A Voice in the Wilderness

The Passover Lamb

2011-04-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

We had a great discussion with our son this morning. I thought I'd share what our conversation was about with you guys.

Many of us are familiar with the Passover that the Israelites observed every year to remember how God delivered them from Egypt. Thinking about this, I can understand why God wanted to preserve this event in their memory. He was preparing them for Jesus Christ.

At the last plague, God told His people to kill a lamb without blemish and paint its blood on their doorpost. In doing this, the angel of death would pass over them. Whoever was without the blood of the spotless lamb would die.

Jesus became our passover lamb. He actually died at the same time of Passover to signify this. Simply put is this, if we have the blood of Jesus (whom is the Lamb of God without blemish or spot) then death will pass over us. If we do not have His blood, then we will die.

Jesus was speaking to Martha at her brother's burial and said "..whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:26)

I used to be puzzled when I read that verse of Jesus speaking to Martha. I thought well.. we all still die regardless. How could He say that we will never die? Later, God revealed to me that He was speaking of the second, true and final death in the end. For us who are in Christ, we shall never die and this is truth.

When our flesh dies, God considers it as "sleep." The Bible always refers our physical death as sleep because it is temporary. We shall all awaken and rise.. some unto the resurrection of life, and some unto death. (John 5:29)

But when God speaks of death .. He speaks of the second death that is to come. This is the true death. The wages of sin is death. In the end, those without the lamb's blood shall surely die just as the death of the Egyptians revealed this. Did they burn alive in agony forever and ever, or did they die?

I hope that we all will be reminded of this glorious event.. seeing how God designed the plague of Moses to testify of Christ, and brought in His Son which fulfilled it all. This is the significance of Christ being the Lamb of God. Is He on your doorpost?

Is it the End of the World?

2011-03-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

With many major disasters happening lately, so many Christians are swearing that these are the signs of the times and that Christ is at the door. We warn all our friends and family to repent and be ready because He will be here literally any second...although, this exact thing has been happening for thousands of years. I hope we can be the voice that warns you of a different kind of time we should absolutely be ready.. a time instead, when nothing is happening at all.

Like the five virgins that were ready by keeping their oil lamp burning continually, we all need to be ready everyday. The other five virgins only brought enough oil for a time they were sure He would come, but they didn't have it for a time that they didn't think He would come.

Like the parable of the good servant in Luke 12, He was found ready at the second, third and fourth watch of the night. He was ready.. EVEN at an hour He did not think his master would come.

39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

No one knows when, but the whole world will be watching (even the wicked servants) during a major disaster.. but no one will be watching when life is normal and goes on like nothing is happening. That is the time that counts.. we must be ready even when we do not think He will come.
Jesus talks about it in Matthew 24 (also Luke 21:9-11)

6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8All these are the beginning of sorrows.

There will be wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences.. even tsunamis, but the end is not yet. These are just the sorrows that this world has to face.

The Bible also tells us that it will be like the days of Noah and Lot when the Son of Man comes. This is very important to understand-

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30

During the days of Lot and Noah, everyone was busy with their lives. Life was normal and life went on. They ate, drank, built houses and were given away in marriage... then disaster struck without warning and destroyed them all in one day. God works in a pattern throughout the Bible. He always came without warning and when they least expected it.

Luke 17 is important also-

22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Sometimes we can get caught up on signs, and we're warning the world that Christ is coming back during every major disaster.. and that has been going on for centuries. We follow the news, follow Youtube videos, books, and words of men saying they are so convinced Christ is at the door.. but the Bible never said it was by natural disasters, wars, or unfortunate events that He will come.. but that He will come as a thief.. which is very quietly, subtly, in the calm of the night when no one is stirring. Our job is to watch and be ready for that sudden knock on the door.. and I am willing to bet everything I've got that it will be during a time when no one in the world is expecting it.

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matt 25:13

And watch out for those who claim they do.

Hell and the Elect

2011-03-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

The highest percentage of those who do not believe in a hell are Universalists.

Often times, whenever we share that we do not believe in an eternal, ongoing burning inferno, then others assume that we are Universalists. We are definitely not Universalists, and we do believe in a judgment and a punishment.

We were able to prove through our in-depth study in the Bible that the wicked will be burned up by God, but that the fire does go out after it consumes them. We are able to show that the eternal fire is not its duration, but its finality. We are able to show that hell, 94% of the time in the Bible, refers to the grave. The rest of hell translates as Gehenna, which is a valley in Jerusalem. Only one instance refers to Tartaroos, which is a holding place for fallen angels to be reserved unto judgment.

If you haven't checked out our hell studies, then please click "hell" on our right column under "labels" or click HERE. Be sure to check out our four part study on hell called "The Biblical Truth About Hell" where we try to cover every instance of hell listed in both the OT and the NT.

We also believe in the elect since we are able to find it scripturally. But how does there not being a "hell" work for those who also believe in the elect?

Well, once we put these pieces together by scripture, it does flow together perfectly.

First, one cannot help but be humbled that God chose us before the foundation of the world as His elect. We are also thankful since it was not by any merit of what we have done, or any importance of who we are because it was by God's mercy alone. It could have easily been the next guy instead. As Paul wrote in Galatians 1, "It was the father's good pleasure to separate me from my mother's womb and to reveal His Son in me."

Secondly, since God raises up vessels fitted unto destruction and vessels unto mercy (Rom 9) by His own will before we have ever done anything yet.. then why would God punish those who were created that way by burning them forever and ever in the utmost agony possible? I am not writing this by my own emotion and rationalizing, but what I am able to defend scripturally.

The Bible shows that God, whom we all will praise for being a just and merciful judge, gives everlasting life to us through Jesus Christ His Son. This gift is a gift, which is exclusive and not everyone gets it. That is what makes it a gift, and it is only possible through Christ. Those without Christ do not get everlasting life. Instead, they will die because the wages of sin is death (the second death).

We all will die because we were born unto Adam in the flesh but to God, this is only sleep since we will all be raised up again. But after this, God's elect will inherit everlasting life and live forever with Christ when He comes back to redeem them from the grave. Those who did not die in Christ will be brought up again after the thousand years are over, and they will face the second death. The second death is the one that they will NOT come back from. They will die.. forever. They will miss out on the gift of God. They will miss out on life, on being glorified, and they will miss out in living forever in Paradise with God.

It is so simple and clear once we find this. The elect of God will be given life. The wicked will not have life, but they will die and perish forever. After we have studied this, it has helped us understand God's character more and His plan for us.

But don't just take our word for it either. Check out the links to the scriptures we have found. Check your Bible. Use your concordances, and the Greek and Hebrew translations (E-sword.net is an excellent free tool to have all these at once). Most important of all, ask God to guide you into His truth, to give you discernment also, and wisdom which He has promised to give liberally to all who ask for it.

Satan's New Strategy

2011-02-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Satan once was our enemy. He bared his horns, sent his followers to destroy and massacre Christians, took away our bibles, created laws against us, locked us up in prison, and sent us in hiding for centuries. What came from that? Our faiths were strengthened. We were bold and loved not our lives unto the death. A revival swept across the body of believers.

So now Satan has a new strategy.

Satan is now our friend.

We have religious freedom. We have no fear of being martyred for our faith in this country today. We know that we won't go to jail for our faith. Now we have become offended if we hear we have to suffer for our faith. We are offended at tribulation and have created a new doctrine in the 1800's that we will escape any kind of tribulation by a secret rapture. Anyone who says otherwise is offensive and we don't want to hear him.

He gave us our Bibles back. They are found in many book stores, and even Christian stores. We can even get them for free! But now we never read it. It collects dust at home. When it comes to knowing our Bible, we are so illiterate! We have become so lazy that we depend on someone else to tell us a verse or two at the pulpit once a week, and then we forget about it anyways. No one is able to defend what they believe in and why they believe it with the Bible, but instead, we will quote someone else or give a link.

Now Satan has crept in unawares into our congregation. This happened just like the Bible said it would. The Jesuits infiltrated the churches years ago by causing division in the church, and planting in a Jesuit false pastor to spread damnable doctrines and to blind the Christians. Alberto Rivera was an ex-jesuit that was killed for exposing this. He counted there to be approximately 1.605 million priests, nuns, and devoted members of the Vatican becoming trained agents to infiltrate churches. This has been happening for so long that these lies have become the very essence of Christianity..but when we dig those doctrinal roots, it will lead you back to the Vatican. When we wake up and search for truth in the Word, we will find that Christianity has gone off so terribly awry.. and the ironic thing is that the truth is in the book that is under two inches of dust under a pile of books somewhere in our house.

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Acts 20:29

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation . . ." Jude 4

Now Satan has his own Christian TV shows! He has his own Christian network! His own Christian radio channel! He has thousands of Christian books! When you walk in a Christian store, 90% of these books and CDs are horribly tainted. We blindly follow these men as angels of light, messengers of truth, and they have become our word of god.

Some examples:

Tim Lahaye, a popular author of the Left Behind series is also known as a high-level Mason. Here in this book, "Power of the Cross," he uses a Knights of Templar symbol on the cover. The Knights of Templar are a luciferian, illuminanti secret society. Why would a "Christian" author use such a symbol?

Tim LaHaye again uses another symbol in this book, "Prophecy Study Bible." He puts a hexagram star in the seal, which is the most powerful symbol in witchcraft. It is used to bring a hex and a curse to others. The illuminanti uses this as a powerful symbol as well. Also, if you look closely, the A has a 'v' shape, making this into a masonic compass.

Michael Pearl is an author of several books, as well as videos and audio tapes. He is mostly known for the No Greater Joy series which is widely popular with Christians. However, why would he use a Celtic writing font for his book, "Eight Kingdoms" as well as the sun-symbol (notice the O with a dot in the center?). It is a witchcraft symbol for the sun-god that is used by Masons.

The No Greater Joy logo has a sun symbol, which many satanists use to represent their sun-god. Also look at "ministries" on the bottom, and notice that the M is an upside-down trident symbol.

Michael Pearl's other popular book is called "Good and Evil." Yet, what is interesting is that he put in an upside down satanic cross as the I in Evil. This is also a widely-used satanic symbol to dishonor and mock God. This is why VW tries to make Christians aware of those symbols, so that we may expose those who are deceiving us.

We also have an article on Joyce Meyers, and her "All-seeing eye" references, CLICK HERE to go to the article.

Also, to read more, be sure to check out this wonderful website: Liberty to the Captives

Again, we emphasize that the only one we can ever trust is Jesus Christ. He is the only true vine. He is the only true Shepherd. He is the only Truth. He is the only Way. We need to rely on Him solely.

Which Kingdom is it?

2011-02-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

There are some that are teaching out there that there is a difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. There is also a new, popular book that was just released by Michael Pearl called "Eight Kingdoms" that teach that both kingdoms are different. We believe they are one and the same. Christ came to preach one gospel, about one kingdom, with one way and one salvation. He is also not the author of confusion.

Matthew is the only book in the Bible that wrote "kingdom of heaven" while the other books used "kingdom of God." Some believe that Matthew was afraid to offend the Jews by writing "God" since to them, it was a very sacred word and was easily offensive to use. However, Matthew did use "kingdom of God" several times in the book, so the real reason is unknown.

There is a lot more about this subject, but here are verses that prove these two kingdoms that Jesus spoke of are one and the same. Here is a list of verses that are written about the same instances, but from different books in the Bible. Hopefully, showing these comparisons between those verses will help us understand better what Jesus was speaking of.

See which kingdom they refer in each verse-

---------------------------------------

Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

VS.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

-----------------------------------------

Matthew 5:3, 10 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

VS

Luke 6:20, 22 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

----------------------------------------------------

Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

VS

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you thrust out.

--------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

VS

Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field.

VS

Mark 4:30-31 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened

VS

Luke 13:20-21 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

VS

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

VS

Luke 19:11-13 They thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants.

------------------------------------------------------------

Matt 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. "

VS

Mark 10:14 "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. "

-------------------------------------

Matt 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "

VS

Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. "

--------------------------------------

Matt 13:10,11 "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."

VS

Mark 4:11 "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables"

--------------------------------

Jesus even spoke of both in the same sentence, and treated both instances as the same thing-

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matt 19:23, 24

He even says "and again I say unto you" as to repeat what he had just said even though he referred it as the kingdom of heaven the first time.

-------------------------------------------------

The "Glorified" Flesh vs the Spirit

2011-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

I enjoy hearing revelations by others and was inspired by one of my friend's email. (thanks G!)

Some people may struggle continually in their walk with God. They always seem to stumble and fall, however. Often times they start with a burst, but then end up burning out and feeling hopeless and defeated. This is because so many Christians are trying to "fix" the flesh. They are trying to improve it by abstaining from evil things, make commitments, attend church regularly, be accountable, and so forth.. but those are just works and attempts done in the flesh. Unfortunately, that is a guaranteed failure.

