Berossus was a priest of Marduk who lived in Babylon in the early Third Century B.C. Living in the Hellenistic era, Berossus wrote in Koine Greek, the same dialect that the writers of the New Testament wrote in. Berossus published an unsuccessful work entitled Babyloniaca between 290-278 B.C. This work is now lost to the mists of time, but fragments of his writings have been preserved at some removes by other writers of antiquity. We can get a glimpse of Berossus’ history today through quotations passed down by Alexander Polyhistor, Eusebius, and Josephus.
Berossus is interesting to us because of what the fragments of Berossus have to say about the early history of the human race and the history of Babylon. There is a remarkable correspondence between the fragments of Berossus and the early chapters of the book of Genesis. It becomes even more interesting when elements of these histories appear in the histories preserved by other cultures around the world. The Bible believer realizes that this is not some kind of odd coincidence.
[All quotations of Berossus are from Cory, I.P. The Ancient Fragments. London: William Pickering, MDCCCXXVIII.]
Berossus wrote the following concerning the flood:
“After the death of Ardates, his son Xisuthrus succeeded, and reigned eighteen sari. In his time happened the great Deluge; the history of which is given in this manner. The Deity, Cronus, appeared to him in a vision, and gave him notice that upon the fifteenth day of the month Daesia there would be a flood, by which mankind would be destroyed. He therefore enjoined him to…build a vessel, and to take into it his friends and relations; and to convey on board every thing necessary to sustain life, and to take in also all species of animals, that either fly or rove upon the earth; and to trust himself to the deep…he obeyed the divine admonition: and built a vessel five stadia in length, and in breadth two…After the flood had been upon the earth, and was in time abated, Xisuthrus sent out some birds from the vessel; which not finding any food, nor any place to rest their feet, returned to him again. After an interval of some days, he sent them forth a second time; and they now returned with their feet tinged with mud. He made a trial a third time with these birds; but they returned to him no more: from whence he formed a judgment, that the surface of the earth was now above the waters. Having therefore made an opening in the vessel, and finding upon looking out, that the vessel was driven to the side of a mountain, he immediately quitted it…Xisuthrus immediately paid his adoration to the earth: and having constructed an altar, offered sacrifices to the gods…The remainder having heard these words, offered sacrifices to the gods; and taking a circuit, journeyed towards Babylonia.”
The student of the Bible will see the obvious parallels to the Genesis account of the flood. I find the final detail very interesting in how it corresponds to Genesis. Ararat is in the region of Turkey and Armenia, not east of the plain of Shinar. Yet, Genesis 11:2 says, “And it came to pass, as THEY JOURNEYED FROM THE EAST, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.” That has confused some Bible students. One I have read has even suggested that Shinar must have been in Egypt, not Iraq, for them to have reached Shinar from the east. Berossus’ account no doubt contains a detail remembered in Babylonian tradition that sheds light on this problem. Noah’s descendants reached Shinar by way of a circuit. They first traveled eastward from Ararat, then turned westward again and came to Shinar from the east.
Berossus goes on to say:
“The vessel being thus stranded in Armenia, some part of it yet remains in Corcyraean mountains in Armenia; and the people scrape off the bitumen, with which it had been outwardly coated, and make use of it by way of an alexipharmic and amulet. In this manner they returned to Babylon…they set about building cities, and erecting temples: and Babylon was thus inhabited again.”
After relating the story of Noah and the flood, the first century Jewish historian Josephus appeals to Berossus and a host of other ancient writers to give credence to the veracity of his account of the Deluge. “Now I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those that have written Antiquities, both among the Greeks and barbarians; for even Manetho, who wrote the Egyptian History, and Berosus, who collected the Chaldean Monuments, and Mochus, and Hestieus, and, besides these, Hieronymus the Egyptian, and those who composed the Phoenician History, agree to what I here say: Hesiod also, and Hecatseus, Hellanicus, and Acusilaus; and, besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients lived a thousand years. But as to these matters, let every one look upon them as he thinks fit.” (William Whiston translation.)
Not only did Berossus relate the story of the Deluge, he also wrote of the building of the tower of Babel: “They say that the first inhabitants of the earth, glorying in their own strength and size, and despising the gods, undertook to raise a tower whose top should reach the sky, where Babylon now stands: but when it approached the heaven, the winds assisted the gods, and overturned the work upon its contrivers: and its ruins are said to be at Babylon and the gods introduced a diversity of tongues among men, who till that time had all spoken the same language…but the place in which they built the tower is now called Babylon, on account of the confusion of tongues; for confusion is by the Hebrews called Babel.”
These stories weren’t just preserved in the Middle East. They can literally be found all around the world. The Miao people of China also have an account of the Deluge and the Tower of Babel. The similarities to Genesis are stunning.
