen or talk to the rabbis. The Temple area was divided into various areas for study, sacrifices, libation etc. and further divided according to a social hierarchy for gentiles, women, Israelites, Levites and Priests. Finally, in the centre of the Temple was the holy of holies, the innermost chamber of the Temple where the ark of the Law was kept. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter this inner sanctum, and then only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. So strict was the law governing entry to the holy of holies that the High Priest had to wear a belt around his waist so that in case of his unexpected death he could be pulled out without anyone else entering.

In the construction of the Temple nothing was overlooked. For example, in order to stop the inevitable crowding at the gates that would follow the conclusion of a service, the exiting stairs were designed to encourage people to spread out over a larger area. This attention to detail and the extraordinary feats of engineering were mirrored in the planning of the remainder of the city and its unique surrounds. The roads were made of paving stones weighing up to 19 tons, so stable that they hardly moved even when the massive stones from the walls above fell on them during the Temple’s destruction. Beneath these pavements was a complex sewerage and water system that enabled collection of the run off water and conserved a resource whose scarcity and value was accentuated by its requirement for ritual bathing and the performing of sacrifices.

In traditional Judaism, the only legitimate Temple was the one in Jerusalem, built first by King Solomon around 950 B.C.E., destroyed by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar around 587/6 B.C.E., and rebuilt about 70 years later. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The site of the ancient Jewish Temple is now occupied, in part, by the “Dome of the Rock” Mosque. In recent times, “temple” has come to be used synonymously with synagogue in some Jewish usage.

Passover

(Pesach) The major Jewish spring holiday (with agricultural aspects) also known as hag hamatzot (festival of unleavened bread) commemorating the Exodus or deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt (see Exodus 12-13). The festival lasts eight days, during which Jews refrain from eating all leavened foods and products. A special ritual meal called the Seder is prepared, and a traditional narrative called the Haggadah, supplemented by hymns and songs, marks the event.

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-second-temple

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Dominant Personality and Behavioral Traits in the “Last Days”

Posted by Brother John Jones on March 19, 2021
Posted in: apostasy, Bible Standards, Christian behavior, false prophet, Religion. Tagged: . Leave a comment

How will people behave in the last days?

2 Timothy 3:1-5

1 “Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days.

2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious;

3 they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good;

4 they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God;

5 they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people”.

1. LOVERS OF THEIR OWNSELVES – philantos; lover of oneself; selfish; fond of self

2. COVETOUS – philarguros; loving money (arguros, silver) money loving; fond of silver; avarice or greed for riches and wealth

3. BOASTERS – alazon; a boaster; primarily signifies a wanderer about the country a vagabond, an imposter; braggart; an empty pretender

4. PROUD – huperephanos; showing oneself above others; appearing above others; preeminent; arrogant; disdainful; proud; overtopping; overestimating one’s merits while despising or treating others with contempt

5. BLASPHEMERS – blasphemos; abusive; speaking evil; a railer; one who spreads false, malicious, and harmful statements meant to hurt someone’s reputation

6. DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS – apeithes; unwilling to be persuaded; spurning belief; disobedient; incompliant

7. UNTHANKFUL– acharistos; ungrateful; thankless and unappreciative

8. UNHOLY – anosios; unholy; profane, impious; defile and make common

9. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION – astorgos; hard-hearted towards kindred; especially of parents for children and children for parents (from a negative prefix “a”, plus “storge,” love of kindred affection)

10. TRUCEBREAKERS – aspondos; lit. denotes without libation; without a truce; without being poured out like a sacrifice; a libation (a sacrifice) accompanied the making of treaties and compacts; one who cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant or one who is implacable; can also signify untrue to one’s promise;

11. FALSE ACCUSERS – diablos; a false accuser; slanderer; to say untrue or malicious things about; to defame, slander or vilify

12. INCONTINENT – akrates; without self control; intemperate; without self restraint; powerless

13. FIERCE – anemeros; not tame; savage; wild; crude; lacking polish and civility; distasteful and of a violently cruel nature

14. DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD – aphilagathos; hostile to virtue; opposed to goodness and good men; not lovers of good (opposite of philogathos loving that which is good Titus 1:8)

15. TRAITORS – prodotes; a betrayer; traitor; giving forward into or handing over to an enemies hands; One who betrays cause, or friends; one who violates the allegiance owed

16. HEADY – propetes; lit. means falling forwards; headstrong – determined not to follow orders or advice but to do as one pleases; self-willed; reckless; rash; abrupt or curt in behavior or speech;

17. HIGH-MINDED – tuphoo; lit. to wrap in smoke; used metaphorically for conceit; puffed up; to inflate with self-conceit; to render insolent (boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; arrogantly contemptuous; overbearing)

18. LOVERS OF PLEASURES – philedonos; loving pleasure (from hedone – pleasure); the self-indulgent pursuit of pleasure as a way of life; in psychology hedonism is the theory that a person acts in such a way as to seek pleasure and avoid pain

19. MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD (a lover of God) – philotheos; fond of God; affectionate, tender,loving

20. HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS – morphosis; a form or outline; an image or impress; an outward semblance

21. DENYING THE POWER THEREOF– arneomai; to contradict; to not accept; to reject something offered; to renounce, forsake or abrogate a thing.

1 Timothy 4:1

1 “But the Spirit says clearly that in later times some will be turned away from the faith, giving their minds to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirits,”

That false teachers would arise to deceive Christians is a clear prophetic teaching of Jesus:

Mark 13:22

22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

And it is seen in other parts of the Bible as well. So, while the specific words in 1 Timothy 4:1 are not found elsewhere in the Bible, they reflect a truth which as Paul states the Holy Spirit has “expressly” taught would occur.

Matthew 24:12

12 “And because lawlessness is multiplied, the love of many will grow cold”.

The lawlessness spoken of is lawlessness in regard to God’s laws. It is TRUE apostasy.

The effect of this apostate lawlessness was lukewarmness and coolness among Christians.

By reason of these trials and persecutions from without, and these apostasies and false prophets from within, the love of many to Christ and his doctrine, and also their love to each other would wax cold.

Mark 13:12

12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death”.

Unbelieving family members shall betray and deliver to be imprisoned, tortured, and put to death their believing relatives, even their brothers or sister, fathers or mothers or their own children.

They will overlook the ties of nature and would be instrumental in putting to death their own relatives who followed the standard of Christ.

These negative behavior traits abound in these, the last days.

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The Great Prostitute According To The Bible

Posted by Brother John Jones on January 12, 2021
Posted in: apostasy, Babylon, Bible Standards, Religion. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The Identity of the “Great Prostitute”

“Mystery Babylon”

The great prostitute mentioned in the Book of Revelation is the same mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel. This “prostitute” is an adulteress…a married woman.

According to the Bible, God made a covenant of marriage to natural Israelite which she repeatedly broke by intermingling with foreign nations against His law and by worshiping others gods. They also did so by making alliances with other nations in an attempt to circumvent the will of God.

In Ezekiel, the nation is likened to two sisters due to the fact that the nation existed divided (the ten tribe northern kingdom of Israel and the southern two tribe kingdom of Judah).

If you read the text below from Ezekiel and then the text concerning Babylon the Great, you will find striking similarity.

Ezekiel 16

32 ”’A wife who commits adultery. who takes strangers instead of her husband.

33 They give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.

34 You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.’

35 ”Therefore, prostitute, hear the word of the LORD:

36 Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;

37 therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated; I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.

38 I will judge you, as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.

39 I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places; and they shall strip you of your clothes, and take your beautiful jewels; and they shall leave you naked and bare.

40 They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords.

41 They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will cause you to cease from playing the prostitute, and you shall also give no hire any more.

Ezekiel 23

1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,

2 ”Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:

3 and they played the prostitute in Egypt; they played the prostitute in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.

4 Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

5 ”Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,

6 who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

7 She bestowed her prostitution on them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself.

8 Neither has she left her prostitution since the days of Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her, and they handled the bosom of her virginity; and they poured out their prostitution on her.

9 Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted.

10 These uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters; and her they killed with the sword: and she became a byword among women; for they executed judgments on her.

11 ”Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet was she more corrupt in her doting than she, and in her prostitution which were more than the prostitution of her sister.

12 She doted on the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.

13 I saw that she was defiled; they both took one way.

14 She increased her prostitution; for she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,

15 wearing belts on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.

16 As soon as she saw them she doted on them, and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.

17 The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.

18 So she uncovered her prostitution, and uncovered her nakedness: then my soul was alienated from her, like as my soul was alienated from her sister.

19 Yet she multiplied her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth, in which she had played the prostitute in the land of Egypt.

20 She doted on their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

21 Thus you called to memory the lewdness of your youth, in the handling of your bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of your youth.

22 ”Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Look, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your soul is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side:

23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, all of them governors and officials, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.

24 They shall come against you from the north a with chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples; they shall set themselves against you with buckler and shield and helmet all around; and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments.

25 I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal with you in fury; they shall take away your nose and your ears; and your residue shall fall by the sword: they shall take your sons and your daughters; and your residue shall be devoured by the fire.

26 They shall also strip you of your clothes, and take away your beautiful jewels.

27 Thus will I make your lewdness to cease from you, and your prostitution brought from the land of Egypt; so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more.

28 ”’For thus says the Lord GOD: Look, I will deliver you into the hand of them whom you hate, into the hand of them from whom your soul is alienated;

29 and they shall deal with you in hatred, and shall take away all your labor, and shall leave you naked and bare; and the nakedness of your prostitution shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution.

30 These things shall be done to you, because you have played the prostitute after the nations, and because you are polluted with their idols.

31 You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.’

32 ”Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘You will drink of your sister’s cup, which is deep and large; you will be ridiculed and held in derision; it contains much.

33 You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister Samaria.

34 You shall even drink it and drain it out, and you shall gnaw the broken pieces of it, and shall tear your breasts; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD.

35 ”Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have forgotten me, and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.’”

36 The LORD said moreover to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.

37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands; and with their idols have they committed adultery; and they have also caused their sons, whom they bore to me, to pass through the fire to them to be devoured.

38 Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths.

39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and look, thus have they done in the midst of my house.

40 ”’Furthermore you have sent for men who come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, and look, they came; for whom you did wash yourself, paint your eyes, and decorate yourself with ornaments,

41 and sit on a stately bed, with a table prepared before it, whereupon you set my incense and my oil.’

42 The voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on their hands twain, and beautiful crowns on their heads.

43 Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, ‘Now will they play the prostitute with her, and she with them.’

44 They went in to her, as they go in to a prostitute: so went they in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women.

45 Righteous men, they shall judge them with the judgment of adulteresses, and with the judgment of women who shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.

46 ”For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will bring up a company against them, and will give them to be tossed back and forth and robbed.

47 The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.

48 ’Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.

49 They shall recompense your lewdness on you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.’”

Now compare the words of prophecy given to the apostle John in vision:

Revelation 17:

1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,

2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality.”

3 He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

5 And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

6 I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

7 The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and is going a to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.

9 Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.

This prostitute is the apostate house of Israel. The other kingdoms were not responsible for the murder/blood of the faithful prophets including Lord Jesus’.

Consider also the fact that, according to the Book of Revelation, the Lambs marriage will not occur until after his second coming which has yet to occur. While it is true that his “bride” has been being gathered since the time of his death and resurrection, the marriage has not taken place.

Therefore, although many professed Christian teachers claim otherwise, these words are not to be applied to the church. They did and still do apply to natural Israel.

Jesus Christ himself made this statement:

Luke 13:34

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused.”

These teachers are really a part of the devil’s effort to deceive and mislead…hiding the true identity of the great prostitute.

Remember Jesus said,

“For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear; they will perform great miracles and wonders in order to deceive even God’s chosen people, if possible.” Matthew 24:24.

There is only one group portrayed as an adulteress in the Bible…the nation of Israel.

As to the mystery of the name “Babylon”, this can be understood by reading from the book of Zechariah.

The angel speaking to the prophet, offers understanding to the mystery of the name and its association to Israel.
Zechariah 5:

    The Vision of the Woman in the Basket

5 The angel appeared again and said, “Look! Something else is coming!”

6 “What is it?” I asked.

He replied, “It is a basket, and it stands for the sin of the whole land.”

