Grow Deeper

King James Version?

2010-07-26T00:05:00.000-07:00

For a decade and a half I always thought those who argued that the King James Version was the only good translation of the Bible into English were people who just like to argue and this was some petty argument to they used to divide over. I saw many of those in the KJV only camps being people who were never wrong about anything so it was easy to blow them off. Even to this day I see many of them as thinking themselves as arrived at some perfect clarity and in no need of correction on any matter. Which flies in the face that the wisdom that is from above is easy to be entreated.

It wasn't until I was doing an in depth word study of Revelation 8:13 that I realized something was seriously off with my commentator and modern translations. So I began my journey into the KJV only debate. I found there are two sources of texts one source has thousands of copies that are relatively recent copies (because they were used by Christians). These copies rarely disagree with each other and are quoted in the VERY early Christian writings (like 1 John 5:7) and correlate with the TRUE ancient manuscripts like the Jesus Papyrus. This set of writings I am going to call the Antiochian texts because it is my firm belief that although they are recent copies they are the true descendants of the the original writings. This source of texts are also known by other names: Textus Receptus and The Received Text.

The second source of texts I am going to call Alexandrian as they originated out of the gnostic ideas of Alexandria, Egypt. These texts are older than the majority of the the Antiochian texts (because no Christians used them or copied them) but there are fewer of them and they severely contradict the Antiochian texts and they severely contradict themselves. These texts are EXTREMELY unreliable and are used for all the modern translations of the Bible and are leaned on in the New King James Version translation. These are men's ideas trying to pervert God's Word.

The texts behind the KJV are the only reliable sources that true Christians used throughout history. Therefore the only source of God's word is the Masoretic Text and the Textus Receptus. Alexandrian texts are abominations. The KJV for English is the only English Bible that solely relied upon these texts in it's translation. The Reina Valera Gomez 2010 is the ONLY Spanish Bible that comes from these same texts. As far as other languages go I do not know at this time.

Another thing that I find fascinating is the history behind modern translations. I find it interesting that William Tyndale the most important contributor to the translation of the KJV was willing to burn at the stake for his faith. You would be hard pressed to find someone on the translating committees of modern Bible translations who is even a saved born again Christian. Most of them just do it to exalt themselves which is a far cry from burning at the stake for translating the Bible.

Another thing I find interesting is so called Christians who desire sin over righteousness rely on modern translations to affirm their sins. Sometimes paying attention to the tactics of our enemy (the devil) and his foolish puppets helps us to see what is really going on.

I am not an expert on any of these things. I highly recommend the more diligent students to check out chick.com for more information.

Pierced Hand or Wrist?

2010-07-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

Before I discuss this matter I want to say this is not a major issue but has some interesting repercussions. Also I want to say the conclusions that I am coming to are based on my understanding which may be flawed therefore let the Bible be your guide not cunningly devised arguments of myself or those who disagree with me.

First of all the text itself is never translated wrist in the Hebrew Old Testament (Ps 22:16) or the Greek New Testament. End of argument.

Secondly archaeologists find those who were crucified by Rome with piercings in both their hands and their wrists. So the argument that Jesus would have fallen off the cross if they had pierced his hands is ridiculous. The point is they did not HAVE to pierce the wrist to keep Him on the cross.

The repercussions of the wrist argument:
The Passover Lamb was not to have ANY broken bones. The Passover Lamb is an Old Testament picture of Christ being crucified for our sins to be our propitiation. The Jews take this so far even today that a knife blade is not to even knick the bone when preparing it for the festival.

The chances of breaking a bone by piercing the wrist is even greater than in the hand. Which flies in the face of the whole Passover service. But some would go on to say that Christ was not pierced in the wrist or the hand but in the forearm. They would argue that Roman thought was the hand included the whole area from the elbow to the hand. I am not sure where this information comes from but it would be worth finding out. Therefore Christ was actually pierced in His forearm. BUT even if that is true Romans didn't write Psalm 22:16 which talks about the hands being pierced. My major concern with this argument is how far up the arm are we going to go to make some point based on human understanding?

Bones are a picture in the Old Testament of strength. When David speaks of his bones being dried up it is the idea he has no more strength. The point of none of the Passover Lamb bones being broken is the idea that in all of Christ's sufferings He remained the omnipotent Creator. So if You break His bones in the wrist you essentially offend this picture.

When does hand mean hand? To those who follow the wrist argument everywhere except when talking about Jesus' piercing.

The subtle problem in the wrist argument is that we need modern doctors to tell us how the crucifixion really took place so it would work right. We can't let the Biblical text (or history) tell us we need those "omniscient" scientists to guide us in our understanding of the Bible and we miss the pictures that the Holy Spirit have been painting for so long.

Islam

2010-07-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Hadith attests to the virgin birth, sinless life, and miracles of Christ, who is called "the Word of Allah." Some portions of the Qur'an, too, speak highly of Christ: that He was born of the virgin Mary (Surah 3:45-47; 21:91, etc.); He is the highest example (43:57); and He alone is called "Isa," which means Savior (3:45). Whereas Muhammad was unable to perform miracles (17:90-96; 29:50-52, etc.), Christ did so (2:252-53, 3:49); and unlike others such as Moses, who did miracles at God's command, Jesus did miracles on His own initiative (26:63 etc), even raising the dead (3:49; 5:110; 36:78-79, etc.). Further, the Qur'an declares that Muhammad was a sinner (9:43; 40:55; 47:19; 48:2; 294:1-3, etc.), but Jesus was sinless (19:17-19). The Antichrist (Dajjal) is a major topic of the Hadith, which warns of his coming. He is called the "false Christ" who will deceive many near the end of time. The Hadith teaches that Jesus will return at the end to destroy the Dajjal. Belief in "the Last Day" is an essential part of the Muslim's faith (2:62).

In spite of the honor and reverence accorded Jesus, however, the Jesus of Islam is not the Jesus of the Bible but "another Jesus" (2 Cor 11:4). While the Qur'an in its early passages honors at least parts of the Bible as "the Book" and both Jews and Christians as "the people of the Book," it often contradicts the Bible: it denies that Jesus is God (3:59, 62; 4:171) and that He died on the Cross (4:157-58; 5:116-20) for our sins. Early tradition held that at Christ's request a look-alike disciple rescued Him from the Cross by dying in His place. Other passages, however, seem to declare that Christ did indeed die (3:33,55; 5:117; 19:33), and many Islamic scholars take that view today. The Qur'an denies that one person could die for another (17:13-15; 35:18). Actually, it says that no "soul laden [i.e., sinner] bears the load [sin] of another." Since Jesus was without sin, He would have to be an exception.

For the sinner to be righteously forgiven, Christ had to pay the penalty demanded by God's justice; but that concept is foreign to Islam. The Qur'an breeds uncertainty: "Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance [and] then turn quickly [in repentance] to Allah....Lo! Allah pardoneth...all save [except] that to whom he will not..." (4:17,116). Neither "ignorance" nor "quickly" are defined nor why Allah forgives some and not others. Nor does repentance guarantee forgiveness.

In contrast, the Bible offers forgiveness to all. Christ even died to redeem those who hated Him and asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him (Lk 23:34).

In real life, Allah's forgiveness never comes in time to prevent a hand, foot, or ear from being cut off as the penalty for stealing. Hundreds of Iraqis, mutilated by this inhumane Islamic decree, flee to camps bordering that country. Yet kidnapping requires no such mutilation because a person is not considered to be property. Fornication also requires no such mutilation, while petty thievery does.

The Qur'an's contradictions of the Bible are excused by claiming that the Bible was corrupted. But the Qur'an was sent to stand "as a guardian" over the Bible (5:48); therefore, if the Bible was corrupted, the Qur'an failed. The Muslim's Holy Book itself admits that much of its text is ambiguous (3:7); Muslims are even to ask "the People of the Book [Bible]" for enlightenment (21:7)!

The Qur'an also contradicts itself. Allah created everything "in the twinkling of an eye" (54:49,50), "in two Days" (41:9,12), "in four Days" (41:10), "in six Days" (7:54;10:4,32:4), "a Day," equaling "a thousand years" (70:4); Jesus is not the Son of God (4:171), yet He is (19:17-21), etc.

In quoting the Qur'an and Hadith, we must avoid the impression that we are endorsing these writings. Consider Paul's discussion with the philosophers on Mars Hill: "...as certain also of your own poets have said" (Acts 17:28). Paul was not suggesting that these writers were inspired of God--and he went beyond them to to present the gospel. Likewise, we must be careful to go beyond what the Qur'an and Hadith say about Jesus to present the true gospel; otherwise there is no basis for salvation.

For a Muslim to become a true Christian, he must renounce Islam's false God, Allah, and its false gospel of salvation by works. Unfortunately, the gospel is being compromised to make it appealing to Muslims. (In the West, it's being made appealing to nearly everyone.) Many "converts" have never understood the gospel and thus have not believed that which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom 1:16). The gospel is definitely not in the Qur'an. Yet Muslims are supposedly being saved by heeding it. The author of Building Bridges: Christianity and Islam(NavPress, 1997) gives the testimony of a Muslim "converted" to Christianity in Pakistan (p. 27):

As I was listening to the Qur'an read on the radio day after day, I heard that Christ was highly honored...and near-stationed to God. I said to myself, "If I wanted someone to intercede for me to God, who would be better than someone like Christ...?" And so I prayed, "Lord Isa [Jesus], please come to my help. I want to devote myself to God through you. Since you are highly honored and sitting near Him, you can do it."

The author then comments, "After that, he felt like a changed man, much happier than before...."

This is a delusion similar to that of those who say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?...and in thy name done many wonderful works?" to whom the Lord responds, "I never knew you: depart from me..." (Mt 7:21-23). Asking Islam's Isa to intercede for oneself will not save. One must believe the gospel to be saved: "[H]ow that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor 15:1-4); "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn 3:16). That gospel is not in the Qur'an, and there is nothing in this "convert's" testimony to indicate that he knew or believed it.

The same author declares that "60 percent of Muslims who are approached with the methods explained in this book put their trust in Christ...." Yet Christ and His apostles experienced no such percentage of converts. Jesus said that few would be saved (Mt 7:13-14). The author enthusiastically refers to Muslims converted to Christ "while remaining [for years] in the fold of their Islamic community...without becoming detestable to their own communities" (p. 10). But Jesus warned His disciples, "And ye shall be hated by all men for my name's sake..." (Mt 10:22; Jn 15:20). All men, except Muslims?

- The Berean Call ( http://www.thebereancall.org/node/8627 )

The Shack by William P. Young

2009-04-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Book Review by Compass International ,Inc

"The Shack"
by William P. Young

Should Christians be reading this book?

We believe that the measure of a good book is not the results it brings, but its scriptural accuracy. The Shack, not recommend reading. At first glance many find it to be a masterfully written Christian book. But on closer examination, we find The Shack presents a very subjective, incomplete, and distorted view of God and His relationship with man.

When the disciples asked Jesus specifically about the last days, the very first thing He said to them was, "See to it that no one misleads you." Mark 13:4-5. Deception is a hallmark of the last days:

1Tim 4:1 ". . . the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons."

The problems in The Shack are no doubt subtle. But deception that is subtle is all the more dangerous.

2Cor 11:14 "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."

The strong appeal of the The Shack is that it presents a loving, caring God personally intervening in the life of the main character, Mack, in order to address and heal "the great sadness" in his life. Plagued by the brutal death of his young daughter, Mack finds himself struggling with dejection, disillusionment, and universal questions that cause him to doubt everything-including God.

And Young does a masterful job of framing the ageless questions, and crafting heartfelt responses on God's part that have tremendous emotional appeal. He shows us a view of a loving God who heals every hurt and rights all wrongs.

So what could possibly be wrong with that?

First of all, Young almost totally dismisses supernatural communication of God through Scripture, bemoaning that God's voice has been reduced to paper. Really? God's Word just words on paper? (John 1:1) Careful. That is a hallmark of church movements today that view God's Word as secondary to experiential, subjective truth.

As human beings, we have no capacity to comprehend our infinite God apart from what He reveals to us through the Holy Spirit and His written Word.

Is 55:8 9 "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'"
(Also read Psalm 119 and 1Cor 2:12-14.)

But The Shack reduces God's unfathomable attributes down to human levels without scriptural backup. Many false religions and cults have sought to redefine God according to their own imagining, apart from what He says in His Word.

God's Word is so intricately tied to His being that Jesus is actually called "The Word."

Rev 19:13 "He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is
called The Word of God."

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

We don't define who God is. Only He can do that. So even the most appealing portrayal of Him is dangerous if it's subjective and manmade. God takes this seriously. When God addressed Job's friend Eliphaz, who had been trying to explain God, He said to him, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as my servant Job has." (Job 42:7)

Here are more the of many problems we see with this book:

The Shack calls for a denial of reality. It ignores and/or redefines sin and guilt, embraces a counterfeit "Christianity" that pulls in the crowds at the expense of Biblical distortions, and discounts warnings about Satan's deceptions.

"God . . . dwells in . . . all things" (p.112). That is pantheism, not monotheism.

"Buddhists, Mormons, Baptists or Muslims . . . I have no desire to make them Christians . . ." (p.182). Here it's teaching that we have no need for the Cross.

The Shack's female "God," is a "large beaming African-American woman" who says to Mack, "For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning" (p.93). Traditional, Biblical Christianity is now called "religious conditioning." by William P. Young, is a book we do

For the last 10-15 years there has been a growing worldwide movement to redefine Christianity. The reasoning is that these false teachers think Christianity, referred to as "Post-modern," must be re-thought, re- invented, and/or repackaged if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth. Wrong. Since when does God need any of man's help reaching the lost? A person's salvation has zero to do with how we package the Gospel! All we are commanded to do is teach that man is sinful and God has provided a fully adequate blood sacrifice in His Son Jesus. From there, it's all God. But The Shack embraces the new "Postmodern" line of reasoning.

God is made out to be a playful, culturally relevant "God." Biblical guidelines are non-existent as The Shack offers no eternal consequence for right or wrong, therefore, no need for repentance. It suggests church should be a unifying, all-inclusive, non-judgmental body.