The patriarch Lama begat Nuah, who begat Lo Han, Lo Shen, and Jah-hu. Nuah was righteous and built a great boat to escape the Deluge. Nuah’s family and the animals, in pairs, rode out the Deluge on the boat. When the boat rested, Nuah sent out a dove to bring tidings. Afterwards, men all spoke the same language. They decided to build a city and a tower that would be raised to heaven. God came down in wrath and confused their speech. The tower was left unfinished and men were scattered all over the earth. It is said that at funerals and weddings, the Miao people recite the ancestries of the principals involved back to Adam!
The above material only represents the tip of the iceberg. Detailed accounts of the early history of man are found all over the world, and they bear a striking resemblance to Genesis. One could understand a Babylonian writer telling a similar story to the Hebrews given Babylon’s close proximity to Israel. But when the same stories are found in China, Africa, Europe, and even among North American Indians; it is no coincidence. These memories were distorted somewhat as time passed; but, common sense dictates that they all had a common origin in catastrophic events that could never be totally forgotten.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Friday, November 20, 2015
Should we take the early Church as our instructor in doctrine?
Should the "early church" of the immediate post-apostolic era be our guide and instructor in matters of doctrine? Many would say, "Yes.", since they were so close to the Apostle's time. And common sense would seem to indicate that to be the logical answer. But, that may not be as logical as it sounds if we consult the scripture in these matters.
Paul was expecting apostasy in the immediate future before the close of his ministry. Speaking to the Ephesian Elders, Paul said, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:29,30) Notice that Paul expected apostasy to arise among the very leaders of this church! No doubt many of these men had even been discipled by the Apostle, yet they would turn apostate! No doubt that their "apostolic connection" would only further the force of their false teachings.
At the end of his life, Paul noted that many had turned away from him. In II Timothy 1:15, Paul sadly noted, "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." May I suggest that this turning away from Paul wasn't just personal, it also represented a departure from his teachings?
Having read a fair amount of early church material, it seems fair to me to suggest that this trend continued after the Apostle's death. The early church writers just did not seem to grasp Pauline doctrine very well. Indeed, Paul was very pessimistic concerning the days that lay ahead. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (II Timothy 4:2,3) It seems that Paul did not have high hopes for the "successors" of the Apostles and the doctrines that they would proclaim!
The Church simply cannot have a faith founded on the traditions of men. Jesus warned the Pharisees of his day against taking man made traditions as their guide in spiritual matters. The Pharisees had erred greatly in looking to centuries of Rabbinic writings as their source of authority. In Mark 7, Jesus upbraided the religious leaders of his day for their overthrowing of scripture in favor of Rabbinic tradition. "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:6-9) Sadly, the Christian Church has failed to heed her Master's warnings. Throughout the history of the Church, there has been an accretion of man made doctrines and practices that in many cases prove toxic to the souls of men.
The Church must get back to the New Testament. And specifically, to those New Testament books especially addressed to the body of Christ. There is contained the traditions handed down by Christ himself to his hand-picked, chosen representatives. Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to hold to those traditions received directly from the Apostle himself. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (II Thessalonians 2:15) Note that the traditions to be stood on were those that were received from Paul's writing and teaching. Indeed, Paul identified his Apostolic teaching as commandments having come from the Lord himself. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (I Corinthians 14:37) Having been written under divine inspiration, by God's appointed representatives, Scripture is fully sufficient to be the sole source of our appeal in establishing doctrine for the body of Christ. Paul directed Timothy to the scriptures as that source alone sufficient for teaching authority. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:15-17) Certainly, we can build our faith on nought but God's Holy Word. Nothing else will suffice.
Paul was expecting apostasy in the immediate future before the close of his ministry. Speaking to the Ephesian Elders, Paul said, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:29,30) Notice that Paul expected apostasy to arise among the very leaders of this church! No doubt many of these men had even been discipled by the Apostle, yet they would turn apostate! No doubt that their "apostolic connection" would only further the force of their false teachings.
At the end of his life, Paul noted that many had turned away from him. In II Timothy 1:15, Paul sadly noted, "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." May I suggest that this turning away from Paul wasn't just personal, it also represented a departure from his teachings?
Having read a fair amount of early church material, it seems fair to me to suggest that this trend continued after the Apostle's death. The early church writers just did not seem to grasp Pauline doctrine very well. Indeed, Paul was very pessimistic concerning the days that lay ahead. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (II Timothy 4:2,3) It seems that Paul did not have high hopes for the "successors" of the Apostles and the doctrines that they would proclaim!
The Church simply cannot have a faith founded on the traditions of men. Jesus warned the Pharisees of his day against taking man made traditions as their guide in spiritual matters. The Pharisees had erred greatly in looking to centuries of Rabbinic writings as their source of authority. In Mark 7, Jesus upbraided the religious leaders of his day for their overthrowing of scripture in favor of Rabbinic tradition. "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:6-9) Sadly, the Christian Church has failed to heed her Master's warnings. Throughout the history of the Church, there has been an accretion of man made doctrines and practices that in many cases prove toxic to the souls of men.