7 The basket had a lid made of lead. As I watched, the lid was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman!

8 The angel said, “This represents wickedness.” Then he pushed her down into the basket and put the lid back down.

9 I looked up and saw two women flying toward me with powerful wings like those of a stork. They picked up the basket and flew off with it.

10 I asked the angel, “Where are they taking it?”

11 He answered, “To Babylonia, where they will build a temple for it. When the temple is finished, the basket will be placed there to be worshiped.”

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”Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel”

Posted by Brother John Jones on January 4, 2021
Posted in: Bible Standards, Christian behavior, Jesus, Religion. Leave a comment

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel”

These words can be found in the Bible book of Ezekiel in chapter 3 verse 17.

God’s method has always been to use those who are in touch with Him, to reach those out of touch with Him.

So when God desired to make declarations, He did not speak with a voice from Heaven, but used His faithful earthly servants. Obviously to do so, this watchman must first become familiar with the word of God.

“Eat this scroll”

Ezekiel 33:1-4:

1 He said to me, “Son of man, eat that which you find. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll.

3 He said to me, “Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your belly with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. NHEB

Not surprisingly, the apostle John during the prophetic vision shown to him that is recorded in the Book of Revelation was given the same instruction.

Revelation 10:

8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”

9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”

10 I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

11 They told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” NHEB

The watchman must eat the words of knowledge found in the “scroll” and digest it. That requires more than simply reading.

It is possible to acquire an intellectual knowledge of the truth, while the heart is entirely unaffected.

Because of the righteousness found in both of these men, God’s holy spirit was operative so that not only were their minds affected, but also their hearts.

Ezekiel 3:10

10 Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. NHEB

The Watchman’s Responsibility

The watchman was not called to convert or force repentance. His only responsibility was to warn them to turn back from their trangression from God by their wicked behavior.

Ezekiel 3:19,20

When I tell 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 wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.

Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

Sometimes we may seek to do more than God requires of us and that is even possible for us to do.

We may think it is our job to convert and win souls.But the reality is that that is the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:6). The work of the watchman is to warn.

His responsibility has been fulfilled when he has witnessed. After that, those witnessed to are responsible before God for what they do with that witness.

As ‘watchman’ if we are obedient and warn the wicked, we are not chargeable with their ruin. On the other hand, if we fail to do so out of fear, frustration, or a lack of due diligence we will be held bloodguilty and we also will be punished.

Many ask why do we keep bearing witness about Jesus and why do we keep preaching God’s warning message in these last days. “Aren’t you tired of speaking to a world that for the most part has rejected God and Christ”? “Why don’t you just e silent and let whatever is going to happen, happen?

It is because our lives depend on our faithfully executing our assigned duties as faithful ministers of Christ. While the outcome of ministry is not within our purvey, we must exercise due diligence fully as obedient servant.

Yes, we are accountable to a Higher Authority.

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The “Man of Sin”…The “Son of Perdition”

Posted by Brother John Jones on December 4, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, apostasy, Religion. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Christ Second Coming

Teachings that  he returned invisibly in 70 C.E. and 1914 C.E. are apostate lies

Although the content of this post is generally applicable, only one modern-day religious group has preached worldwide that the Lord’s second coming has already occurred.

That is the group known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses” believe despite Jesus statements to the contrary that Christ’ second coming occurred in 1914 C.E.

This belief is based on an OBVIOUS MATH ERROR in calculating time.

They rightly understood that Christ was to come to sovereignty at the end of a 2,520 year period of Gentile rulership, but they reckoned that would end in 1914 C.E. since only 1914 years of it remained when the common era dating system started.

They failed to account for the fact that the years given in the prophesy recorded in the Book of Daniel were LUNAR year of 360 days and not 365 day-long years as COMMON ERA years are.

This threw their calculations off by 26.21 common era years. The Gentile times ended in 1940 C.E.

But still, it was not yet time for Christ to return. Why?

The Bible does not teach that Christ’ second coming would occur immediately at the end of the Gentile time period. Although Christ received the sovereignty and rulership, it was not yet time for him to come a seize it.

The end of the Gentile Times marked the beginning of the period Jesus called “the last days”. Jesus said it toward the very end of the last days he would come (Luke chapter 21).

The Watchtower Organization’s assertion that Christ second coming occurred invisibly in 1914 C.E. is an apostate teaching based upon obvious miscalculation and misinterpretation of Bible prophesy.

Such apostate teachings among professed Christian groups as well as the others traits that are discussed below, are key to identifying the antichrist man of sin.

Who Is the apostle Paul’s “Man of Sin”?

By Wayne Jackson

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/677-who-is-pauls-man-of-sin

In his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul spoke of the return of Christ and the glories associated therewith.

Because some of these saints apparently misunderstood the instruction of that initial epistle, or had been influenced by false teaching, the apostle was constrained to write a second letter, attempting to correct the erroneous ideas entertained by the Thessalonians.

Apparently, there were certain heretics in the vicinity of Thessalonica who were advocating the bizarre notion that the Lord had already returned. Here is how Paul describes that situation.

“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come” (2 Thes. 2:1, 2 NASB).

Notice that final clause, “the day of the Lord has come.” It reflects a perfect tense form in the original language, and so likely suggests that certain errorists of that day were alleging that the Second Coming had occurred already — somewhat as the advocates of “Realized Eschatology” do today.

[Note: The proponents of the so-called A.D. 70 doctrine, popularly known among churches of Christ as the Max King movement, allege that this passage implies that the Second Coming was to be an invisible, judgmental coming (i.e., in the destruction of Jerusalem). Otherwise, they say, these false teachers never could have gotten away with their assertion that the Second Coming had occurred already. Does that conclusion follow? It does not. It merely demonstrates that just as men then could be misled into believing that the Lord’s Coming was spiritual (rather than visible, literal), so folks can be equally deceived today — and are, as evidenced by the King sect. For further study on this theme, see Jackson, 1990a.]

Paul argued that the Lord could not yet have come, because “the falling away” must develop before the Second Coming transpires. Incidentally, no great apostate movement evolved between the time this letter was written (c. A.D. 51), and A.D. 70, thus demonstrating, with a force equal to the apostle’s original argument, that the Second Coming of Christ did not occur with the destruction of Jerusalem.

After laying this foundation, Paul continued his letter by describing the traits that would characterize the movement he subsequently calls “the man of sin.” It is the purpose of this discussion to attempt an identification of this “man of sin.”

What are the identifying characteristics of the Man of Sin? We would suggest at this point that the student carefully read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Read it several times, perhaps in different translations, to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the material.

Traits of the Man of Sin

Once a student has thoroughly read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we believe that it is possible to isolate certain tell-tale qualities of this diabolical force, and work toward a solution as to the identity of the “man of sin.”

Consider the following factors.

The Man of Sin and The Apostasy

The Man of Sin is the ultimate result of the falling away from the faith (v. 3).

The expression “falling away” translates the Greek term apostasia. Our English word “apostasy” is an anglicized form of this original term.

In the Bible, the word is used of a defection from the religion ordained by God. As a noun, it is employed of departure from the Mosaic system (Acts 21:21), and, in this present passage, of defection from Christianity. The verbal form of the term is similarly used in 1 Timothy 4:1 (cf. Heb. 3:12).

Note also that the noun is qualified by a definite article (the apostasia). A definite movement is in the apostle’s prophetic vision — not merely a principle of defection.

The Man of Sin Was Yet to Be Revealed

This sinister force, from a first-century vantage point, was yet to be revealed (v. 3).

This appears to suggest that the movement had not evolved to the point where it could be identified definitely by the primitive saints. It awaited future development.

The Man of Sin and Son of Perdition

This persecuting power was designated as the man of sin (v. 3), because sin was its “predominating quality” (Ellicott, p. 118). This character, referred to in both neuter and masculine genders (vv. 6-7), is the son of perdition (v. 3), because its end is to be perdition, i.e., destruction, by the Lord himself (v. 8).

The Lawless One

This opponent of God is called the lawless one (v. 8). This power has no regard for the law of God. One cannot but be reminded of that infamous “little horn” in Daniel’s vision:

“[H]e shall think to change the times and the law” (7:25).

Man of Sin: Opposes God, Exalts Himself, and Sits in the Temple of God

The Man of Sin opposes God and exalts himself against all that is genuinely sacred (v. 4). He feigns religiosity, but his true character reveals that he is diabolic. His activity actually is according to the working of Satan (v. 9).

In some sense, the Man of Sin will sit in the temple of God (v. 4). The “temple” is not a reference to the Jewish house of worship. The Greek word is naos, used by Paul eight times. Never does he employ this term of the Jewish temple.

In fact, after the death of Christ, the Jewish temple is never again called the temple of God (Newton, p. 441). Rather it is used of the Christian’s body (1 Cor. 6:19) or of the church as God’s spiritual house (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; Eph. 2:21).

The implication of Paul’s warning is this. This unholy being is viewed as being a “church” character.

The expression “sitteth” may hint of unparalleled arrogance (Ellicott, pp. 119-120). Mason notes that the language describes the Man of Sin as attempting to exact “divine homage” from people (p. 169).

Moreover, this Son of Perdition sets himself forth as God. The present participle (“sets forth continually”) reveals that this presumptive posture is characteristic of the Man of Sin.

This person represents himself as God, either:

by making claims that belong only to deity;

by receiving adoration reserved exclusively for God; or,

by usurping prerogatives which only God can accomplish.

Clearly, the Man of Sin is an ecclesiastical character. Recall the description of John’s lamb-like beast in Revelation 13:11ff.

The Man of Sin Deceives with Lying Miracles

He deceives those who love not the truth, by virtue of the lying wonders he effects (vv. 9-10).

Bloomfield calls these “pretended miracles” (p. 345). These “wonders” are not in the category of Christ’s miracles. Lenski has well commented:

“So many are ready to attribute real miracles to Satan and to his agents; the Scriptures never do” (p. 426).

In identifying the Man of Sin, one must thus look for a post-apostolic movement that claims to prove its authenticity by miracles.

Man of Sin Already at Work in Paul’s Day

The early stages of this ecclesiastical apostasy were already at work in the early church (v. 7). The Greek term (energeitai, a present tense, middle voice form) suggests that this movement currently was working itself towards a greater goal.

The child, later to become a Man, was growing in Paul’s day. The error was “already operative” (Lenski, p. 417), but not yet “revealed” (v. 6). This is a crucial point.

Restrained During Paul’s Day

In Paul’s day there was some influence that restrained the budding Man of Sin. This was some sort of abstract force, as evidenced by the neuter form of katechon, “the restraining thing” (v. 6).

And yet, this force was strongly associated with a person/persons as suggested by the masculine, “he who restrains” (v. 7). Likely the significance is that of a broad power, operating under individual rulers.

Unlike the Man of Sin, whose identity was later to be revealed, the early saints knew personally of this restraining force. “You know (oidate — “to know from observation” — Vine, p. 444).

This indicates that the restraining power was an entity contemporary with Paul, not a modern one.

Restraining Force To Be Removed

The restraining force eventually would *be taken out of the way”, or, more correctly, “be gone.” And so, the Man of Sin, in “his own season,” would be revealed openly (vv. 6, 7).

Ellicott says that it is a season “appointed and ordained by God” (p. 121). One recalls that the “little horn” of Daniel’s fourth beast only rose to prominence after three horns were plucked up to make room for it.

Too, the earth-beast of John’s vision came into full power after the sea-beast had received a death-stroke, but was healed. And so here, the restraining power will give way to the horrible revelation of the Man of Sin.

Man of Sin Continues Until Second Coming

The Man of Sin, though having roots in the world of ancient Christianity (v. 6), would nevertheless endure, in some form or another, until the end of time, i.e., until the Second Coming of Christ.

At that time, he will be destroyed by the Lord’s word of Judgment (v. 8; cf. Rev. 19:15). In view of this, the Man of Sin cannot be some persecuting enemy that faded into oblivion centuries ago.

Theories Regarding the Man of Sin

Having surveyed the major elements set forth in the text that were to characterize the Man of Sin, we are now prepared to look at some of the current theories advanced in an effort to identify this sinister being.

Pagan Mythology

Liberal theologians contend that Paul’s concept of the Man of Sin reflects a belief in ancient, pagan mythology — an idea that had been absorbed by the early Christians.