The Shack also teaches that Jesus did not return to heaven but remained on the earth . . . but He can fly around (p.99, 100). Scripture says Jesus HAD to go to heaven so the Holy Spirit could come to earth. In fact, if He didn't leave, the Holy Spirit couldn't come to earth! (John 16:7)

In The Shack, the main character is offered the chance to communicate with loved ones who have died. The Bible bans this practice (Deut 18:11).

The Shack has God the Father and God the Holy Spirit as flesh and blood. But the Bible teaches us that no one has ever seen the Father (John 1:18). Jesus is the only One who has taken on humanity, and that was for a very specific reason:

Heb 2:14 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,"

The Shack has reversed roles of God and man by suggesting that God has no authority over man. Instead, the trinity is concerned that man could impede their main purpose, which is, "inclusive relationships" and "authentic community." Sinful man can now make his own rules, and own brand of religion (p.123).

". . . enforcing rules [says Sarayu] . . . is a vain attempt to create certainty out of uncertainty. And contrary to what you might think, I have a great fondness for uncertainty" (p.203). So much for God always being in control. God's Word is NOT "a vain attempt to create certainty!"

In The Shack's new bedtime story, sin no longer separates unholy people from a holy God. This teaching fits right into post-modern churches that ignore scriptural commands such as, "Do not be conformed to the world" and "Abhor evil" (Romans 12:2,9). The Shack blurs the reality of sin, guilt and God's just judgments. Worse, it undermines any real understanding of our need for discernment, repentance or Jesus' shed blood on the cross. Even God's amazing grace becomes un-meaningful!

The Shack's false "God" mocks our true God by minimizing His sovereignty and judgments:

"I'm not a bully, not some self-centered demanding little deity insisting on my own way. I am good, and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or condemnation . . ." (p.126)

But the Bible disagrees. It says our One true God offers a different kind of hope:

John 8:31-36 "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

There is simply too much doctrinal error mixed into this book to recommend it as something beneficial.

2Tim 1:14 "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you."

Reviewed by Bill Perkins, Executive Director
Compass International, Inc.
www.compass.org

Historical Pre-Tribulationalists

2009-01-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

Pre-Tribulationalists throughout time:

Epistle of Barnabas, (a.d. 100);
Irenaeus, in Against Heresies;
Hippolytus, a disciple of Irenaeus (2nd century);
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho;
Ephraem, the Syrian (4th century—see quote below);
Peter Jurieu, The Approaching Deliverance of the Church, 1687;
Philip Doddridge’s Commentary on the New Testament, 1738; Dr. John Gill, Commentary on the New Testament, 1748;
James Macknight, Commentary on the Apostolical Epistles, 1763; Thomas Scott, Commentary on the Holy Bible, 1792.

Emanuel Lacunza (Ben Ezra), 1812; Edward Irving, 1816; John N. Darby, 1820; Margaret McDonald, 1830.

"For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."

Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373 AD)
On the Last Times, the Antichrist, and the End of the World

Psychotherapy (Psychological Counseling)

2009-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

"Psychological counseling is questionable at best detrimental at worst and a spiritual counterfeit at least." - Dr. Martin Bogan

"Psychological counseling is questionable at best..."

The American Psychological Association in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and 80 scholars studied whether or not psychotherapy is a legitimate science. The results were quite enlightening as they proved that psychotherapy is NOT a scientific discipline and in fact cannot be a scientific discipline.

The following is a quote from one of the scholars involved in the previously mentioned research.

"I think by this time [it should be] utterly and finally clear that psychology cannot be a coherent science." - Sigmund Koch

Terms like "mental health" and "mental disease" are based on the fact that Sigmund Freud was a physician of the body. There is absolutely no way to scientifically determine the health and disease of something that cannot be based upon what is the absolute standard.

For example it is clear to the scientific world how normal cells are supposed to function. Therefore it can be scientifically determined something is wrong with cellular activity when cells start becoming cancerous then it is called a disease.

There is no scientific control or standard (within psychology) to determine what is normal as with other sciences. Thus psychotherapy is based on the belief system of the psychotherapist. A psychologists belief system determines what is going to happen to a patient. You don't even have to understand the patient at all to find this.

Psychotherapy is nothing more than guesses and opinions of men who have no absolute standard for therapy.

Scientific research has proven that amateurs and professional psychotherapists alike have almost identical effects.

Human behavior cannot be scientifically understood apart from God's assessment, which is the scientific control and the standard for men, which is found in Jesus Christ ALONE. Human behavior cannot be scientifically studied apart from the Holy Bible.

"Psychological counseling is...detrimental at worst..."

At their foundations and all the way through their structures and fruits God's counsel (through His Holy Bible) and psychotherapy and are in direct opposition to each other.

The Bible is the unchanging final authority on all matters from the True and Living God.
Psychotherapy is based on atheism and the opinions and standards of men which change constantly.

The Bible teaches man is basically evil. Psychotherapy teaches man is basically good.

God's Word guides men to eternal life, purpose and joy. Psychotherapy guides men to eternal separation from God in torment and damnation as seen in child rearing, self analysis, etc.

The differences are eternal.

"Psychological counseling is...a spiritual counterfeit at least."

The Bible says in Romans 5:3-4:

"we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope."

Therefore when we do not endure our sufferings through prayer, God's Word and fellowship with other Bible submitted Christians how can we hope to produce endurance, character and hope?

Any competent scientific researcher knows psychotherapy is not a scientific field but is in fact a subjective exercise that has results that can be obtained through any one on one counseling / conversation and conversation is called the talking cure. With psychotherapy you pay someone to be your friend (a feigned love? a whore?) to listen to you and to see things from your point of view ONLY. The psychotherapist cannot get into your inner thoughts as they HAVE to rely on what you present to them and therefore there can be NO cure.

The Bible says:

"...for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men." 1 Kings 8:39

"...I am He who searches the minds and hearts." Revelation 2:23

How can any man truly help anyone in the long run except the man of faith that truly believes the Word of God and obeys it and is filled with God Himself who is called the Wonderful Counselor? But it would a great evil and disservice for this man to cause the thirsty person to drink of the muddied waters of Freud.

The only things that work in psychotherapy are the principles that have been hijacked out of scripture.

"Christian Psychology"

This term put into layman's terms is: a Christian counselor who counsels using guesses and opinions of godless men who most of them are in hell today. There is no difference in Christian psychotherapy and the Israelites of the Old Testament who mixed their God given religious way of living with the idolatry of the heathen Canaanites.

Pastors who have a degree in clinical psychology have wasted their time and money in school and do a disservice to and even harm the Body of Christ if they exercise their profession on Christians through teaching or counseling. You see the works of the flesh profits nothing.

"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, " - Philippians 3:4-8

Christmas According to the Bible: The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

2008-12-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Much of the information contained herein is adapted from: "The Christmas Story: What Really Happened" by Chuck Missler

When was Jesus born?
The entire western world reckons it's calendar from the incarnation of God. Everything that happened before Christ is measured backwards away from His birth. The smaller the number the closer to Christ's birth the event, the larger the number the further away the event was before Christ's birth. Of course this is called B.C. which means Before Christ.

Everything that happens after the birth of Christ is measured away from His birth 2000 years ago. The smaller the number the closer to Christ's birth the event, the larger the number the further away the event is after Christ's birth. This is called A.D. which means anno Domini in Latin and is translated: “the year of our Lord”. There is no year 0 between 1 BC and 1 AD.

Serious students of God's Word recognize that Jesus was NOT born December 25th.

December 25th Problems

Augustus Caesar's Decree

Augustus was not known to be an incompetent emperor. It would be an act of incompetence for a Caesar to require registration involving travel during the season when much of the Roman Empire was generally impassable.

Matthew 24:19-20 gives us an example of winter issues in Judea by Jesus Himself:

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day”

Mary was with Child and it is likely she did not travel in the winter.

In Matthew 24:19-20 Jesus is referring to the time of Israel's trouble in the last days but the reference is important to our point concerning Christmas.
Shepherds

According to Luke 2:8:

“ there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

It is unlikely that shepherds would have their flocks in open field after October. It is barely possible that this happened in late December. It is more likely it would be sometime in early fall.

The year of Jesus' birth

The year of Jesus' birth is broadly accepted as 4 BC which comes from an error derived from the historical records of an eclipse as recorded by the historian Josephus. The eclipse Josephus records was assumed to be on March 13th, 4 BC shortly before Herod died.” The eclipse Josephus mentioned more likely occurred on December 29th, 1 BC. Considerable time elapsed between Jesus' birth and Herod's death as the family fled to Egypt to escape Herod's edict to murder all the children 2 years old and younger (Matthew 2:16). Jesus' family did not return to Israel until after Herod's death (Matthew 2:15, 2:19-22).

Based on an ancient Jewish scroll contemporary with Jesus called Magillath Ta'anith it is figured that Herod died on January 14th, 1 BC.

Another historian named Tertullian (born about 160 AD) stated that Augustus began to rule 41 years before the birth of Jesus and died 15 years after that event (From Tertullian Adversus Judaeos c.8). Augustus died on August 19th, 14 AD placing Jesus' birth at 2 BC. Tertullian also notes that Jesus was born 28 years after the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC, which is consistent with a date of 2 BC.

Other historical records of Irenaeus, born about a century after Jesus, also notes that the Lord was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 BC this also appears to point to the birth of Jesus in 2 BC.

Yet another historian named Eusebius (264-340AD) who is called: “The Father of Church History,” ascribes the birth of Christ to the 42nd year of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra (from Ecclesiastical History I.5). The 42nd year of the reign of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 BC to the autumn of 1 BC. The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 BC. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 BC to the autumn of 2 BC. The only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 BC.

The day of Jesus' birth

The birth of John the Baptist

One approach in determining the date of Jesus’ birth is from information we know about John the Baptist. We know from the Bible that Elisabeth (Mary's cousin) hid herself for 5 months and in the first week of the sixth month of her pregnancy Mary is told by Gabriel that she is pregnant with the Holy Child (Luke 1:34-36). To do this we need to understand the Levitical priesthood.

Elisabeth was the wife of a priest named Zacharias. According to Luke 1:5 Zacharias was a priest of the “course” of Abijah. A priestly course was a division of the Levitical priests. There were so many priests in the time of king David that he divided the entire Levitical priesthood into 24 courses. Each course worked in the temple for one week from sabbath to sabbath (1 Chronicles 24:10). Again according to the Bible Zacharias was of the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5) which according to 1 Chronicles 24:10 was the 8th course of the 24 priesthood divisions.

Now that we understand the Levitical priesthood divisions. We have to jump ahead to August 5th, 70 AD because that is the first date we know for sure and what course relates to that date. The first priestly course, the course of Jehoiarib had just taken office August 5th, 70 AD. This fact is spoken of both in the Talmud and Josephus. You see 70 AD was a very significant time for the Jews as the temple of God was destroyed by Titus the Roman.

Knowing all this we can track the courses backwards to the 8th course of Abijah which was Zacharias' course. Zacharias would have ended his duties on July 13th, 3 BC. Therefore if the birth of John the Baptist took place 280 days later, it would have been April 19th-20th (based on sunset to sunset), 2 BC. Which by the way was on Passover that year.

Remember Elisabeth hid herself for five months and then the Gabriel announced to Mary both Elisabeth’s condition and that Mary would also bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went “with haste” to visit Elisabeth, who was then in the first week of her sixth month, or the fourth week of December 3 BC. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place the date of His birth on September 29th, 2 BC.

Michaelmas
(adapted from Acts & Facts December 2008, page 12)

There was an ancient Christian feast called Michaelmas which was observed on September 29th by many early Christians, especially in England and western Europe. The name later also was appropriated to identify a period during the fall when certain courts were in session. The name “Michaelmas” meant “Michael sent,” just as “Christmas” means “Christ sent.”

It is may be that Michael is the “angel of the Lord” of Luke 2:9 (in the New Testament ONLY) who was sent from heaven to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. The feast of Michaelmas thus may well have originated to commemorate this coming of Michael and the angels to welcome Jesus at His human birth. This date would be just several days before the Feast of Tabernacles, which the Israelites observed each fall in memory of the wilderness wandering, with each family dwelling for a time in a tent, or “tabernacle.”

Significance of this information concerning John's birthday:
According to Luke 3:1 John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. Also according to Numbers 4:3 the minimum age for the ministry was 30.

Augustus died on August 19th, 14 AD, therefore that was the accession year for Tiberius. If John was born on April 19th-20th, 2 BC, his 30th birthday would have been April 19th-20th, 29 AD, or the 15th year of Tiberius.
This seems to confirm the 2 BC date and, since John was five months older, this also confirms the autumn birth date for Jesus. (John’s repeated introduction of Jesus as “The Lamb of God” in John 1:29, 1:36 is interesting if John was indeed born on Passover which focuses on the Passover Lamb which is an Old Testament picture of Jesus Christ).

Significance of this information concerning Jesus' birthday:
(adapted from Acts & Facts December 2008, page 12)

When John wrote that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), he did not use the usual Greek word for “dwell.” Instead, he said, literally, that the Word (that is, the Creator) “tabernacled” among us for a time. It was as though He had come into the world at just the appropriate time for the joyful Feast of Tabernacles, as Michael and the angels sang of “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10).

Christ's incarnation was not at His birth because He had already been “made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7) nine months earlier, when He created a body for Himself and took up His residence in Mary’s womb. That was the time when “the Word was made flesh”! And so it may be beautifully significant that the real “Christmas” (i.e., “Christ sent”), when the Christ was sent from His throne in heaven to enter a “tabernacle” of flesh, would have been nine months earlier than “Michaelmas,” when Michael and the angels were sent to announce His birth. But that brings us back to the time of the winter solstice! The actual number of days is the ideal period of human gestation.

Whether or not these inferences are correct (and remember no one really knows when Christ was born), they at least yield a greater appreciation of His miraculous conception. How appropriate it would be for Him to enter the world right at the season of darkest and longest night, for He would come as “the light of the world” (John 8:12) to bring “life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

The Magi
(adapted from “The Christmas Story: What Really Happened” and “Who were the Magi? We Three Kings...? both by Chuck Missler)

The word Magi comes from a Latinized form of Magoi (Herodotus 1:101), which in turn came from an ancient Greek transliteration of the Persian original, meaning “magic” (singular, magus).

Now keep in mind the word “magician” is presented in the book of Acts as vile men like Simon Magus in Samaria (Acts 8:9-24), Elymas Magus at Paphos on the Island of Cyprus who was associated with Sergius Paulus the proconsul (Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible 3:222).