Nothing in the flesh can please God. The Bible tells us that in Romans 8:8. A Christian can do many wonderful works in the flesh, profess godliness (you can be "Godly" and not have God), never miss a church service, and be to what the world thinks: "an excellent Christian" or a "very godly person!" But unfortunately, for the majority of them, they will face Christ and say that they have done so many wonderful things in His name, but He will turn to them and say, "depart from me, I never knew you"

^"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt 7:21-23

Those people that were rejected by Christ did many wonderful things in His name.. but that doesn't mean they were IN Him. How many of us claim His name, but are not IN Him? Unfortunately, too many. They weren't doing the will of the Father in heaven although they thought they were by doing those works. What is the will of the Father? It is for us to receive the one whom He has sent. (John 6:40).The will of the Father is not for those in the flesh to earn points with Him by their dead works, but to die in the flesh and live again in the Spirit through His Son Jesus Christ.

Those who did those many wonderful works were called workers of iniquity. That is because they were still in the flesh! The flesh = iniquity. If you are in the flesh, you are in iniquity, period.

God only recognizes those in the Spirit as His. He will not accept the flesh. Just like Hagar and Ishmael had to be cast out (flesh cast out), so that Sarah and Isaac would remain and be heirs (Spirit can only remain and inherit the promise), God will cast out those in the flesh in spite of all their wonderful works, and only those in the Spirit will remain. (read Galatians 4).

My friend G also wrote that God only accepts one offering, what is pleasing to Him and rejects all other. Cain offered what he thought was sufficient, but God rejected his offering. Abraham offered his son, but God stopped Him and provided him with a ram tangled in the bushes for an offering. God doesn't want our offerings, or what we may think is sufficient to please Him. He only demands one offering- His Son.

We can try to "fix" our flesh, and wrap it in a pretty package for God, but He does not want it. It will be rejected. Just like how Cain prepared a basket of fruit that he worked hard to grow.. he was giving God what He thought was good, and was proud of. God wants what He demands. What can we do? Nothing. Only God can draw us to His Son, whose blood and Spirit transforms us after His image, and from that point on.. we are a new person in Him.

What is it to be born again? It is not a repented, fixed, glorified flesh. It is dead flesh. We must die to the flesh, die to the lineage of the first Adam, and be born again in the Spirit, but it is not by ourselves, but BY the Spirit. We have to be born into this new generation where Christ is the second Adam, and the first in this Spiritual lineage. You are no longer this person that you were in the flesh, but have become a part of this Spiritual lineage, as a heir and a son of God. The Bible says that this must happen for us to enter the kingdom of heaven, and there is no other way.

When He looks at us, let Him see His Son in us, not our own "glorified" flesh. We need the blood of the spotless lamb without blemish over our doorpost and the angel of death will pass over us. Jesus is that passover lamb.

So.. there is absolutely nothing YOU can do to please God or to offer what you think is sufficient for God. It is not hopeless although it may sound like it.. but trust in God, realize you have failed, and will forever fail no matter how hard you try, but trust in the victory of His Son. It is not by our lives that we are saved, but by HIS alone. Know the truth and it will set you free. Humble yourself before God's sovereignty and in His Son's completed work. He will do the rest.

"Church"

2011-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Whenever someone mentions the word, "church," the majority of people will immediately think of a building with a cross on the roof. I think that is one of the biggest deceptions we have in the world today... that a church is a building. It might even lead to a false sense of security that when we go to this building, that we are IN a church, and a member of a church.

The ironic things we may find are..

That someone may attend a church their entire lives, but have never actually been a part of the true church.

That many will judge others for not attending a "church" regularly, but are only judging them for being outside of a building made of bricks and stone. Perhaps the people they are judging are a part of the true church, and that those who attend a "church" are not even in the real one.

I know some places that teach that Christ died for the church.. but that the building is a capital "C" and that the people are a lowercase "c." If you're in a place that teaches that.. run.

But for whoever is reading this, please first make sure that you are IN the real church before you start worrying about which building you're a part of. Going to a church building does not mean that you are in a church.

What does church mean though? In it's Greek translation, the word is ekklesia which means a calling out.

God calls out his elect (eklektos) which are the chosen ones, and He calls them OUT of the world to be gathered IN HIM. This is a church, and it is a very Spiritual thing. It has nothing to do with the commercialism we see today.

To say this in the most utmost frankness.. if you are not IN HIM, then you are not in a church. I don't care what building you go to every Saturday or Sunday, or that you're a notable member. You need to be IN HIM. That is all that matters.

Remember when Jesus announced that He was going to destroy the temple and raise it in three days? He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 2:19

Have any of you ever wondered what happened to that? Didn't Jesus ever follow through with this? Seems like it was overlooked. Well, actually this was a fulfilled prophecy. Look closely..

When Jesus said that, it was absolutely absurd to everyone else. They said, "Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? " v20

But....

"But he spake of the temple of his body."v21

This actually came true. Three days was Jesus in the tomb, and on the third day, He rose and established a new, Spiritual temple within the believers. This is a fulfilled prophecy, and His Words were true.

(also a side note: why do we seek after the physical things when has been made Spiritual? Millions of eyes are on the rebuilding of Israel's temple, and on physical buildings of churches.. but don't you know that the temple of God is not made with hands?)

"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. " Mark 14:58

David: "Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." Acts 7:46-51

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands" Acts 17:24

Are you in the temple that is not made with hands? It is an important question that we should all ask ourselves.. But let's look at more verses explaining what the Spiritual temple is.

The Spiritual temple is not a what, but a WHO.

"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. " 1 Peter 2:4,5

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. " 1 Peter 2:9,10

Well.. if I am a Spiritual temple for God, then how does it work?

"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. " John 14:23

"At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. " John 14:20

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. " 1 Cor 3:16,17

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. " 1 Cor 6:19,20

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. " 2 Cor 6:16-18

So.. if Christ is in the Father, and you are in Christ, then you all are joined together and they will make their abode and dwelling place in you! That is how it works.

And this is a continual thing. God's Spirit lives in you, and is guiding you. He is in you always now. You don't have to wait until Sunday to be in the church. He is in you right now and you can take this anywhere you go.

There is no building for God, and like the Bible says, where can He reside? The earth is his footstool! But God can live in you and be present with you every step of the way.. always and forever.

And if you are the temple of God and He lives in you, then who is in charge of this temple? Who is the head? Don't fall for the new age lie that you are your own god, can make your own rules of right and wrong, and lead your life your way. The temple of God is in you.. but Christ Jesus alone is the head of it. He has the preeminence.

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. " Psalm 118:22

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " Acts 4:10-12

"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; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. " Eph 2:19-22

Now you know what the Bible tells us.. do not be deceived by what the world tells you. Do not be afraid of judgment made by other men if they judge you for not being in a physical temple, because they cannot see when you are in the Spiritual temple. That is the only one that matters.

Do not worry about church memberships. When you are IN Christ, you are a member of the body of Christ. That is the only membership that counts.

I pray that our readers will find Christ and be in Him, and that they will experience church in a way that they never have before.

The Love of Truth

2011-01-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

Hello to our readers,

Thank you for following our blog and studying with us as we learn more things from the Bible. It is a journey that never ends which no one will ever "arrive".. but the fact that we're on this road together, and traveling on this journey means a lot. I do not know everything, and from all our findings, we've only scratched a nick on the immeasurable depths of God and His truth. I believe that a desire to grow and a love of truth is so important because it reveals the presence of His Spirit working in us. Let our hearts be like the good soil to receive whatever God chooses to reveal to us by His Spirit and His Word.

I've received several emails from people that ask me how I know which one is truth and which one isn't. That is a hard question to answer but I will try to explain it the best that I possibly can. I'll show what has been true for me, personally.

First, truth is of God. No man can arrive to truth without Him. We can all read the same book in English but truth will not be revealed to us unless it was given to us first by Him. One example is when Peter recognized Christ as the Messiah. He realized the truth about Jesus, and then Jesus turned to Him and said,

"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 16:17

The key in this verse above was that the truth was revealed to Peter; not by any man, not by flesh and blood, but by God.

This also reminds me of Paul's conversion. He was a very educated Pharisee and much devoted to His religion until Christ appeared unto Him on the road to Damascus and struck him with blindness. I believe that the physical blindness was to show him how blind he really was.. like the song, "I was blind, but now I see." It was then that Paul received the revelation of Jesus Christ and went forth with His truth,

^"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal 1:11,12

^"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. " Gal 1:15-17

These men relied on God completely for truth.

Any man can claim to have truth. Look at the world today, and look at how different and divided those "truths" have been. Who can you trust? There is not many truths, but only one truth. You can believe in something, but that doesn't make it truth. What is truth? God is truth. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. If you want truth, you will find it in Him. You won't find it by any man, any self-claimed prophet, any televangelist, any pastor standing on the pulpit, or even any article online. Yes, even this one too.

I'll share a personal story but I won't use any names.

I started this journey with several people that were very close to me. We started together at the same place, but now, every single one of us has gone the completely opposite way. We have nothing in common of what we believe in anymore. Sometimes, it startles me. It also grieves me deeply too because they were my very good friends.

One friend became a Torah follower and follows Judaism. She uprooted her whole family and moved them to Israel. The other friend went the polar opposite way and follows universalism and new age beliefs. It is very hard to see good friends go to the extreme, polar opposite ways and it also makes me question myself whether I am on the right track. I have those moments too.

Pray every step of the way. Stay IN Him. Acknowledge Him in everything, and He will direct your path. Be open for God to reveal something to you, stay teachable, and verify everything by the Word that He has given you. Question everything, and find the answer for it. If it is truth, then ask God to prove it and strengthen it for you. If it is not, then ask God to show you that it isn't.

The Bible is a giant jigsaw puzzle, and truth is the pieces. Truth is a door that opens to more things. You'll know it when truth isn't a road block or a dead end, but it leads you even deeper and farther.

Another key is that the Bible never contradicts itself. People do. There is one truth which is one thread that unites the entire Bible. Keep working through the tangled ball of threads until it comes apart more and more. You'll know that you're on the right road the more it unravels, and if you find that you've made a mistake, learn from it, and keep going!

Anyone can see one part of the picture and think it is something, but when you compare it to the other part, you may realize that it was never that one thing, but actually something else because you see how it fits. A friend of mine (thanks K!) used this example: When you look at something that looks like an elephant's ear, and you've accepted it that way for so long.. but when you start comparing it and putting the pieces together, you'll realize that it was the elephant's leg the whole time!

The Bible is amazing. It is brilliant. It is a treasure map and we're supposed to dig for it like buried gold. One truth unlocks another, and so on. There will be questions.. THOUSANDS of them! But you're going deeper than you've ever imaged and because it is truth that applies to God, to ourselves, our world, and our whole lives.. it's the most amazing thing to find.

Don't forget that the enemy roams around like a roaring lion. His demons are trying to pluck the truth out of your heart and confuse you with lies. Be sober and vigilant. Keep your eyes open, be awake, and keep your eyes on God! Keep going, and don't give up. Stay humble and stay little for God resists the proud.

Ask God with an open heart for His truth (and be ready to accept the price for truth). Ask Him to give you a discerning spirit and wisdom. Ask Him for a hunger and a desire for His Word. Ask Him to teach YOU!

Truth is very important, and when we seek truth.. we are seeking HIM. Seek Him with all your heart, and you will find Him.

Here are some verses. Some are about what we need to do to abide in truth. Some tell us where we can find the truth. Some tell us about those who have no love of the truth.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." Psalm 25:5

"Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." Psalm 86:11

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. " John 4:23,24

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31,32

"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

"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 14:17

"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." John 16:13

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17

^"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess 2:10-12

"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:7

"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim 4:4

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John 2:27

With much love to our brethren in Christ,

Revelation 14:11

2011-01-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev 14:11

First, we'd love for you to check out our studies on HELL, starting here. We covered in-depth the countless of times that the Bible speaks of the wicked being devoured, consumed, burnt UP, melted away, perished, etc. I hope this study helps strengthens the one we just did.

Now looking at this passage in Rev 14:11, nowhere does it say that the wicked will burn forever and ever. Sometimes after hearing what others say a verse means after so long, we forget to really read it carefully for what it says exactly.

The first keyword is SMOKE. After we blow out a candle, the fire is gone, and what is there? Smoke. After we put out a camp fire, what is there? Smoke. The fact that the Bible uses "smoke" reveals that God has completed His judgment, and the fire has done its work. Smoke is the after part of a fire.

The second key word is TORMENT. The dictionary defines this as: to be afflicted, distressed, agony, misery, suffering and great sorrow. The Bible tells us in the OT that the wicked will either wail and mourn when they see the Lord, or they will be angry and gnash their teeth at Him. This is a strong, emotional response.

The third key word is FOREVER. Forever does not mean for all eternity. This word is translated from Greek as aion/aionios, which means "age." This is a time, and a duration but has an ending. One example is Jonah. When he described his experience in the whale's belly, he said, "The earth with her bars was about me forever" in Jonah 2:6, BUT this "forever" was only three days and three nights long! I recommend studying this word.

Some scripture that matches the verse above:

"But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Psalm 37:20

After a fire, nothing is left. Everything has been consumed. All we see is the smoke signifying that the burning is complete, the fire has gone and everything has perished.

"As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God." Psalm 68:2

Smoke also shows that they are gone forever. The wicked will perish, and be no more. All that is left is the residue of God's final judgment.. the smoke.

I hope this shows that this verse in Rev 14:11 is not saying that "the wicked will be burned and tortured forever and ever" but that the smoke of their torment ascendeds up forever. There's a very important difference.