This view rejects the proposition that the Scriptures are inspired of God. The text of 2 Thessalonians, therefore, allegedly only reflects early “Christian” ideas, not actual reality.

This concept is totally inconsistent with biblical claims, and proofs, regarding the inspiration of the apostolic documents.

Satan Himself

Some have argued that the Man of Sin is Satan himself. This view cannot be correct. Satan was not a part of “the falling away” (v. 3), and this “lawless one” is said to come “according to the working of Satan” (v. 9), which obviously distinguishes him from Satan personally.

Principle of Evil

Some allege that no specific power or person(s) are in view. Rather, the apostle merely has personified a principle or idea of evil, which may appear in various forms in different historical periods as an opponent of truth. It may be manifest as Islam, Fascism, Communism, etc.

But this concept does not fit the specific descriptions in this chapter. The text tells of a particular movement, “the falling away” (v. 3). How does that refer to Communism, etc.?

Moreover, there are too many personal references within the narrative to dismiss it as mere personification.

Finally, it is the man of sin with the article pointing to a definite, specific influence, rather than a generic one.

Judaism

Radical Preterists (those who contend that all Bible prophecy, including the Second Coming of Christ, was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem) argue that the Man of Sin was the “hardened, militant Jews (Zealots in particular)” (King, p 318).

This theory would thus see the Man of Sin (Judaism) destroyed by the Coming of the Lord in the destruction of Jerusalem via the Romans in A.D. 70.

The concept is totally false. Judaism was not a part of “the falling away” (v. 3).

Moreover, Paul’s prophecy of the Second Coming (the parousia — v. 8) was not fulfilled in A.D. 70, as evidenced by the fact that Christians were not “gathered together” unto the Lord in connection with Jerusalem’s fall (cf. 1 Thes. 4:14ff).

A Roman Ruler

A popular idea contends that the Man of Sin is a Roman ruler — perhaps Nero Caesar. Again, though, this concept does not fit the facts. No Caesar “fell away” from the faith (v. 3).

Additionally, the Roman rulers have long lain in the dust of antiquity. As Raymond Kelcy observed:

“Paul contemplates the man of lawlessness being in existence and waging opposition at the time the Lord returns; the Roman empire has long ago ceased to be” (p. 161).

The Future Anti-Christ

Millennialists (and some others) contend that the Man of Sin “is an individual embodying anti-God power who is still to arise before the future day of the Lord” (Mare, p. 1073).

Hal Lindsey calls this hostile person “the Future Fuehrer,” and he spends an entire section (Chapter 9) attempting to prove that “dramatic elements which are occurring in the world today are setting the stage for this magnetic, diabolical Future Fuehrer to make his entrance” (p. 102).

But Paul stated that the “mystery of iniquity,” characteristic of the Man of Sin, was “already at work” (7) in the first century.

This clearly eliminates any person who arises during the modern era. Newton’s comment is appropriate:

“As this evil began in the apostles’ days, and was to continue in the world till the second coming of Christ in power and great glory: it necessarily follows, that it was to be carried on not by one man, but by a succession of men in several ages” (p. 453).

Identifying the Man of Sin

We believe that the best evidence indicates that the Man of Sin represents the papal dynasty of the apostate church of Rome. Barnes says: “Most Protestant commentators have referred it to the great apostasy under the Papacy …” (p. 80).

Let us revisit the ten points of identification discussed earlier.

The Apostasy

The Roman Catholic system, with its autocratic papal dynasty, did not suddenly appear in a given year of history. Rather, it was a result of a gradual apostasy from the primitive faith.

Paul declared: “The Spirit speaks expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith …” (1 Tim. 4:1). He details some of the traits of this movement, e.g., forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats, etc. (1-4).

The many corruptions of the divine economy, changes in the plan of redemption (e.g., sprinkling, infant baptism, etc.), alteration of worship (e.g., the mass, the veneration of Mary, etc.) were progressively implemented.

Catholicism evolved as a defection from the original faith. This history has been graphically detailed in John F. Rowe’s, The History of Apostasies (1958, Rosemead, CA: Old Paths Publishing Co.).

Not Revealed in the First Century

The apostasy was just a budding phenomenon in the apostolic age. Consequently it was not fully “revealed” until centuries later.

Lawless

The Romish movement has exhibited a disposition of lawlessness throughout its history. Could any citation more clearly illustrate the spirit of lawlessness than this declaration regarding the papacy?

“The pope doeth whatsoever he listeth [wills], even things unlawful, and is more than God” (quoted by Newton, p. 456).

Attwater, a Catholic writer, has shown that, according to Roman Catholicism, “Tradition,” i.e., the voice of the church, is superior to the Scriptures (pp. 41-42).

That is the very essence of lawlessness.

God-Opposing

The papacy opposes God. Surely anyone who claims to be “more than God” cannot be described otherwise than as an enemy of the Almighty.

Ecclesiastical Usurper of Divine Status

The papal rulers, as it were, “sit in the temple of God,” i.e., the church. It is an ecclesiastical force.

The pope claims that whereas Christ is the head of the church in heaven, the papacy is the head of the church on earth.

Yet Jesus affirmed that he possessed “all authority … in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18). Paul stated that Christ is “the head [singular] of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18).

Jesus does not share “headship” with the pope.

Usurps the Throne of God

The papacy usurps the place of God by:

Making claims that belong only to deity — “Our Lord God the pope; another God upon the earth, king of kings, and lord of lords” (Newton, p. 456).

Accepting adoration not proper for a man. Men bow before the papal dignitary, kiss his feet, ring, etc. Contrast the disposition of Peter when Cornelius bowed before him (Acts 10:25, 26).

Presuming to act for God in matters pertaining exclusively to deity, e.g., offering forgiveness of sins. For example, in Catholic doctrine, Absolution is a “judicial act whereby a priest remits the sins of a penitent who has contrition, has made confession and promises satisfaction” (Attwater, p. 3).

The papal system arrogantly attempts to lawlessly act for God.

Claims of Miracles

The whole history of Catholicism is checkered with the claims of “miracles.” Conway, a Catholic apologist, states that God

“has allowed His saints to work miracles to prove their divine commission to speak in His name, and to give the world a clear proof of their eminent sanctity. The Church always requires four, or in some instances six, miracles before she proceeds to beatify or canonize a saint” (p. 44).

Early Stages at Work in Paul’s Day

Newton says: “The seeds of popery were sown in the apostle’s time” (p. 457). Idolatry had invaded the church (1 Cor. 10:14), even in the worship of angels (Col. 2:18).

Handling the word of God deceitfully (2 Cor. 4:2) had begun; strife and division were affecting the church (1 Cor. 3:3).

Gospel truth was sacrificed for the sake of money (cf. 1 Tim. 6:5; Tit. 1:11) — compare the practice of “simony” in Catholicism, i.e., the purchase of church offices. Distinctions were made regarding meats (1 Cor. 8:8), and human traditions were creeping into the church (Col. 2:23).

Certain men were beginning to exert preeminence and to flex their ecclesiastical muscles (3 Jn. 9, 10).

Out of these attitudes and actions, the papacy finally was born.

Initially Restrained by Pagan Rome

If the Man of Sin is the papal dynasty, what was the force or person that “restrained” the initial revelation of this corrupt, ecclesiastical system?

McClintock and Strong, citing numerous sources from the early “church fathers” (e.g., Tertullian, Chrysostom, Hippolytus, Jerome, etc.), said that the patristic writers “generally consider” the restraining force to be “the Roman empire” (p. 255).

It is a matter of history that when imperial Rome fell in A.D. 476, great power was shifted into the hands of church clerics.

If the restraining force was the Roman empire, and that force was removed in the fifth century A.D., does it not seem strange that the Man of Sin [Lindsey’s “Fuehrer”] has not yet been made manifest — if the dispensational scheme of things were true?

Flourished After Fall of Rome

After imperial Rome fell, the apostate church of that day accelerated in its power.

As mentioned earlier, great political authority was gained. Crowns were removed and bestowed at the behest of papal rulers.

For example, in the eleventh century of the Christian era, Emperor Henry IV sought to depose Pope Gregory VII (known as Hildebrand). In retaliation, Gregory excommunicated the emperor, and absolved all subjects from allegiance to him. Henry was powerless under the papal ban.

In January, 1077, the emperor went to Canossa in northern Italy to beg the pope’s forgiveness. He was forced to stand barefoot in the snow for three days, awaiting an audience with the pontiff (Hurlbut, p. 111).

Other examples of the growing power of papal authority are numerous.

“In Germany Emperor Frederick lay down on the floor and allowed Pope Alexander to stand on his neck. On another occasion, Pope Celestine III crowned Henry VI of England with the usual colorful ceremonies. As the English king knelt in front of him, after having had the crown of the British Empire placed upon his head, the pope reached forward with his foot and kicked the crown from the monarch’s brow. At another time, Pope Alexander rode horse back down the streets of Rome. Walking along on either side of his horse, and leading the animal by the bridle, went Louis, King of France, and Henry, King of England” (Wilder, p. 103).

To Continue Till Return of Christ

The apostate church, an evolution from truth to error, clearly had its genesis in the first century; and yet, this movement continues to this day, and, according to Paul’s prophecy, will abide, in one form or another, until the Coming of Christ.

“The apostasy” is the only system which fits the demands of this passage. It is both ancient and modern, something that cannot be said of a Caesar, the Jewish Zealots, a modern Anti-Christ, etc.

It is, of course, in vogue these days to ridicule this view of “the man of sin” as viewed in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.

In response, one could hardly do better than to quote Coffman:

“[T]he identification of the papacy and its religious apparatus with Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 was the prevailing view for more than a thousand years, a view supported by the writings and interpretations of many of the most brilliant men who ever lived on earth; and, on that account, there is no way for this writer to accept the sneers and snickers with which this interpretation is greeted by many modern commentators, as being an effective refutation of the arguments upholding it” (p. 104).

In conclusion, we emphasize again, the “little horn” of Daniel 7, Paul’s “man of sin,” and “the beast” of the book of Revelation have much in common, and seem to testify in concert regarding one of the most vicious persecutors the church of God has ever known.
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What Did Jesus Say About Hell

Posted by Brother John Jones on November 26, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, apostasy, Bible Standards, ex-jehovah's witnesses, faith, Jesus, Religion. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

A disciple is a student and a follower of someone. They place their faith and belief in that teacher.

A true disciples of Jesus Christ will put their faith and trust on him.

What Did Jesus Say About Hell?

“Jehovah’s Witnesses” and other professed Christian groups teach that ‘Hell’ and ‘the grave’ are synonymous terms, that they mean the same thing, and are therefore interchangeable terms.

I know this to be true because I was taught this, believed it, and preach it to the public as one of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” the majority of my life.

I began preaching this from door to door at age eight in 1959. I taught this, parroting in ignorance of the real truth and because I was at that time putting trust in “earthling man” and another human being’s reasoning ability. Christ had to cleanse my mind of their false teachings.

Here are the standard remarks of a “Jehovah’s Witness” about ‘hell’:

Quote: ”Hell is the Grave ( the condition in which life ceases Eccl. 9:10 until such Time as The Resurrection of The Just and Unjust begins Acts 24:15. In KJV Old Testament the Hebrew word “ Sheol “ translated 31 Times Hell, 31 Times Grave, 3 Times Pit.”

“Jehovah’s Witnesses” have a habit of mixing things that shouldn’t be because they are things that have nothing in common with one another. That is a key trait of false religion.

When Scripture speaks of “Gehenna”, “Lake of fire”, “Hell”, it is not referring to the common grave or state of the dead who have died the death due to original sin. ‘Hell’ is not the wages of sin as it is in the Adamic death we as humans suffer. ‘Hell’ is the wages for being wicked.

When most people use the term ‘hell’ they are not talking about the condition in common grave.

And the word ‘Hell’ as most people use it, is not referring to common grave nor the state of the human dead from inherited sin. It is not and we can know this for a certainty.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for that to be the case because Jesus himself stated ‘who’ hell was created for and it wasn’t for humans. He refers to this state of existence as “the eternal fire”:

Matthew 25:41
“Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” HCSB

Jesus said that this state of existence was created for “the devil and his angels” and not a human being. So it is clear that ‘hell’ is not mankind’s resting place after death. The Bible states that the wicked will inherit the devil’s inheritance.