The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams, Darius the Great established them over the state religion of Persia (Oneiromancy, a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future, not astrology, is the key skill mentioned by Herodotus, I.107, 120; VII.19).

It was in this dual capacity whereby civil and political counsel was invested with religious authority, that the Magi became the supreme priestly caste (Megistanes → magistrates?) of the Persian Empire, and continued to be prominent during the subsequent Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, 4:31-34).

Some of their duties included the absolute choice and election of the king of the realm. It was therefore a group of Persian-Parthian “king makers” who entered Jerusalem in the latter days of the reign of Herod.

One of the titles given to the prophet Daniel was Rab-mag, which means the Chief of the Magi (Daniel 4:9; 5:11). His unusual career included being a principal administrator in two world empires: the Babylonian and the succeeding Persian Empire. When Darius appointed him, a Jew, over the previously hereditary Median priesthood, the resulting repercussions resulted in the plots leading to the lion’s den (Daniel 6 ).

Daniel apparently entrusted a Messianic vision (to be announced in due time by a “star”) to a secret sect of the Magi for its eventual fulfillment. Keep in mind it was Daniel who gave the exact day that Christ would come into Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-27) riding on a donkey from Nehemiah 2:6.

Since the days of Daniel, the fortunes of both the Persian and the Jewish nations had been closely intertwined. Both nations had, in their turn, fallen under Seleucid domination in the wake of Alexander’s conquests. Subsequently both had regained their independence: the Jews under Maccabean leadership, and the Persians as the dominating ruling group within the Parthian Empire.

Pompey, the first Roman conqueror of Jerusalem, attacked the Armenian outpost of Parthia in 63 B.C. In 55 B.C. Carssus led Roman legions in sacking Jerusalem and, in a subsequent attack, Parthia proper. The Romans were decisively defeated at the battle of Carrhae and the Parthians counterattacked with a token invasion of Armenia, Syria, and Israel. Nominal Roman rule was reestablished under Antipater, the father of Herod, who retreated before another Parthian invasion in 40 B.C.

Mark Anthony reestablished Roman sovereignty in 37 B.C., but also embarked on an ill-fated Parthian expedition. His disastrous retreat was followed by another wave of invading Parthians, which swept out all Roman opposition (including Herod himself, who fled to Alexandria and then to Rome). With Parthian collaboration, Jewish sovereignty was restored and Jerusalem was fortified with a Jewish garrison. Herod, by this time, secured from Augustus Caesar the title of “King of the Jews.” However, it was not for three years (including a five month’s siege by Roman troops) that he was able to occupy his own capital city.

Herod had thus gained the throne of a rebellious buffer state, which was situated between two mighty contending empires. At any time, his own subjects might conspire in bringing the Parthians to their aid. Keep in mind Herod has already dealt with a confrontation of the Parthians by the time the Magi show up. This is the reason when the Magi of Parthia came to Jerusalem Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him (Matthew 2:3).

In Jerusalem, the sudden appearance of the Magi, probably traveling in force with every imaginable oriental pomp and accompanied by adequate cavalry escort to insure their safe penetration of Roman territory, certainly alarmed Herod and the populace of Jerusalem. Their request of Herod regarding the one “who has been born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2 ) was a calculated insult to him, a non-Jew (Herod was Idumean (an Edomite), a traditional enemy of Israel) who had contrived and bribed his way into that office.

Consulting his scribes, Herod discovered from the prophecies in the Tanach (the Old Testament) that the Promised One, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2. (Revealed by Holy Scripture, not astrology). Hiding his concern and expressing sincere interest, Herod requested them to keep him informed.

Ever wonder why the Magi didn't continue to follow the star to Bethlehem but instead turned to Jerusalem? Perhaps part of the reason is they expected the Jews to know when their Messiah was coming and embrace Him since it was their prophet Daniel (who was the chief Magi of Darius) that gave the exact day Jesus would be coming riding a donkey into Jerusalem based on Nehemiah 2:6. Perhaps part of the reason was to insult their enemies the Romans and Herod as they obviously insulted Herod when they asked for the one BORN King of the Jews.

After finding the babe and presenting their prophetic gifts, the Magi “being warned in a dream” (a form of communication most acceptable to them) departed to their own country, ignoring Herod’s request. (Within two years, Phraataces, the parricide son of Phraates IV, was duly installed by the Magi as the new ruler of Parthia).

Now keep in mind the Bible says that the Magi visited Jesus in a house (Matthew 2:11) in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:8) and He was a young child (Matthew 2:11). He was not in the manger any more and there were no shepherds and animals. When Herod tries to kill Jesus he orders the murder of all children 2 years old and younger (Matthew 2:16). It is very likely that Jesus was two years old when the Magi come to Jesus.

The Star of Bethlehem
This star was NOT a natural phenomenon as it settled over a specific location. Perhaps it was an angel.

Christmas Issues

Most of what we know about Christmas is based on traditions of the Church of Pergamos and the Church of Thyatira than it is on the Bible.
Much of the modern rituals associated with Christmas are based on forgotten ancient pagan rituals.
Santa Clause has become a main focus of the holiday. Santa Clause has powers that are exclusive to God alone. Santa Clause seems to be the “god” of materialism which the Bible severely warns us of. Here are attributes of Santa Clause that are reserved for God alone: 1) Omniscience (all seeing: “he knows if you've been bad or good”).
2) Omnipresence (his presence is everywhere: can go to every house on the planet in one evening).
3) Whatever materialistic thing you want he can provide.
4) Can even perform miracles.
The Tammuz Legend

Tammuz, the son of Nimrod and his queen, Semiramis, was identified with the Babylonian Sun God and worshiped following the winter solstice, on about December 22nd-23rd. As the days became shorter and shorter through the winter, they become the shortest at the winter solstice. Tammuz was thought to have died during the winter solstice, and was memorialized by burning a log in the fireplace. (The Chaldean word for infant is: “yule”. This is the origin of the “yule log.”) His “rebirth” was celebrated by replacing the log with a trimmed tree the next morning. Sound familiar? (Jeremiah 10 contains an interesting verse which talks about trimming trees to make idols).

There are numerous other examples: the wassail bowl, the mistletoe (a fertility rite), and others that are documented in such works as Alexander Hislop.

When Babylon was conquered by subsequent empires, this entire religious system was transplanted, first to Pergamos under the Persians, and then to Rome. As the pagan Rome (Babylonian) religious system was integrated with Christian ceremonial observances, many of our current traditions surrounding Christmas emerged.

All forms of occultic practices have their origins in the original city of Babylon. Isaiah Chapter 47 clearly brings this out. (See also Hislop in the bibliography.) Most of what we associate with pagan Rome had its origins in ancient Babylon. It has been the adherence to these idolatrous influences that has evoked the intense criticism of Roman Catholicism by Protestant commentators over the many centuries.

Babylon is mentioned in over 300 references in the Bible. It is even alluded to three times in Christ’s own genealogy. Babylon is presently being rebuilt 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Baghdad.

The first world dictator was Nimrod, the “Rebel.” Nimrod built the famous Tower of Babel as the centerpiece of his rebellion against God. (“Bav” = gate; “El” = God. Thus, Babel = “gateway to the gods”). This was the beginning of the city of Babylon.

God disrupted the rebellious coalition through the “confusion of tongues” in Genesis 11. This rebellion against God is still with us. The residuals from Babylon, including most of the traditions of idol worship, astrology, and the occult, continue to the present day. The original Biblical significance of the zodiac (or “Mazzeroth”) was corrupted by the Babylonian religious system and continues in all cultures to this day.
December 25th

The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus’ birth, and therefore the exact date had not been preserved in festivals. The first recorded mention of December 25th is in the Calendar of Philocalus (354 A.D.), which assumed Jesus’ birth to be Friday, December 25th, 1 A.D.

When the Emperor Constantine eventually declared Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire in the Edict of Toleration in 312 a.d., the persecuted Christians exchanged the rags of hiding for the silks of the court.

The predictable expediency to adopt the inevitable cultural changes caused many of the former pagan rituals to be adapted to their new “Christian” trappings. The date of December 25th, which was officially proclaimed by the church fathers in 440 a.d., was actually a vestige of the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, observed near the winter solstice, which itself was among the many pagan traditions inherited from the earlier Babylonian priesthood. (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux, Neptune, NJ, 1916).

The Gap Fact by Michael Pearl - A Rebuttal

2008-11-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

A Rebuttal to Michael Pearl's 27 page booklet called: “The Gap Fact”

Why I am responding to "The Gap Fact"

“He that is first [the one who presents his case first] in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him [examines him thoroughly]. ” - Proverbs 18:17

Before we start I want to discuss what I think is going on in Michael Pearl's booklet “The Gap Fact”. Michael Pearl has the ministry called No Greater Joy (www.nogreaterjoy.org). I believe Michael Pearl has fallen in love with a doctrine that has no solid Biblical support and has promoted his doctrine adamantly calling it a solid unshakable fact.

Michael Pearl is very convincing in his booklet it even caused me to evaluate what I believe which is a good thing for healthy Christians. I questioned whether his teaching was true and in all honesty I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But in all of this the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following verse:

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. ” - Proverbs 18:17

When reading “The Gap Fact” I cannot help but be reminded of gold miners who would go into the hills and find a bit of gold, lay claim to the land and start mining. Some of these miners would find a little here and there believing there was a vein of gold producing the fragments they were finding. They would spend the rest of their lives mining and proclaiming there was a vein of gold in their mine whether there was or not. The term for this was called falling in love with the vein. I do believe that is what has happened in this case.

I would like to say that I have learned a few things from Michael Pearl. I believe he is my brother in the Lord. So it is not my desire to attack my brother but to balance his approach to this subject.

Remember my approach to the scriptures is as follows:

My God, of the Bible, says what He means and means what He says.
The Bible is an integrated whole: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
Nothing is trivial: All things are for our learning (Romans 15:4)
Every detail is the Bible by design (Matthew 5:17-18). The Holy Spirit as an artist guided every detail of scripture and hovers over every detail.
God is His own interpreter. The best Bible commentary is the Bible itself.

Your job:

Acts 17:11

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Holy Spirit is telling you not to take my word (or anyone else's) for it but to study it out for yourselves.

This is what I believe:

When God originally called the everything into existence it was “unformed and empty” as Genesis 1:1-2 clearly states in a plain reading of the text apart from Michael Pearl's fallible human interpretation. KEEP IN MIND the creation was not perfect (which means complete or finished) until God said it was perfect (complete, finished) at the end of the six days (Genesis 2:1-3) which fits very well with a plain reading of the whole text.

Remember Proverbs 8:8-9 as we go through this study:

"All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge."

Please understand I am open to altering my understanding of all of this to conform more accurately to God's Word but as I have studied this issue the gap theory is not very convincing.

These are the reasons why I reject “the gap theory” in any form:

If there was a gap in the Bible between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 why is it not clearly taught anywhere in the scripture without much assumption, implication, and special knowledge? The God I serve does NOT relegate such enormous amounts of information (two creations, Lucifer's flood, death before Adam, etc.) to assumptions, implications, and special knowledge that requires special interpretations. My God is the God of Proverbs 8:8-9.
If God had intended us to understand there was a gap in Genesis 1:1-2 involving so many details about Satan, sin, judgment, punishment, re-creation you think He would have mentioned it to the author of Genesis when Genesis was written instead of just implying it happened.
Jesus personally comments on every major doctrine in Genesis and never mentions any previous heavens and earth. In Mark 10:6 Jesus talks about the beginning of the creation and made no mention of re-creation or a previous world. Jesus never mentioning it is reason ALONE for me to reject the false doctrine of the gap theory and all it's sub-doctrines. Because according to the Bible Jesus is the creator and He existed before all things. But for the sake of those who are weaker in faith and have to argue with the brain I will continue. I only pray that I am not throwing my pearls to swine in this effort.
ALL the New Testament writers refer to Genesis 1-11 (except chapter 8) and always take it for what is says plainly. None of them mention anything about a gap between Genesis 1:1-1:2 or any of the doctrines that go along with with it (Lucifer's flood, death before Adam, re-creation, or a previous world).
What will the creation be restored to as Acts 3:21 declares if death, disease, suffering, and evil existed in the creation before Adam? Will the creation be restored to death, disease, suffering and evil as was this supposed "original creation"?
The first 3 days of creation develop realms that the last 3 days of creation are filled by objects and creatures that utilize each realm. Day 1 is a realm for light and darkness, Day 4 is that realm filled with objects that utilize the laws established in Day 1. Day 2 is a realm for the skies and seas, Day 5 is filled with creatures that utilize that realm. Day 3 is a realm for the earth and the creatures that utilize the earth are created Day 6.
If God created a physical universe before the six days of creation why did He fill it with spiritual beings (angels and Cherubim) that do not utilize the physical universe? AND WHY would God attempt to drown spiritual beings in water in the so called “flood of Lucifer”? Yes Michael has a response to that last question and we will deal with it.
If one molecule of the cursed world that existed before the 6 days of creation existed in the new creation then God would be a liar when He said it was very good, because it was built on something and out of something that was not good. The word “very good” is meod tov which indicates perfection, a complete absence of evil of any kind. The existence of anything evil in the creation of God is absolutely denied and the gap hypothesis is entirely refuted.

If death, disease, and evil existed in the creation before Adam then Romans 5:14, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, are inaccurate.

We know from other places in the Bible that Adam's sin effects all of the creation therefore this new world had to have been tainted and therefore was not very good. Either God is lying (which is not possible) or re-creationists have “fallen in love with the vein”.
When is this god of the gap going to get it right? This god created a physical universe for spiritual beings, and it had to be destroyed. He again creates another world that must be destroyed because physical beings in a physical universe mess it up. So when we have our glorified physical bodies when the New Heavens and New Earth come on the scene are we looking at another screwed up creation that we have to suffer through again? Kind of reminds me of a cosmic reincarnation (gotta do it until we get it right).
Gap theorists assume Genesis 1:1 describe a perfect earth and that Genesis 1:2 is that perfect earth destroyed as the result of Satan's sin (point to a verse that clearly teaches any of this).