Desiring the Preeminence

2011-01-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

For those who are familiar with the Pharisees in the New Testament, we are told about their behavior. We know that the majority of them (aside from a very few) rejected Christ and hated Him. Have you ever wondered that maybe if they knew for SURE that Jesus was the Christ, then they would have acted differently towards Him? Or perhaps you know, like I do, that regardless of whether they knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they still perceived Him as a threat to what they had.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 23 that the Pharisees had power over the people. They got to tell them what to do, what to say, what to observe and what not to do. The Bible shows us that the Pharisees got plenty of honor and praise. They were seated in the highest rooms of every feast, and in the synagogues. Men would follow after them calling them master! They received a lot of riches from the people, and are always a spectacle of admiration.

Well, we can say they had it pretty good, right? Now, whenever there was someone that rose up, someone that preached the truth, and that the multitude would travel to come and listen to... did the Pharisees rejoice over a prophet like John the Baptist? Or did they want to destroy him? Did they rejoice when the promised Messiah finally came? Or did they want to kill him?

Power,glory, and riches is not meant for man to have. This belongs to God alone. If God intended for man to have these things, then surely the disciples of Christ would have been the richest men in the world! Instead, these things turn a person rotten to the core.

Now, we are bringing the focus on the key word: "Preeminence."

According to the dictionary, this is a title given to the most important one. A superior person. He is Sovereign. He is the authority. This is a distinguished title.

God, the Father, gave Jesus Christ the preeminence.

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18

Paul also wrote that he spoke to a church in Diotrephes, but they received him not. Now, why on earth not?? Check this out:

"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." 3 John 1:9

They wanted the preeminence for themselves! They didn't want Paul. They didn't want anybody. As far as they were concerned, they had all the answers, and the power and authority they thought was entitled to them.

Unfortunately, this is so common. We see this everywhere on so many levels.

Perhaps, you may recognize it in a religious leader. You might recognize it in the papacy. You might even recognize it in a baptist preacher. The signs are that they are exalted, proud, and rich. They might find it a threat if you went somewhere else or to someone else besides them. They give more of their own opinions and judgments than they do to the Word of God. They might be known to belittle those who are not fully under their control. Those are just a few to name..

And well, sometimes we may find it in ourselves. Do we desire the preeminence for ourselves? Do we want to judge for ourselves what is right and wrong? Do we want to be our own God? We're seeing a rapid rise in the new age movement where man is his own god.

Let the preeminence be Christ's alone. Watch out for whoever else wants to keep it for themselves. Recognize them and flee. Let us evaluate our own lives and look into our hearts- Do we have the preeminence, or does Christ in us?

Keep Christians Out of Christmas.

2010-12-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas day to millions of people. As for us, we do not partake of this event. There are countless of associations of this holiday with many pagan traditions. I can very easily write articles about how they are all related to paganism, and that Christians should have no part of these associations. But, I won't do that this year. We have many wonderful resources and information to find online. Just type "Christmas" and "Pagan" and you'll find much info out there!

This will be brief. I will just list a passage that is often debated.

"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." Jeremiah 10:1-5

Whether our readers may protest that this may have anything to do with Christmas trees, the part of this passage that truly matters is this:

"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen"

"For the customs of the people are vain."

God just simply tells us not to follow after the rest of the world. The world observes this day, and that day and they have their own traditions. As Christians, we're to have no part with it. It is all vanity in the eyes of God. We're not of this world, and even that should be blatantly obvious to everyone else but unfortunately... you don't see that anymore.

Many Christians will argue and say that if we make this holiday about Christ, then it'll be okay to celebrate. If we think about it, does God want that? Does He want us to take something wicked, and then make it good, for His sake? Or does He ask us to be separate from the wicked thing altogether?

"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." 1 Cor 10:21

Many of us know that December 25th isn't Christ's birthday. He also never commanded us to celebrate His birthday, but to observe His death and its purpose. Could we just be trying to justify our decision in partaking with this holiday, by making it about Christ for our own selfish motives? I don't mean to sound harsh, but what other motive could it be, if it is not God's? We should evaluate ourselves.

Many will argue that God does not want to deprive us of joy. Well, God reminds us in the Bible that He doesn't want us to seek empty joy from the world, or joy from satisfying our own carnal desires. He wants us to find joy in HIM alone, and for that to be sufficient. True joy is only through Him.

Christmas is a day with the most dazzles, lights, glitter, and the most appealing things. Don't forget the nature of Lucifer. He draws us in and allures us by his brilliant appearance, and appears to us as an angel of light. It is in this day when we are brought to financial burdens, find ourselves in debt, and when we feed our fleshly desires the most. Wouldn't you agree that it is the opposite of what God seeks from us?

Behold the Lord, not the world. Come out and be separate.

The Jehovah's Witness and the 144,000

2010-12-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

I met a young lady that was a Jehovah's Witness at McDonald's recently. We introduced ourselves, exchanged our email addresses and had long discussions via email back and forth. Surprisingly, the JW believe in a lot of the same things that we do concerning heaven, hell, the immortality of the soul, and about not partaking in Pagan holidays.

However, we were not able to agree with them on every point. It was not a disagreement as a matter of personal opinion, but something we were able to prove scripturally. If you are a JW reading this, then please let us share our findings with you. And let the Bible be the final authority.

Here is what we found about the 144,000.

It is spoken of only two times in the Bible: Revelation 7 and 14.

JW believe that 144,000 is a literal number and not a symbolic number. We have found so far that a lot of numbers in the Bible, especially in Revelation are in code.

The number 12 is a special and significant number in the Bible. We see in the Bible that there were 12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples of Christ, 24 elders, that the New Jerusalem has 12 foundations, 12 gates, 12 thousand furlongs, a tree with 12 different kinds of fruit, blooming 12 times a year, and so forth.

The 144,000 is a multiple of 12 which signifies a completeness.

Here is its basic Hebrew numerology:

12 = God's chosen people, part of His covenant, societal perfection

1,000 = Big number, gigantic scale, ultimate

Any number squared = The meaning of that number, but perfected

12 X 12 = 144 = The perfection of God's covenant with man

144 X 1,000 = 144,000 = The perfection of God's covenant with man on a gigantic scale

Immediately after John sees the 144,000, he now sees a great multitude that is innumerable from many tribes, nations, tongues, and so forth. In Revelation, there is a pattern we can find. It usually begins a chapter with symbolic things, then those symbolic things are clarified immediately after. For example, in Revelation 17, John sees a vision of a woman riding a beast with seven heads, ten crowns, rising out of the water. Immediately after this symbolic vision, there is a clarification of what it means in the same chapter. There is a very strong possibility that the innumerable crowd is the result of the symbolic 144,000.

If that statement above is not enough, let us look into more and dig deeper:

The 144,000 were redeemed from the earth. When Christ appears, we shall be caught up in the air to be with the Lord forever. This act of being caught up separates us from the earth below which will face the wrath of the Lord. We have been redeemed from the earth when this occurs.

The 144,000 are said to be resurrected immediately in heaven. In the Bible, it says that no man has ascended to heaven, except the one who descended from heaven (Christ) in John 3:13.

The Bible also only speaks of two resurrections: One for the just to go into life, and the wicked unto damnation.

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" John 5:29

When Christ appears, it is the dead in Christ that shall rise. The Bible also says:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev 20:6

And then it says that the rest of the dead lives not again until the thousand years are expired in verse 5 above.

The JW says that it is the 144,000 that reign as kings and priests with Christ, but the Bible speaks of those who partake of the first resurrection. The second resurrection is after the millennial reign.

I cannot find anywhere that there is a heavenly resurrection for the 144,000. I only have found that no man can enter heaven as of yet until the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 explains this in more detail:

Christ was the first to have a glorified resurrection. He was the firstfruit of the resurrection, and verse 23 says:

"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (v23)

We will receive this glorification at His coming. 1 John 3:2, and Phil 3:21 both confirm that we shall see Christ appear, and receive His image. We shall too be like Him at His coming.

This next verse is key:

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." 1 Cor 15:50.

So, this basically says that no one can enter heaven as of yet. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.

And there's a "BUT"..

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (v53)

So when Christ appears, we will be changed from mortal into immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible. Now this becomes possible. It is never said anywhere in the Bible that this spiritual resurrection ever occurs before His coming.

Here are the qualities of the 144,000. They are:

SEALED- We see that they are sealed which separates them from the rest divinely. Yet, the Bible tells us that saved believers will be sealed by the Spirit also in (2 Cor 1:21,22, Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30). This sealing is available to us who are saved, and never made apparent to be exclusive to a specific number of people only.

WITHOUT GUILE- We are without guile because God has imputed upon us His righteousness (Psalm 32:2, Rom 4:8)

WITHOUT FAULT- We are without fault because Christ has perfected us forever with His one sacrifice (Heb 10:10, 14, 17)

SERVANTS OF GOD- The 144,000 are called the servants of God, as we are. (Rom 6:22, Eph 6:6, 1 Peter 2:16)

JEWS FROM THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL-

The 144,000 are Jews, but the Bible says that we are no longer Jews by birthright, but of the heart-

"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom 2:28,29

PRIESTS- We have been made priests of God if we partake of the body of Christ. (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

ABLE TO SEE CHRIST AND REIGN WITH HIM- The great multitude mentioned in Rev 7 are surrounding the throne of God and of the lamb, and are seen worshiping them. This multitude came out of the great tribulation, washed their robes in the blood of the lamb, and are now before the throne serving God day and night. The Lamb will be in the midst of them also.

My JW friend asked me how I had proof that Christ would be with us. I gave her these verses:

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess 4:17

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3

Also, the Bible tells us that we will all see Jesus. It is not going to be an invisible event. Here is proof:

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

A great crowd of 500 saw Jesus ascend to heaven. The angels told them that in this like manner, we shall also see Him descend down.

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Rev 1:7

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30

There is also another possibility about us seeing God the Almighty Himself-

Isaiah (in Isaiah 6) saw God, but first he had to be purified. When we are changed and transformed, we will be purified also into incorruptible, glorified beings, free from the flesh of sin.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev 21:3

"And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads." Revelation 22:4

Now I address the verse that is very popular with the JW to support their beliefs of the 144,000:

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

The JW believe that the "little flock" is specifically the 144,000. Firstly, there is nowhere in that passage that mentions the 144,000. Peter even asks Christ in this same passage in verse 41 if He is speaking to them, or to all? Jesus replies about the good and faithful servant, and this is who this passage is directed to.

The Lord is our Shepherd and we are His flock. This is spoken of countless of times throughout the Bible. (some examples: Ezekiel 34:15, 31, Psalm 79:13, 95:7, 100:3, Matt 10:6, 25:33, John 10:4, 11, Acts 20:28,29, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:2,3)

Unfortunately, the Lord's flock is small because the road is straight and narrow and there is a few that find it. There is no special group of 144,000 sheep separated from the rest of the other sheep but that God said He will bring us all together to be one fold, and to have one Shepherd (John 10:16).

Also, God is not a respecter of persons. He does not distinguish one above the other (Rom 3:22, Col 3:11, Gal 2:6). All have fallen short of the glory of God, and it is by His grace that we are saved and found without fault before the throne of God. We receive the sealing of the Spirit, and the Father claims us as His own through adoption of sons (Gal 4:5,6 and Rom 8:15). That is why His name is written on our foreheads.

He that overcomes is given all these things: Power over the nations, to sit on a throne, and he will inherit all things.

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" Rev 2:26

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev 3:21

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev 21:7

And who is he that overcomes?

"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Rev 12:11

The Bible included you and me in this plan. Christ is our head, our mediator, and we are partakers of His grace and glory. It is not limited to specific 144,000 but that it was given to those who overcome. We shall live with Him and reign with Him. This is all made possible through Jesus Christ our Lord according to the Father's good pleasure.

The End of the Law

2010-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some key verses about the law and how it has ended through Christ. Many Christians are still bound by the law, and have not embraced the liberty in Christ. The law will only bring condemnation, and it is only through Christ and what He has done for you, that you may be saved.

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt 5:18

The law couldn't pass away until everything was fulfilled. And it has been.

It was all fulfilled by Christ Jesus.

"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Hebrews 8:13

Christ established a new, Spiritual covenant with us. The covenant which was the law is now passed away. It is old, expired and outdated. We have the new covenant now which is to walk in the Spirit, not by the law of the letter.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:4

Christ is the fulfillment of the law. He is the completed and perfected work of the law. Now that we live in Him, and He lives in us, we also receive the fulfillment thereof.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4,5

This was His purpose. Christ was under the law, walked in it perfectly, fulfilled all things, and now in Him, we are redeemed from the law.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" Gal 3:3

And it is His completed work. Let us rest in His completed work and not stay in bondage! Christ has paid the price and set you free!

"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Luke 16:16

This is interesting. The law was to bring forth a need for a Saviour. The prophets all testified of a Saviour. This occurred all the way up until John. John's purpose was to announce the Messiah before the world, and then God allowed him to be killed. I believe this could possibly be because his purpose as a prophet was over, because it was now the time of Christ.