The Church must get back to the New Testament. And specifically, to those New Testament books especially addressed to the body of Christ. There is contained the traditions handed down by Christ himself to his hand-picked, chosen representatives. Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to hold to those traditions received directly from the Apostle himself. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (II Thessalonians 2:15) Note that the traditions to be stood on were those that were received from Paul's writing and teaching. Indeed, Paul identified his Apostolic teaching as commandments having come from the Lord himself. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (I Corinthians 14:37) Having been written under divine inspiration, by God's appointed representatives, Scripture is fully sufficient to be the sole source of our appeal in establishing doctrine for the body of Christ. Paul directed Timothy to the scriptures as that source alone sufficient for teaching authority. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:15-17) Certainly, we can build our faith on nought but God's Holy Word. Nothing else will suffice.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
The Lie of the Last Days
I believe the Epistle of I John has an end time aspect. It is a highly prophetic book. I think it is time that we look at it more in that light. The conditions described in I John are the same conditions given by Jesus in Matthew 24, dealing with the Great Tribulation. These conditions include:
False Christs (comp. I John 2:18 and Matt. 24:4,5,23,24),
Anti-Christ (comp. I John 2:18,22; 4:3 and Matt. 24:15,16),
False Prophets (comp. I John 4:1 with Matt. 24:11,24),
Doctrines of Devils (comp. I John 4:3 with I Tim. 4:1).
Given that I John seems to be an end time book, I believe it also gives us a glimpse into the specific deception which will be prevalent in the last days. There is a specific form of deception that was in John's mind when he wrote this epistle. That deception was Gnosticism. In the very opening verse of this epistle, John began a salvo attacking this heresy.
Writing in the second century, Irenaeus described John's conflict with the Gnostic Cerinthus. Irenaeus also described some of the Gnostic teachings of Cerinthus:
Cerinthus asserted that Jesus was born the son of Joseph and Mary according to the normal means of human generation, thus denying the Virgin Birth.
Cerinthus denied that Jesus and the Christ were one and the same. Cerinthus maintained that the Christ descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove at his baptism. Cerinthus also maintained that the Christ left Jesus prior to the crucifixion, and that it was Jesus, not Christ, who suffered on the cross.
Gnostic beliefs also included the following doctrines:
They believed that the material world is evil. Thus, they denied the possibility of the incarnation. Christ could have never come in the flesh according to their doctrines.
They believed that there was a true God, referred to by some Gnostics as "Abraxas". Beneath that supreme deity, there was a hierarchy of lesser gods known as the Pleroma. Christ was one of those beings and his consort was Sophia. Sophia had given birth to an evil being, called the Demiurge, who created the material world. The Demiurge was the Jehovah of the OT according to Gnostic belief. Thus, in the story of the fall in Genesis 3, it was the serpent, not Jehovah, who is the "hero" of the story. In Gnostic belief, Jesus came to declare the true God.
Gnostics maintained that Mary Magdalene had a closer relationship with Jesus than the Twelve. They believed that Jesus had communicated secret doctrine to Mary that he didn't communicate to the Twelve. Thus, Mary had superior enlightenment, and Gnostics identified themselves as the carriers of that secret doctrine. The modern idea that Jesus was married stems from these Gnostic teachings.
Gnostics interpreted Christian doctrine through the lens of Platonic philosophy. A Victorian scholar said that Gnosticism was Platonism run wild.
Gnostics taught that salvation comes from within. God is within the self in Gnostic thought, and salvation is found when you turn inward.
Gnostics held that God was both Mother/Father.
Gnosticism was a philosophy of subjectivism. No Gnostic believer was expected to look at scripture as an objective criteria of truth.
Gnostics emphasized the charismatic gifts, believing that each Gnostic could receive new revelation from God. It is interesting to note the prevalence of "Charismatic" doctrines today.
The Gnostics held an egalitarian view of the sexes. Male leadership was rejected and Gnostic women served as priests, bishops, and prophets.
Gnostics denied the literal interpretation of scripture.
It seems that the trends of the day are moving in these directions. That would be expected since I John is an end time epistle describing the deception of the last days.
False Christs (comp. I John 2:18 and Matt. 24:4,5,23,24),
Anti-Christ (comp. I John 2:18,22; 4:3 and Matt. 24:15,16),
False Prophets (comp. I John 4:1 with Matt. 24:11,24),
Doctrines of Devils (comp. I John 4:3 with I Tim. 4:1).
Given that I John seems to be an end time book, I believe it also gives us a glimpse into the specific deception which will be prevalent in the last days. There is a specific form of deception that was in John's mind when he wrote this epistle. That deception was Gnosticism. In the very opening verse of this epistle, John began a salvo attacking this heresy.
Writing in the second century, Irenaeus described John's conflict with the Gnostic Cerinthus. Irenaeus also described some of the Gnostic teachings of Cerinthus:
Cerinthus asserted that Jesus was born the son of Joseph and Mary according to the normal means of human generation, thus denying the Virgin Birth.