So if everything is based on assumptions why not assume what is clearly consistent with the rest of the Bible that Genesis is straightforward. The proper way to interpret Genesis chapter one is to simply allow it to convey what it wants to. We must accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says. Really, the only proper way to interpret Genesis Chapter 1 is not to interpret it at all. WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE OF SCRIPTURE MAKES COMMON SENSE, SEEK NO OTHER SENSE!
If Satan fell before the new creation why was he allowed to destroy the new creation also? The Bible seems to indicate that the only reason things continue in the fallen state is to separate those who want to dwell with God from those who do not want to dwell with God.
I am not going to limit God in what He did in the creation, I am going to limit myself to believe what He clearly (plainly) said He did and not tell Him what He did.

Why I believe what I believe:

It really comes down to a choice as does all Biblical doctrines:

Do I want to believe a group of doctrines that the Bible does NOT clearly come out and declare?

OR
Do I want to believe God says what He means and means what He says which is not vague and based on fallible human interpretation?

Because my rebuttal to: “The Gap Fact” is by no means dealing with every word of the booklet it is important for you to obtain a copy of the booklet yourself. BUT I do not recommend it for the Biblically illiterate as Michael is very convincing.

By the way I have permission from Chuck Joyner of No Greater Joy Ministries to quote from the booklet: “The Gap Fact” as I have done.

Michael Pearl's statements from: “The Gap Fact”

And the responses

From the No Greater Joy Web Site concerning the booklet: “The Gap Fact”

http://shop.nogreaterjoy.org/product_info.php/products_id/269

“The Bible clearly declares that the Earth existed before the 6-day creation. Don’t let well-meaning creation scientists cloud this Biblical truth for you. Study it for yourself.”

I initially compared this statement from the No Greater Joy website to the Bible. Those who read his booklet were frustrated with me because Michael supposedly answered my response in his booklet. After looking at the texts that Michael "answered" we will see if his response is adequate for us to re-interpret the plain teachings of the following texts:

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” - Exodus 20:11

“It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” - Exodus 31:17

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” - Genesis 1:1-5

Obviously there is a contradiction between what Michael Pearl says and what the Bible plainly (clearly) says. The following is Michael's response to the clear teaching of the Bible.

The Gap Fact page 9-12 by Michael Pearl

Two Words --- Created and Made

Now let us examine the text more closely and see if the Holy Spirit has left us any evidence. There are two different words used in regard to God's creative words---created and made

...bara...is used exclusively for acts of God in creating something out of nothing...asah...carries the meaning of making something out of that which previously exists. The Holy Spirit was careful to make a distinction by employing two different words...

Notice the clear pattern in the way the two words are used.

God created the heavens and the earth originally (Gen.1:1).
Then he made the firmament from the chaotic earth and atmosphere (Gen. 1:7).
He made two lights to rule the day (1:16)
He created great whales and every living creature and winged fowl (Gen. 1:21). The life (souls) of living creatures cannot come from previously existing material.
He caused the earth to bring forth living creatures. Their bodies were made from previously existing material just as was Adam's. (Gen. 1:25).
God created man in his own image (Gen. 1:27). The soul of Adam did not come from previously existing material, so he was created out of nothing. His body was made from the soil.
God made the herbs and plants upon the earth (Gen. 1:31), for they were formed entirely from previously existing materials.
Then the text summarizes the whole work of creation by using both words---created and made: 'And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens' (Gen. 2:3-4).
God made every tree to grow out of the ground (Gen. 2:9).
God took a rib from Adam [previously existing material] and made a woman (Gen.2:22) Both the soul and the body of Eve came from that which previously existed---Adam's body and soul.

...In answer to those who would claim that these two words are just synonyms, the text uses the two words together, expressing their differences and similarities.

Genesis 2:3-4 'And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.'

Genesis 5:1 'This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;'

...the Holy Spirit...makes it a point to tell us again that he had both created and made. The soul of man was created in the image of God, but his body was made from dust, so both words apply to Adam. Likewise, the heavens were originally created and then at a later time were made as we now know them today.

Answering the critics:

That brings us to two passages used by the 'young earth' theorists, to refute the gap fact.

Exodus 20:11 'For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.'

Exodus 31:17 'It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.'

Having come to understand God's use of the two words---created and made---you can now understand the passage. In six days God made, not created, the heaven (singular) and earth. That is exactly what he did. He took the previously existing material and made the heaven (the atmosphere containing clouds and birds, called the first heaven) and earth.”

His response is not the “silver bullet” to the contradiction between himself and Genesis 1:1-5, Exodus 20:11, and 31:17. Because there is still no clear verse in the Bible that says there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.

What I am saying is he really has not proven anything with all of this. He has NOT established a “gap fact” by saying Exodus 20:11 & 31:17 use the word “made” instead of “create”. He has simply made a point that God created some things and made other things out of what He created.

Though his reasoning doesn't back his gap it may have some merit in understanding verse 1:2 concerning how things were created then made.

The following verse flies in the face of Michael's reasoning that God is not making a general statement in 1:1 and gradually becoming more specific throughout the narrative.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” - Genesis 1:27

Michael's quote:

“God took a rib from Adam [previously existing material] and made a woman (Gen.2:22) Both the soul and the body of Eve came from that which previously existed---Adam's body and soul.”

The Gap Fact page 7-8 by Michael Pearl

I have heard some try to explain away the implications of the text by saying that Genesis 1:1-2 are just summary verses, a prologue to the details that follow. Such an argument demonstrates little respect for the text. They would have us believe that God is a sloppy writer, not able to articulate his thoughts. You have five elements present at the same time in the first two verses:

The existence of the heaven (singular),
The existence of the earth,
Darkness covering the earth,
Water covering the earth
- no land appearing,
The Spirit of God moving on the face of the dark waters.

It is impossible to fit those five things at the same time into any point in the six days of creation. God creates light on the first day, so after that first act of creation the conditions of verses 1-2 never exist again. Those conditions must precede the six days. To call verses one and two a summary is to suggest that the Holy Spirit did an extremely poor job of summing up a beautiful creation.

I ask you: where in the six days is land, water, and darkness created? Where is space created---dimension, time and atoms, the substance of all things? These things are assumed to exist from the beginning, before the six day creation.

Michael is saying because God doesn't fit into his brain and his way of thinking that he cannot accept that Genesis 1 starts out with general statements that are more and more detailed as you read more and more of the narrative.

Personally I am not comfortable in judging God in how He chooses to reveal truth. I think of it as: "If I don't understand something in the Bible it is because I am backwards not because God is backwards."

Another place:

The Gap Fact page 6 by Michael Pearl

“The anti-gap theorists claim that verse one is indeed a prologue, and then they turn to science to “prove” it.”

In all my discussion concerning this issue I have ONLY used the Word of God. In all my research on this issue I have not seen anyone use science to prove the "prologue" of verse 1. I believe Michael is setting up a false argument to convince his readers that he has the corner on truth in this issue (which by the way is a sign of false teaching) and everyone who opposes his thinking can only do so with extra-biblical materials.

Let's look at a portion of his previous quote:

“It is impossible to fit those five things at the same time into any point in the six days of creation.”

Guess what?

With man made theology this is impossible; but with God's simple Bible teachings all things are possible.

Michael's impossibility exists only if you reject the clear teaching that this all happened on day 1. Which takes us back to our original verses that keep haunting “the gap fact”.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” - Genesis 1:1-5

Throughout Genesis 1 every time frame is CLEARLY established. There is NO demarcation around the Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This is VERY inconsistent if God was trying to make a point of 1:1 and 1:2 being yet another time frame when in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE a time frame is clearly laid out.

All this reminds me of the following quote from Genesis 3:1: “Yea, hath God said,”

“Yeah hath God said: 'the first day'?”

Yes Satan, God did say: “the first day” and He meant what He said.

When does "first day" mean "first day"? Anywhere in the Bible except Genesis 1:1-5 at least to those who have a gap agenda.

Let's look at some of Michael's other arguments for “the gap fact”. Michael specifically says to have any credibility rejecting the gap the following statement (in bold, which is my emphasis not original to the text) must be answered.

The Gap Fact page 13-14 by Michael Pearl

Why a gap

Why is there a gap between the original creation and the six-day creation? What happened to cause the earth to become without form and void? Let's look at the clues the Bible gives us as to the history of the universe and its inhabitants.

Genesis1:2 describes the chaotic earth as “without form and void.” The Hebrew word behind without form is tohuw, which means formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness, wasteland, wilderness, chaos.

Though the earth was 'without form and void' (tohuw) before the six-day creation, Isaiah tells us that it was originally not created that way.

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (tohuw), he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

The Hebrew word tohuw, used in Genesis 1:2 and in Isaiah 45:18 occurs 20 times in the Hebrew Scripture and is translated in the Authorize Version as 'vain' four times, 'vanity' four times, 'confusion' three times, 'without form' twice, 'wilderness' twice, 'nought' twice, 'nothing' once, 'empty space' once, and 'waste' once.

This is an amazing revelation! Isaiah 45:18 tells us that the earth was not created tohuw, yet Genesis 1:2 tells us that it was in fact tohuw before the first day of re-creation. So something must have happened between the time it was created not tohuw and the time when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the tohuw planet. If you are going to have any credibility rejecting the gap, you must answer this argument.”

This is a classic example of what is called pretexting. It is something false teachers (Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, etc.) use when they take a non-biblical teaching and find places in the Bible that back what they are trying to “prove”. That is why when you do a Bible study with Jehovah's Witness they jump all over the place to “prove” they are right.

What is the context of the verse? The answer is that God had a definite purpose for the earth and that it would be a place inhabited. Is the context of the verse detailing the events of the creation? Is it detailing the so called events between Genesis 1:1-2? Is the context detailing all the doctrines that go along with the gap theory in any way?

The context is simple in it's plain reading. When God originally created it was “unformed and empty” as Genesis 1:1-2 clearly states in a plain reading of the text apart from Michael Pearl's fallible human interpretation.

KEEP IN MIND the creation was not perfect (meaning complete, finished) until God said it was perfect (complete, finished) at the end of the six days (Genesis 2:1-3).

The assumption is that God did not create the earth tohu that it must have become tohu. Again show me in the Bible where this assumption on the part of gap theorists is clearly taught! This text DOES NOT stand to prove a gap between Genesis 1:1-2 without a great deal of assumption that has NO clear Biblical teaching anywhere in the Bible. But as stubborn as the gap theorists are objective reasoning may prove to be futile (remember the Bible says to worship God in spirit and in truth, that means you have to use your brain).

Here is another instance of a similar issue that Michael uses to “prove” his “gap fact” (through assumption of course. Isn't that how you come up with proof and facts through assumptions?).

The Gap Fact page 15 by Michael Pearl

'Jeremiah 4:23-26 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form [tohuw---same word used in Genesis 1:2], and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld , and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger'

This passage must be more far-reaching than Israel, for the earth itself, not just Israel, was without form. To say that there was no light from the heavens fits the original chaotic earth but not Israel. There was never a time when Israel had no man and no birds, but it was true of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2.”

In context God is talking to Israel. The word "earth" in this passage is eretz in Hebrew and does not have to mean earth as a whole but actually has the following meanings: From an unused root probably meaning: “to be firm” the earth (at large, or as a portion a land): - eretz common, country, earth, field, ground, land, eretz nations, way, + wilderness, world.

The context itself dictates that eretz is talking about the land of Israel not the earth as a whole.

Michael's statement:

“There was never a time when Israel had no man and no birds, but it was true of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2.”

Never is a pretty strong word. How about right after Noah's flood? I am not implying that is what the text is saying I am simply pointing out that Michael is setting up an argument based on his use of the word “never” which in turn is based on assumptions. All because he has “fallen in love with the vein” and he is seeing the gap all over the place when the Hebrew word tohu is used.

The Gap Fact pages 16-18 by Michael Pearl

“Angels preexisted the earth

We know that there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 because angels were present when the earth was created and they were already associated with the stars before the six days of re-creation. God wanted to humble Job, so he asked him a series of questions about basic facts of the earth's origin, which no man has ever answered, nor will they. These things could not be known other than by Divine revelation.

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

'Sons of God' found five times in the O.T., all five times referring to angels. Following are two examples.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. [This occurred on the third day (Genesis 1:9).]

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, [tells us how the earth came to be covered in darkness.]

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? [Here is a description of God separating the waters and the dry land on day two (Genesis 1:6).]

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring [first light of day] to know his place; [The sun was given a place to light the earth after it had been swaddled in darkness.]

The series of impossible questions God directed at Job are chronological, in keeping with the events of Genesis 1, revealing that the earth was not originally created without from, but came to be in that condition by direct act of God---no doubt when Lucifer sinned upon the earth, which brings us to additional texts.

Psalm 82:1-7 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods... 5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

These gods were not men, but they were “children of the most High” which could not be said of sinners, and these gods would die like men.

Job 38

I will have to say that this is one area that I needed to fine tune my own belief in. Job 38 seems pretty straightforward that the angels existed at the time of the creation of the earth. This does not HAVE to be a long time before land appears in Genesis 1:9 so again another assumption is made to say the angels existed in some fantasy kingdom that existed prior to the re-creation of Genesis 1:3.

Is there an alternative?

I did find one argument that may or may not be valid:

There seems to be some emphasis on judgment in Job 38:13-15, 38:17, 38:23. Notice that there are clouds in Job 38:9 compare that with what Genesis 2:5-6 which says: "For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth...but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground." There is good reason to believe (from the Bible text and scientific study) that clouds did not exist on the earth before the flood.

Would the foundations of the earth need to be fastened because of a flood in Noah's day?

Noah's flood wasn't too far in the past from Job's perspective maybe even only 200 years earlier.

Would an earth that probably originally had most of it's water under the crust (based on Genesis 2:9, 7:11, 8:2) which was drastically changed and now had most of it's water on the crust need a cornerstone laid?

Job 38:8-10 seems to have a description of waters coming from the earth and waters coming from the skies as is recorded in Genesis 7. Job 38:11 corresponds with Genesis 8:3 quite comfortably.

If all this is at all possible then the angels singing when this happened would have nothing to do with the original creation of Genesis chapter 1 but rather the flood of Noah in Genesis 7-8. Therefore the angels rejoicing would not be at the creation but at the flood. Proverbs 8:22-31 also describes what is obviously the creation and singing angels are NOT mentioned ("clouds" in Proverbs 8:28 is not the same as in Job 38:9).