Remember the story when Peter and John saw a vision of Jesus transfigured before Elijah and Moses? This was also symbolic for Christ standing before the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah). Peter wanted to honor all three equally by building three tabernacles for them. God's voice came out of heaven and rebuked Peter by saying "this is my Son, hear HIM!" Christ was not to be made equal with the law and the prophets. It was now His time.

Many people that I have shared this with become offended and say that we need the law as a moral guideline. They say that without the law, people would go on a sinning frenzy. The new covenant that Christ established is Spiritual. He gave us His Spirit to guide us, to instruct us, and to teach us. If we are truly saved, and if His Spirit is truly within us, then our fruits will become evident. We will not go on a sinning frenzy because He lives in us. God directly works in us and forms us in His image. Our steps no longer become our own, but His because we have truly been born again in the Spirit.

If a Christian decides to keep the law, and let their works become their righteousness, then they will be condemned by God. In the Bible, it says that no flesh will be justified by the law and the law has concluded ALL guilty (Rom 3:19,20, 28, Gal 2:16, Gal 3:11, Gal 5:4). It is not by works that we are saved, but it is by faith. The law is carnal, and those who do not have faith, and are unable to trust Christ alone for their salvation will try to earn their own way into heaven. God requires your faith in His Son, and what He has done for you. This is also the only way.

Our Youtube Page

2010-11-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hello to our fans and readers!

Don't forget to check out our Youtube page! We have videos available for all audiences, as well as many in sign language for our deaf friends! Click on the above header and click "For the Deaf." It will take you to our Youtube page!

Thanks :)

The Identity of the Holy Spirit

2010-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

We'd love to share with our readers something we've discovered in scripture. This is a heavy topic that most Christians fear to even question, but I do believe that God wants us to find the truth which is the reason why He has given us His Word. One of the foundations of modern Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity. Yet, it is strange that the word "trinity" is never mentioned in the Bible. Surely, if God wanted us to acknowledge and worship the trinity, then He would have made that very clear.

Many will stop here without continuing to read further. We won't give you anything that isn't in scripture. The Bible is the final authority. I ask you to check the Bible and be open, and teachable. Paul commended the church of the Bereans for testing what he was saying and comparing it to scripture first (Acts 17:10,11) . He praised them because he knew that the Bible was the final authority and he wouldn't want us to just take man's word for it.

Moving back to the subject, if you're still with us, then please check out these verses about the Holy Spirit. We are taught that there are three in the godhead, but throughout the chapter of John, it talks about the relationship between the Father and the Son. The holy Spirit is nowhere in this.

And what we've found is that the holy Spirit is the Spirit of God the Father. Here is what we have found:

Compare both verses which are speaking of the very same instance, but one is in Matthew and one is in Luke.

"But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." Mark 13:11-13

"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:19,20

See this? One says that it is the Holy Ghost speaking in us, but then the next one says that it is the Spirit of our Father that speaks in us. The Bible does not contradict itself. These are obviously speaking of the same Spirit, which is God the Father.

Next,

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Rom 8:11

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)" Gal 1:1

So, is it the holy Spirit that was in Christ that quickened Him from the dead, or was it God the Father who raised Him from the dead? Again, there is no contradiction. They must be speaking of the same Spirit, which is the Father's Spirit.

Before I go further, here is proof that God the Father is a Spirit:

"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." Genesis 1:2

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

Now that we've clarified that, let's move on.

It was the Holy Ghost that came upon Mary and gave her the fruit of the womb, which was Christ (Matthew 1:20) but Jesus is the Son of God the Father. Was He conceived by the Holy Ghost? Is He the Son of the Holy Ghost or the Father? It wouldn't make sense unless both were speaking of the one and same Spirit.

Next,

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Cor 6:19

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Cor 3:16

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." 2 Cor 6:16

"That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." 2 Tim 1:14

*The blue is to show who dwells in us, and the red is to show whose temple we are.

So.. are we the temple of God the Father, or of the Holy Ghost? God said He will dwell in us, and the Bible says that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Our conclusion is that we are the temple of God the Father's holy Spirit, and that He dwells in us. But, we'd rather have you check and study the scripture for your own conclusion. Hopefully, we are helping provide information for you to look into for yourselves. The key is that if it is truth, then see if it matches everything else! Test the scriptures!

Here are some more to think about:

The OT constantly refers to God the Father as "the Spirit of God." *(italics added for emphasis)

Example: "And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly." 1 Samuel 11:6

"Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me." Isaiah 48:16

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" Isaiah 61:1

"Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 39:29

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" Acts 2:17

(note: the Bible says that when Jesus was on earth, it was during the last days. When Jesus left, the Spirit of God was sent and given to us, just as God promised.)

Here is something interesting:

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." 1 Cor 12:13

Are they talking about two different beings with the Spirit of God and the Holy Ghost? Let's check the Greek translation:

"Spirit (Pneuma meaning Spirit/blast) of God (Theos meaning diety)" and "Holy (hagios meaning sacred and most holy) Ghost (Pneuma again, meaning Spirit).

There is no reason that Spirit and Ghost would be written differently, both have the same translation. "The Spirit of God" and "The most holy Spirit." Again, this verse is talking about the one and same Spirit.

Here's another:

"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit." 1 Thess 4:8

This one doesn't capitalize "Holy" although it is the same word as above: "hagios" which means most holy and sacred. Why would the verse above capitalize "Holy" and the verse below not capitalize "holy?" Keep an eye out and be keen over punctuations and capitalization in the English translation.

God has given us HIS holy Spirit. God is a Spirit and He is holy. He gives us His holy Spirit.

"No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:12,13

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph 4:30 *(not capitalized again, but is this more clear? I hope so!)

"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." 2 Cor 3:3

"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:11

"No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:12,13

The Bible also tells us that God the Father is the Father of spirits (plurality in Heb 12:9), and in Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6, it tells us that God has sent seven Spirits to the world.

The Bible mainly speaks of God the Father loving His Son and giving all things to His Son. It testifies of their relationship. Jesus is one with the Father, and the Father is one with Jesus, and they dwell in us and make their abode in us (John 14:23). The holy Spirit (if a third person) is never mentioned in this unification.

Try these verses out and see if they fit. If it is truth, then it will fit them all from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

The Paganism of Catholic "Holy Days"

2010-11-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent video for my Catholic friends, and for so many Christians that are partakers of holidays. How all these things are connected is bone-chilling. Personally, I do not celebrate any holidays because of studying it's true roots and origins. We cannot sup both at the table of the Lord, and at the table of devils.

This video is by Jim Arrabito who traveled all over the country warning others about these things, but his plane was sabotaged in 1990 and he was killed along with his two sons.

Remember Lot's Wife

2010-10-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

"Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."

Luke 17:32,33

Here is a good lesson that we can learn from Lot's wife..

God pulled her out, but she turned around and looked back at her life. She spent many years creating her life at Sodom and Gomorrah. She had a family. She had many friends. She had her home. When God called her out, she looked back for all those things. God saw that. He cut her off there and turned her into a pillar of salt.

We often misunderstand the verses above and think that when the time comes that we have a gun to our head to reject Christ or die, we must be willing to die. Many Christians will say they're willing to die for Christ, but what about when He asks you to die to the life you have right now? What if He tells you that He doesn't want your life to be yours anymore, but for it to be entirely His as He wills it to be however He chooses it to be? Would you go forward and not look back?

If we hold on to our lives with a tight, white wrist grip, we will lose it. Let's lose it now.. and gain eternity with HIM. Let the old man die, let God kill our earthly lives, and let it become HIS life not ours. What a victory it is to say that it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.

Mystery Babylon

2010-10-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Click on the pictures to enlarge if needed:

50 million of Christians were tortured and martyred during the dark ages of the Roman Catholic Church's rule.

‎
"And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." Rev 18:24

More in Jeremiah 44 about the Queen of Heaven

The seven hills of Rome.

The Pope stands as a "replacement" of Jesus and demands to be worshiped.

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest church with over a billion followers all over the world.

Israel

2010-07-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Bible speaks of Israel multiple times. Many Christians zealously support and side with Israel in their battles and conflicts. Yet, when God speaks of Israel, is it the nation Israel? What was physical were shadow of things to come for the Spiritual. Let us come together and uncover another mystery in the Word.

Israel was established when God named Jacob "Israel." Long since then, they have become a nation of Jews. Yet, a lot of things changed when Jesus Christ came and accomplished His work on earth. He established a new spiritual covenant with us and grafted in the Gentiles to the vine. What about Israel? Let us read the scriptures:

Being a Jew was no longer physical, but Spiritual. It is no longer of the flesh according to their birth, but of the heart inwardly (born in Christ).

^"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28,29

The promise is no longer to those who are naturally born Israelites, but to those who are Spiritually born Israelites.

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. " Romans 9:6-8

Isaac represents the children of the promise because he was born from the free woman Sarah (grace). Ishmael represented the flesh and he was born from the bondwoman Hagar (law). The flesh (Ishmael) was cast out with the bondwoman because there can only be room for one: the children of the free to whom the promise was in effect. ***READ GALATIANS 4:22-31 to learn more about this.***

^"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." Galatians 4:28

If we are IN Christ, then we are Abraham's seed and the children of the promise.

^"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29

In order to be a part of this lineage of Abraham's seed, we must have faith. In whom shall we have faith? In Christ Jesus alone!

^"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:14

"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Galatians 3:6-9

Note: Notice above when God told Abraham, "In thee shall ALL NATIONS be blessed." This foretold of the Gentiles coming into the picture through faith. Why was it through Abraham? It was because he had faith in God, and he was not bound by the law and works. He was uncircumcised. Yet, he was called the friend of God for his faith, and God blessed him to be the father of faith.

We are now the adopted sons of God and heirs to the kingdom. We are no longer his servants through the law, but the sons of God through faith and Christ Jesus our Lord! Jesus took our place and died the condemned sinner's death for us, and we are now in His place as the sons of God and heirs to the kingdom.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:4-7

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12, 13

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Romans 8:14

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1

The flesh profits nothing. Being born a Jew or an Israelite will not save you. Being born again IN CHRIST shall save you.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Galatians 6:15

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matthew 3:9

Now the Gentiles have been given the promise through faith in Christ Jesus because Israel rejected their Messiah. We were once outsiders having no part of God, but now we have joined in the house of God through the blood of Christ. Now we are fellowcitizens, heirs to the kingdom and the adopted sons of God.

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 2:11-13,19

"For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob." Isaiah 14:1

Yet, let us not boast for the Gentiles were only grafted in the vine of Christ because of the Jews' unbelief. We are the wild branches that have been grafted in the olive tree. God can easily cut us off if we abide not in Him. God can also easily graft back in the natural branches (Israel) if they repent and seek Christ to be saved! (Rom 11:23)

"And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Romans 11:17-25

Israel has been blinded and the law is their stumblingblock so that the times of the Gentiles may be fulfilled.

"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." Romans 11:7-11

Yet if they shall turn to CHRIST, the veil shall be taken away!

"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." 2 Corinthians 3:13-16

The time shall come when the nation of Israel shall repent and turn to the Messiah.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zechariah 12:10

But the times of the Gentile is now and Israel is being trampled on. We see it in the news everyday. Where is God's protection and grace upon them? God is allowing this to happen to Israel until they turn back to their Saviour again.

^"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Luke 21:24

Christ has longed for Jerusalem to return to Him but they have rejected Him, so He shall not return unto them until they come in HIS name.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Luke 13:34-35

We see this passage explaining about how the Jews shall come to knock on God's door calling for Him but He will not open the door because He knew them not. They shall say to Him that Christ was one of them and walked amongst them, yet strangers from all nations shall enter the Kingdom and sup with Christ.

"When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." Luke 13:25-30 (also in Matthew 8)

We see that Abraham is there which represents faith, Isaac is there that represents the children of the Promise, and Jacob as Israel, yet those without shall be cast outside. Those who were last (Gentiles) shall be first, and those who were first (Jews) shall be last.

Israel is now Spiritual and it is for those who are in Christ who have faith. We have been grafted in the vine alongside with Jacob, Abraham and Isaac. Whoever is not in Christ has been broken off as an abombinable branch and shall be burned. Those who were broken off can be grafted in again through Christ. (John 15)

The Jews need to repent and turn to Christ! Flee from thy empty works and religion, and turn to Christ to be grafted back into the olive tree. Do not support Judaism and the way of the Jews, but call unto them to repent and turn away from their old ways!

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Revelation 2:9

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Revelation 3:9

The Jews persecuted the Christians and rejected the Gospel that was presented unto them:

^"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." Acts 18:5,6

The Jewish High Priests betrayed God when they crucified Christ and pledged their allegiance to the emperor.

"But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." John 19:15

Jesus warned the Pharisees and High Priests that the Kingdom of God would be taken away from them:

^"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matthew 21:43

We call out to the Jews reading this to turn to Christ, to repent and be saved! Let us join together as brethren in Christ to be one body, partakers of one Spirit, and to inherit the promise together.

"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:17

Those who are Jews that have converted to Christ are now Christians, after Christ, as the disciples were called as well. (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16) They are our brethren.

But remember that as Christians, we cannot approve of or praise Jews caught in the snare of the law and that are in the synagogue of Satan, yet we must preach the truth unto those to come out and be saved.

What is the Mark of the Beast?