Cerinthus denied that Jesus and the Christ were one and the same. Cerinthus maintained that the Christ descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove at his baptism. Cerinthus also maintained that the Christ left Jesus prior to the crucifixion, and that it was Jesus, not Christ, who suffered on the cross.
Gnostic beliefs also included the following doctrines:
They believed that the material world is evil. Thus, they denied the possibility of the incarnation. Christ could have never come in the flesh according to their doctrines.
They believed that there was a true God, referred to by some Gnostics as "Abraxas". Beneath that supreme deity, there was a hierarchy of lesser gods known as the Pleroma. Christ was one of those beings and his consort was Sophia. Sophia had given birth to an evil being, called the Demiurge, who created the material world. The Demiurge was the Jehovah of the OT according to Gnostic belief. Thus, in the story of the fall in Genesis 3, it was the serpent, not Jehovah, who is the "hero" of the story. In Gnostic belief, Jesus came to declare the true God.
Gnostics maintained that Mary Magdalene had a closer relationship with Jesus than the Twelve. They believed that Jesus had communicated secret doctrine to Mary that he didn't communicate to the Twelve. Thus, Mary had superior enlightenment, and Gnostics identified themselves as the carriers of that secret doctrine. The modern idea that Jesus was married stems from these Gnostic teachings.
Gnostics interpreted Christian doctrine through the lens of Platonic philosophy. A Victorian scholar said that Gnosticism was Platonism run wild.
Gnostics taught that salvation comes from within. God is within the self in Gnostic thought, and salvation is found when you turn inward.
Gnostics held that God was both Mother/Father.
Gnosticism was a philosophy of subjectivism. No Gnostic believer was expected to look at scripture as an objective criteria of truth.
Gnostics emphasized the charismatic gifts, believing that each Gnostic could receive new revelation from God. It is interesting to note the prevalence of "Charismatic" doctrines today.
The Gnostics held an egalitarian view of the sexes. Male leadership was rejected and Gnostic women served as priests, bishops, and prophets.
Gnostics denied the literal interpretation of scripture.
It seems that the trends of the day are moving in these directions. That would be expected since I John is an end time epistle describing the deception of the last days.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Jesus vs. Mohammed: The violent teachings of Islam
Our world is suffering much from political correctness these days. Speaking the plain truth seems to be something that the world just doesn't like to do. Sadly, this attitude has infiltrated the church itself. I remember a past occasion when I was a member of a church that belonged to a denomination that was rapidly sliding into liberalism. One Sunday morning, I made a comment in Sunday School on the violent teachings of the Koran. There happened to be a denominational leader there that morning who heard the comment. After Sunday School was over, this man contested the idea that Islam was violent. He assured me that the only violent Muslims were the ones that were twisting the Koran's teaching. When I mentioned to him the fact that I had read the Koran, he had to admit that he had never read it. So how could he be sure that the 'extremists' were twisting the Koran's teachings? He couldn't. He was just another undiscerning believer that had been brainwashed by the deception of our times.
In this article, I want to demonstrate a vast gulf that exists between New Testament Christianity and Islam in their respective teachings concerning the treatment of enemies. I think the reader will be able to see for himself why Islam produces so many radicals who are willing to kill for Allah.
First, let us look at some New Testament passages:
Matthew 5
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 10
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 26
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Romans 12
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We can see that New Testament Christianity is a non-violent faith. We are to be at peace with others as far as possible. We are not to take the sword, nor are we to avenge ourselves, or retaliate in any way. We are to be as harmless as doves.
But sadly, the same cannot be said of Islam. When an examination of the Koran is made, it becomes obvious that Muslims who behave in violent ways are only observing the teachings of the Koran. Let us look at what the Koran has to say.
Sura 2 'The Cow'
[2.190] And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.
[2.191] And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.
[2.192] But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[2.193] And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.
[2.194] The Sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are (under the law of) retaliation; whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you and be careful (of your duty) to Allah and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
[2.244] And fight in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
It will be noted how Islam contrasts with Christianity in it's teaching on dealing with persecution. The biblical Christian turns the other cheek, while the Muslim is to fight until the persecution ends. It is a contrast between the way of God and the way of Cain.
Sura 3 'The Family of Imran'
3.195] So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; they, therefore, who fled and were turned out of their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain, I will most certainly cover their evil deeds, and I will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from Allah, and with Allah is yet better reward.
Sura 4 'The Women'
[4.74] Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward.
[4.75] And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.
[4.76] Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan; surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak.
4.91] You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given.you a clear authority.
Sura 5 'The Dinner Table'
[5.51] O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Sura 8 'The Spoils
[8.15] O you who believe! when you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them.
[8.16] And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day-- unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company-- then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be.
[8.17] So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them, and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy), but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
[8.18] This, and that Allah is the weakener of the struggle of the unbelievers.
8.38] Say to those who disbelieve, if they desist, that which is past shall be forgiven to them; and if they return, then what happened to the ancients has already passed.
[8.39] And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do.