All this is also an assumption but one that is at least based on clear Biblical reading of texts as opposed to vague ideas that have NO CLEAR (plain) teaching (reading) in the Bible anywhere.

Apart from all of this conjecture one thing is certainly VERY questionable with Michael's argument. Giving Michael what he wants with this argument in Job 38, how can you determine which creation the angels sang at? The "original" creation or the "re-creation". Can you see the confusion extra-biblical doctrines introduce into the text?

Remember Proverbs 8:8-9

"All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge."

“they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”

Michael is trying to make the point that this statement ties these “gods...children of the most High” to Lucifer's flood. But let's see who the “gods” and “children of the most High” are:

“Ye are gods”

Remember the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself. What does the Bible have to say about “Ye are gods”? Jesus Himself interprets this let's see if it lines up with what Michael Pearl says:

“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” - John 10:33-36

“Ye are gods” is a title Jesus is using in the sense of being able to rightly judge as magistrates. Over and over in the Old Testament God is getting after the Jews for allowing their magistrates to judge unjustly.

This is Jesus quoting from Psalm 82:6 and His commentary on it. Michael is now arguing with the Lord which I believe the whole argument of: “The Gap Fact” comes down to. My heart is very sorrowful for those who have been caught in the middle of this argument.

Therefore again Michael is at odds with the clear teachings of Jesus Himself as he is searching for scriptures to back up (pretexting) his love for: “The Gap Fact”. I may not continue on because if you don't have enough faith to see the problem here no amount of arguing from the brain is going to convince you as you have chosen to believe something that is at best shaky and at worst a reason to reject clear Biblical teachings about the creation. This heads down a road that is not so different than those who are blinded by the god of this world that believe in the religion of evolution.

Michael is trying to say that angels died as mere men (referring to Lucifer's flood). I want to cry to think of the damage Michael is causing by all these false doctrines. Oh God deliver all that have been caught in this battle and deliver Michael from his arguments against You and stop the flood of this heretical literature! In Jesus' Name.

“children of the most High”

Just reading Michael's booklet you would get the impression that this statement could only apply to angels as they are the sons of God all throughout the Old Testament in the sense they are a direct creation of God not the offspring of an original creation.

But this term is NOT a term that is isolated to the sons of God in fact they are two different Hebrew statements.

Israel gets blasted many times in the Bible for the offenses that God describes in Psalm 82 before they go into captivity under the Babylonians.

“How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:2-4

“But ye shall die like men”

The Bible says Adam (not God or Satan) is the author of death (1 Corinthians 15:21); therefore, no race brought death before Adam’s time. Not until man deliberately rejected the known will of God did death make it’s first appearance on this planet (Romans 5:12).

OTHER ISSUES

The Gap Fact page 2 by Michael Pearl

This anti-gap theory is a new doctrine in the church that has come into popularity only in the last 40 years...

To not believe in a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 is not only contrary to clear Scripture, it is not in keeping with historical positions of both Judaism and Bible-believing Christianity.

History Versus Michael Pearl:

From http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/mind-the-gap

In 1814, Dr. Thomas Chalmers, a respected Scottish Presbyterian minister began to advocate the idea of a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. The reason for this was not theological—it was geological. By interpreting the first two verses of Genesis in this way, Dr. Chalmers felt that he could accommodate the views of the geologists of his day who were teaching millions of years, while at the same time maintaining a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation.

Michael's Rebuttal to this as he quotes from Augustine.

The Gap Fact page 3-4 by Michael Pearl

Furthermore, well before Darwin came along, and before backslidden Christians sought to make time for evolution, Bible believers knew and proclaimed that the earth existed before the six days of Genesis. One example will suffice. Everyone is familiar with 5^th century Augustine. He wrote in his Confessions that which was commonly believed in his day.

'Chapter VIII---Heaven and Earth were made “In the beginning;” afterwards the world, during six days, from shapeless matter.

For very wonderful is this corporeal heaven; of which firmament between water and water, the second day, after the creation of light, Thous saidst, Let it be made, and it was made. Which firmament Thou calledst heaven; the heaven that is, to this earth and sea, which Thou madest the third day, by giving a visible figure to the formless matter, which Thou madest before all days. For already hadst Thou made both an heaven, before all days; but that was the heaven of this heaven; because In the beginning Thou hadst made heaven and earth. But this same earth which Thou madest was formless matter, because it was invisible and without form, and darkness was upon the deep...'

The Jews of old recognized this obvious truth, that the earth was created sometime before Genesis 1:3.

Augustine is known among all serious Bible students to have a few great quotes but some horrible and heretical theology something I am sure Michael Pearl is aware of and has very likely countered Augustine's theology in other writings. I was actually surprised that this serious Bible scholar used Augustine to back this “gap fact”.

Even Augustine is not clearly describing a gap. Michael's attribution to Augustine is as much of a stretch as all his pretexting in the Bible.

I would like to see some solid evidence that the Jews of old believed this “gap fact”. Why is there no references to any Jewish works in Michael's booklet? We have to take Michael's word for it. Something I am not willing to do as “he has fallen in love with the vein”.

The Gap Fact page 4 by Michael Pearl

When I open up a commentary, unless it was written in the last thirty five years, I know that it is going to assume the reality of a 'gap'. I went through the ones in my library and all but one recognized the gap. They are: The Critical and Explanatory; The Wycliffe Bible Commentary; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown; and Bible Believer's Commentary. None of them sought to insert evolution into the gap.

This doesn't prove anything. The church has not been free of heresy. In fact much of the church grabbed on to the gap theory because of the false prophet named Darwin.

The Gap Fact page 5 by Michael Pearl

Let me be absolutely clear. By believing that the earth existed before the six days of creation and that it was inhabited by angels and cherubim, complete with plants and animals much like it is today, we are not suggesting that the earth is millions of years old or that God needed a great deal of time to bring about creation. The earth may be just ten years older than the six days of remaking. It could be thousand or ten thousand years older. It is probably no more than 100,000 years older, but then that is only a 'scientific' guess by one who is not a scientist. Certainly the earth was created with the appearance of age, no matter how old it is. This author is nothing more than a student of the Bible. The Bible doesn't suggest that the earth is old. It just states that it existed prior to the six days of re-creation.

So much to say but so little clear Bible text to back all his words.

The thing is if you accept this “gap fact” it is no problem for you to step into millions of years or a pre-Adamic race.

The Gap Fact page 7-8 by Michael Pearl

Note that on the fourth day (1:14-19) God created the sun and moon. This was after light already existed on the earth from day one. That light did not come from the sun. It came from the stars. Verse sixteen adds an amendment, just to assure us of their origin, '...he made the stars also.' Notice carefully, it does not say, 'and God said let there be stars in the heavens' as it does of the sun and moon. It just informs us that he was also the author of the stars. The stars already existed when the earth was created---long before the six days, for we read, 'Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? ...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?' (Job 38:4-7).

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” - Genesis 1:14

D. James Kennedy had an interesting way to point something out here.

This verse is kind of like an IQ test as four things are mentioned, which one is out of place?

Signs – unlike seasons, days years
Seasons – like days and years unlike signs
Days – like seasons and years unlike signs
Years – like seasons and days unlike signs

Signs - are specifically talking about the signs in the stars. Again Michael is at odds with the scripture to “prove” something the Bible simply does not teach. Is it really worth it to call God a liar?

The Gap Fact page 9 by Michael Pearl

“Why fight the truth? Why does the Word of God trouble your views? Let's all say it together, “I believe in the gap fact.”

No matter if the whole world says it with you Michael, even if they all say it a million times in a chant it does not make it a fact. This is an embarrassing display of subjective reasoning. God does not ask us to check our brains out at the door when we worship Him. In fact He commands us to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Conclusion:

After hours and hours of studying the issue. I found NO gap theorist (whether young earth or old earth) who could clearly point out even ONE the following doctrines in plain reading of Bible texts:

Re-creation, Satan's Flood, death and curse before Adam, death of angels etc.

Again, again and again Michael finds himself at odds with the clear teaching of the scripture to back an opinion that is not taught in the Bible.

While reading “The Gap Fact” booklet one is overwhelmed by many gross arrogant statements of Michael Pearl. The Bible is clear in many places that arrogance and pride are all signs of rebellion against God.

“The Gap Fact” is at best a “hypothesis” and does not even qualify to be a “theory”. How much less is it solid unshakable fact as Michael Pearl proclaims. I do not believe Michael has studied all the arguments against his “fact” as he claims to have done, as many of his arguments are easily dismissed. It concerns me a bit because No Greater Joy Ministries has a good women's ministry. But from now on I am going to always be questioning Michael's “facts”.

The Gap "Theory" is nothing more than man's attempt to marry the pagan doctrines of the religion of evolution to the Bible something the Church of Pergamos was known for in Revelation chapter 2. There is instruction on how to remove pagan doctrines from the Church 1) through proper usage of God's Word OR 2) God's sword against you.

This cross-examination of Michael's “Gap Fact” is by no means exhaustive as it became very exhausting to fight someone who calls God a liar at every turn. I simply stopped arguing after page 18. If someone wants me to address any other issues after page 18 let me know and I will publish them one at a time.

Keep in mind the rationalizations for Michael's "gap fact" have been pretty consistent on his part. Any further study of the booklet won't be much different than what has already been discussed. But I will do it as a servant to those who need it.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” - Acts 17:11

Premillennialism

2008-11-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

Concerning Daniel 2

The Premillennial View
• The stone will become a mountain suddenly, not gradually. Christianity did not suddenly fill “the whole earth” at Christ’s First Advent.
• Though Christ came in the days of the Roman Empire, He did not destroy it.
• During Christ’s time on earth the Roman Empire did not have 10 kings at once. Yet Nebuchadnezzar’s statue suggests that when Christ comes to establish His kingdom, ten rulers will be in existence and will be destroyed by Him.
• Though Christ is now the chief Cornerstone to the church (Eph 2:20) and “a stone that causes [unbelievers] to stumble” (1 Pet 2:8), He is not yet a smiting Stone as He will be when He comes again.
• The Stone (Messiah) will crush and end all the kingdoms of the world. But the church has not and will not conquer the world’s kingdoms.
• The church is NOT a kingdom with a political realm, but the future Millennium will be.

Thus Nebuchadnezzar’s dream clearly teaches premillennialism, that Christ will return to earth to establish His rule on the earth, thereby subduing all nations. The church is not that kingdom.

Think You Are Good Enough?

2008-11-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

Almost everyone considers themselves to be a good person.

The most important question is:

Are you good enough to go to God's Heaven when you die?

How would you know for sure?

The way to find out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments.

Let's look at a few:

Commandment 3:
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain”

Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? If you have, you've taken the Holy name of God – who gave you your life, your family, and everything precious to you – and used it as a filthy, four-letter word.

If someone blasphemes they are called a blasphemer.

Commandment 6:
“Thou shalt not murder.”

God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as the act of murder. We can violate His law by attitude and intent. Jesus warned “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment,” (Matthew 5:22) and the Bible says, “He who hates his brother is a murderer,” (1 John 3:15).

Would you be called a murderer based on these standards?

Commandment 7:
“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Jesus warned, “You have heard...'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever looked at another person with lust? The Bible says adulterers and whoremongers (those who have sex before marriage) will not enter The Kingdom of Heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Commandment 8:
“Thou shalt not steal.”

Have you ever Stolen anything (even if it was something small)? The value of the thing stolen doesn't matter; petty theft is still theft. Have you ever taken anything that belonged to someone else (from office, school, parents, illegal software/music/movies)?

If you have done any of these things that makes you a thief.

The Complete List
1) False God Worshiper: One who has ever worshiped a god based on human understanding, for example: “My God wouldn't judge someone...”, OR “my church teaches such and such”
2) Idolater: One who has ever adored something or someone more than God OR in place of God.
3) Blasphemer: One who has ever used God's name as a cuss word.
4) Sabbath Profaner: One who has ever worked on Friday night to Saturday night.
5) Dishonorer of Parents: One who has ever dishonored parents.
6) Murderer: One who murders and/or even hates someone else.
7) Adulterer: One who is sexually immoral and/or lusts in their inner thoughts.
8) Thief: One who has stolen ANYTHING.
9) Liar: One who misrepresents the truth.
10) Coveter: One who has ever desired anything that belongs to someone else.

Who of us can say that we are not GUILTY of breaking these commandments?

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
- James 2:10

“For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” - Romans 3:23

Can you see your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against the One who's Heaven you want to go to. And because you have a conscience, (con means: “with”, science means: “knowledge”) you have sinned against God “with knowledge.”

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you?

IT SHOULD!

The Bible says His wrath abides on you (John 3:36), and that you are an “enemy of God in your mind through your wicked works,” (Colossians 1:21).

Perhaps you think God is good and because of his goodness He will overlook your sins?

But if you knew of a human judge who turned a blind eye to the crimes of a guilty rapist... would you describe him as a "good" judge?

No.

That would be a "corrupt" judge. God could never be a corrupt judge. He will punish all the false god worshipers, idolaters, blasphemers, sabbath profaners, dishonorer of parents, murders, adulterers, thieves, liars and coveters.

The Good News
God does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it, but God is offering it to you as proof of His love for you.

Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you don’t have two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don't even know steps in and pays your fine for you and asks the court to send him to prison in your place! The court accepts the money and takes the man into custody and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you. That is pretty close to what God did for you 2000 years ago.

The Bible says that our sins are so constant and so great that they are almost infinite. Therefore it took nothing less than the sacrifice of the infinite Righteous God Himself when He became a man (Jesus Christ) and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. Then he rose again from the dead and defeated death! It's as simple as this—we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us ...” - Galatians 3:13

But if we reject so great a salvation by trying to earn God's favor through good works then there is no salvation for us only a fearful expectation of wrath and judgment by a true and just God. This is the only way peace can ever reign when God's Righteousness is established.

What To Do
1) Admit that you are a sinner. Call your sins what God calls them and own them.
2) Turn away from these sins. Earnestly desire to have nothing to do with them. God will help you.
3) Admit to God that you need Jesus Christ ALONE (not good works or anything else) to be saved from the eternal wrath of God.
4) Know and understand this God as revealed in His Holy Bible ALONE. Read your Bible daily and obey His Word. You can trust God—He loves you and will always be faithful.