Revelation 21:8:
But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practice magic, those who worship idols, and all liars—the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” GNT

Examine the Lord’s words recorded at Matthew 25:41 in context:

31 “When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne,

32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left.

34 Then the King will say to the people on his right, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.

35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes,

36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’

37 The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?

38 When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you?

39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’

40 The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Away from me, you that are under God’s curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels!

Why do I know and have confidence that Hell actually exist? Because Jesus said it does and I have complete belief in him.

Do you believe what Jesus says or do you find it necessary to modify his words to fit what you prefer to believe?

A true disciple of Jesus believes Hell exist because Christ our Lord said it exist.

Another problem is that “Jehovah’s Witnesses” do not believe that we are ‘spirit creatures’ poured into fleshly bodies (neshamah).

Job 32

8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Ecclesiastes 12

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

They believe and teach that God’s “spirit” that is in us is basically some ‘atmosphere of energy’ or ‘air’ breathed into us by God at the time of birth and at that then we become a “living soul”.

They believe and teach that God’s spirit in us is like start up power and not something living …’alive’.

They refer to it as “God’s active force”.

Their other teachings certainly infer that ‘something’ survives death that can be asleep and awaken. But they still deny man is a ‘spirit’ in a body of flesh. If we are nothing but flesh with an ‘air’ of energy blown into us, then what is it that is sleeping then in death?

How do they make sense then of these words also uttered by Jesus?

“Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

If nothing of us survives death of the body, how could his words above have any real meaning?

What could possibly be a fate worse than death to an already unconscious spirit?

Is the resurrection’s purpose to wake the dead simple to inform them they won’t be being resurrected to life and to say to them “Now go back to sleep”? What purpose would that serve?

The Second Death is not Adamic death repeated.

That Adamic death all the human dead have experienced is not the ceasing of our existence entirely is clear in Jesus’ words that state that upon his arrival he summon all the dead from the tomb.

John 5:28-29:

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” New King James Version

Ask yourself: What “hears” his voice if nothing exist after we die?

What “Jehovah’s Witness” believe and teach about the ‘spirit’ in a human, cuts off any further consideration that eternal torment in Hell is even possible.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses” and others who claim to be Christians that believe Hell does not exist, have no rational explanation of Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the wicked rich man.

What Jesus said is impossible within their belief. They either claim he didn’t mean what he said or they avoid discussion of this passage of Scripture all together. It just doesn’t fit in to what they want to believe.

They prove themselves disciples not of Jesus Christ, but of other men.

Jesus stated, “You cannot serve two masters”.

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;” King James Version

Do you remember the situation between the devil and the woman Eve in the Garden of Eden and the scene of original sin?

There the devil posed a question to Eve that opened the door to Eve’s thinking independent from the express words of God. She put belief in someone else.

After God had unambiguously stated the penalty for disobedience to His command, the devil questioned whether it was so. It was a question that should have never been asked or considered. The devil was successfully in making her doubt the word of God given to her by her husband.

Eve was even able to recite the commandment back to Satan when he asked his question.

But still, he was able to sow doubt in her mind as to whether God would really carry out what He said He would do, or if God even meant what He had said.

He asked Eve, ”Is it really so…?”

And it is also true about Christ words. Even though he said Hell is real and exist, even though he states that it was created for Satan and his demons, even though he said those there will be tormented forever (Revelation 14:11), even though he offers a parable of a man in Heaven and a man in Hell having a meeting after they both had died; those that deny the existence of Hell (the second death) do just same as Satan did to Eve by casting doubt and confusion on something clearly stated by Christ Jesus.

Many rationalize that God would not condemn to such a harsh judgment. They say, ” A loving God wouldn’t do such a thing.”

The same should then have the same mind concerning Adam and Eve and the death sentence they occurred as the result of eating fruit.

They forget that our loving God caused a flood that destroyed and killed an entire world because of disobedience.

They do not harken to the apostle Peter’s warning found in 2 Peter chapter 3:

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The Book of Revelation tells us that the wicked are to receive the fullness of God’s wrath:

Revelation chapter 14

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

We as humans have no knowledge of the rules and penalties that govern those who exist in Heaven. This is the sentence of an angelic creature, but which his earthly seed will also share in.

We cannot extrapolate our idea of things from the human perspective. We can only believe or disbelieve.

If one can believe that after a human dies that they can be raised to Heaven and partake in life there, they should also be able to believe that a wicked person after death can raise out of this creation and transported to Satan’s final destiny.

Hell is not part of this creation because this creation had been fully created before original sin took place.

It is somewhere else God carved out in His firmament.

Two of Satan’s most successful lies are that he and Hell don’t exist.

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Who Were The Samaritans?

Posted by Brother John Jones on October 25, 2020
Posted in: apostasy, Babylon, Bible Standards, pure religion, Religion, Uncategorized, Yahweh. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

The northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel (red)
The southern two-tribe kingdom of Judah (blue)

During the ministry of Jesus there was contact with a group of people known as the ‘Samaritans’.

Who were the Samaritans and what were their origins?

There are at least two conflicting theories as to the origin of the Samaritan people.   The traditional view is that, when the Jews were captured by the Assyrians in 721 BC as part of the infamous Babylonian Captivity, the Assyrians then repopulated Israel with people from the land of Samaria to the east. Then, when the Jews finally returned from exile 200 years later, they found these Samaritans already living in their ancestral homeland.

However, other researchers argue that during the Babylonian Captivity, not all Jews were rounded up by the Assyrians. Some stayed behind, possibly marrying other Assyrian exiles who themselves had been relocated. This would make sense given that, even though Samaritans are not considered Jews, they share many of the same ancient Hebrew rituals. While these rituals have evolved for hundreds of years among most Jewish sects, they remain unchanged among the isolated Samaritans, even to this day. This also fits well with the historical animosity of Jews toward Samaritans because of their association with non-Jews. These researchers propose that the Samaritans were actually Hebrew descendants  themselves.

The Samaritans were part Hebrew and part Gentile

The race came about after the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. Certain people from the nation of Israel stayed behind. These people intermarried with the Assyrians producing the Samaritans.

The foreigners brought with them their pagan idols, which the remaining Jews began to worship alongside the God of Israel. Intermarriages also took place. While many of the inhabitants of the city and the surrounding area of Samaria were led off into captivity, some farmers and others were left behind. They intermarried with new settlers from Mesopotamia and Syria. The kingdoms of Judah and Israel never reunited.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was the first of the two kingdoms (Israel and Judah) to fall, when it was conquered by the Assyrian monarchs, Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) and Shalmaneser V. The captivities began in approximately 734-732 BC.

The later Assyrian kings Sargon II and his son and successor, Sennacherib, finished the demise of Israel’s northern ten-tribe kingdom. In 724 BC, nearly ten years after the initial deportations, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, was finally taken by Sargon II.

The tribes exiled by Assyria later became known as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, as, unlike the Kingdom of Judah which was able to return from its Babylonian Captivity, the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom never had a foreign edict granting permission to return to Israel and rebuild their homeland. King Crus, who defeated the Babylonians in 537 B.C.E returned exiled Judeans to their homeland. However, many chose to remain in Babylon and intermarried as well.

Herod conquered Judah in 37 B.C.E. In 19 B.C.E. , under his rule, the Temple was again rebuilt. The First Revolt against Rome occurred in 66 C.E. ; however, Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 C.E. The Temple was destroyed, and the majority of the Jews were dispersed throughout the world.

Reference https://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html#ixzz6ZYEIf4DH

Recent genetic research affirms that the Samaritans were of Jewish origin.  One such study by Peidong Shen and colleagues in the Journal Human Mutation has used both mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA of modern-day Samaritans to discover their origins and genetic relationship to Near Eastern Jews.

The mitochondrial DNA results, which show maternal history (i.e. your mother’s mother’s mother, etc.), reveal no major difference between the Samaritans, Jews, or Palestinians in the Levant who were also sampled. These three groups have relatively similar maternal genetic histories. However, the story of the Y-chromosome, which shows paternal history (i.e. your father’s father’s father) is quite different. Indeed, not only are the Y-chromosomes of the Jews and Samaritans more similar to each other than either is to the Palestinians’, the Y-chromosomes of the Samaritans show striking similarities to a very specific Y-chromosome most often associated with Jewish men. Although the Samaritan type is slightly different from the Jewish type, it is clear that the two share a common ancestor, probably within the last few thousand years.

Reference: https://bioone.org/journals/Human-Biology/volume-85/issue-6/027.085.0601/Genetics-and-the-History-of-the-Samaritans–Y-Chromosomal/10.3378/027.085.0601.short

This genetic evidence suggest that the traditional hypothesis, that the Samaritans were transported into the Levant (Mediterranean lands east of Italy) by the Assyrians and have no Jewish heritage, is largely incorrect. Rather, these Samaritan lineages are remnants of those few Jews who did not go into exile when the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 BC. Those who remained in the Levant may have take non-Jewish wives, which would account for the genetic admixture on the female side. But according to the authors the Y-chromosome clearly shows that the Samaritans and the Jews share common ancestry dating to at least 2,500 years ago.

The question that begs to be answer is: How did these Herew descendant’s become mixed with non-Herews?

According to the ‘Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Bible’ by Louis F. Hartman, C.SS.R., feelings of ill will probably went back before the separation of the northern and southern Jewish kingdoms. Even then there was a lack of unity between the tribes of Jacob.

What Lead To The Dividing Of The Kingdom?

The once-united kingdom of Israel split into two. How did this happen?

It all started with Solomon. On the surface, his kingdom appeared to be very prosperous.

Unlike David, he did not engage in battle to enlarge his territory but used trade and marriages to wives from other nations to increase his power. His accumulated wealth contributed to his fame. Even the Queen of Sheba paid him a visit and was overwhelmed by his wealth and wisdom.

For tax purposes, Solomon divided his land into different administrative regions, each with its own governor.  The people became embittered because of all the hard labor Solomon enforced and the heavy taxes he imposed on them to generate money for his building projects.

He even began worshipping the foreign gods that his wives worshiped. The Bible states that because of this, “The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice” .

1 Kings 11:1-13

1 Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides the daughter of the king of Egypt he married Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon.

2 He married them even though the Lord had commanded the Israelites not to intermarry with these people, because they would cause the Israelites to give their loyalty to other gods.

3 Solomon married seven hundred princesses and also had three hundred concubines. They made him turn away from God,

4 and by the time he was old they had led him into the worship of foreign gods. He was not faithful to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.

5 He worshiped Astarte, the goddess of Sidon, and Molech, the disgusting god of Ammon.

6 He sinned against the Lord and was not true to him as his father David had been.

7 On the mountain east of Jerusalem he built a place to worship Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, and a place to worship Molech, the disgusting god of Ammon.

8 He also built places of worship where all his foreign wives could burn incense and offer sacrifices to their own gods.

9 Even though the Lord, the God of Israel, had appeared to Solomon twice

10 and had commanded him not to worship foreign gods, Solomon did not obey the Lord but turned away from him. So the Lord was angry with Solomon

11 and said to him, “Because you have deliberately broken your covenant with me and disobeyed my commands, I promise that I will take the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officials.

12 However, for the sake of your father David I will not do this in your lifetime, but during the reign of your son.

13 And I will not take the whole kingdom away from him; instead, I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have made my own.”

After Solomon’s death, a delegation from the people went to visit his son Rehoboam to ask him whether he was prepared to relieve their burden. After discussing it with his advisors, he told them that he would increase their burden even further.

1 Kings 12:14

14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”

The southern tribes, whom Solomon had treated better, remained loyal to Rehoboam. However, Rehoboam’s threats became too much for the northern tribes, and they broke away in 925 BC to form an independent kingdom under the reign of Jeroboam, an official in Solomon’s court.

The Northern Kingdom retained the name “Israel,” while the Southern Kingdom became known as “Judah.” Israel had more territory and wealth, but it was situated on an important trade route and was therefore exposed to attacks from other nations.

In short, Solomon’s disobedience caused the division of the kingdom. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) consisted of 10 tribes and had 19 kings before they were taken into exile by Assyria. All 19 kings committed evil. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) consisted of 2 tribes and had 20 kings before they were taken into exile by Babylon. Eight of the 20 kings were good, while 12 were bad.