[8.40] And if they turn back, then know that Allah is your Patron; most excellent is the Patron and most excellent the Helper.
[8.59] And let not those who disbelieve think that they shall come in first; surely they will not escape.
[8.60] And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.
[8.61] And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
[8.62] And if they intend to deceive you-- then surely Allah is sufficient for you; He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers
[8.63] And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah united them; surely He is Mighty, Wise.
[8.64] O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for you and (for) such of the believers as follow you.
[8.65] O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand.
[8.66] For the present Allah has made light your burden, and He knows that there is weakness in you; so if there are a hundred patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a thousand they shall overcome two thousand by Allah's permission, and Allah is with the patient.
Sura 9 'Immunity'
[9.5] So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Note that 'idolaters' refers to Christians. Another translation says, 'those who join other gods with God', i.e. Christians who believe in a trinity consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
[9.123] O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
The following examples should be enough to clearly distinguish the non-resistant teaching of the New Testament with the violent, avenging nature of Islam. One is the way of Christ, the other is the way of Satan.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Feast of Trumpets
Leviticus 23:23-25
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts on the Levitical calendar. Just as the spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost) portray the events surrounding the first advent of Christ, the fall feasts portray the events surrounding the second advent of Christ. The Feast of Trumpets is celebrated on the first day of Tishri, the first month of the year on the civil calendar. Thus, the Jews refer to this holiday as 'Rosh Hashanah', meaning 'the head of the year'.
Tishri corresponds to September-October on our modern calendar. Tishri was the seventh month of the sacred calendar. (September means 'seventh month'.) The sacred calendar began on the first of Nisan, which corresponds roughly to our March-April.
There were special sacrafices connected with this holiday.
Numbers 29:1-6
1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:
6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
Jewish beliefs concerning Rosh Hashanah
1. It was believed by some of the Rabbis that the world was created on the first day of Tishri. The Babylonian Talmud says in relation to the Feast of Trumpets:
We have learned R. Eliezer says: In Tishri the world was created, the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob were born and died; Isaac was born on the passover; on New Year's day Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were visited with the blessing of children, Joseph was released from prison, and the bondage of our fathers in Egypt ceased; in Nisan our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt, and in Tishri we shall again be redeemed.
2. It was believed by the Rabbis that man was judged on Rosh Hashanah, and the sentence was confirmed 9 days later on the Day of Atonement. We read in the Babylonian Talmud:
At four periods is the world judged; at Passover, in respect to grain; on Pentecost, in regard to the fruit of trees; on Tabernacles, in respect to rain; and on New Year's day man is judged, but the sentence passed upon him is confirmed on the Day of Atonement, and our Mishna speaks of the opening of judgement only (and not of the final verdict).
In another place we read:
on New Year's day all human beings pass before Him (God) as sheep before a shepherd, as it is written [Psalms xxx. 9] "He who hath fashioned all their hearts understandeth all their works."
It was said that there were three classes of men judged each year at Rosh Hashanah: the utterly wicked, the wholly good, and the average class of men in between. The Babylonian Talmud explains:
The wholly righteous are at once inscribed, and life is decreed for them; the entirely wicked are at once inscribed, and destruction destined for them; the average class are held in the balance from New Year's day till the Day of Atonement; if they prove themselves worthy, they are inscribed for life; if not, they are inscribed for destruction.
The Rabbis believed that the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur was a time of repentance that one may obtain life in the coming year. We read in the Babylonian Talmud:
He who repents between (New Year's day and the Day of Atonement) is forgiven; but if he does not repent, even though he offered the choicest sacrafice, he is not pardoned.
According to the Babylonian Talmud, charity, prayer, change of name, and improvement averted God's evil decree at this time. Iniquity was removed from him who was willing to forgive his neighbor's transgressions against himself. (see Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:35) Hence, forgiving others was essential to being forgiven one's self.
3. The Rabbis believed that the shofar, or ram's horn, was the trumpet that Jehovah intended to be blown on the Feast of Trumpets. The scriptures containing the commands regarding the Feast of Trumpets do not specify whether the silver trumpets or the ram's horns were to the used. But, the Rabbis believed the shofar to be the correct trumpet because of Leviticus 25:9.
9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet (hebrew: shofar) sound throughout all your land.
Since the Jubilee occurred in Tishri, and the shofar was specified for that, the Rabbis believed the shofar to be the correct instrument for Rosh Hashanah.
The Feast of Trumpets was unique among the feasts in that it occurred on the new moon. As soon as the new moon was spotted, witnesses would rush to the Beth Din to report that they had sighted the new moon. When two lawful witnesses could be found who had seen the new moon the feast was proclaimed and the trumpets were blown. The feast would never be proclaimed until two acceptable witnesses had seen the new moon.
The scriptural significance of the Feast of Trumpets
A study of the Bible reveals that God comes with the sound of the shofar. In many Jewish communities, Psalm 47 is recited 7 times on Rosh Hashanah. Psalm 47:5-8:
5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
We see the scriptural significance of the Feast of Trumpets in this passage. Rosh Hashanah represents the return of Messiah to reign upon the Earth.