The Bad News
If you've decided to reject the gift of forgiveness you will die in your sins, there is no hope for you. There is no purgatory according to the Bible. The wrath of God abides on you and you will spend eternity separated from God. Remember He did not send you there, you sent yourself there by rejecting His Only Salvation. If you don't want to be with Him in this life He wont force You to be with Him in the next life.

"...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:21-22

"He that believeth on him [Jesus] 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." - John 3:18

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

The Myth of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel

2008-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

Ten Lost Tribes?

Background:
The northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by their enemies the powerful Assyrians around 722 BC (the southern tribes were not). The idea is that this world power somehow "lost" hundereds of thousands of their slaves and these slaves fled into Europe and created European states like the Dan-ish (and whatever other fantasy connections these people can connect to Europe). These ideas come from misreading certain Bible passages like: 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Chronicles 6:6-11, etc.

In reality many of the Jews that were taken captive into Assyria came back to the area of Israel (the northern area) as half-breeds, they were half Jew and half Gentile. They were despised by the pure Jews of the south as we see in Jesus time (Luke 10:30-37, John 4).

Other refutations of the 10 lost tribes myths:

The faithful Israelites of the 10 tribes moved to Judah and therefore were never lost.

"But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." - 1 Kings 12:17

"Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying," - 2 Chronicles 11:3

"For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD" - 2 Chronicles 11:14

"And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem [which is in Judah], to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong..." - 2 Chronicles 11:16-17

"And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem [which is in Judah]: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, [the 10 tribes] and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers." - 2 Chronicles 19:4

"And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel." - 2 Chronicles 30:1

"So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 30:10-11

"And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 30:25-26

"And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 34:9

"And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem." - 2Chronicles 35:17-18
New Testament References

During the New Testament period all 12 tribes are accounted for:

Anna knew her tribal ancestry as being of the tribe of Asher (one of the 10 tribes):
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser"
- Luke 2:36

Paul knew his tribal ancestry as being of the tribe of Benjamin (one of the 10 tribes):
"I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." - Romans 11:1

"...ye men of Judaea...Ye men of Israel... all the house of Israel" - Acts 2:14-36

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." - James 1:1

The New Testament speaks of "Israel" 75 times and uses the word "Jew" 174 times.
Last day references

Ezekiel 35-37 declares that Judah (Judah, Simeon Jews) and Israel (10 tribes) shall be joined as one in the regathering. This has been fulfilled in our day.

Revelation 7:4 says:

"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."

When does Israel mean Israel? Who determines this? The Jehovah's Witness would have you believe these 144,000 are an elite group of Jehovah's Witnesses. Others try to say these are the Church. When does a word mean what it says? Only when it doesn't contradict someones false teachings I guess. God says what He means and means what He says these are literal 144,000 Jews specifically from each of the tribes that are mentioned here.

Revelation 7:5-8 says:

"Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand."

The fact that this list is here proves the idea of the ten lost tribes is a myth. The myth is propagated by antisemites and heretics of replacement theology (the idea that the Church replaced Israel). If God doesn't keep His one-sided covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15) then He is not a faithful and true God. Again either God is a liar or these antisemites and replacement theologians are liars. As for me and my house we have decided the theologians and antisemites are the liars.

When does 12,000 of the tribe of Judah mean 12,000 of the tribe of Judah?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben mean 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Gad mean 12,000 of the tribe of Gad?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Asher mean 12,000 of the tribe of Asher?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali mean 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh mean 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Simeon mean 12,000 of the tribe of Simeon?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Levi mean 12,000 of the tribe of Levi?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar mean 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Zebulun mean 12,000 of the tribe of Zebulun?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph mean 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin mean 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin?

Why would the Holy Spirit be SO SPECIFIC if these tribes were not literal? Again The True and Living God says what He means and means what He says. We are never to take any text of the Bible metaphorically unless the text demands that we do (using terms: "like" or "as").

Does this text say 12,000 were like the tribe of: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin? No it does not and therefore we are to take it literally. Whenever a prophet reads another prophets writings in the Bible they ALWAYS read the text literally!

The Coming World Leader

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Before we start it is important to understand that there is not just one “Coming World Leader.” Revelation 13:1-10 describes a beast coming out of the sea and Revelation 13:11-17 describes a second beast that comes out of the earth. Later in the book of Revelation 19:20 both are thrown into the lake of fire (hell) which by the way they are still there 1000 years later.

Therefore there are two “Coming World Leaders” but one is more prominent than the other.

Names of the coming world leaders:

Old Testament (32 Titles):

Adversary Ps 74:8-10; Isa 59:19; Lam 4:11,12; Amos 3:11
Assyrian Isa 10:5, 12; Micah 5:5, 6
Belial Nahum 1:15 Bloody and Deceitful Man Ps 5:6
Branch of the Terrible Ones Isa 25:5
Chief Prince Ex 38:2
Crooked Serpent Job 26:13; Isa 27:1
Cruel One Jer 30:14,23
Destroyer of the Gentiles Jer 4:7
Enemy Ps 55:3; Jer 30:14, 23
Evil Man Ps 140:1
Head over many countries Ps 110:6
Head of Northern Army Joel 2:20
Idol Shepherd Zech 11:16, 17
King of Princes Hos 8:10
King of Babylon Isa 14:11-20
Little Horn Dan 7:8f; 8:9f
Man of the Earth Ps 10:18
Merchant, with balances of deceit Hos 12:7
Mighty Man Ps 52:1
Prince that shall come Dan 9:26
Prince of Tyre Ezek 28:2-10
Profane Wicked Prince of Israel Ezek 21:25-27
Proud Man Hab 2:5
Rod of God’s anger Isa 10:5
Seed of the Serpent Gen 3:15
Son of the Morning Isa 14:12
Spoiler, Destroyer Isa 16:4,5
Vile Person Dan 11:21
Violent Man Ps 140:1f
Wicked One Ps 9:17; 10:2,4; Isa 11:4; Jer 30:14, 23
Wilful King Dan 11:36

New Testament (13 Titles):

Angel of the Bottomless Pit Rev 9:11
Antichrist, (Pseudo-Christ) 1 Jn 2:22
Beast Rev 11:7; 13
False Prophet Rev 13
Father of the lie Jn 8:44; 2 Thess 2:11
Lawless One 2 Thess 2:8
Man of Sin 2 Thess 2:3
One come in his own name Jn 5:43
Prince of Darkness 1 Thess 5
Son of Perdition 2 Thess 2:3
Star Rev 8:10; 9:1
Unclean Spirit Mt 12:43
Vine of the earth Rev 14:18

Characteristics of the Coming World Leader:

An intellectual genius Dan 7:20; 8:23; Eze 28:3
An persuasive orator Dan 7:20; Rev 13:2
A shrewd politician Dan 11:21; Dan 8:25;
A financial genius Rev 13:17; Ezek 28:4, 5; Ps 52:7; Dan 11:38, 43;
A forceful military leader Dan 8:24; Rev 6:2; Rev 13:4; Isa 4:16
A powerful organizer Rev 13:1,2; 17:17
A unifying religious guru 2 Thess 2:4; Rev 13:3, 14, 15 SEE ALSO Ps 10, 52, 55; Isa 10,11,13,14; Jer 49-51; Zech 5; Rev 1.

A physical description is given of the Coming World Leader:

Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. - Zechariah 11:17

Note the term: “idol shepherd”.

The Ministry of the Coming World Leader

Four stages of the Antichrist:

First Horse: Conquering through Peace Revelation 6:2
Second Horse: War Revelation 6:4
Third Horse: Famine Revelation 6:5-6
Fourth Horse: Death/Hades Revelation 6:8

The First horse: many think this first horse is Christ as we see Christ ridding a white horse in Revelation 19:11. But to compare the two riders we see they only have the white horse in common.

Revelation 6:2 : Revelation 19:11-12
White horse : White horse
Bow : No bow
Not called faithful and true : Called faithful and true
Conquering and to conquer : Not Conquering and to conquer
Not to judge and make war : Judge and make war
Crown given (in Greek: stephanos) : No crown given
Does not have diadem : Has diadem (in Greek: diadem)

The Stephanos is a victor's crown like what someone gets as a reward. The Diadem is a King's crown that is not given to Him.

The Coming World Leader looks so much like Jesus that even Bible commentators link the rider in Revelation 6 to the rider in Revelation 19 all because of a white horse! But remember if it were possible even the elect shall be deceived (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22).

Background: The scroll that is described in Revelation is said to have writing on the front and back and sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1). Regular scrolls do not have writing on the front and on the back with seven seals so the Revelation is telling us what this scroll is specifically.

Books were scrolls prior to 2nd century A.D. A book with pages is known as a “codex.”
A sealed book, with conditions on the exterior and sealed, suggests a title deed. Roman law required that a Will be sealed with seven seals (as was illustrated in the wills left by Augustus and Vespasian). -Chuck Missler

When someone needed money in ancient Israel they could temporarily sell their property. Then for the Israelite to redeem his property conditions were written on the outside of the title deed and sealed. As each condition was met a seal would be removed from the deed.

God deeded planet earth to man in Genesis. In Genesis chapter 3 man gives the title deed to Satan and thus Satan becomes the god of this world. Jesus came and died on the cross and resurrected from the dead in so doing He prepared the way for the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve to become sons of God. Thus He triumphed over the god of this world and redeemed the title to the planet.

Antichrist:

anti means: "in place of", "over" and/or "against"

christos means: Christ (the anointed one)

He must be from the Roman ethnic people Daniel 9:26-27.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. -1 John 4:1-3

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. - 2 John 1:7-11

Monotheism - Only One God

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"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." - Isaiah 40:25

"For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour..." - Isaiah 43:3

"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." - Isaiah 44:6

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." - Isaiah 44:8

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me... there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:5-6

"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker..." - Isaiah 45:11

"...God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God." - Isaiah 45:14

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:18

"...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:21-22

"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." - 1 Corinthians 8:6

Worship of The True God Alone (anti-idolatry)

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." - Exodus 20:3-6

Jesus is the Only Way to Heaven

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"...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:21-22

"He that believeth on him [Jesus] 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." - John 3:18

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

Doctrinal Statement

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Doctrinal Statement

Worshiping God in Spirit AND in Truth

My God-given calling is to help people fall in love with God's Word so that they too may worship God in Spirit and in Truth and live in obedience to Him.

The Holy Bible – I have an Extremely High View of Inspiration

Every detail is in the Bible by design of the Holy Spirit.
God says what He means and means what He says.
The Holy Bible is inerrant and infallible in the (Antiochian) Textus Receptus.
The Bible is to be taken seriously and literally unless a passage is obviously figurative (words are used for example: something is like/as something else) although that does NOT always completely diminish a literal rendering.
The Holy Bible is the ONLY authenticated Word of God consistent with history, objective science, and itself.
All other writings outside the Old and New Testaments are rejected as writings of men.
There is no authority given to mankind that is higher than the Word of the Lord. It is the standard by which everything else is to be compared.
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
The Holy Spirit preempts every heresy that has ever come on the scene with His Holy Word.
Anything NOT Textus Receptus are perverted texts and are considered Alexandrian. Alexandrian texts are NOT what was historically was used by true Christians throughout history (except in modern perversities).
Alexandrian codices contradict each other and the Textus Receptus and are only a few manuscripts. This is in contrast with the Textus Receptus which has thousands of manuscripts and no contradictions.
Alexandrian codices are also NOT the oldest manuscripts as a 1^st or 2^nd generation piece of Matthew (the Jesus Papyrus) has been found that correlates with Textus Receptus not Alexandrian Codices.
All modern Bibles are developed from what they call “the most accurate” or “oldest texts” which are Alexandrian and in fact are perverted texts (no matter how old they are). The King James Version is the only Bible that totally used the Textus Receptus to translate into English (as of 03/06/2010).
Modern Bible translations are translated by arrogant translators who seek to make a name for themselves and the majority of them do not believe God's Word and one would be hard pressed to find one who was truly saved. The King James Bible primarily comes from the work of William Tyndale who burned at the stake at the hand of the Roman Church for his work without recanting. How many modern translators would be willing to do the same? The King James Version was translated by serious Christians who believed God's Word.
(for more information on this issue please see chick.com/information/bibleversions/)

God

God as revealed in the Bible is a Triune being that co-exists eternally as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as One God. Polytheism and oneness teachings are rejected as anti-Biblical heresies.
God does not change: the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament.
God is omnipresent. That is to say He is all present, everywhere at once.
God is omniscient. That is He is all seeing. He knows all things He cannot learn and nothing surprises Him and nothing can be hidden from Him.
God is omnipotent. That is He is all powerful.
God is good, God is love, God is just, God is holy.
God is sovereign: He ultimately rules everything.

Sin

Is best described as any other will in the universe that is not God's will.
ALL human beings are sinners with the sole exception of Christ Jesus.
Any deviation from the laws as set forth by God in the Old and New Testaments is sin.
Sin is what separates man from God.
Mankind is totally depraved to sin.
Mankind prefers separation from God rather than a reconciliation to God.
Mankind being so perverse runs to hell as if it were heaven and runs from heaven as if it were hell.
Pride is the root of all other sins.
Christians will sin but should hate sin and especially despise to the uttermost practicing sin in their lives. To practice sin is like an athlete practicing to be better at his sport so as to win.
The closer one walks with the Lord the more one hates his sins this is a sign of spiritual maturity.

Man

Man is the only creature created in God's image therefore man is eternal (not infinite) and is a triune being: the soul, the body and the spirit.

Man is special to God and has purpose.
Man is NOT basically good man is basically evil. To think otherwise totally contradicts all of history, scripture and objective science.
All humans are not God's children. Natural humans are “sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.” Unregenerate man is unholy. The only way for humans to become children of God is to be born again.
All humans worship something there is no such thing as a true atheist, and therefore all humans are idolaters by nature (creating gods the way they think a god should be).

Satan

Satan is real and is not a cultural idea (it works to an enemy's advantage for people not to believe in they have an enemy).
Satan is evil and perverse.
Satan is a very powerful fallen angel.
He is a person (not a human) that has a character and personality.
Satan seeks the destruction of humans as they are created in the image of God whether they worship the him (Satan) or not.
Satan is a deceiver and manipulates the minds of men through their pride.
Satan is not currently tormented in hell. He wanders the earth as he is the god of this world.
There is no salvation for fallen angels/demons
There may be a difference between fallen angels and demons.