After the separation of Judah and Israel in the ninth century, King Omri of the Northern Kingdom bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer. He built there the city of Samaria which became his capital. It was strong defensively and controlled the valley through which the main road ran between Jerusalem and Galilee.

1 Kings 16:24

24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.

In 722 BCE. the city fell to the Assyrians and became the headquarters of the Assyrian province of Samarina. Assyria conquered Israel and took most of its people into captivity. The invaders then brought in Gentile colonists “from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim” (2 Kgs 17:24) to resettle the land.

2 Kings 17:24

24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.

The Assyrians sent five eastern tribes to live in Northern Israel. These five tribes brought with them their own foreign religions and customs. The tribes were sent with the purpose of diminishing the Israelite identity and culture. The eastern foreigners intermarried with the remaining, much depleted Israelite population. This hybrid people group was the beginning of the Samaritans.

The foreigners brought with them their pagan idols, which the remaining Jews began to worship alongside the God of Israel.

2 Kgs 17:29-41

29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt. 

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 

31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 

32 So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. 

33 They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods–according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. 

34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, 

35 with whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them, saying: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; 

36 but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. 

37 And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. 

38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. 

39 But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” 

40 However they did not obey, but they followed their former rituals. 

41 So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.

Mixing by intermarriages began took place (Ezra 9:1-10:44; Neh 13:23-28).

Ezra 9:1, 2

9 When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not aseparated themselves from the peoples of the lands, bwith respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2 For they have ctaken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the dholy seed is emixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.”

Nehemiah 13:23-28

23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.

27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”

28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

While many of the inhabitants of the city and the surrounding area of Samaria were led off into captivity, some farmers and others were left behind. They intermarried with new settlers from Mesopotamia and Syria.

Though the Samaritans were condemned by the Jews, Hartman says they probably had as much pure Jewish blood as the Jews who later returned from the Babylonian exile. Each group fell into an apostate form of worship, mixing worship of Yahweh and Hebrew traditions with the worship of pagan gods they learned through association with foreign nations. The kingdom of Judah was not exempt from false worship and committing abominations before God.

2 Chronicles Chapter 33 recounts the sins against Yahweh of Manasseh, a Judean king:

Wicked Judean King Mananasseh brought pagan idols into the Temple Courtyards

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

2 But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

4 He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.”

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

7 He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;

The story of both Israel’s and Samaria’s failures in keeping to the way of Yahweh is partly told in Chapter 17 of the Second Book of Kings. There, too, the sacred author tells how the king of Assyria sent a priest from among the exiles to teach the Samaritans how to worship God after an attack by lions was attributed to their failure to worship the God of the land. Second Kings recounts how worship of Yahweh was mixed with the worship of strange gods.

2 Kings Chapter 17

(Hoshea Reigns in Israel)

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.

2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him.

3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute money.

4 And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

(Israel Carried Captive to Assyria)

5 Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods,

8 and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

9 Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city.

10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree.

11 There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger,

12 for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”

13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.”

14 Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.

15 And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them.

16 So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

17 And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.

19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight.

21 For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin.

22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them,

23 until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.

24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.

25 And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.”

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.”

28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt.

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

32 So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.

33 They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.

34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel,

35 with whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them, saying: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them;

36 but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.

37 And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods.

38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.

39 But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 However they did not obey, but they followed their former rituals.

41 So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.

Yahweh yielded the Israelites over to their hearts desire; that is, to mix with other races. As verse 24 above states, the Assyrians brought in populations of other nations into the region:

24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.

All during this time, the animosity between Samaritan Jews and Judean continued.  As mentioned earlier, though the Samaritans were condemned by the Jews, they probably had as much pure Jewish blood as the Jews who later returned from the Babylonian exile.

Both groups fell into an apostate form of worship, mixing worship of Jehovah and Hebrew traditions with the worship of pagan  gods that they learned through association with foreign nations. The kingdom of Judah was not exempt from false worship and committing abominations before God; however, Judeans felt superior.

We are told that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. In a conversation that Jesus had with a Samaritan woman we are told that she said the following.

Therefore the Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans) (John 4:9).

Samaritans Had Their Own Temple And Religious System

Samaritans Had Their Own Temple And Religious System

The Samaritans had their own temple, their own copy of the Torah – the first five books of the Old Testament – and their own religious system. There was an issue among the Jews and Samaritans as to where the proper place of worship. The following exchange took place between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

John 4:19-23

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

They Rejected Jesus When He Passed Through Their Region

When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world he passed through Samaria. The Samaritans did not receive him because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51-53

51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 

52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 

53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

Summary

The Samaritans were a group of people who lived in Samaria – an area north of Jerusalem. They were half-Jews and half-Gentiles. When Assyria captured the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. some were taken in captivity while others left behind. The ones left behind intermarried with the Assyrians. Thus these people were neither fully Hebrews nor fully Gentiles. The Samaritans had their own unique copy of the first five books of Scripture as well as their own unique system of worship.  The Samaritans had developed their own version of Judaism.

At the time of Jesus the Jews and the Samaritans did not deal with one another. Most Jews regarded the Samaritans as ignorant, superstitious, and outside of God’s favour and mercy.  Jesus, however, ministered to the people of Samaria preaching the good news to them.

The Samaritans were still very much part of God’s plans as shown in the fourth chapter of John’s gospel where Jesus brings the good news to Sychar, a Samaritan village.  Moreover, Jesus specifically mentions Samaria in Acts 1:8 where he tells his disciples: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Christian churches were soon established there (Acts 9:31 cf. Acts 8:1, 4-5; 9:31; 15:3).
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Christian Transformation…New Character And Changed Behavior

Posted by Brother John Jones on September 22, 2020
Posted in: Bible Standards, Christian behavior, faith, God and Christ, morality, Religion. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Ephesians 4:24
and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. CEV

Being a disciple Of Christ requires a transformation. One cannot continue as the person they were when they did not know Christ.

Most so-called Christian religions no longer emphasize the need to repent from former courses of conduct that are displeasing to God. It appears to be more important to have large memberships rather than bring up the uncomfortable subject of immoral behavior. Many adulterers, fornicators, drunks, thieves, and other bad people regularly attend ‘church’. And pastors of those groups make them feel okay by telling them, “God loves you just the way you are!” That is a lie.

The apostle Paul dispelled this notion when he wrote the Corinthian congregation his first letter:

1 Corinthian 6:9,10

9 Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts

10 or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves—none of these will possess God’s Kingdom. 11 Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. GNT

He wrote the Christian congregation in Ephesis he wrote this reminder:

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires,

23 to be renewed in your mental attitude,

24 and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God’s image in righteousness and true holiness.

One’s heart desire often leads them into misconduct

Your present lifestyle and behavior may be pleasing to you yourself and other people; but is it pleasing to God and Christ?  Is it wise to base judgments on one’s own self-satisfaction?

One of the greatest threats to our growth as Christians is the notion that we have arrived at a pretty good place and no longer need to develop our Christian walk and become more like Jesus.

Being self-satisfied opens us to sins of pride and arrogance. It makes one see themselves as having no spiritual needs. Therefore, this person does not see a need to change for the better. There is no need for self-examination with this mentality.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is complacency. Webster’s definition of the word “complacency” is: “a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.”

When a disciple becomes complacent the treachery of the heart has had success. Christian complacency means that no matter what happens, you are fully self-satisfied with your current personal effort in pursuing Christ.

The Bible makes clear that Christians are never standing still. They are either growing or backsliding.

After listing some of the qualities every Christian should have, Peter then states, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8). In other words, if you are a Christian who is complacent with your growth in God, you are in danger.

Romans 13:13,14

13 Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy!

14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires.

It is difficult to imagine what life would be like as a slave and to live without freedom to make your own decisions. God didn’t create man to live that way.  He had every right to and he could have had he chosen to create us that way. After all, his way is the right way.

It is your choice to do things God’s way and to take on the characteristics that please him, God doesn’t force himself on us. God and Jesus have given us instructions on how to live a rewarding and fulfilling life, they have told us what the best way is but we don’t have to live that way.  We make our own decision.

It doesn’t matter who you are.  We all have the same opportunity to make the choice to live to please him. We all get to decide whether Christ is the example we follow or if we are going to continue to live to please ourselves.

What Example Did Jesus Set?

Jesus didn’t only come to save  from  sin, but he also came so that he could show a godly lifestyle. Jesus was the perfect example , he showed us what it looks like to live with mercy, humility, gentleness, and patience. Jesus showed us how to suffer for the sake of righteousness.

When it comes to the subject of changing our lives, many disciples of Christ  feel the same as they feel about going to heaven: They are all for it, but they would rather not go through what you have to go through to get there!

The idea of change sounds good, but when it gets right down to it, many think, “You mean I actually have to live differently? No way!”

But the real Christianity IS a fundamental a changed life. If you claim to believe in Christ, but are living just as you did before you believed in Him, you need to examine whether you truly believe in Him. Becoming a Christian requires turning from your sin to God (repentance). But repentance is not a one-time event. It defines the lifestyle of a believer. God changes us radically at the moment of salvation by imparting new life to us, but this is followed by a lifetime of changing into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

Repentance

What does the biblical term “repentance” mean? The New Testament term for repentance is from a Greek word that simply means to change one’s mind: μετάνοια, metánoia.

In this sense, repentance is necessary for salvation; we must believe we need saving (which is usually a change of the human mindset). But after baptism we must continue to repent of our former lives, or to change our mindset about our previous way of living. This changing of our minds will certainly lead to our living changed lives in terms of our behaviors.

We read at Acts 3:19-20 that repentance is a prerequisite to receive forgiveness from God.

19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do,20 times of spiritual strength will come from the Lord, and he will send Jesus, who is the Messiah he has already chosen for you.

Repentance which definitely also includes changing one’s way of thinking, is an integral part of the process God uses to save us

In Ephesians 4:17-19, Paul paints a grim portrait of how unbelievers live. While not all unbelievers are as bad as they possibly could be, they all live “in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (4:17b-18). That bleak picture describes each of us before we met Jesus Christ.

That was our mindset and the way we lived our lives as unbelievers. It took a transformation that first started with a change of mind to change us into people who God approves of.

 

Building Christian Character In Order To Change Your Behavior

Character is etched in by repeated patterns of behavior

 

 

Behavior is a product of your character and your character depends on how you view life. In order to change your behavior, you must work on changing your character.

What’s one word you think someone would use describe your character? What word would you use?

In Bible days if an artist wanted to wear a groove into a metal plate, he would do so by repeatedly etching the same place with a sharp tool. After repeated strokes, an image would begin to take shape. The name for that tool in the Greek language is the word from which our word character is derived. (χαρακτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ, xaraktḗr, Transliteration: charaktér)

 

That word is used only once in the New Testament: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression [charaktér] of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

Think about the picture the writer of Hebrews was painting. The glory of God is exactly etched into the character of the Son. Just as an image of God is seen in the Son, when the character of Christ is etched into us, we present to the world a clear picture of the glory of God.

Behavior and character are related, but they aren’t the same thing. Behavior is what you do. Character, on the other hand, is the person your behavior has built.

Character is the sum of our behaviors—public and private—consistently arranged across the spectrum of our life. Any behavior—duplicated and reduplicated—forms a part of our character.

Every time you make a decision, you cut a groove. Every time you react to a crisis, you cut a groove. When you hold your tongue and practice self-control or when you let your tongue run loose and speak your mind, you’re carving your character. When you say yes or no to a reckless temptation, you’re signing your name. When you stand up to peer pressure, hold the line on truth, or return kindness for cruelty, you’re cutting the pattern of your character.

To etch positive grooves in your Christian character, keep these words in mind:

Colossians 3:2-10

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. 

2 Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. 

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4 Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

5 You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry). 

6 Because of such things God’s anger will come upon those who do not obey him. 

7 At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.

8 But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. 

9 Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits 

10 and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself. 

 

Persevere in prayer

Changing your character does not happen overnight. Changing your character requires patience, time, determination, and perseverance on your part. Do not give up.

 

 

 

 

Biblical Moral Code and Christian Ethics

 

Do You Live According The Christian Ethos?

Ethics are principles that govern a person’s actions. Ethics define right and wrong conduct. The words “ethics,” “morals” and “morality” may be applied in different contexts, but they have essentially the same meaning.