God's first appearance to the nation of Israel as a whole occurred when God descended down to Mt. Sinai with the sound of a shofar. Exodus 19:16-20
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the shofar exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the shofar sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
(The hebrew shofar has been substituted for the english translation of 'trumpet' to help the reader see what the Hebrew Bible is saying here.)
It will be remembered that Israel was in the wilderness when she saw God descend to Mt. Sinai. So, Israel will again be in the wilderness when she sees her God descend before her. In Revelation 12, we find that the Jewish remnant in the Tribulation flees to the wilderness before the second advent of Christ. Revelation 12:6,14
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Just as God came in fire over Mt. Sinai and burned it, so when Christ returns the mountains will melt under him.
Micah 1:3,4
3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.
Psalm 144:5
5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
II Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Habakkuk 3:3-5
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Psalm 18:7-10
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
When we read these passages, it becomes obvious why the Christians must sound the gospel trumpet before God sounds his trumpet! The coming of the Lord will be a terrible, terrible event to those who do not know Christ!
The nation of Israel heard the shofar sound when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:18
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the shofar, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
We read in the scripture that the law of God will again go forth after the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 2:3,4
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
At the return of Christ, the Lord will gather the Jewish people back to the land of Israel with the sound of the shofar. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 27:,12,13:
At the return of Christ, the Lord will gather the Jewish people back to the land of Israel with the sound of the shofar. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 27:,12,13:
12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great shofar shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
Again, Jesus taught in Matthew 24:31:
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Jewish people will have a solemn assembly when the shofar is sounded. (Typified by Yom Kippur. see Leviticus 23:27)
Joel 2
1 Blow ye the shofar in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Again we read in Zechariah 12:
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
Israel will find her final deliverance from her enemies when God sounds his trumpet. Zechariah 9:
14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the shofar, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
The Feast of Trumpets fell on the new moon. It was the only one of the feasts which occurred at a time when there was not a bright moon in the night sky. (Psalm 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.) This, as well, points us toward the coming of our Lord. The Bible informs us that the day of our Lord's return will be a day of darkness.
Zephaniah 1
14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Isaiah 13
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Joel 2
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army:
Matthew 24
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Another thing that we find connected to the shofar in the scriptures is the coronation of the King. The King of Israel was anointed with the sounding of the shofar. We read of Solomon's coronation in I Kings 1:
33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the shofar, and say, God save king Solomon.
39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the shofar; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
It should be noted here that Solomon was the Son of David, as Christ is the Son of David. Our Son of David will be crowned with the sound of a trumpet as well.
Revelation 11
15 And the seventh angel sounded; (The seventh trumpet) and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
You will remember that it was stated earlier that the Rabbis connected the Feast of Trumpets with sheep passing before a shepherd. We will find this in scripture in connection with the Lord's return.
Ezekiel 34
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
You will remember that it was stated earlier that the Rabbis connected the Feast of Trumpets with sheep passing before a shepherd. We will find this in scripture in connection with the Lord's return.
Ezekiel 34
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Zechariah 10
3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
Matthew 25
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
The Rabbis also connected Rosh Hashanah to the idea of resurrection. Because of this, shofars have often been inscribed on Jewish gravestones. As Christians, we know that the dead will be raised at the sound of the Trumpet.
I Corinthians 15
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
I Thessalonians 4
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The next thing that we are waiting for is the sound of the trumpet. What should be our response t the imminent coming of our Lord? The Apostle John gives us the answser to that question.
I John 3
Monday, April 25, 2011
Why are there so many interpretations of the Bible?
Many people quickly get fed up with organized 'Christianity' simply because of the many interpretations of the Bible that are offered. It is hard for them to believe that this book could really be the inspired word of God when so many different groups offer different explanations of it's teachings. Why are there so many interpretations of the Bible?
First of all, we must realize that Satan deceives by confusing man as to what God has really said. The first temptation that mankind ever faced was grounded in confusion over what God had really said. In the garden of Eden, Satan confused Eve as to what God had said, and tricked her into trangressing the instructions God had given to Adam. Genesis 3:1:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Satan convinced Eve that she could not take the word of God at face value. "Oh Eve! You really cannot believe that balderdash about dying if you simply eat a fruit! How absurd!" Having lured Eve away from accepting a common sense interpretation of what God had revealed, Satan sold her on a lie.
Does this not happen so very often today? Some self appointed 'expert', liberal preacher, or cultist convinces people that they cannot take the word to mean what it plainly says, then they lead them into deception. They convince you that, since you don't know the original languages, you cannot understand the scriptures. They convince you that they alone have the God given key, and everyone else has misinterpreted the Bible. Peter warns us of unstable teachers who will wrest the word of God. II Peter 3:15,16:
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
This passage from Peter also underscores a second reason why there are many different interpretations of the scriptures. Note in verse 16, Peter says, "speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood". There are different interpretations because some portions of scripture ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. This being the case, it is only natural that men will make mistakes in interpreting the Bible.