Damnation & the After Life

I must declare with great sadness there is a conscious eternal punishment of those who have rejected so great a salvation in Jesus' sacrifice.
Satan, his group of fallen angels and demons are destined to go to a place that God has made for them called the lake of fire.
Sheol (aka Paradise) or Hades is not the lake of fire, Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Men prefer living this life apart from God and He will not force them to live with Him in the next life. He will send them to their place that they prefer which is separation from God and therefore separation from all that is good in a place of indescribable torment. If one knew the torment that hell contains the very thought would cause them to physically die.
There were two chambers in Sheol/Hades. There was the area known as Abraham's bosom and another area known as torment (Luke 16). But Jesus lead a train of captives out of Sheol/Hades into Heaven when He died.
I reject the doctrine of the annihilation of the wicked based on the fact that the antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire at the beginning of the 1000 years in Revelation 19:20 and they are still there at the end of the 1000 years in Revelation 20:10.

Idolatry

Any god created in an image of any creature or idea.
“I don't think God would allow anyone to go to hell” and such comments are idolatry. You have just created a god in your image of what you would do if you were a god.

Jesus

100% God: “Son of God”
100% Man: “Son of Man”
Messiah the King: “Son of David”
Jesus co-exists eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit as the second Person of the Trinity.
Being God He is without sin, pure and Holy.
Being man He was tempted in all manner of sin as all mankind is tempted and yet without sin.
Jesus was born of a virgin.

Jesus' Death and Resurrection

Jesus who had no sin became sin for the whole world.
Jesus died in place of those who trust and believe He died for them.

Jesus' literally physically rose from the grave and is physically alive today.
Lucidly rejecting the literal physical resurrection of Jesus is the spirit of antichrist.

Salvation

Salvation from damnation is ONLY found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the only reconciliation between man and God.
It is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that man can come out of his depraved state to be saved.
Salvation is by unmerited favor alone, through actively trusting alone, in Jesus alone.

Works

Doing good works to help you get salvation is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Good works apart from Salvation are like used menstrual cloths in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6).
Good works that are acceptable to God are those which come from being saved not trying to get saved.

Evangelism

Jesus commanded that we go and make disciples of the nations. He did not say that we go and get a bunch of people to call themselves Christians.
Discipleship comes from a serious study of God's Word, and a serious relationship with the Lord.
The ends DO NOT justify the means. What you win a convert by is what you win them to. Faith is trusting God will do what He promises to do (His word will not return to Him void).
The law of the Old Testament and the even higher standards of the New Testament is to be used to help people understand their spiritual problem so that they can see they desperately need a Savior.

Creation

All of creation is only around 7000 years old.
The entire universe was created in 6 literal days as a pattern for the entire age of man (2 Peter 3:8), the millennial kingdom and new heavens and the new earth.
The gap theory is rejected as man's attempt to marry paganism with God's Word (Pergamos).
All other positions on creation are considered un-biblical, un-objective and un-scientific but rather based on the mythology of humanists who don't want to be accountable to God.

Eschatology

The Day of the Lord is a general term that includes: the rapture (harpazo), the time of man/Satan's kingdom, the time of Jacob's trouble, the Second Coming of Christ, the 1000 year reign of Christ and the new heavens and the new earth.
The taking up of God's Church and the removal of the Holy Spirit will happen before the antichrist can come to power (Revelation chapters 4&5 come before chapter 6, see 2 Thessalonians 2) thus before the 70^th week of Daniel.
The time of the tribulation is only 3.5 years but the seals open the first 3.5 years and the last seal opens the tribulation period.
7 years after the antichrist confirms the covenant with Israel, Israel will nationally repent of rejecting their Messiah and Jesus will return to the earth.
Believing in pre-antichrist rapture should spur Christians to live godly lives, evangelize and disciple.
The resurrection of believers is a literal physical resurrection. The body we have in this life will be literally resurrected but in a glorified state, thus what it was meant to be.
The Catholic Church (Thyatira), sleeping protestants (Sardis), and the entertained church (Laodicea) will become the whore of Babylon after all true Christians (mostly Philadelphia) are removed from the world in the harpazo (Revelation 2-3).

Fruits of the Spirit

The only important fruit of the Spirit that should be the priority of Christians is love toward God and love toward man.
All gifts outlined in God's Word are valid for today (though much of what is paraded as spiritual gifts is falsehood).
Gifts of the Spirit will never add to or contradict the Bible.
A Christian grows by worshiping God in Spirit and in truth: understanding God's Word and reading it daily, praying daily and being in fellowship with other Christians regularly.
Fellowship includes conversation with other believers that is focused on Jesus and with Jesus. Personal accountability with other believers to keep sin in check. Love, patience and self-denial toward other Christians.
Churches should not pattern themselves after pop-churches but should pattern themselves after the good things the Churches in Revelation 2-3 detail. On the flip side Churches need to remove the bad things that Revelation 2-3 detail with the remedies given by Christ Himself.

Judaism/Israel

According to the Bible there are only three groups of People in the world: the Jew, the Gentile and the Body of Christ (in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile).
Biblically there is no such thing as the 10 lost tribes of Israel. When Israel was divided as a nation those who worshiped YHWH moved to Judah (2 Chronicles 11:3, 14-17, 15:9, 19:4, 30:1, 5-6, 10-11, 21, 25-26, 35:17-18. James proves that during his time all 12 tribes were accounted for (James 1:1).
Without Judaism Christians have no heritage. This causes Christians to incorrectly interpret the Bible and the world they live in.
Judaism should be understood by Christians but not religiously practiced by Christians.
Christians should support and bless Israel.
Judaizers, those “Messianic Jews” who would seek to put others under bondage of the law and traditions are rejected as such (Hebrews 6).
The Church has NOT replaced Israel. Such doctrines are the basis for antisemitism and have historically lead to intense persecution for God's Jew (Romans 11:25).
Jews that die are lost apart from their Messiah.
God is not done with the Israel they are temporarily set aside while the Body of Christ (which they rejected 2000 years ago) is present.

The Holy Blessings

Baptism – to be done by believer's ONLY there is no case in scripture of infant baptism. Baptism is a way we publicly identify with Christ. I prefer to submerse when baptizing as baptism has its roots in the Judaic-Priests submerging in the temple requirements. Baptism is something done out of obedience to God but is not necessary for Salvation.
Communion – to be done by believers ONLY and by those believers who are not practicing sin. Personally I prefer unleavened bread (as leaven is a picture of sin and the bread is the picture of Christ's perfect body) and red wine mixed with warm water as was the custom of the Jewish Passover (red grape juice is acceptable).
Marriage - is a picture of Christ and His Church and is NEVER to be taken lightly. Marriage according to God's Will is to be defined as one man to one woman for a lifetime matrimony.
These holy blessings of God are to be understood and honored. True believers are to worship God in Spirit AND in truth.

The Divine Order

The Father is the head of Christ
Christ is the head of man
Man is the head of woman
Woman elders and pastors are a rebellion (1 Corinthians 11:3-16).
Pastors according to God's Will are to be honored and provided for by those who benefit spiritually from their work.

Other

According to God's inerrant Bible the Mary was a sinner who needed a savior, and later on had more children with Joseph.
According to God's inerrant Bible Peter NEVER went to Rome, was married, and was the apostle to the Jews. He never was a Pope and did not agree with the false teachings of Catholicism when you seriously study his writings.
The first Pope was Constantine around 313 AD.

Biblical Number Meanings

2008-09-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

The following information is NOT numerology as is the practice of the pagans and heretics. It is simply following God's Word where He uses numbers and trying to determine their usages as is consistent with the whole Bible.

1 YHWH Elhoim YHWH Echad, One God (Elohim: three in one), Unity (Echad) Deuteronomy 6:4
Yom Reeshone: First Day (Sunday) Genesis 1:1-5

2 Division (Genesis 1:6-8), Witness
Yom Shaynee: Second Day (Monday) Day of no blessing Genesis 1:6-8

3 Redemption, Trinity, Marriage?
Yom Shlee'shee: Third Day (Tuesday) Day of double blessing Genesis 1:9-13

4 Angels?
Yom Revee'ee: Fourth Day (Wednesday) Genesis 1:14-19

5 Grace?
Yom Khah'mee'shee: Fifth Day (Thursday) Genesis 1:20-23

6 Man, Incomplete, Work days
Yom Ha'shee'shee: Sixth Day (Friday) Genesis 1:24-31

7 Complete, Rest
Shabbat: Rest (Saturday) Genesis 2:2-3

8 New Beginnings
Yom Reeshone: First Day (Sunday) Genesis 1:1-5

9
Yom Shaynee: Second Day (Monday) Day of no blessing Genesis 1:6-8

10 Tithe, Commandments, Fall?, suffering/affliction? (Revelation 2:10)
Yom Shlee'shee: Third Day (Tuesday) Day of double blessing Genesis 1:9-13

11 grace+man?
Yom Revee'ee: Fourth Day (Wednesday) Genesis 1:14-19

12
Yom Khah'mee'shee: Fifth Day (Thursday) Genesis 1:20-23

23
Yom Shaynee: Second Day (Monday) Day of no blessing Genesis 1:6-8

24 Priesthood (Levitical 1 Chronicles 15, 16:4-6, 37-43; Melchizedek Revelation 4-5, 11:16, 19:4)
Yom Shlee'shee: Third Day (Tuesday) Day of double blessing Genesis 1:9-13

40 Trial, Testing, Judgment
Yom Khah'mee'shee: Fifth Day (Thursday) Genesis 1:20-23

666 Idolatry,
Yom Reeshone: First Day (Sunday) Genesis 1:1-5

777
Shabbat: Rest (Saturday) Genesis 2:2-3

The Trinity

2008-09-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

The definition for the term trinity is all throughout the Bible.

This is the idea:
One God co-existing eternally as three persons
1x1x1=1

The Biblical doctrine (teaching) of the Trinity is really a composite of the Biblical doctrine of Monotheism (only one God), and the deity of the Father, the deity of the Son and the deity of the Holy Spirit. Three deity personages that co-exist eternally as only one God (see also my study on monotheism).

The Doctrine of the Trinity and the Deity of Jesus is denied by every false religion. If the one who was sacrificed for the sins of the world was not God in the flesh then His sacrifice is not enough to save us and therefore works are needed BUT all of this contradicts the Bible.
Therefore every false religion denies the Trinity, they deny that salvation is in Jesus alone (they embrace salvation by works), and they say the Bible is insufficient for knowing God's will (you need another book or a special interpretation of the Bible).

It is also important to note that no major doctrine should ever be established on an obscure verse here and there (like baptism of the dead 1 Corinthians 15:29). But major doctrines should be established on what the entirety of scripture teaches.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." - Genesis 1: 26-27

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil..." - Genesis 3:22

"And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." - Genesis 11:6-7

"...The LORD our God is one LORD..." - Deuteronomy 6:4
In Hebrew: "YHWH Elohim YHWH Echad"

*YHWH is the Old Testament Name of God
*Elohim is a plural (im ending) of god and means three or more in unity and is used when referring to YHWH in a singular title. Elohim is used throughout the Old Testament but what is interesting is (like most languages) the verb and the noun have to agree and the way Elohim is used is a plural word speaking in a singular context.
*Echad means united, altogether, one, only, first etc.
The Trinity is implied all throughout this statement.

"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." - Isaiah 6:3

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, Everlasting Father [Father of eternity the idea speaks of Him being the First and Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Aleph and Tau], The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
- Matthew 3:16-17

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" - Matthew 28:19

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - Mark 1:9-11

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." - Luke 1:35

"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." - Luke 3:22

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1

"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." - John 1:32-34

"...the Spirit...The Son...God [the Father] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world... - John 3:6-18

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. - John 5:18

"I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." - John 10:30-33

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me" - John 14:8-11

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." - John 14:16-17

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:23-26

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" - John 15:26

"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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." - John 16:13-15

"...then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. - John 20:26-28

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." - Acts 2:32-33

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." - Acts 5:30-32

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." - Romans 8:16-17

"...Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." - Romans 9:5

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." -1 Corinthians 12:4-6

"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." - 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." - 2 Corinthians 13:14

"Christ Jesus...Father...Holy Spirit"- Ephesians 1:1-14

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" - Ephesians 2:18-20

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." - Ephesians 3:16-19

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:4-6

"...be filled with the Spirit; ...Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 5:18-20

"We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... love in the Spirit." - Colossians 1:3-8

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:8-9

"...Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father...the Holy Ghost..." - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

"...God...the Spirit...Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" - Titus 2:13

"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands" - Hebrews 1:8-12

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" - Hebrews 9:14

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." 1 Peter 1:2

"...through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" - 2 Peter 1:1

"...God...His Son Jesus Christ...the Spirit..." 1 John 3:21-24

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." - 1 John 5:7

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." - 1 John 5:20

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." - Jude 1:20-21

"And the four beasts...and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." - Revelation 4:8

CROSS REFERENCES:

The Great "I AM"

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." - John 8:58-59
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14

MUCH MORE TO COME

Women Pastors

2008-09-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Correct Approach to Understanding the Bible:

God means what He says and says what He means
The Bible is an integrated whole: Every detail is there by design (Matthew 5:17-18). The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
The Holy Spirit as an artist guided every detail of scripture and hovers over every detail.
Nothing is trivial: All things are for our learning (Romans 15:4)
God is His own interpreter

“If the literal sense makes common sense, seek no other sense (or you’ll end up with nonsense).”

Your job as good Bible students:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

The Holy Spirit in Acts 17:11 is telling you not to just take my word for it but to study it out for yourselves.

From the beginning:

“...and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

Genesis 3:16

The term translated: “desire” here is the same term that is used in Genesis 4:7 when God is talking to Cain:

“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Genesis 4:7

The cursed and rebellious woman will want to rule over man as sin wanted to rule over Cain but the blessed and godly woman will be subject to the man. Which is consistent with the rest of scripture as we will see.

Deborah Arguments - Judges 4

Let's look at Deborah and see if modern women "pastor's" have the same characteristics.