Biblical Ethics and Biblical Morality

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) was the standard of conduct in Old Testament times. Jesus did not abolish the moral and ethical laws that had been in effect from the time of Moses. He affirmed and expanded on those principles, but what matters most to God is our inner lives (attitudes and motives) rather than any outward show of holiness. Jesus taught that we should live by two great principles: 1) humble obedience to God above all else and 2) sincere respect and kindness for all people of the world (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, John 13:34-35).

Not only must we not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14), we should avoid entertaining even the thought of it (Matthew 5:27-28). Not only must we not steal (Exodus 20:15) and not envy what others have (Exodus 20:17), we should focus our lives on God, not on earthly possessions (Matthew 6:19-21). Not only must we not give false testimony (Exodus 20:16), we should even avoid evil thoughts and speech (Matthew 12:35-37). Not only must we be considerate to the poor and outcasts of the world (Deuteronomy 15:7-11), we should treat them as we would treat Jesus Himself! (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

What Were The Ethical Teachings Of Jesus Christ?

Jesus gave many examples of how to apply His ethical teachings in His “Sermon of the Mount” (Matthew Chapters 5-7) and the shorter “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6:20-49). These are the highlights:

3 “Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

4 Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.

5 Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.

6 Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled.

7 Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.

9 Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Jesus’ statements above describe the values of the kingdom of God. At the same time, they describe the “blessed” results of keeping God’s commandments and being part of that kingdom.

What Did Jesus Teach About Anger?

21 “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ 

22 But now I tell you: if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21, 22)

Anger is an emotion we all feel sometimes, but the anger here (Greek orgizo) implies extreme anger, perhaps a brooding anger that could lead to hostile words or acts of revenge.  We cannot hold onto the anger that spoils our relationship with God and other people. We must forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15).

What Did Jesus Teach About Adultery?

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 

28 But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. 

29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 

30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)

Many believe that God’s moral laws have changed.  But Jesus’ teaching affirmed the prohibitions in the Ten Commandments against adultery (Exodus 20:14), and covetousness (Exodus 20:17).

We must not commit adultery, but we must also avoid the evil desires (lust or covetousness) that may cloud judgment and lead to an actual act of adultery. “So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away!”

What Did Jesus Teach About Divorce and Remarriage?

6 But in the beginning, at the time of creation, ‘God made them male and female,’ as the scripture says. 

7 ‘And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, 

8 and the two will become one.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 

9 No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together.”

10 When they went back into the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter. 

11 He said to them, “A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife. 

12 In the same way, a woman who divorces her husband and marries another man commits adultery.” (Mark 10:6–12)

Many people begin a marriage truly in love. But if love should  fade, they often divorce and marry another. However, Jesus taught that marriage should be a sacred bond forever. Each spouse must love and honor the other and not give up on the marriage when troubles arise.

Jesus gave only one condition in which a person was morally permitted to divorce his/her spouse:

7 The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?”

8 Jesus answered, “Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation. 9 I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman.” (Matthew 19:7,8)

A person has a moral right to divorce in the case of adultery; but there are those who choose to forgive and choose to remain in the marriage. It is purely a personal decision to make.

What Did Jesus Teach About Truthfulness and Honesty?

33 “You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’ 

34 But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

37 Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’—anything else you say comes from the Evil One. (Matthew 5:33–34, 37)

People often made vows or swear oaths (even in God’s or Christ’ names) to convince someone of their sincerity. But instead of making vows, we must be known by our character that we are completely honest in word and deeds so that our simple “yes” or “no” will be believed as truth.

What Did Jesus Teach About Retaliation and Revenge?

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 

39 But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 

44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 

46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 

47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 

48 You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  ( Matthew 5:38–39, 43–48)

In the days that  Abraham lived, unlimited revenge for a wrong done was considered normal and proper (Genesis 34:1-2, 25-29). But later, the Law of Moses limited revenge to an equal injury for any injury done, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Leviticus 24:18-20). But Jesus said we should not take any revenge at all.

It is an act of love to an enemy to refrain from attempting punish of them ourselves.

 

Hebrews 10:30 reminds us that vegeance is in God’s hands:

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

 

What Did Jesus Teach About Forgiveness?

14 “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. (Matthew 6:14–15)

The apostle Paul reminds us in his writings us that we are all sinners and that it is only through the grace of God we have an opportunity to be put right with Him.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23,24)

Just as God is merciful and forgives us our sins, we too must be merciful and forgive those who do us harm. Holding a grudge separates us from God’s love and robs all joy from life.

This has been extremely difficult for many to do in practice.

On the one hand a person wants their sins forgiven and erased and on the other hand, many find power in withhold ing forgiveness to someone else (a form of emotional blackmail). We should not be like this. The consequences of such unforgiving ehavior is what Jesus is talking about above. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.”

What Did Jesus Teach About Money and Wealth?

19 “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. 

20 Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. 

21 For your heart will always be where your riches are.

24 “You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:19–21, 24)

Lust for more wealth or possessions than we really need is the cause of all kinds of evils things as a result (1 Timothy 6:10). Greed is one of the most frequently mentioned sins in the Bible. Those of us who are blessed with more wealth than we need are obligated to share generously with those in need. They should not use their welath and means to lord themself over other people. Jesus gave a detailed parable of the result of such behavior. (Matthew 16:19-31)

What Did Jesus Teach About Condemning (Judging)?

The Bible’s moral and ethical teachings are intended to help us live according to God’s will. They are not intended to be used to criticize or condemn other people.

We are never to take upon ourselves the task of judgment that belongs to God alone. Jesus said that if we judge other people harshly, we will, in turn, be judged harshly:

 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Matthew 7:1-3)

God has appointed a Judge and he is the Judge of all creation. He is the One who can either approve or condemn a soul. Therefore we are actually overstepping when we as imperfect sinners ourselves condemn another person. Paul wrote this:

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Following The Golden Rule In Practice

12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (NLT, Matthew 7:12)

The Golden Rule is a one-sentence summary of all of Jesus’ ethical teachings. In all aspects of life, we must treat others as we would like to be treated – never taking advantage or holding a grudge or doing harm; always being kind, compassionate and helpful when needed.

Ask youself: Do I Really have to Obey All of Jesus’ Ethical Teachings? Are there Exceptions?

Jesus sets a very high standard of conduct for both private and public life. Some people feel that that these high ethical standards are too difficult or even unrealistic, and there have been many attempts to soften His teachings or limit their scope.

Did Jesus Intend His Teachings only for His Disciples?

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was directed primarily to His disciples (Matthew 5:1-2, Luke 6:20). But the crowds of people were also present and listening (Matthew 7:28-29, Luke 7:1), and the language of His teachings implies that they apply to all people (Matthew 5:19, 5:32, 6:24, 7:13-14, 7:24-27).

It was always Jesus’ plan for His disciples to spread His teachings to the rest of the world.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:14,15)

Do Christ Teachings Apply To All Of Our Relations with Other People?

There are those who have convinced themselves that Jesus’ teachings only apply to those we have a personal relationship with like people within the group they belong to and that they do not apply to relations with people of other religions, races, nationalities, ways of life, etc. However, Jesus never spoke of any such exceptions.

In His parable of the good Samaritan, he made it clear that we must extend our “Christian love” to people of all races, religions and nationalities. He also said,

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43–48)

Ever since the nation split centuries before, Samaritans were despised by Judeans because of the ten tribe defection. Yet the Lord behaved differently.

Jesus actually approach a Samaritan and susequently gave her a witness concerning his identity. (John 4:5-26)

Do Jesus’ Teaching Apply to all Situations?

Some believe that Jesus’ teachings only apply in specific aspect of life. They feel that his teachings only apply to private life and not to public life like business dealings, etc. However, Jesus did not make any such exceptions.

“My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves”

When Jesus cleansed the temple, he threw out the corrupt money changers.

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” (Matthew 21:12,13)

Money changers would assess a foreign coin for its type, wear and tear, and validity, then accept it as deposit, recording its value in local currency. The merchant could then withdraw the money in local currency to conduct trade or, more likely, keep it deposited: the money changer would act as a clearing facility.

Do Jesus’ Teachings Apply Here and Now?

Some argue that Jesus’ ethical teachings are unrealistic ideals just intended to show us how sinful we are, not commandments we must obey. Others will say Jesus was describing the ethics of the kingdom of God of the future rather than a code to live life by in this world. Are those beliefs consistent with biblical teaching?

Jesus presented His ethical teachings as God’s commandments for here and now, and He never spoke of any exceptions. As people who aspire to belong to the kingdom of God, we must be “in the world, but not of the world”:

21 “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. 

Jesus made this remark:

22 When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ 

23 Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’ (Matthew 7:21–23)

11 And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one.

12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost—so that the scripture might come true.

13 And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness.

14 I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. (John 17:11-14).

Jesus also made this statement:

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?

47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.

48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.” (Luke 6:46–49)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (NRSV, Matthew 7:13–14)

17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” (NLT, Matthew 19:17)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (NRSV, John 14:15)

It is clear thaat both God and Christ expect us to live according this moral/ethical code during this lifetime.

What if We Fail to Keep Jesus’ Commandments?

We are all imperfect humans, and we are all sinners in our own ways (Romans 3:21-24, 5:12, 1 John 1:8). We will never be able to completely comply with the high ethical standards Jesus set. But that is hardly an excuse for not trying our very best! (Matthew 25:24-30, Romans 2:1-4)

When we do fail, we can take comfort in knowing that God is merciful and is always willing to give us another chance when we sincerely repent.

 

The Importance Of Our Character And Conduct

When Paul left Timothy as a elder in the Ephesian church and as a young man he was forced to deal with some hard issues that had cropped up among the people of God. And even though Paul was planning on visiting soon, his heart was so heavy for the people of this church that he wrote everything down and sent it to Timothy as a letter.

In Ephesian chapter 4, Paul mentions some of the problem behaviors that had developed:

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 

27 nor give place to the devil. 

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

A part of Paul’s concern was how these Christians were conducting themselves as the church. Christian character and conduct mattered to Paul. But have you ever wondered why it is so important? Is it really that big of a deal to follow a bunch of rules?

Whether we follow Jesus or the world, we are held to rules and a standard of living. Murder, stealing, lying, cheating, and abuse of various kinds are universally unacceptable. But for the world they are unacceptable because they cause chaos, disrupting the peaceful life that people long for. Much of the world’s reasoning is driven by self-love. This is not entirely a bad thing, but it is not the best thing.

As Christians we have a code of conduct that we are called to – not because of what we can get out of it – but because of who God is, and who we are as His people.

When God commands us to not steal but share generously, this is because He is a God of generosity who never takes what isn’t His. When God calls us to love sacrificially or forgive completely, it is because this is what He does. What God does stems from His very nature. And when God calls us to holy living, it is not only because He is holy, but because we are now His holy people, cleansed and declared to be righteous in God’s sight through the work of His Son, Jesus.

Once we too were a people who were driven by self-interest. Now we have been saved to be a people driven by love for God and others. The call to right living according to God’s standards is a call to godliness. Godliness is like God-like-ness. We are called to reflect the God who saved us, provides for us, hears us, loves us, and changes us.

Ultimately, true godliness is seen in Jesus. He is the “mystery of godliness” because once He had been hidden, but now He took on flesh and is godliness personified, and His godliness is credited to us. This is what gives us good standing before our God. And this standing gives us the freedom to obey our Lord.

As Christians and as the Church we are to conduct ourselves in a manner that shows our changed heart, our gratitude for our salvation, and our love for the One who died for us.

How can a Christian know what he may or may not do?

Here is where using having a truly Christian mindset is of great value. When answering the question above, a Christian would ask themselves these sort of questions and keep these sorts of questions in mind:

1.  Does it have the ‘appearance’ of wickedness?

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

2. Does it bring glory to God? In I Corinthians 10:31, we read this plain statement:

“Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Before you engage in the activity in question, can you honestly ask for God’s blessing upon it, believing that He will be honored through your participation?

3. Is it “of the world”? If it is, then it is not “of Christ.” He said concerning His disciples,

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).

He was not “of the world” at all. He was in it, but not of it.

15 Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. 

16 Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world. 

17 The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.

(1 John 2:15-17)

4. Would the Lord have done it? He has left us an example that we should follow His steps:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

5. Would you like to be found doing it when the Lord returns?

Someone has wisely remarked, “Don’t do anything, say anything, or go anywhere that would cause you shame if the Lord should come!”