Difficulties in interpreting the scriptures also arise from our fallen sinful flesh. The Bible is a SPIRITUAL book, while we are inherently UNSPIRITUAL AND CARNAL. Concerning this fact, Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:14:
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The carnal flesh of man is opposed to receiving anything that comes from God. Only a born again child of God has the capacity for understanding many things that are found in the Bible. But even a born again child of God can be carnal if he walks in his flesh, and does not reach a point of spiritual maturity. Such a Christian will also be incapable of receiving many spiritual truths. They can receive the milk of the word, but not the STRONG MEAT. Paul said that many of the Corinthian believers were like that. I Corinthians 3:1,2:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Often we cannot understand the scriptures simply because of our own UNBELIEF of the scriptures. Christ upbraided his disciples who did not understand the scriptures which foretold that Christ must rise from the dead for their unbelief in what the Prophets had written. Luke 24:25:
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
HOW DO WE AVOID MISINTERPRETATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES?
We must realize that because the scriptures are God given, we cannot understand them in the wisdom of human education. God is not concerned about man's wisdom, and man's wisdom will never lead him to a knowledge of divine things. Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:20,21:
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
First of all, we must realize that Satan deceives by confusing man as to what God has really said. The first temptation that mankind ever faced was grounded in confusion over what God had really said. In the garden of Eden, Satan confused Eve as to what God had said, and tricked her into trangressing the instructions God had given to Adam. Genesis 3:1:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Satan convinced Eve that she could not take the word of God at face value. "Oh Eve! You really cannot believe that balderdash about dying if you simply eat a fruit! How absurd!" Having lured Eve away from accepting a common sense interpretation of what God had revealed, Satan sold her on a lie.
Does this not happen so very often today? Some self appointed 'expert', liberal preacher, or cultist convinces people that they cannot take the word to mean what it plainly says, then they lead them into deception. They convince you that, since you don't know the original languages, you cannot understand the scriptures. They convince you that they alone have the God given key, and everyone else has misinterpreted the Bible. Peter warns us of unstable teachers who will wrest the word of God. II Peter 3:15,16:
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable WREST, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
This passage from Peter also underscores a second reason why there are many different interpretations of the scriptures. Note in verse 16, Peter says, "speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood". There are different interpretations because some portions of scripture ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. This being the case, it is only natural that men will make mistakes in interpreting the Bible.
Difficulties in interpreting the scriptures also arise from our fallen sinful flesh. The Bible is a SPIRITUAL book, while we are inherently UNSPIRITUAL AND CARNAL. Concerning this fact, Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:14:
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The carnal flesh of man is opposed to receiving anything that comes from God. Only a born again child of God has the capacity for understanding many things that are found in the Bible. But even a born again child of God can be carnal if he walks in his flesh, and does not reach a point of spiritual maturity. Such a Christian will also be incapable of receiving many spiritual truths. They can receive the milk of the word, but not the STRONG MEAT. Paul said that many of the Corinthian believers were like that. I Corinthians 3:1,2:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Often we cannot understand the scriptures simply because of our own UNBELIEF of the scriptures. Christ upbraided his disciples who did not understand the scriptures which foretold that Christ must rise from the dead for their unbelief in what the Prophets had written. Luke 24:25:
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
HOW DO WE AVOID MISINTERPRETATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES?
We must realize that because the scriptures are God given, we cannot understand them in the wisdom of human education. God is not concerned about man's wisdom, and man's wisdom will never lead him to a knowledge of divine things. Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:20,21:
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Paul did not desire the Corinthian's faith to stand in human wisdom! I Corinthians 2:4,5:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Since the scriptures cannot be understood by human wisdom, the believer must incline to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul explains in I Corinthians 2:12,13:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The Holy Spirit will lead the believer into all Truth. Jesus said in John 16:13:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Since we must be taught by God, we should always pray for His guidance when we read the scriptures.
Since the Bible was given by the Holy Ghost, we should always compare scripture with scripture. When weighing the meaning of a verse, search the scriptures for other passages which will throw light on the one you are reading. Let God give the commentary on what the text means. There is nothing in the Bible which is not explained somewhere else in scripture. In many places, the explanation is given in a near immediate portion of scripture.
Other methods of understanding the Bible are common sense things in nature. Ask yourself: Who is being spoken to? What do the key words in this passage mean? How would I understand this according to the normal rules of grammar? Many misinterpretations arise by redefining words, applying something to someone that the passage is not written to, or by simply failing to observe the normal rules of grammar. Although the Bible is spiritual, it does follow normal grammatical rules. It is not written in any kind of special code that only the initiated can follow. Read it as you would read and understand any other book.
It is my hope and prayer dear reader, that the Bible would not just collect dust in your home. Read it, and ask God for help in following it's teaching. Believe it, and apply it to your life. It is the very Word of God. A love letter from Him to you!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Sin Eater
One of the most curious customs of historical record was a funerary custom known as "sin-eating". This custom had it's origins in the British Isles, and was later spread to Appalachia by the Scottish and Welsh immigrants who migrated there.