Deborah means: “honeybee”

Deborah had the characteristics of a honeybee:

Industrious: It goes without saying how industrious honeybees are.
Discerning: bees have 2,000 to 3,000 plates through which they identify the proper flower from which to draw their nectar.
Sweetness: honeybees are known for the sweetness they produce.

Deborah had all the characteristics of her name (honeybee):

Industrious: Defined in Proverbs 31.
Discerning: she was obedient to God's will that she was subject to her husband as Proverbs 31 discusses (or God wouldn't have used her).
Sweet: as her name indicates and being a Proverbs 31 woman she is naturally sweet.
Willing to be in subjection to male authority. Judges 4:6-9

Modern women "Pastors" in general are:

Anti-Proverbs 31 unwilling to be the godly woman of Proverbs 31.
Easily swayed by whatever teachings are on TBN and unwilling to be subject to a man.
Domineering sometimes even militant
Unwilling to be in subjection to male authority. 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

To compare Deborah with modern women pastors is a stark contrast.

Besides all this Deborah is said to be a prophetess and a wife in Judges 4:4. Therefore Deborah was subject to her husband and had his covering over her.

It is a shameful thing for women and children to rule over men in the Bible:

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” - Isaiah 3:12

Deborah was a judge during a very dark time in Israel: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” - Judges 17:6 and 21:25. Obviously the time of the judges was a very dark time as men were unfaithful to the True and Living God and therefore God gave them over to shamefulness and it was a shame that God had to use Deborah to correct Israel as we can even see by her own words:

“ she sent and called for Barak ...and said to him, 'Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, “Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand”?' And Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!' So she said, 'I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.' Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. - Judges 4:6-9

Deborah is clearly trying to get the spineless men to do their job which if they had been doing it she would not have to rule over them and Barak would have had the glory which GOD WANTED TO GIVE TO HIM.

Also the Bible gives a five-fold ministry in Ephesians 4:11 apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers.

Apostles are better known as the missionaries of our day and there is nothing wrong with a woman doing this work according to the Bible as long as she is submitted to a Biblically sound male authority. Ultimately she will raise up a man to be a Pastoral head over her mission field.

Prophets: these are the people in our day who exhort people to conform their will to the will of God according to the scriptures. Occasionally these give future prophecies but when they do they are ALWAYS 100% accurate bringing glory to God alone. There is nothing wrong with a woman doing this work according to the Bible as long as she is submitted to a Biblically sound male authority. We see Deborah in this type of capacity but also a stark contrast with the self-proclaimed prophetess named Jezebel in Revelation 2:20. This Jezebel is not doing things according to scripture (as Deborah did) she is doing things as she wants them done and therefore is a false prophet. Anyone who demands they are a prophet or an apostle so as to hold a title of authority over someone else is dangerous and should be rejected as such.

Evangelists: we are ALL called to go out and preach the gospel but sometimes God lays a burden on someone who will go out and do this in a special way that changes many lives. There is nothing wrong with a woman doing this work according to the Bible as long as she is submitted to a Biblically sound male authority.

Pastor: no where in the Bible is it taught that women are permitted to be Pastors. In fact the opposite is true.

Teachers: women are called to be teachers of other women and children but never teachers of men.

The Holy Spirit through Isaiah - Isaiah 3:12

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee [children and women] cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Women leadership is considered a cause of error and a destruction of thy paths.

The Divine Order According to the Holy Spirit through Paul - 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

The divine order: God the Father is the head of Christ who is the head of man who is head of the woman.

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

“head” all throughout scripture is a symbol of authority. A man is NOT to have his authority covered or he dishonors his head (Christ).

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

A woman who is uncovered by the authority of a man (who in turn is under the authority of Christ who is under the authority of God) dishonors man and therefore dishonors God's divine order and is considered rebellious (1 Samuel 15:23). She is as if she were shaven having no covering which means no authority from the God of the Bible.

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

If the woman wants to do things God's way then let her be covered under the authority of a man (who in turn is under the authority of Christ, who is under the authority of the Father). Remember from Genesis 3 it is only the cursed natural woman (Jezebel) who undermines the divine order of authority not the godly Deborah of Judges 4.

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

A man is not to be under the authority of any covering but Christ. That includes a woman "pastor" as 1 Timothy 2:11-12 speaks of.

8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

Originally woman came from man.

9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

Woman was created for man something that drives modern rebel feminists crazy.

10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

WOW if you miss what is being said here you could be playing with fire. Why are the angels concerned about the divine order as the Holy Spirit set forth in these verses? Think about it Satan who is a fallen angel usurped the divine order when he said he wanted to exalt his throne to be worshiped like God (Isaiah 14:13).

I suspect women pastors and teachers are a more serious issue than once thought. They are rebellious and God's powerful angels are sensitive to their rebelliousness.

It is interesting how the pagans of old elevated the female to the state of goddess-hood like Diana (Artemis).

11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

Man needs woman as a help meet and so too woman must be under the authority and totally subjected to the man who is subjected to Christ who is subjected to the Father.

12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Even though woman came from man man now comes from woman but all things are of God and His divine order needs to be respected by those claiming to be His.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

The Holy Spirit through Paul is driving the point home that only the obedient women of God obey His divine order. Therefore those who don't obey this order are not of God.

14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

The plain text sense is men look more masculine with short hair. In context of all that the Holy Spirit is saying there is a divine order that should never be undermined by those who are serious about their love for God.

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

The truly godly woman obeys the order God has set forth. So too in the plain text sense women with longer hair are gorgeous in their gender. There is an attempt in our modern pagan culture to create feminine men and masculine women. This is even a shame in the natural order.

16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

WOW another big statement! If someone is contentious about these things they are not part of the Church of God!

Due to the rebellious nature of breaking from the divine order as set forth in these passages I would suspect the rebellious who demand things their way, instead of God's way, are not even worshiping the True and living God. God says those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul - 1 Timothy 2:11-12

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Men Bishops and Deacons- 1 Timothy 3:1-13

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

I can't even imagine how one could Biblically say that a woman is to rule her own house. The practice of ordaining women is anti-biblical (anti in Greek means against and in place of the Bible).

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

“His” is used twice and “he” is used 5 times altogether 7 times concerning a Bishop within 7 verses. Seems pretty clear that God's design for a Bishop is complete (7) in these verses.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

The Bishop and the Deacon are husbands who have wives. Never mentioned as wives who have husbands.

Again it undermines God's Word from cover to cover to say a woman is to rule her house.

Men Bishops - Titus 1:6-9

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer.

There is no PRACTICE in the Bible of women being in authority over the saints of God. There are cases where evil women rule over the wicked but never over the saints of God.

Junia - Romans 16:7

“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

Like poor Deborah Junia is abused as being an apostle which modern feminists abuse as a license to undermine the divine order (The Father is the head of Christ, Christ the head of man, man the head of woman) as seen throughout the entirety of scripture. Apostle is simply an untranslated word meaning: “one who is sent out”. The term here in context is referring to the sent out ones (like Barnabas, Silas, etc. not the original 12). Apostle speaks of a missionary.

As with all verses they need to be interpreted consistently with the rest of scripture. As the same Holy Spirit wrote the entire Bible.

I believe Junia is probably a woman (although the Greek could make Junia a man). Let's examine the text to see what is really going on here.

“Andronicus and Junia” previously in verse 3 of this chapter Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned as a couple the same way Andronicus and Junia are mentioned here. We know the situation of Priscilla and Aquila from the book of Acts. Therefore it is very likely Andronicus and Junia were a married couple. Therefore Junia is properly submitted to her husband's authority as ordained in 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 just as Deborah was properly submitted to her husband.

Later on in verse 12 two women are mentioned with the connective word: “and”: “Tryphena and Tryphosa”. Bible scholars believe these two were sisters probably twins as their names being translated are: “Dainty” and “Delicate”.

Besides all this as was previously discussed concerning Deborah there is nothing wrong with a female missionary or a female prophetess as long as they are submitted to a Biblically sound male authority. This does not mean they can be pastors or even elders and deacons for that matter.

Summary

I believe women who refuse to subject themselves to the authority of Scripture through the whole counsel of God's Word are following the effects of the curse as was pointed out in Genesis 3. But it is the truly godly woman who is free from the curse and follows the divine order and accepts her place of freedom. We need to conform our minds to God's Word instead of rebelling against it.

All this said I believe God can use whatever means necessary to get His word into people's hearts. I believe God has a permissive will and a perfect will. The permissive will of God allows the rebellious to take His Holy name upon their unholy lips and He uses them for His purposes as He used the arrogant Pharaoh in the Exodus. So too God used an ass to portray His truth to Balaam (Numbers 22). However God's perfect will is obedience to His revealed Word (both Jesus and the Bible are His revealed Word). The person who is obedient to God's Word is like humble Moses.

God will be glorified in either case but to the great peril of those who live in His permissive will and great glory to those who live in His perfect will.

God has a wonderful plan for those who are rebellious. If only they would repent (forsake their ways and conform to God's ways). I know because I used to be a rebel who carried the name of Christ but now I will never return to His permissive will on purpose.

For more information on how to be a godly woman read Ephesians chapter 5.

Biblical End Times Summary

2008-09-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

An eschatological (study of end times) series of events:

Pre-"Antichrist" events

Israel will be a nation again in the last days (Deuteronomy 30:3-5, Isaiah 66:7-8, Jeremiah 16:14-15, 31:10, Ezekiel 4:3-6, 34:13, 34:37, Amos 9:14-15).
Israel and specifically Jerusalem will be a major issue for all the nations of the earth in the last days (Zecharian 12:2).
The Rapture. No the term Rapture does not occur in the English Bible but it is not an English word it is a Latin word that occurs in the Latin Bible (Latin Vulgate 1 Thessalonians 4:17). The rapture can happen at any moment. Only those Christians who are called Philadelphian (Revelation 3) are promised to be raptured. There will be Christians from other Churches (Laodicea, Sardis and Thyatira) but only individuals not whole groups.

The term: “Church” is not used again in the book of Revelation after chapters 1-3 (with the exception of a summary at the end of the book). The Church is raptured and in Heaven in Revelation 4-5 and in Chapter 6 the coming world leader comes on the scene.
Russia and Moslem nations attack Israel and are completely destroyed by God Himself, and there will be some type of nuclear detonation (Ezekiel 38-39). There are solid Bible teachers that teach this happens later so it is not fully certain.

First half of the 7 years

The coming world leader comes to power (the first beast, what many call the antichrist). According to 2 Thessalonians 2 is clear that the coming world leader cannot come to power until the Holy Spirit is removed (the Restrainer of wickedness). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit those who are the Temple of the Holy Spirit will be taken out with Him (1 Thessalonians 4).
The coming world leader confirms a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:24-27) and triggers the last 7 years of man governing himself (7 years from this point Jesus returns). No one can know the day or the hour of the Rapture but the Second Coming is a different event which is clearly marked out. But even at that we cannot know the time of the Second coming until this event takes place.

Rumor (from good sources) have it that in 2005 the European Union established a treaty with Israel that is good for 7 years. 3.5 years into that treaty there is a provision to revise the treaty. This we will see will play out in the series of events being listed here.

Keep in mind the coming world leader confirms (“makes firm” in the Hebrew) a covenant with Israel. The words indicate the treaty is already in place it just needs to be upheld or enforced.
The coming world leader will have a prophet with him called the second beast or the second world leader. Satan (the dragon) will be behind all these things. Great signs and wonders will be done by this unholy trinity deceiving the elect of God (if it were possible). This is why we are not to follow signs and wonders (like so many from Thyatira do).
Two witnesses come on the scene to testify against the beasts.
The Coming world leader's phases. God will give man what man has always wanted (Read Psalm 2) rule over himself without God's involvement. But man does not know he is ruled by Satan therefore cannot truly rule over himself.

The coming world leader will come on the scene with peace (Revelation 6:1-2).
Then he will make war (Revelation 6:3-4).
Then he will financially oppress the world (as the European Union is prepared to do even now) except the rich (Revelation 6:5-6) in preparation of setting up his mark (Revelation 13).
Then he will bring death (death to the body) and hades (death to the soul) with war, famine, plagues and wild beasts of the earth (everything from a single celled organism to the largest of land and sea creatures).
Death to those who are willing to die for the Word of God (Revelation 6:9-11).

Second half of the 7 years

The beast will be able to destroy the 2 witnesses and they are viewed on international television for 3 days and then they raise up and are taken into Heaven.
3.5 years into the 7 years of Daniel (last 7 years of man's government, God's focus on Israel) the coming world leader will proclaim himself to be god and go to the temple in Jerusalem (which is being prepared right now to be rebuilt) and demand worship.
The Jews will see the coming world leaders for who they are and refuse to worship the beast. They will flee to the wilderness and God will protect them from the wrath of the beast. For some reason some of the nations around Israel will not be subject to the authority of the beast. Many believe Israel will flee to the the area of Edom in the nation of Jordan where the rock city of Petra is today. In fact it is said Christians have been placing salvation tracts in and around this area so when the Jews flee there they will believe in their true Messiah.
3.5 of the 7 years is detailed in scripture and is called:
- three and a half years (Daniel 7:25)
- 42 months (Revelation 11:2, 13:5)
- 1260 days (Revelation 11:3, Daniel 12:6)
- ½ a week (Daniel 9:27)
  
  For those who don't believe this time to be literal I am not sure how more plain the Holy Spirit could have given it to you in seconds and nanoseconds?
It will be during the latter half of the 7 years that the Great Tribulation begins.
All the nations of the earth prepare to come to war against each other in a valley called Meggido. If Jesus doesn't return the world would be completely annihilated.
There will be a national repentance of Israel and they will ask their true Messiah to come back.

1000 year reign of Christ

Jesus will return and we will return with Him to rule and reign over the earth with Him for 1000 years.
At His coming Jesus will detain Satan in the bottomless pit and the two beasts will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Hell). By the way at the end of the thousand years we still see these two men in Hell. Humans do not cease to exist after being in torment in eternity.

Final rebellion and judgment

At the end of the 1000 years Satan is released and again deceives the nations who have been under Jesus' rule for the past 1000 years. These try to make war with Jesus and His people.
All the nations of the world are called to the final Judgment (The Great White Throne Judgment). Christians will never be judged of their sins because our judgment was on Jesus on a Roman cross.
Heaven and Earth are destroyed with fire and a New Heavens and a New Earth are created and all is restored to what it was meant to be.