These mindset is very similar to the thinking of the servant who had recieved the 1,000 talents in Jesus’ parable found in Matthew 25:14-30. Recall what the Master’s response was to that servant?

24 Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. 

25 I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.’ 

26 ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? 

27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 

28 Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins.

29 For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. 

30 As for this useless servant—throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.’

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28

6. Can you feel free to do it when you remember that God the Holy Spirit dwells within you?

“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19). See also Ephesians 4:30:

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

7. Is it fitting conduct for a child of God? When a king’s son acts in an unworthy manner, he brings disgrace on his father’s name. So does the Christian who behaves in an unbecoming way.

“For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” (Romans 2:24)

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)

8. What effect will your conduct have on others? Will it be a good testimony to the unsaved, or from your conduct will they draw the conclusion that there is really no difference between a Christian and an unbeliever?

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Also, will it cause someone who is young in the faith to stumble? The Apostle Paul warned that no man should put “a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:13).

9. Finally, is there the least bit of doubt in your mind about it? If so, then don’t do it, for “he that doubteth is damned [condemned]…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

In connection with this subject of what a Christian may or may not do, it is well to remember that “we are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14,15). This does not mean that we may do as we like, but rather it means we want to do what God likes because He has done so much for us. God’s principles that formed the bases for the Mosaic Law are eternal.

We do not avoid worldly pleasures and amusements because we have to, but because we want to. The reason we want to is because Christ died for us, and now our ambitions are to live in a manner that will please Him

(2 Corinthians 5:14,15).

Christ does not say, “If you keep away from sinful pleasures, you will be a Christian.” But He does say, in effect, to the believer, “You are a Christian! Now live in a way that is consistent with your high calling.”

And so Paul wrote:

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”(Ephesians 4:1)

It is quite possible that a Christian may forget his dignified position, and go in for the things of the world. In such a case, one must keep in minds the words we read in the Book of Hebrews chapter 10:

26 For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. 

27 Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God! (Hebrews 10:26-27)

It is important to recognize that these are not things we produce primarily through our own effort; rather they come from the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation in our lives (2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17).

At the same time, we are told to obey God and to do our best to conform to His will. Philippians 2:12–13 says it this way: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Also recognize that the Spirit’s work in us is progressive. Christians will mess up; our behavior will not always adhere to God’s holy standards or be a very good demonstration of His work in us. But when we fail, we can trust that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). We can confess our sin and move forward, trusting in God’s grace and faithfulness (1 John 1:9).

Walking out Christian behavior not only honors God in us to others; it also protects us from the war against the fleshly desires within ourselves: “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11; see also Galatians 2:20; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:14).

Being a disciple Of Christ requires a transformation. We are not born servant of Christ. And during our lives we pick up many ungodly beliefs and traits from the corrupt world we have been born into. False teachers of Christianity lie to you when they tell you that there is no need to repent, reform, and quit leading a sinful life. And those sheperds mislead and stumble when they tell you, “God loves you just the way you are!”

Remember the apostle Paul’s warning:

9 Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts

10 or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves—none of these will possess God’s Kingdom. 11 Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have

been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthian 6:9,10)

We must conform our personality and behaviors to the example Jesus set for us to follow.

This article has examined both the character and the behaviors that are pleasing to God  and those that are displeasing to to Him and Christ based upon what the Bile teaches concerning thinking and character that reflect true Christianity.


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Who Are The Chief Princes In Dan. 10:13 And Who Are The 7 Stars In Rev 1:16?

Posted by Brother John Jones on September 7, 2020
Posted in: Bible Standards, ex-jehovah's witnesses, faith, false prophet, God and Christ, Heaven, logic, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Who Are The Chief Princes? Who Are The 7 Stars In The Lord’s Right Hand?

Daniel 10:13

Angels were serving before God prior to the new Temple arrangement

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

The ‘chief’ or ‘principal’ angels referred to in the Book of Daniel are the original angels who serve directly before God.

They are also mentioned in the Book of Revelation in chapter 8:

2″ And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.”

They include Gabriel and Michael who are both mentioned in the Bible. There were a total of seven of these princely servant to begin with.

The Bible writers mentions two Books which are not contained within the Books we have available in the recorded Bible today. They both tell about these seven powerful angels by name and much more.

One is the Book of Jasher:

“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” Joshua 10:13

They are also spoken about in a prophetic book written by the man Enoch. That book is quoted from in the Book of Jude :

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,” Jude 14

Available text from Enoch’s writings go into detail about the existence of these seven angels and what transpired as result of the fall.

Jude obviously had information we don’t have access to today. The Bible does not contain the following account that Jude writes about:

“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

One fellow disciple observed : “Despite his great power, Michael is still in total submission to the Lord. His dependence on the Lord’s power is seen in Jude 1:9:

“But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.‘” (Some believe that Michael is another name for Jesus. But this is wrong. Jesus is not an angel. He helped his Father create the angels. Jesus is a unique creation).

Notice that Michael isn’t ‘lord’, but answers to the Lord.

The righteous angels have a rank and are submissive to authority, and for this reason they are used as a picture of a wife’s submission to her husband.

The Bible tells us, “That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels” (1 Corinthians 11:10). If you take into consideration the great strength of the angel named Michael; the submission he has toward God is all the more beautiful.”

Beyond these facts, the only begotten son of God was not a member of that group of seven angels. Satan however was an angel of that order at one time but fell. He was replaced.

That there were a group of angels that included Gabriel, Michael, and others is common knowledge and has been throughout human history.

The only begotten son of God, Christ, has always been set apart from all other beings and things. He is unlike any other since no other can claim to have been begotten by God. He has no peers or peer group.

As was mentioned previously, Satan was an angel of that order at one time but fell. He was replaced.

Where are those 7 angels now?

Let’s examine Revelation chapter 2 for the answer.

Jesus is standing in the Sanctuary already holding 7 stars

Jesus In The Sanctuary-John’s Vision

In the Revelation to John, he is sees Christ standing in the Holy compartment of the Temple of God in Heaven.

Before Him at a distance are seven golden lamp stands which He says represent the complete congregation of those to whom He is addressing.

They are out before Him because they are human beings made of flesh and as of yet are not where He is, which is in Heaven in the Sanctuary.

The lampstands represent humans in their human enviroment here on Earth. They are not in Heaven.

When John in the vision is instructed to measure the Temple, he is told not to measure the “outer courtyard”:

Revelation 11:1

“I was then given a stick that looked like a measuring-rod, and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in the temple. 2 But do not measure the outer courts, because they have been given to the heathen,”

The lampstand exist in the corrupt enviroment here on Earth that Satan and the other fallen angels were thrown down to.

However, within the Temple sanctuary he is seen in holding “seven stars”.

Note that these stars are seen in His right hand. His right hand would have to be connected to His right arm. His right arm would then have to be connected to the right side of His body. And while He is addressing John His body is standing with His feet firmly planted in the Temple Sanctuary.

These therefore have to be already existing spirit creatures because they are with Christ at the time He is addressing the complete church represented by the lamp stands before Him.

He cannot be referring to earthling man as the Watchtower Organization has claimed these 7 stars to be.

 

Jesus gives the identity of the 7 stars clearly:

Revelation 1:20

20 Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars that you see in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Yet many refuse to believe Him. Some have the teaching (‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’) that Jesus is calling human men ‘angels’. They say that these angels are symbolic of their elders.

Below is an excerpt from the Watchtower magazine identifying their human leaders as being the 7 stars in Jesus right hand.

It is also important to know the Watchtower doctrine has relegated the term ‘angel’ to be synonymous to ‘messenger’; as if delivering messages is the only task an angel is called upon to perform in service.

Many prominent post exit JW’s teach this erroneous conclusion as well. It is hard to fully escape Watchtower brainwashing.

Watchtower 07 4/21

. How were anointed overseers who served on bodies of elders depicted at Revelation 1:16, 20, and what can be said of appointed elders who are of the other sheep?

6 These “gifts in men” are overseers, or elders, appointed by Jehovah and his Son, through holy spirit, to shepherd the sheep with tenderness. (Acts 20:28, 29) To begin with, these overseers were all anointed Christian men. At Revelation 1:16, 20, those who served on bodies of elders within the anointed congregation were symbolized by “stars” or “angels” in Christ’s right hand, that is, under his control. In this time of the end, however, with the number of anointed overseers still on earth ever dwindling, the vast majority of Christian elders in the congregations are of the other sheep. Since these are appointed by representatives of the Governing Body under the leadings of the holy spirit, they too can be said to be under the right hand (or, under the direction) of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 61:5, 6) Since the elders in our congregations submit to Christ, the Head of the congregation, they deserve our full cooperation.​
(end of Watchtower comments)

There is no biblical basis whatsoever for these extrapolations. The statement begins with declaration as if it were as proven fact in which there is no connection established:

“How were anointed overseers who served on bodies of elders depicted at Revelation 1:16, 20, and what can be said of appointed elders who are of the other sheep?”

How grandiose to replace the true identity of these seven loyal angels with self-appointed weak human beings! These are nothing more than lies designed to place earthling men in a role of unquestionable command and control.

Nowhere in the Bible are men referred to as ‘angels’.

While Acts 6:15 states about Stephen, “All those sitting in the Council fixed their eyes on Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel”; the passage doesn’t refer to him as an ‘angel’. The Bible doesn’t call men ‘angels’ anywhere.

And Jesus actually says they are angels!

These angels minister on behalf of the Lord where the lamp stands are (Earth). They as mortal beings are exposed to possible corruption or failure just the same as human beings are. They are not incorruptible. So Jesus warns them of the consequences of any deviation.

There have been Holy angels serving before God’s throne for eons of time. They now have a share in priestly service (as the seven in the Revelation to John). They have not been forgotten or discarded.

In the Revelation to John these angels are seen coming out of the Temple sanctuary and are also seen in the Heavenly temple courtyard:

Revelation 14:

14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was what looked like a human being, with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

15 Then another angel came out from the temple and cried out in a loud voice to the one who was sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, because the time has come; the earth is ripe for the harvest!”

16 Then the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth’s harvest was reaped.

17 Then I saw another angel come out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.

18 Then another angel, who is in charge of the fire, came from the altar. He shouted in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sickle, and cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes are ripe!”

The angelic ‘chief princes’ were given to Christ by God and are now subject to him. They now serve and answer to Christ as their Master.

This had always been part of God’s divine plan. Consider 1 Corinthians 15:27,28:

27 For the scripture says, “God put all things under his feet.” It is clear, of course, that the words “all things” do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ.

28 But when all things have been placed under Christ’s rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.

Were all of the angels in Heaven were aware of this special son of God? Did all the angels know the Son of God? It appears not.

If it were so there would be no explanation for the scene recorded in the Book of Revelation in chapter 5 verses 1 through 4:

1″And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”

John is not witnessing an earthly scene but one played out in Heaven right before the throne of God.
When this scene occurs all the angels are assembled before the throne of God in attendance.

When as verse two states the cry goes out to those in attendance, “Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof?”, there is silence for no one among them was worthy to approach the throne of God.

Ask yourself this: If all present during that vision scene were familiar with who the chosen one was (Christ), then why would there have been any uncertainty and silence from those in attendance when the strong angel ask his question? There could have only been one possible choice given all he had done. Also they would have all known that the ‘chosen one’ would of course have to be the heir of the Kingdom. After all, all creation was to become his inheritance.

And if you will notice, Christ does not approach the throne of God out of the midst of the assembled group of angels, but is lead in to appear before the throne of God.

This is when the angelic body is introduced to the son of God and his identity becomes known to them.

The chief princes mentioned in the Book of Daniel are the original angelic servant who served God.

The seven stars that Jesus holds in his right hand are those angels subjected to Christ.

Again, if Christ was well known, there would have been no question as to who was worthy. And if he was a member of an existing group, certainly they would have known he was the worthy one.

Jesus is the only begotten son of God. Michael is as the Bible describes an archangel, one of the principal angels who served before God’s throne. These were the chief angels referred to in the Book of Daniel.