2010-07-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Many Christians have gone in a wide-spread panic searching for the mark of the beast. We jump from one currency and from one system to another wondering if it could be the dreaded mark of the beast! Could it be those new RFID chips? Or could it be the Social Security number? What about the bar scanners?

If you are one of them who worry about these things, please hear us out and let us show scripture.

One of the rules for scripture is that the keyword used in the Bible can be found elsewhere. Once gathered together, we can see the whole picture. (This is also why using the original translation of the Bible is important)

The keyword we shall use is: SEAL

We see that those who have the mark of the beast aren't the only ones being sealed. The servants of God are sealed as well:

"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Revelation 7:2,3

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1

We see here that the servants of God are sealed by the Holy Spirit. These are the ones who have trusted Christ as their Saviour and heard the gospel. After this, they were sealed by the Holy Ghost.

"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:12-14 (caps added for emphasis)

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption" Ephesians 4:30

If the servants of God are sealed by the Holy Ghost which is Spiritual, why would the mark of the beast be something physical? God looks at the Spiritual things, and not the physical.

We see that the forehead and the hand show complete devotion and submission: with all our minds (forehead) and in all that we do (hand). It reveals who we are devoted to.

Example: "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes." Deut 11:18

Those who have the mark of the beast have consented unto the enemy in complete devotion. In Revelation, we see them being devoted to, worshiping, and in complete awe of the beast. They give him reverence.

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? " Rev 13:3,4

Those are who have fallen in love with the beast. They consent unto Him by their thoughts and their actions. They worship his image.

But what is the beast? Is it a man? Let us see what the Bible says. The keyword is: BEAST

What is a beast? Daniel 7:23 reveals it is a kingdom.

"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces"(Italics added for emphasis)

Here is the description of the Beast in Revelation 13: 1-8:

^"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

It is not a literal dinosaur monster rising out of the sea. Each description is symbolic. Let us see the truth behind the symbols. Revelation 17:8-18 reveal the secrets of the codes:

"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

So, we see here that the heads are mountains, the horns are the kings, the water represents multitudes of people, and the woman (also known as the whore) is a great city. Revelation 13 shows that the dragon (satan) gives the beast its power.

The children of God are able to overcome satan,

^"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Rev 12:10, 11

We shall overcome satan by the blood of the lamb which is by claiming Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for our sins. Our penalties have been paid in full.

We shall overcome satan by the word of our testimony which reveals what God is doing in our lives. It shows God's power in our lives.

We shall overcome satan also by not loving our lives unto the death. Satan will try to get us to do the opposite by loving our lives, the world, our possessions and ourselves. If we fear what we shall lose, we will miss out on what we could GAIN!

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev 13:8

This passage reveals that those whose names are NOT written in the book of life shall worship the beast. Christians are always fearful of mistakenly taking the mark of the beast, but why should we be the ones worrying? If we are truly saved in Christ, we will not be one of those who worship the beast and take his mark.

Those who are in Christ should never worry about the mark of the beast because if we love God with all our hearts, mind and soul like He commanded us to, we shall never give in to the beast. If we worship God with all that we think and do, then that leaves no place for the enemy!

***PART 2 COMING SOON TO REVEAL WHO THE BEAST IS***

The Same Day..

2010-06-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

There are many debates amongst Christians and one of the heaviest debate is about the timing of the return of the Lord for His people. When will He come for us and take us away from His wrath yet to come? Christians have been so divided against this that they have labeled themselves together into a group, from dispensationalists, Amillenialists, pretribilationists, midtribulationalists, posttribulationalists, and so forth. Yet, there is only one truth. Let us all come together as brethren in Christ to find it in His Word alone.

Allow us to show some scripture that may reveal further truth and understanding...

Let us read the passage in Luke 17 and understand the shadow of things to come:

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all." v26, 27

During the days of Noah, life went on. Everyone continued on with their daily business. They ate, they drank, and they wed. The day of destruction came as a thief in the night. First, Noah and his family entered the ark and were safely kept away... then disaster came unexpectedly and quickly.

When they entered the ark, the flood came that very same day. This is the key to understanding the second coming. Do you notice that 'day' is never plural, but singular? The day of the Lord is one spectacular event!

Were the wicked people given a second chance? Were they given a seven year tribulation? Not at all. They had all those years and years of warnings to repent and give heed to the Lord, but they ignored it. Destruction came and destroyed them all immediately.

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." v28, 29, 30

This was the same story with Lot. Life went on and everyone tended to their daily business. They ate, they drank, they bought and sold. They grew their crops, and they built their houses. God could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until His people were safely taken out. He sent His angels to literally drag them out of the city (shadow of things to come anyone? angels shall also come to carry us out of this world at the coming of the Son of Man, CLICK HERE for the article)

And once Lot and his family were taken out, destruction and fiery wrath descended from above ON THE SAME DAY. God does not waste any time. Were Sodom and Gomorrah given a warning tribulation period to repent? No. They could have repented at any time before the fire and brimstone destruction from the Lord, but they ignored and went on with their wickedness. Destruction came at the same day.

And so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Life will go on and we shall tend to our daily business. The coming of the Lord shall be as a thief in the night. He shall come for His people and destroy the wicked on this great and awesome day!

Blessed is the faithful servant who keeps watch for His master shall come at any hour.

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." Matthew 24:42-47

And the Lord also addresses His other servants, those who call Him LORD, but are not keeping watch and they are doing wickedly while being caught up in worldly things. What shall be His portion when the Lord arrives?

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." v48-51

This wicked servant of the Lord that was not prepared for His unexpected coming shall be cast asunder alongside with the wicked. Yikes. ... was this servant who was not prepared given another warning? Did the Lord come and tell the servant that He would come back in seven years and give him another chance? No.

Those who believe in a secret rapture before a tribulation, and yet another coming of Christ in the end have become lazy Christians. They are not watching for the Lord who shall arrive at any moment. Many have given up the urgency of watching because they believe they will have another chance after rapture. Beware the works of satan.

How dare we say that we can predict the coming of the Lord? We have created this seven year formula and have tried to pin-point the time that Christ shall return (Click HERE for the article about the false doctrine of the seven year tribulation.) Our Lord shall come as a thief in the night and only the Father knows the hour. No one shall know when.

And when our Lord returns, it shall be a glorious appearing for His faithful servants, and a day of utter horror and destruction for those who were not ready.

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev 22:11

The Prophecy of Daniel

2010-06-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

We have prayed before writing this article that it may be presented unto all of you in a very clear way. Let the Spirit of truth guide us into all understanding. Before reading this article, I urge you to remove from your mind whatever doctrines and teachers may have taught you about this scripture, and to look at God's Word for what it says alone. Other things that we may have come across with may disorient our minds, and let us find the simplicity that is in Christ.

Many teach that Daniel 9:27 is a tribulation and antichrist prophecy. In my personal experience, I took their word for it since they were experts, yet God has given us the minds of Christ that we may know these things. We don't need experts to tell us what it means, for God wrote this to us directly. We want to show our readers that this is not an antichrist or tribulation prophecy. Before anyone decides to shut off this website, we ask you to join us in seeking TRUTH from God's Word alone, and to hear us out.

The entire chapter 9 of Daniel is about Jerusalem. When it has become clear to Daniel what will happen to Jerusalem, He spends the chapter praying for mercy from God on their behalf. The angel Gabriel comes upon Daniel and shows him a vision from God about seventy prophetic weeks. This vision is described in Daniel 9:24-27. Let us read it together. (KJV passage below:

^"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:24-27

Here are our notes,

1.Seventy weeks is for- a cease to transgression, to make an end of sins, to bring a reconciliation, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal the prophecies and to anoint the most Holy.

-A cease to transgression is through the blood of Jesus, to make an end of sins is what Jesus did, to bring a reconciliation between man and God is through Jesus, to bring in everlasting righteousness is through the blood alone, to seal the prophecies and anoint the most Holy (Son of God).

2. Seven weeks is then given to restore and build Jerusalem unto "Messiah the Prince" as known as Jesus Christ.

- Seven weeks is symbolic for seven years since 1 week = 1 year. 7 weeks = 7 years.

3. In the midst of the week, Messiah is cut off (crucified and killed), not for Himself, but for us.

-Jesus' ministry lasted for 3 and a 1/2 years, exactly like the prophecy foretold ( 3 1/2 years is the middle of 7 years.) He was crucified 3 and 1/2 years after he started His ministry and was cut off in the midst of the week.. not for Himself, but for all of us.

4. "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.." Does confirm sound like destroy? or break? Confirm is to validate His covenant which is the new, spiritual covenant that Jesus Christ came to bring. It makes more sense that Jesus confirms His new covenant with us instead of an antichrist breaking some kind of agreement right? That is nowhere in the passage.

(Daniel is still writing about Messiah the Prince and no one else is ever introduced.)

5. "in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and oblations to cease.." Because of what Jesus did for us in the midst of the week when he hung on the cross and shed His blood, there was no longer any need for blood sacrifice! Jesus has taken it's place! He caused the oblation to cease too (many don't know this) but oblations are charitable offerings. Jesus has fulfilled those through His death.

6. "And for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate.." There were many transgressions, sins and abominations in the world but now that we have Christ to give us salvation and forgiveness, it stopped the overspreading of abominations and made it desolate (empty, a wasteland). Why would an antichrist want to stop abominations? He wouldn't right? This is a messianic prophecy.

7. "even until the consummation.." What Jesus did for us on the cross, he gave us everlasting righteousness, took away our transgressions, and this is good even until the consummation which is the end when He receives us as His bride at His coming. The definition for consummation is "perfection, fulfillment, an ultimate goal to an end, a completion of a marriage."

8. "And this shall be poured upon the desolate." And all this will be given to the desolate who were the (definition: "the sad, wretched condition, lost, forsaken.") This is a gift to us. I once was lost but now I am found. I was desolate but now I am redeemed.

The Real Marriage Supper of the Lamb

2010-05-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

Most of us have heard about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Upon hearing that, we may imagine fine linen, guests in fine array in a grand dinner party. Perhaps there will be a long buffet aisle filled with delicious food for us to eat. That is what I used to think of before I learned more about the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Note: This is not the marriage supper of the lamb.

Some are taught that after the "secret rapture" before the 7 year tribulation, the saints will be enjoying a grand marriage supper while the rest of the saints are below getting saved during tribulation. I've heard sermons saying that Moses and Elijah will even have to leave the marriage supper and go below to witness unto those left behind. What blasphemy. What a joke! That is nowhere in the Bible!

And why would God have a marriage supper without ALL of His bride? Why have it with half of his bride? That's not a complete wedding.

Come and read Revelation 19 with us,

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." Rev 19:7-9, 17-21

This is a wonderful and a more clearer explanation of the marriage supper of the lamb. Unfortunately, it is not referring to an upscale dinner party with delicious food for us, but that the fowls shall feast on the flesh of the wicked! Jesus will return at His coming and destroy the wicked below who want to make war with Him. He will destroy them and the birds and the fowls will feast on their flesh.

And when all this occurs, He will also be a bridegroom receiving His complete bride at His coming. We shall be raised out of our sleep, we shall be transformed into a new spiritual body, and we shall be caught up in the air to be with Him and there we shall always be with Him. We are together as a bride, meeting our bridegroom in the air to be with Him forever. That makes more sense doesn't it?

After looking at the above passage at Revelation 19, now let us look at Matthew 24, verse 33-37,

"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." Luke 17:33-37

Whosoever is left behind at His coming at the last trump, and whoever is not those caught up in the air as His bride, shall be left behind for destruction. The fowls and the eagles shall gather together as the like manner that we see birds circle and feast upon dead bodies and carcasses.

We also see this in Isaiah 34. The chapter speaks of His great and awesome day that is coming, and it also says:

"Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. " (v1-3)

And there is more!

"And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." Isaiah 66:24

"And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away. " Jeremiah 7:33

"Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them." Jeremiah 9:22

We can find a hundred of these verses speaking and describing the same fate of the wicked throughout the Bible. If you want to search for more, we recommend downloading E-sword.net (button is on the right side of our webpage) and search for fowls, carcases, and so forth.

We hope this has helped you have a better understanding of the fate of the wicked and what the Marriage Supper of the Lamb really is.

Is There a Secret Rapture?

2010-05-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

There is a popular, widespread belief about a certain kind of rapture. I personally believed it for years, but only because I was taught that way all of my life, because I heard it being taught from the pulpit and I read it in all the popular books. I read all fourteen books of the Left Behind Series. I would find myself wondering when the moment would be when we suddenly vanish into thin air. Do we really leave our clothes behind? What if I was driving? Who would be left behind in amazement at all the disappearances and how would they explain it?

These were some of my thoughts until one day I asked God for truth. In exchange, I knew I had to open myself up to Him to show me truth even if it meant accepting that I was wrong. That is not easy for many of us. We might be bold and zealous about defending our beliefs, but for us to realize that we were wrong is not an easy thing. It took me three months of seeking God and struggling with myself to finally understand AND accept what He was showing me.

Truth is in His Word alone. Be careful of popular belief. Be careful of man's doctrine. Be careful of traditions. We need to break away from all of these to be a clean slate, and open to whatever God may show us. It is a privilege and very humbling when He does, and it is very worth it.