The Sin Eater was a poor member of the community who was chosen to bear the sins of those deceased. When a man or woman died, the corpse would be brought out of the house and laid on a bier. A cake or bread would be laid upon the chest of the deceased, along with a glass of either wine or ale. Along with this would be left a portion of money in consideration of the Sin Eater's taking on himself the sins of the departed, thus freeing them from walking after they were dead. The Sin Eater would eat the bread and drink up the ale. He took the money, and departed the scene quickly, as he was a pariah deemed irredeemable.
It is said that in 19th Century East Anglia, passing tramps would be given bread or salt which had been placed upon the chest of a corpse. Tramps came to avoid houses where there had been a recent death for fear of being tricked into taking on themselves the sins of the deceased.
What are we to make of this bizarre custom? How would such a practice begin?
I think that the answer to these questions lies inside of each one of us. The human conscience carries within it the awareness of a guilt which must be dealt with. Deep down inside, we all recognize the truth of Paul's assertion in Romans chapter 3 that 'all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God'. The custom of sin eating was a recognition of this fact, and an attempt to deal with it.
Every man and woman who lives must inevitably face up to the fact that there is guilt which must be removed. Different individuals deal with it in different ways. Many simply bury their heads in the sand and hope it will go away. This leads to a dead conscience; murdered by the individual who would not heed it's warnings. Others throw themselves into a type of 'do-goodism'. They recognize that the guilt is there, and they believe that they can atone for it by engaging in commendable deeds. They forget that the criminal does not escape accountability just because he may have done some good deeds. We would never turn a murderer loose because he took pity on a beggar.
Those who practiced the 'sin eating' custom realized at least one important fact. Guilt cannot be ignored, neither can we make up for the evil things that we have done. They erred in chiefly one area. They failed to realize that no living mortal can take on himself the sins of another. The 'Sin Eater' had his own guilt to deal with, and could not take on himself the guilt of another.
Fortunately for us, God has not left us without a remedy. There is a sinless 'Sin Eater' who can (and did) take our sins upon himself. Jesus Christ is the one 'Who did no sin' and 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.' (I Peter 2:22,24) He is your scapegoat who takes your guilt upon himself and frees you from the penalty. He alone could pay the debt that you nor anyone else could ever pay. Those who look to him find eternal life. Those who do not look to him find no other 'sin eater' to take away their guilt. John 3:
The Sin Eater was a poor member of the community who was chosen to bear the sins of those deceased. When a man or woman died, the corpse would be brought out of the house and laid on a bier. A cake or bread would be laid upon the chest of the deceased, along with a glass of either wine or ale. Along with this would be left a portion of money in consideration of the Sin Eater's taking on himself the sins of the departed, thus freeing them from walking after they were dead. The Sin Eater would eat the bread and drink up the ale. He took the money, and departed the scene quickly, as he was a pariah deemed irredeemable.
It is said that in 19th Century East Anglia, passing tramps would be given bread or salt which had been placed upon the chest of a corpse. Tramps came to avoid houses where there had been a recent death for fear of being tricked into taking on themselves the sins of the deceased.
What are we to make of this bizarre custom? How would such a practice begin?
I think that the answer to these questions lies inside of each one of us. The human conscience carries within it the awareness of a guilt which must be dealt with. Deep down inside, we all recognize the truth of Paul's assertion in Romans chapter 3 that 'all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God'. The custom of sin eating was a recognition of this fact, and an attempt to deal with it.
Every man and woman who lives must inevitably face up to the fact that there is guilt which must be removed. Different individuals deal with it in different ways. Many simply bury their heads in the sand and hope it will go away. This leads to a dead conscience; murdered by the individual who would not heed it's warnings. Others throw themselves into a type of 'do-goodism'. They recognize that the guilt is there, and they believe that they can atone for it by engaging in commendable deeds. They forget that the criminal does not escape accountability just because he may have done some good deeds. We would never turn a murderer loose because he took pity on a beggar.
Those who practiced the 'sin eating' custom realized at least one important fact. Guilt cannot be ignored, neither can we make up for the evil things that we have done. They erred in chiefly one area. They failed to realize that no living mortal can take on himself the sins of another. The 'Sin Eater' had his own guilt to deal with, and could not take on himself the guilt of another.
Fortunately for us, God has not left us without a remedy. There is a sinless 'Sin Eater' who can (and did) take our sins upon himself. Jesus Christ is the one 'Who did no sin' and 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.' (I Peter 2:22,24) He is your scapegoat who takes your guilt upon himself and frees you from the penalty. He alone could pay the debt that you nor anyone else could ever pay. Those who look to him find eternal life. Those who do not look to him find no other 'sin eater' to take away their guilt. John 3:
18 'He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.' Are you looking to Jesus alone to take away your sin?
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