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Watchtower Organization Was Founded On Racist Beliefs

Posted by Brother John Jones on August 31, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, Bible Standards, ex-jehovah's witnesses, faith, false prophet, God and Christ, governing body, Jehovah, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, logic, mark of the beast, operation of error, pure religion, Religion, religion. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Charles Taze Russell’s Racist Views Printed in Watchtower Publications

“It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,” he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world”.
(The Golden Age, July 24, 1929, p. 702)

The quote above is but one of many comments that can be found on the pages of Watchtower publications that reveal the racist beliefs of its founder and subsequent leaders.

 

Multi-cultural at its ase and middle, but exclusively anglo at the top.

While today boasting to have millions of adherents world-wide, the make up of its leadership at the top has alway been caucasian.

Its hard to believe that out of all these millions that either holy spirit or the Lord would not grace men of other races to serve in the capacity of leadership as the so-called governing body of ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses nor that of ‘President’

The information in this article can e easily verify by anyone who would care to investigate its factuality and validity.

Reprint of July\Aug 1988 Bethel Min. Newsletter

Blacks and the Watchtower

Randall Watters

By Randall Watters (exerpt)

(Randall Watters left the Jehovah’s Witnesses during the 1980 shake-up of the New York Watchtower Headquarters)

Few religious organizations have escaped being tainted by racial prejudice at one time or another. While the Watchtower has not been alone in its preferential treatment of the Caucasian, its history is perhaps a little more interesting and at times amusing in regards to the black man. It is all the more fascinating when you discover how few people really know what the Watchtower has taught regarding racial inferiority.

Taking a glimpse back in time to the beginnings of the Watchtower organization, we find more than just silent prejudice at work. Several statements were put in print regarding the alleged inferiority of the black man! Let’s examine a few of these statements from the past, and then we’ll examine their present view of blacks and even Hispanics in the Governing Body.

From the beginning, President C. T. Russell believed that the millennial kingdom was about to break upon mankind, accompanied by life in paradise and a restoration of the earth to the condition as found in the garden of Eden. Though in this present life the black man was found to be inferior, Russell argues, this will work to his advantage during the millennium. Humility, promoted by a position of inferiority, would breed strength of character to the “colored” if they are so rightly exercised by it (in other words, if they remain humble and not challenge the status quo). Note the following from the April 1, 1914 Watchtower:

“If nature favors the colored brethren and sisters in the exercise of humility it is that much to their advantage, if they are rightly exercised by it. A little while, and our humility will work out for our good. A little while, and those who have been faithful to their Covenant of Sacrifice will be granted new bodies, spiritual, beyond the veil, where color and sex distinctions will be no more. A little while, and the Millennial kingdom will be inaugurated, which will bring restitution to all mankind, restitution to the perfection of mind and body, feature and color, to the grand original standard, which God declared “very good,” and which was lost for a time through sin, but which is soon to be restored by the powerful kingdom of Messiah”.
(p. 105106)

All men privileged to live in that “new world” would return to man’s original state, including man’s original color and language. And what was that color and language? White and Hebrew, according to the Watchtower. Under the subheading, “CAN THE ETHIOPIAN CHANGE HIS SKIN?”, the Feb. 15, 1904 Watch Tower responds,

“We answer, No. But all will admit that what the Ethiopian cannot do for himself God could readily do for him. The difference between the races of men and the differences between their languages have long been arguments against the solidarity of the human family. The doctrine of restitution has also raised the question. How could all men be brought to perfection and which color of skin was the original? The answer is now provided. God can change the Ethiopian’s skin in his own due time”.

Prof. H. A. Edwards, Supt. of Schools in Slater, Mo., has written for the public press an elaborate description of how Julius Jackson, of New Frankfurt, Mo., a negro boy of nine years, began to grow white in September, 1901, and is now fully ninetenths white. He assures us that this is no whitish skin disease; but that the new white skin is as healthy as that of any white boy, and that the changed boy has never been sick and never has taken medicines”.
(p.5253)

The reason for printing such a story, of course, is to demonstrate that God can and will change the “Ethiopian” (black man) into a white man in the New World.

The obvious question to ask at this point is, Why does the black man need to change? The reason they gave revealed their true feelings, as we see from the following excerpts:

“…The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Gen. 9:22, 25”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1, 1898, p. 230)

“Noah declared, prophetically, that Ham’s characteristics which had led him to unseemly conduct disrespectful to his father, would be found cropping out later, inherited by his son,and prophetically he foretold that this degeneracy would mark the posterity of Canaan, degrading him, making him servile. We are not able to determine to a certainty that the sons of Ham and Canaan are the negroes; but we consider that general view as probable as any other”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, July 15, 1902, p. 216)

The change was needed as a sign of removal of the curse; black skin was a blemish, so to speak. Yet the skin color of the black man was not the only thing about him that was apparently cursed. In an article attempting to prove the bigots of the day to be in error, an article was written entitled, “The Negro Not A Beast.” The Negro was declared to be indeed human, yet with the following qualification:

“While it is true that the white race exhibits some qualities of superiority over any other, we are to remember that there are wide differences in the same Caucasian (Semitic and Aryan) family; and also we should remember that some of the qualities which have given this branch of the human family its preeminence in the world are not such as can be pointed to as in all respects admirable….The secret of the greater intelligence and aptitude of the Caucasian undoubtedly in great measure is to be attributed to the commingling of blood amongst its various branches; and this was evidently forced in large measure by circumstances under divine control”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, July 15, 1902, p.215216)

In an effort to provide hope for the Negro, the following story was related in the Zion’s Watch Tower of October 1, 1900, p. 296297:

CAN RESTITUTION CHANGE?

THE ETHIOPIAN’S SKIN?

The following, from the New York World, is the third we have seen reported. These suggest and illustrate the process of restitution soon due. The item reads:

From Black to White He Slowly Turned

“Parkersburg, W. Va., Sept. 8.It has fallen to the lot of the Rev. William H. Draper, pastor of the Logan Memorial church, of Washington Conference, A.M.E. church, of this town, to give a living affirmative answer to the famous Biblical question, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?”

Though once as black as charcoal, the Rev. Mr. Draper is now white. His people say that his color was changed in answer to prayer. Many years ago Draper was employed by a fairskinned man, and he was often heard to remark that if he could only be white like his employer, he would be happy. While in the white man’s service Draper `experienced’ religion.

From that day forward he prayed constantly and fervently that he might become white. Thirty years ago his prayer began to be answered. He first experienced a prickling sensation on his face, and upon close investigation found a number of small white spots scarcely larger than the point of a pin. He became alarmed, thinking he had some peculiar disease but he did not suffer and aside from the prickling sensation felt nothing unusual. Gradually the white spots became larger and extended themselves, until now, after the change has been in progress for over thirty years, Draper has not a single dark spot on his body”.

(Did this kind of thinking lead Michael Jackson, the famous deceased entertainer who was a member of ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses to ‘whitenize’ his skin? Did he feel inferior by having dark skin?)

The advantage of being viewed as inferior supposedly made one a good servant, and The Golden Age magazine (now Awake!), comments:

“It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,” he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world”.
(The Golden Age, July 24, 1929, p. 702)

Even as recent as 1952, the Watchtower extols the “teachableness” of the Negro:

“Really, our colored brothers have a great cause for rejoicing. Their race is meek and teachable, and from it comes a high percentage of the theocratic increase“.
(The Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, p. 95)

Segregation was practiced during the days of C. T. Russell and even into Rutherford’s term as president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This excerpt is taken from The Watch Tower of April 1, 1914, p. 105:

“Recognizing that it meant either the success or the failure of the enterprise of the [Photo] Drama as respects the whites, we have been compelled to assign the colored friends to the gallery, which, however, is just as good for seeing and hearing as any other part of The Temple. Some were offended at this arrangement.

We have received numerous letters from the colored friends, some claiming that it is not right to make a difference, others indignantly and bitterly denouncing us as enemies of the colored people. Some, confident that Brother Russell had never sanctioned such a discrimination, told that they believe it would be duty to stand up for equal rights and always to help the oppressed, etc. We were obliged to explain the facts, assuring all of our loving interest in the colored people, and of our desire to do them good, and not injury. We again suggested that if a suitable place could be found in which the Drama could be presented for the benefit of the colored people alone, we would be glad to make such arrangements, or to cooperate with any others in doing so”.

Intellectual Ability

Even more fascinating is the Watchtower’s early view of the lesser interest and intelligence of the Black and Hispanic races concerning the deeper things of the Bible. The Watchtower of April 15, 1900 said the following regarding blacks not participating in the “pioneer” work:

“There are probably as many as a hundred colored brethren on the Watch Tower lists, some of them very clear in the truth, and very earnest in its service, financially and otherwise. We have received letters from several of these, who had intended engaging in the volunteer work, expressing surprise that in the call for volunteers in the March 1st issue we restricted the inquiry to white Protestant churches. They rightly realized that we have not the slightest of race prejudice, and that we love the colored brethren with just the same warmth of heart that we love the white, and they queried therefore why such a distinction should be made in the call. The reason is that so far as we are able to judge, colored people have less education than whites, many of them quite insufficient to permit them to profit by such reading as we have to give forth. Our conclusion therefore is based upon the supposition that reading matter distributed to a colored congregation would more than half of it be utterly wasted, and a very small percentage indeed likely to yield good results”. (p. 122)

The average Jehovah’s Witness today that is confronted with this information would probably excuse the organization of being in error because “the light was dim” back then but that now the “light has gotten brighter and brighter,” and those days are long gone. It is true that times and attitudes have changed. Yet we should not be too hasty in concluding that the Watchtower has fully abandoned their old mentality. It was made known to me in 1977 while I was in charge of the printing of the Watchtower’s large Bible encyclopedia, the Aid to Bible Understanding, that it was not translated and printed in Spanish partly due to the lack of interest of the Spanish brothers in the deeper things of the Word! The feeling was that all that work would only go to waste among Hispanics.

Typical of the “Watchtower amnesia” regarding their own past history, they act today as if they never taught any prejudicial views, and that only the churches of Christendom are guilty of such things. Yet even the Catholic Church surpasses them in this regard! The Watchtower of Oct. 8, 1977 states:

“Even up to a hundred years ago the Catholic Church held the view that blacks were cursed by God”.

Maxwell explains that this view “apparently survived until 1873 when Pope Pius IX attached an indulgence to a prayer for the `wretched Ethiopians in Central Africa that almighty God may at length remove the curse of Cham [Ham] from their hearts.”
(p. 29. See also the 2/8/82 WT, p.1415.)

According to what the Watchtower is saying, the Catholic Church dropped their official prejudice against the black man at least 40 years before they did! Of course, they are banking on the fact that few Witnesses really know the history of the Watchtower organization. As has been demonstrated earlier, they viewed the curse of Ham as applying to the Negro as late as 1929!

Have Old Things Really Passed Away?

The Watchtower of modern times prides itself on its supposed freedom from racial prejudice as an organization (it does acknowledge individuals who have problems from time to time). It takes great delight in quoting the news media as they observe and comment on the massive assemblies across the world each year, with peoples from all races attending in harmony.

One observer they repeatedly quoted was G. Norman Eddy, who comments on Jehovah’s Witnesses:

“I am struck with their genuine high regard for the people of all races. Unlike some who pay lip service to the doctrine of racial brotherhood, the Witnesses welcome all to their society, even to places of outstanding leadership without reference to color or feature”.
(Journal of Bible and Religion, as quoted in the Jan. 15, 1973 WT, p. 37)

It is true that the assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses are remarkable in this regard, but so are many modern church groups across the country, especially among the charismatic persuasions. Yet unlike the churches, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has never had a non Caucasian in its membership, Negro, Hispanic or otherwise. (Samuel F. Herd was appointed to the governing body October 2, 1999 USA)

One non caucasian member in its entire history

Further, there are likely more subtle reasons behind the reluctance of the Governing Body to take in minorities. The unspoken requirements of serving as a member of the Governing Body apparently include having the same eccentricities and Victorian attitudes as the men already serving in such capacities, which are somewhat peculiar to certain older Caucasians of English-American descent. Any aspiring soul brother must put on the same attitudes in order to be trusted. While the Watchtower does have a few blacks in high position, including Circuit Overseers and members of the Service Department at Bethel, such ones have been promoted no higher, in spite of their adopting “white” attitudes. Perhaps with increased public pressure and the passing away of the older diehards, a black may be appointed to the Governing Body; time will tell. One thing for sure, they will have to lose their “soul” in order to do so!

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