Also, we encourage you to confirm everything that we are showing you in this article, and all articles with an open Bible. Double check everything, look into His Word, Seek HIM, not other men and their opinions. God offers us the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13) and He gives us the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) so that He may teach us.

Now, back to the focus of this article.. is there a secret rapture?

We all know that the word "rapture" is never in the Bible, but it does explain us being caught up in the air to be with the Lord. We can find that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

We see that we shall be "caught up" together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Note the word "them." The living shall be caught up with the dead in Christ who were asleep in their graves, then all together are we caught up in the air to be with the Lord.. forever.

"And so shall we ever be with the Lord."

At that point, we are all together and we shall be with the Lord always, never to be separated again.

Also note that: Jesus will descend down from Heaven, with a SHOUT!

Here is another verse that parallels to this one as well,

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Now, these both are descriptions of this same event. We see in verse 15 that "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed".. only those who are dead IN Christ may rise, while those without Him will not be raised out of their sleep until the second resurrection (note: Rev 20:5,6, John 5:29). So the dead shall be raised up, the living shall be changed, and then together we are caught up together in the clouds.

When does this take place? We see it says "at the last trump."

We are changed from corruption into incorruption. We are changed from mortal to immortal. Death is swallowed up in victory and the grave is defeated.

Okay so.. why do we assume this is a secret rapture that occurs before the this 'seven year tribulation' .. that we go back to the grave just to be brought up again? We go back to our dead bodies and be raised up again? Wouldn't that be saying there two raptures?

I thought we were gonna be with the Lord forever? Now we have to be separated from Him again?

And I thought death was swallowed up in victory and the graves were defeated?

So let's say the secret rapture belief is right. We are raptured, then we go to be with Jesus for seven years during the tribulation, then Jesus sends us back to the grave and back to our corpses, to raise us up in another kind of spiritual body, then we are raptured again to meet him in the air, then he descends down again to the Mount of Olives. That's pretty confusing isn't it?

...God isn't the author of confusion. There are no two raptures. There is not a second coming, and then a third coming.

I've heard of others explaining that the first one isn't official because Jesus' feet never literally touch the ground. But where is that in the Bible? I have never found it. What I have found was:

"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south" Zechariah 14:4

Wait, so His feet actually Do touch the ground after all?

When Jesus ascended to the skies after He rose from the dead, there were two angels and they said:

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

And Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives. Prophecy tells us He shall descend upon the Mount of Olives, the same way and at the same place.

Here's another one:

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7

So.. every eye WILL see him? Yeah!

The Bible tells us that the wicked SHALL see it!

"The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish." Psalm 112:10

We are caught up to be with the Lord during this great, terrible and awesome day. The wicked are left on earth to suffer the Lord's vengeance. It will be a day of battle against the wicked and kings of this earth. This is a big, fiery showdown. We definitely do not want to be below while all this is occurring! (check Isaiah 13:6, Joel 2:1-11, Rev 16:14, Zech 14:1-3, Joel 3:12-16, Isaiah 29:6, Isaiah 66:15,16, Malachi 4:1)

When we are caught up to be with the Lord, we shall descend down with Him to the Mount of Olives as well. (check Zechariah 14:5, Deuteronomy 32:2, Jude 1:14)

Let us look into more rapture verses and see if it all aligns up, stay with us!

"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:27-31

We see this verse is describing the coming of the Son of Man. As lightning shines in one place, it shines in the other as well, and we will all see Him. This passage describes awesome things to behold! Does this sound like a secret rapture to you? Surely when Jesus comes, every eye shall see Him and they shall wail, or gnash their teeth at Him. They will all see us have our victory with the Lord Jesus.

What is so cool is that when you read the last verse there, it says that He shall send his angels to gather his elect from the four winds. That is how we are "caught up." It never says we vanish. It never says we fly but that we are "caught" UP in the air.. by the angels. (read Rev 7:1 speaking of angels standing on the four corners of the earth). Also,

"The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matthew 13:39

There is a harvest on this Earth. The reapers are the ones who gather the harvest and place them in a basket of some sort and brings them to the barn house. The reapers for this harvest are the angels as they reap God's people.

Also notice how it says "the harvest is at the end of the world?" All this will take place at the same time, at the end of the world. We recommend our readers to read the Wheat and Tares parable in Matthew 13.

There is one second coming. There is one rapture. What about the tribulation? Don't you know that the last days already began when Christ left the Earth? We have already been living in the last days. Believers are being martyred and persecuted for their faith every single day. During the Dark Ages, 50 million Christians were tortured and killed. China is hiding underground right now in fear of a massacre. We ARE in the last days!

Paul wasn't wrong when he said we were in the last days. He was telling the truth. Some pastors teach that Paul mistakenly thought they were in the last days. There are no mistakes in the Bible, and the last days did begin then.

Here is another:

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10

The Lord's coming shall come as a shock to many people. The heavens will pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, and the earth and it's wicked works shall be burned up. This is definitely no secret rapture. How can anyone miss that?

Paul comments on this further:

"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess 5:2-4

It will only be a thief in the night for those without Christ, not for us. We should be like the faithful servant that is always watching. We will not be caught off guard. We will be ready.

Also note how it says "sudden destruction"...

Only man's doctrine teaches us that Jesus comes but doesn't "arrive" so it is not technically the Second Coming. There is no scripture basis for this. The Bible also never describes us leaving our bodies to be with the Lord, then be separated from Him again, return unto our corpses and graves, to be brought up again, then rise again, and then descend. Where does it say all of this? It doesn't.

Think about it, but don't just take my word for it either. Search these scriptures diligently. Ask God for truth. Open your eyes and keep them wide open. Question everything. Ask for scripture proving whatever people tell you.

Who Shall Stand Before the Great White Throne?

2010-05-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

When is the Great White Throne Judgment? Who shall stand before the Great White Throne Judgment? What will happen there?

Let us study this together:

There are two resurrections. One shall be for those in Christ, and the second shall be for the wicked unto damnation.

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:29

Also note: Only the dead IN CHRIST shall rise at His coming. It never says everyone shall rise, but those who are already IN Christ (1 Thess 4:16).

Also read Revelation 20:5,6

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

In the first resurrection we shall receive these things:

Incorruptibility: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor 15:52

Immortality: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor 15:53, 54

A Spiritual Body: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Cor 15:44

We who shall rise first have become the Sons of God and heirs to the Kingdom: (John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Gal 4:5-7, Phil 2:15, Hebrew 12:7, 1 John 3:1, 2)

Now keeping these things in mind, let us read the passage about the Great White Throne Judgment.

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev 20:11-15

-After reading the above passage, who are those standing before the Great White Throne?

The Dead.

-Where were the dead delivered up from?

The sea, death, hell (Greek word is Hades which means grave).

-What are they judged by?

Their works.

Those without Christ are placed before the Great White Throne which takes place after the thousand years are passed and after Gog and Magog. Those are the dead that did not rise in the first resurrection. This is the Second Resurrection! When this occurs, we shall be with Christ and we shall be immortal so we are not the dead standing before the throne.

"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. " Luke 20:36

We are not the ones judged by our works for we have the blood and liberty in Christ Jesus. The law was made for the transgressors and it shall condemn them for they have not grace.

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" 1 Tim 1:9-10

When the dead are judged, shall any be justified by their works according to the law? Hear what the scriptures have to say:

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." Gal 3:10,11

"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." Gal 3:22

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Gal 2:16

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10

Whoever stands before the throne shall be judged by the law and their works. None shall be justified. None shall walk away from the throne. All shall perish and die.

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

The whole point of the Gospel is to show that no man can enter heaven without Jesus. No man can enter heaven by his own righteousness. No man shall be justified in the sight of God on their own.

Whoever HAS Christ, shall not be there at the Great White Throne. We shall be reigning with Christ. We shall have no condemnation (Romans 8:1) and we are justified by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24, 28, Romans 5:1, 9, 1 Cor 6:11, Gal 2:16, 3:11, 24, 5:4, Titus 3:7)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

The Biblical Truth About Hell part 3

2010-05-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's continue to part 3 of the study I've been doing on hell. Again, if you haven't yet, please read all the other parts, they all fit together and provide a mountain of supporting verses that relate to each other. I have been writing about how "hell" is actually the grave, and that the fate of the wicked is to be burned up forever in the lake of fire, the second death. Destruction, not burning forever.

Let's start Psalms part 2 off with Psalm 37, a Psalm about blessings of the righteous.

Psalm 37:
[1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
[2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Notice the word wither here. I'm going to break protocol a little bit, and post a handful of New Testament verses to back this up. I may bring them up again when I unravel more NT verses in a future installment of this study, but it's important that the connection to Psalms is made. The main argument to this "wither" ordeal is probably the one saying that these verses are referring to the life in the flesh, the mortal life. Well, the context of these verses say otherwise.

James 1:
[10] But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
[11] For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

A burning heat withers the grass, and it perishes. It's compared to the rich man fading away. Look at verse 12. James goes on to say that those that endure temptation are blessed with the crown of life. He's talking about life eternal! So it's imperative that we see that the context here is eternity, not a mortal lifetime. Notice also that a burning heat is what causes the grass to wither. Does that sound familiar? Yep, the lake of fire is a burning heat that burns up (or withers) the wicked.

1 Peter 1:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Same concept here. Flesh withers, the Lord endures forever. We're seeing this same pattern of absolute opposites that I've recently noticed is everywhere in the Bible. I thank the Lord for shedding some wisdom on me with this! Let's get back to more of Psalm 37:

[9] For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
[10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
[11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Evildoers cut off, being contrasted with the meek inheriting the earth. Inheriting the earth is the promise the Lord gave to Abraham and his seed! Abraham has not received this promise yet.

[12] The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
[14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
[15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
[16] A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
[17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
[18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
[19] They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
[20] But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Do you see a very familiar phrase in verse 12? I hope you do. Gnashing with teeth. Doesn't the Lord Jesus mention this in the Gospels? Yes He does! He is referring to the day the wicked are destroyed. They see their day coming, and gnash their teeth at Him and the righteous. The days of the upright, and their inheritance are forever. The wicked shall perish. Once again we have that absolute contrast! Still don't agree about gnashing of teeth? Let's briefly skip over to:

Psalm 112:
[9] He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
[10] The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

The wicked see the righteous and hate it! They gnash their teeth at them in anger and hatred, and they melt away! It's all right there for us. Here's another teeth gnasher of a verse:

Psalm 35:
[16] With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

The phrase is used to mean the wicked showing hatred for righteousness, and the upright man.

Back to Psalm 37. Verse 20 says "into smoke shall they consume away." This immediately brought another verse to my mind.

Revelation 14:
[11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

I know this verse is used to "prove" a burning inferno, but there is no fire described here. What is described, though, is the aftermath of a fire: smoke! It's a symbolic passage, showing that the wrath of the Lord is forever, and the remains of the wicked symbolically smoke forever. I will get more into this in New Testament studies. The Lazarus passage of Luke 16 plays a role in this as well. From Psalm 37:20, we see the wicked are consumed away into smoke. Revelation says the smoke of their torment rises forever. See the connection? Forever is used to describe finality. It doesn't mean continual. It means God's judgment is final, the wicked are consumed away, like all the verses I'm posting say very clearly.

Continuing further into Psalm 37:

[21] The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
[22] For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Again we see the blessed inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). On the other side of that, the wicked do not, and are cut off, meaning destroyed. (I explain the meaning of "cut off" in Psalms part 1.) More of Psalm 37!

[29] The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
[30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
[32] The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
[33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
[34] Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
[35] I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
[36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
[37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
[38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
[39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
[40] And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

We see again that the righteous inherit the land, and this is forever. So now there's no disputing the fact that this is talking of eternity. Verse 34 shows that the righteous will see the wicked being cut off, or destroyed. 36 flat out says the wicked passed away, and was not. 38 says transgressors shall be destroyed together and cut off. Verse 39 then says that the righteous are saved because of the Lord, and He will deliver them from the wicked! It's all here in plain sight. Look at the words used to describe the fate of the wicked: cut off, passed away, was not, destroyed together, and cut off (again). This Psalm alone is enough proof to show the fate of the wicked. Thankfully I am providing much more to reinforce this.

Let's back up a few Psalms, I missed a verse!

Psalm 34:
[22] The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Here's the definition of desolate:

H816
אשׁם אשׁם
'âsham 'âshêm
aw-sham', aw-shame'
A primitive root; to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish: - X certainly, be (-come, made) desolate, destroy, X greatly, be (-come, found, hold) guilty, offend (acknowledge offence), trespassive

Once again, we see a word that means the same as perish, destroy, cut off, etc. Why doesn't the Bible say that the Lord redeems His people from a burning inferno? It says He redeems them from desolation, from being destroyed. It's right there.

Psalm 39:
[10] Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
[11] When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
[12] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
[13] O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Verse 10 shows how David is consumed by the hand of the Lord, if the Lord doesn't spare him. Man's beauty consumes away like a moth. The last verse shows David pleading to the Lord to spare him before he is no more. David doesn't say "O spare me...before I go hence, and burn forever," does he?

Psalm 40:
[14] Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
[15] Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
[16] Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
[17] But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

The wicked seek to destroy David's soul. Destroy here, again, means the same as it always has so far. Soul is translated from "nephesh," which simply means a breathing creature, or vitality. So David is asking the Lord to drive back those that want him dead. Verse 15 then says to let their reward be desolation, destruction. Death. The Psalm ends by showing how the Lord saves His people and delivers them.

Psalm 41:
[5] Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

[8] An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
[9] Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
[11] By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
[12] And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
[13] Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Another plain example here. David asks the Lord when his enemies' names shall perish. How can a name perish if it is burning forever? Then verse 8 says "now that he lieth", or is cast down/deceased (from the Strong's definition of "shakab"), he shall rise up no more. Verse 10 finds David asking the Lord to raise him up, to triumph over his enemies. Is this talking about eternity? I think it is.

Psalm 49:
[6] They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
[7] None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
[8] (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
[9] That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Corruption is death. See 1 Corinthians 15:42-50. I'll discuss that passage in the New Testament section of this study.

[10] For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
[11] Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
[12] Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
[13] This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
[14] Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Wise men and fools die, perish. They are laid in the grave, death feeds on them, and their beauty is consumed in the grave. Note the same vocabulary as all the other verses. Also note that the upright have dominion over them. They inherit the earth, and trod the ashes of the wicked. The book of Malachi elaborates this (among others), in the chapter that deals with the coming of the Lord:

Malachi 4:
[3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Continuing in Psalm 49:

[15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
[16] Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
[17] For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
[18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
[19] He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
[20] Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

The wicked are consumed in the grave, the righteous are redeemed from the grave's power. They aren't redeemed from the power of a burning inferno. It doesn't say that.

Psalm 50:
[3] Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

A fire that devours? Interesting. Doesn't Revelation 20:14 say the lake of fire is the second death? Isn't a devouring fire something that destroys? Yep.

Psalm 52:
[5] God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
[6] The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
[7] Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
[8] But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
[9] I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

This is one of the clearest examples in the Bible of the fate of the wicked. The Lord destroys them forever, takes them away, and roots them out of the land of the living! What's the opposite of being alive? Being dead! Destruction, having been destroyed! It then goes on to say that the righteous see it and laugh, and that they are like a green olive tree, living forever. Once again it's all right there. We have the same absolute contrasting that is evident throughout many of the verses I'm providing. The righteous praise the Lord forever, because He has destroyed the wicked. Very clear.

Psalm 53:
[5] There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
[6] Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

This is the fate of the fool: God scatters their bones, while Israel is saved. Are scattered bones equivalent to burning forever? Or does it fit better with death and being destroyed? Combined with the multitude of supporting verses, I think the answer is very apparent.

Psalm 58:
[7] Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
[8] As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
[9] Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
[10] The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
[11] So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Again we see the wicked being melted away, just like Psalm 112:10. Once again pass away is used to describe their fate. The righteous again see it, and rejoice. Verse 11 shows that it's God's judgment, not a prior time, or an earthy death. The Psalm is entitled "The punishment of the wicked" in my Bible.

Psalm 59:
[13] Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

Hmm, here we see consume again.

Psalm 68:
[1] Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
[2] As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Here is another tremendous example of the fate of the wicked. It's undeniable. David compares the perishing of the wicked to wax melting before a fire. Remember the melt away verses? Remember the verses dealing with being consumed? Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Does wax continually melt, or does it melt down to nothing? Please see these verses for what they are. There should not be any reading between the lines or adding to them.

At this, I will conclude part 3 of my study of the truth about hell. I've provided many more verses that I believe show that hell is not a burning inferno, and that the wicked are burned up, not burned forever. They are destroyed, being alive no more. I have more to show from the Psalms, and more to show from both the Old and New Testaments. Please stay tuned for the next installment, coming very soon! Thanks again for reading.

The Biblical Truth About Hell part 2

2010-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm not going to waste much time between entries, it's time to start part 2. If you haven't yet, please please please read the Introduction and Part 1 of this study! It's essential, because all the parts compliment each other, and fully show what I believe is the truth about this. Some people are curious of what I have to say, some are upset, some agree, most don't care. That's fine. If you're still with me, please allow me to continue showing you why I believe hell is eternal destruction/death. In this part, I will examine the first half of the verses I have found in the Psalms that speak of the fate of the wicked, not leaving the righteous in the graves, and other relevant verses. Hopefully this won't be as long as the last one!

We start at the very first Psalm. I'm sure I have missed some verses, but I've tried my best with the time I have. I will try and go in order, and I encourage you to please follow along with your (hopefully translated from the Textus Receptus) Bible.

I would also encourage you to read the surrounding contexts in these verses, when applicable. I don't have the space to post the whole Psalms, and a lot of the time the entire context really clarifies things. Thanks!

Psalm 1:
[3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
[4] The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
[5] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
[6] For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The key thing to take away from here is verse 6. The ungodly shall perish. What does perish mean in the Hebrew? Let's take a look!

H6
אבד
'âbad
aw-bad'
A primitive root; properly to wander away, that is lose oneself; by implication to perish (causatively, destroy): - break, destroy (-uction), + not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

You guessed it, it means destroy! Be void of! Fail, lose! When does perish mean burn forever?

Also, note the references to trees bringing fruit, leaves not withering, and chaff being driven away. These are themes throughout the whole Bible. Jesus talks plenty about trees, vineyards, and fruits. The bad trees wither away! They are destroyed, they die off.

Psalm 5:
[4] For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
[5] The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
[6] Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

God hates wickedness, evil shall not dwell with Him. He will destroy them. If someone dies from a heart attack let's say, is that God destroying them? No, God destroying them is Him putting His judgment upon them. Casting them into the lake of fire, which is the second death. (Rev. 20:14)

The word "destroy" here is the exact word used for "perish" in Psalm 1:6.

Psalm 6:

[5] For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Does David say in a burning "hell" there is no rememberance of God? Let's think this out here. If one is saved, they're with the Lord forever. So David isn't talking about Christians in this verse, because Christians will always be with the Lord. He can only be referring to one other group of people, right? He doesn't say they're in "hell," either. He says they're in the grave. Besides, would people in a burning "hell" forget Who put them there?

Psalm 7:
[9] Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

I think this verse is very clear. "Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end." If wicked people are in "hell," aren't they still around? Haven't they not come to an end? We know this verse talks of the eternal fate of a person, especially because God establishes His people forever. A few verses down, talking of the wicked,

[15] He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

Sounds to me like the wicked go into the pit, the grave.

Psalm 9:
[5] Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
[6] O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
[7] But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

"Thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever." Destroyed and put out their name! What does someone do to a fire at the end of a campfire? They put it out! God will "put out" the wicked, forever! It further says in verse 7 that God endures forever. It's contrasted with how the wicked are put out. God endures forever, the wicked don't.

[13] Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

I used this verse in this study to show that the gates of death is the thing we are facing, not the gates of a burning inferno. I went into this in part 1 of my study.

[15] The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

[17] The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
[18] For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

So the heathen go down into the pit (a most often recurring theme, as we see already), they are turned into hell (sheol, the grave), but the needy are not forgotten! The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever! Doesn't this say that the wicked DO perish forever? Combined with every other verse (I have well over 80 now), I'd say this is the case.

Psalm 10:
[15] Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
[16] The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

Again, God is King forever, the heathen perish. They are not forever. A burning inferno would mean that the wicked are immortal too. Are you starting to see how "hell" does not line up with Scripture?

Psalm 11:
[6] Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

I think this is talking of God's judgment on the wicked. Fire and brimstone = lake of fire. (Rev 19:20) The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev 20:14)

Psalm 12:
[3] The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Hmm, cut off. What does this mean? Thankfully, the Lord has lead me to another Psalm that defines it. I will skip ahead just to immediately define what this phrase means.

Psalm 88:
[5] Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

The ones that are "cut off" are ones that God has done away with. Ones He has left slain in the graves, that He remembers no more! Just to solidify this point, the definition of "cut off:"

H3772
כּרת
kârath
kaw-rath'
A primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication to destroy or consume; specifically to covenant (that is, make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces): - be chewed, be con- [feder-] ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ([covenant]), X lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

It means to destroy or perish! To consume! The Lord will "cut off," or destroy the wicked. It's all throughout the Bible, and I'm trying my best to show you.

Psalm 20:
[6] Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
[7] Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
[8] They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
[9] Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

The Lord saves His people, the ones that don't trust in Him are brought down and fallen. After many other supporting verses, I can't help to think that brought down refers to down into the grave/pit. When I read fallen, I think of someone that has died. Here's the Hebrew:

H5307
נפל
nâphal
naw-fal'
A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitively or causatively, literally or figuratively): - be accepted, cast (down, self, [lots], out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell (-ing), fugitive, have [inheritamce], inferior, be judged [by mistake for H6419], lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present (-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

It can be defined as cease, die, fail, fall, perish, rot. Look familiar?

Psalm 21:
[8] Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
[9] Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

A fiery oven: the time of judgment, the lake of fire. When the tares are gathered into the oven and are burned up. The Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, and fire shall devour them. Devour! What does devour mean?

H398
אכל
'âkal
aw-kal'
A primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively): - X at all, burn up, consume, devour (-er, up), dine, eat (-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in . . . wise (-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.

To burn up! This is huge. To consume! We're talking about a fire that burns up and consumes them. Does an eternal hell burn something up? Nope, it just burns something. Does it consume something? Not if it's continually burning! The fire God sends on the wicked is a consuming one that burns up everyone in its path. Nobody survives it.

Psalm 28:
[5] Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

God will destroy the wicked, and not build them up. They're done.

Psalm 30:
[3] O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

God hasn't brought his soul up from a burning inferno, He brought him up from the grave, the pit.

Psalm 31:
[23] O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

The Lord preserves the faithful. Ok, we know that. Here's what it means in the Hebrew:

H5341
נצר
nâtsar
naw-tsar'
A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.): - besieged, hidden thing, keep (-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve (-r), subtil, watcher (-man).

To guard in a good sense, to conceal in a bad sense. To keep, preserve. Wouldn't the wicked be concealed in a bad sense if they are kept alive in torment? Yes. The Lord does not preserve the wicked, because Psalm 31 states that He preserves the faithful. By this reasoning it's impossible to have anyone preserved in "hell."

Psalm 33:
[18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
[19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

To deliver their soul from death, not from an eternally burning inferno.

Psalm 34:
[16] The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Again we see the term "cut off." Destroyed. This just came to me. If anyone is thinking that this is just talking about the mortal condition of the wicked, remember, the meek inherit the earth. They reign with Christ for 1000 years in Israel, then reign with Him after the wicked are destroyed and New Jerusalem descends.

Alright, I feel that it's time to wrap up this entry. I'd rather make these studies shorter than I have in the past, so that they are easier to read. I hope from this first look into what Psalms says about hell and the wicked is showing you a stark reality: the wicked are burned up by God's fire (the lake of fire) and utterly destroyed.

Part 3 of my study on hell is coming soon! I will address many more verses that I have found in Psalms. Thanks for reading, and as always I welcome your comments and will do my best to answer them.

CLICK HERE FOR PART 3

Are You a Voice?

2010-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

This blog is not just for us, but for all the voices in the wilderness out there. We never believed that God's truth was meant to be a one man show. We would like to hear what God has shared with you. If you are a voice and would like to have your article published on our blog, then please read the guidelines below.

1. We are Bible believing Christians who hold the Word in higher authority over man, tradition, doctrine and religion.

2. We quote from the King James Bible for the English translation.

3. Make sure that your article belongs to you or that you have permission to post someone else's article for copyright purposes.

4. Email us your article at avoiceinwilderness@gmail.com. 

(Note: We hold the right to approve or deny articles for submission.)

5. Your article will be signed as "A Voice in the Wilderness" for we believe God holds the credit for all His truth and that we should not take the glory for it.

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.

The Biblical Truth About Hell part 1

2010-05-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling ready to dive right into this, so I'm going to begin. If you haven't yet, please read my introduction to this study, it lays the groundwork for everything I want to accomplish with this.

The first step I took in my study of hell was to download a program called "e-Sword." You can download it for free here. It is simply a Bible study tool where you can search for words and verses, and download add-ons like the original Greek and Hebrew meanings, like I have. I don't use the program for anything other than that. It has commentaries available to download, but I don't like having other people think for me.

So with e-Sword, I did a search for the word "hell." 54 verses come up. I will show you these verses and expound on their meanings. Ready? Good. :)

Before I do that, I feel that it's a good idea to list all the possible definitions of hell from the Strong's Greek and Hebrew dictionaries that I have in e-Sword. Once we have all the definitions it will be much easier to reference them to the verses I list. (Note: I do think that some of the expanded definitions take errant liberties, as we will see in this study.) The definitions will become clearer as Scripture irons things out as we go along. You'll see. Just stick with me, and read everything I have to show you.

Hell refers to a handful of different words: sheol, hades, gehenna, and tartaroo.

H7585
שׁאל שׁאול
she'ôl she'ôl
sheh-ole', sheh-ole'
From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranian retreat), including its accessories and inmates: - grave, hell, pit.

G86
ᾅδης
hadēs
hah'-dace
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell.

G1067
γέεννα
geenna
gheh'-en-nah
Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.

G5020
ταρταρόω
tartaroō
tar-tar-o'-o
From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: - cast down to hell.

With those definitions established we will dive into every single instance the word "hell" is mentioned throughout the Bible.

First it is important to note that every reference to hell in the Old Testament refers to sheol. Let's explore them.

Deuteronomy 32:
[22] For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
[23] I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
[24] They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
[25] The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
[26] I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

What do we have here? A fire burns and devours with bitter destruction. The rememberance of those judged here will cease. Once again, hell here means sheol, the grave or pit.

2 Samuel 22:
[6] The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

Note the context here: hell (grave, pit) is mentioned along with the snares of death. In the grave we are dead.

Job 11:
[8] It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Again, sheol. Think about it. What makes more sense? A deep grave, or a deep burning inferno? I will show more instances of a deep pit as we explore more of Scripture in the coming posts!

Job 26:
[6] Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

The context here also clears things up for us. The grave is naked before God, destruction can't hide. Why would destruction be combined with a word that means the grave and the pit if there is a burning inferno? Before anyone can say that destruction is an everlasting/continual event, I'll let the original Hebrew do the talking.

H11
אבדּון
'ăbaddôn
ab-ad-done'
Intensively from H6; abstractly a perishing; concretely Hades: - destruction.

Destruction means just that. Perishing, concretely Hades, which also means the grave. Is anything destroyed that is kept alive forever? I have so many verses to back this up, please be patient.

Psalm 9
[17] The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
[18] For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

The wicked are turned into the grave. Verse 18 further explains that the poor shall not perish forever! Perish! Not burn eternally! We see another contextual instance of the grave being paired up with perishing and destruction. Let's see the Hebrew on the word perish.

H6
אבד
'âbad
aw-bad'
A primitive root; properly to wander away, that is lose oneself; by implication to perish (causatively, destroy): - break, destroy (-uction), + not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Does any of that sound like someone staying alive forever to burn? No. We'll see many more instances of perish as we go along as well. John 3:16 anyone? :)

Psalm 16:
[10] For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

This makes perfect sense. David is saying that the Lord will not leave him dead in the grave. He will raise him up at the last day. Want proof?

Acts 2:
[29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
[30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
[31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Paul even directly quotes David's Psalm! People may have a problem with this because they have fallen into another errant doctrine: the idea that souls immediately go to heaven or "hell" at death. This is a fallacy, and I would have to write another blog on it. Proving it is quite complete and lengthy, as most of my studies are turning out to be! I will show some of this proof as we study hell, because the idea of being asleep in the grave is relevant to this topic.

Notice here also that in verse 31 of Acts 2 it talks of how Christ wasn't left in hell. It is obvious here that Acts 2 parallels Psalm 16 with this. David will not be left in the grave, just as Christ has not been left there. "Hell" in Acts 2 means Hades, the grave. With these two passages looked at together, how can anyone think Hades means anything differently? Would David not be left in the grave, and Christ not be left in a burning inferno? See what I'm saying? Let's continue.

Psalm 18:
[5] The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

Same as in 2 Samuel.

Psalm 55:
[15] Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Seeing a pattern here? Once again the context of the verse explains the meaning of hell. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell, the grave. Death takes them! They're dead! What happens when death seizes someone? That's right, they go down quickly into the pit. Also, even if you believe in a burning inferno, nobody is judged until they are cast into the lake of fire (which is the second death, Rev. 20:14, I'll get to it). So if nobody is judged, how can anyone go down quickly into a burning inferno? This also disproves the idea of the common belief of hell.

Psalm 86:
[13] For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

God delivers us from the grave at His coming. Believers aren't in a burning hell, right? Of course not.

Psalm 116:
[3] The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
[4] Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

We see the same thing here. Death surrounds, the grave takes hold. Pay attention to the word sorrow here, we will see how it pertains to Luke 16's Lazarus passage later. Psalm 116 is even titled "Deliverance from Death" in my KJV Bible. That's an accurate title, because again in verse 4 we see the author calling upon the Lord to be delivered from it.

Psalm 139:
[8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

This verse is so clear that I don't even have to explain it. I hope at this point you are seeing that hell so far means the grave, and only the grave. I also hope that you are thinking about what the New Testament says regarding hell. Don't worry, we'll get there. I'm not hiding any verse in this study. Let's first finish the rest of the OT verses so we cover all the bases.

Proverbs 5:
[5] Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Another verse linking death to hell, the grave.

Proverbs 7:
[27] Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Same thing.

Proverbs 9:
[18] But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

And again! :) All verses connecting sheol (the grave) with death.

Proverbs 15:
[10] Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
[11] Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Hell and destruction. Remember the definition up there?

Proverbs 15:
[24] The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Here we see life compared to death. Keep this in mind, we will see the Master do this in the Gospels!

Proverbs 23:
[13] Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
[14] Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Death in the same context as hell again.

Proverbs 27:
[20] Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

I know this is getting repititious, but the Bible drums this into our heads! :) We have to understand this. 13 more Old Testament verses to go.

Isaiah 5:
[14] Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

The pit "opened her mouth" so to speak, to embrace the dead. They descend into it.

Isaiah 14:
[9] Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
[10] All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
[11] Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

This is a fascinating chapter. It talks about Satan's ultimate demise, which I will cover eventually in this study! For now we see that Satan's pomp (pride) is brought down to the grave. The Bible is very clear in this. Continuing to verse 15:

[15] Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

The sides of the pit! There it is very clearly. Doesn't a grave have sides? Of course. It makes perfect sense.

Isaiah 28:
[15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Death in context with hell.

[18] And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

Continuing on in that chapter, we see that the ones judged here are trodden down. There are other references in the Bible to the wicked being trampled, and the righteous walking on their ashes. We'll take a look at those later on.

Isaiah 57:
[9] And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

This chapter is dealing with leaders of Israel that go against God. They are setting themselves up for the grave.

Ezekiel 31:
[16] I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Cast down to hell, descending into the pit. Self explanatory. The very next verse:

[17] They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
[18] To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

Down into hell, slain with the sword. Dead in the grave.

Ezekiel 32:
[21] The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

The slain by the sword have gone down and are lying in the grave.

[27] And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

What's this saying? These mighty men are fallen, they were terrifying while they were alive, but now them and their weapons have gone to the grave. Iniquities shall be upon their bones. They are dead, and their sins ascend to God. They will be accountable at the judgment.

Amos 9:
[2] Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

Dig into hell - would anyone dig into a burning inferno?

Jonah 2:
[2] And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

The fish swallowed Jonah up, and its belly became his grave until the Lord caused it to spit him out.

Habakkuk 2:
[5] Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

Hell in context with death.

So that does it for every single instance of the word "hell" in the Old Testament. I hope you have read all of these verses and have asked God for understanding on them. Do you see that they all mean the grave or the pit? Does the context help explain that to you? Have my comments helped? I truly hope so!

Now let's move on to the New Testament! First I'll list all the verses in which the word "gehenna" is used, and then I will explain what that word really means.

Matthew 5:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

[29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
[30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 10:
[28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 18:
[9] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 23:
[15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Mark 9:
[43] And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
[48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Luke 12:
[5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

James 3:
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Ok, that is every instance in the Bible of the word hell, translated from gehenna. Let's delve further into this, seeking an explanation of what these verses are saying from the Bible.

First, let's see the definition of gehenna again:

G1067
γέεννα
geenna
gheh'-en-nah
Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.

So we see gehenna defined as a valley of Hinnom, or a valley of Jerusalem. Then we see how it is figuratively defined as a state of everlasting punishment. Is it right to assume that definition? I will show you that it isn't. I will also show you verses that coincide with gehenna being a valley.

Jeremiah 7:
[31] And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
[32] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.
[33] And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.
[34] Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

The valley of the son of Hinnom IS gehenna. Gehenna is flat out defined as such. Here we see that the people rebelled against God, burned sons and daughters in this valley, and in turn God will slaughter everyone in that very same valley. Their carcasses will be left to rot there. Keep that in mind, we will see more verses about that shortly.

Jeremiah 19:
[2] And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
[3] And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
[4] Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;
[5] They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
[6] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
[7] And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
[8] And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

This reinforces chapter 7.

Jeremiah 32:
[35] And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
[36] And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;

Same thing here.

Joel 3:
[2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

[11] Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
[12] Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
[13] Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
[14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
[15] The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
[16] The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

This passage is huge. Understanding this will give us very important insight into gehenna and hell in general. Joel 3 talks about the Lord's gathering of all nations for judgment. It is extremely important to notice the reference to the sun and moon being darkened, and the stars withdrawing their shining. This directly links us to what Jesus says in the Gospels about His second coming. (Matthew 24: 29 for example) There is no possible reason to think that Joel 3 is referring to a different time period! Also note the mention of the harvest, the end of the world from the Gospels.

I looked up the word Jehoshaphat here, and I'm very excited as to what I've found. I'm actually doing this part of this Bible study on the fly. I wasn't even expecting to find this!

H3092
יהושׁפט
yehôshâphâṭ
yeh-ho-shaw-fawt'
From H3068 and H8199; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem : - Jehoshaphat. Compare H3146.

It means Jehovah-judged! Also a valley near Jerusalem! Can this be gehenna? Yes! God's judgment is poured out in the valley of Hinnom as we see in Jeremiah. Hinnom is a valley of Jerusalem, Jehoshapat is a valley near Jerusalem. God's judgment is poured out in the valley, referred to as hell, aka gehenna!

The Lord allows the wicked to assemble in this valley of decision. The harvest is ripe - a clear reference to the wheat and the tares parable, the coming of the Lord. So we know the time frame that this is occuring. There's no other explanation otherwise. It's not some earlier judgment, this is the harvest. The press is full - this is referring to the winepress in Isaiah 5 and possibly other areas of the Bible. I'll show those verses shortly.

The day of the Lord is near the valley of decision! The day of the Lord is the day He comes back, it's all over Scripture. The Lord comes to crush the wicked in the valley of decision, gehenna. Here are more things to support this:

Isaiah 5:
[1] Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
[2] And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
[3] And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
[4] What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
[5] And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
[6] And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
[7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Here is a parable the Lord gives us, connecting people to a vineyard. Jesus also speaks often about being a vine, having branches, and producing good fruit. In Isaiah we see that the Lord's vineyard produced some wild grapes, ones He didn't plan for or want. What does He do? He lays it to waste.

Oh, I want to show you more verses linking carcasses to God's judgment.

Isaiah 66:
[24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Also, extremely important to note in this verse: carcasses of men have worms that die not, with fires that aren't quenched. I will explain this now, and further prove it later. If these are "spiritual" worms that don't die, and if there's a fire that isn't quenched, how can we have a carcass of a man? A carcass is a dead body! The worm's don't die until they eat up the body. The fire isn't quenched until it is finished reducing the carcass to ashes. Yes, there is hell fire. It is the judgmental fire that God rains down on the wicked, consuming them in the valley of Hinnom, gehenna!

Isaiah 14:
[19] But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

This is the fate of Satan, which I will expound on further along in this study. It's important to see here that a carcass is basically trampled upon with the feet of the righteous.

Matthew 24:
[28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

(note: eagles are also "fowls of the air")

This is the chapter in Matthew in which Jesus talks of His second coming. The wicked are judged when he comes back, and their carcasses remain on the earth.

Jeremiah 31:
[37] Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
[38] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
[39] And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
[40] And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

This passage deals with the restoration of Israel, and how a new city will be built. Verse 40 mentions the valley of the dead bodies that are reduced to ashes. The valley of decision, gehenna.

There are more verses that flesh out the idea of gehenna being the valley of God's judgment. It's hard to keep all of this organized, since a lot of verses coincide with other topics that I am going to get into. I hope at the end of the study this all fits in for you. My head is spinning a little from getting so involved in this! I hope I'm still being clear, and that the message I am putting out here is easy to see. What we see here so far though, is that every time hell fire or hell is mentioned, and is translated from gehenna, that it is a fire that rains down on the wicked in the day of the Lord, when they are assembled in the valley of Hinnom/Jehoshophat/decision/slaughter. I really hope you see this!

Ok, I feel that I have thoroughly covered gehenna at this point. If you have any questions or want to debate this (or anything I write here for that matter), please leave me a comment! Let's go on and finish up the rest of the "hell" verses in the New Testament. Next up, the translations from the word "hades."

Matthew 11:
[23] And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Luke 10:
[15] And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Hell is translated from hades in these two verses. Note the same phrasing as Psalm 55:15, Isaiah 14:15, Ezekiel 31:16-17, and Ezekiel 32:27. All of them contain the words "down to hell." We have previously established that these verses are talking about going down into the grave. Jesus is talking of the same thing here.

Matthew 16:
[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Again hell is hades here. The gates of the grave, pit, or death. Don't agree? I know it's natural now to picture a burning hell's gates opening or something. It's what I used to do before the Lord led me to the truth. Let's again turn to the Bible for backup.

Psalm 9:
[13] Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

Psalm 107:
[18] Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Isaiah 38:
[10] I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

I think it is very safe to say that the gates of hell Jesus mentions in Matthew 16 are the same gates of the grave and death mentioned elsewhere. Let's continue.

Luke 16:
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Hell means hades here also. Since we have defined hades as the grave, we know Lazarus is not in a burning inferno. I will completely dissect the Lazarus parable in another section of this study!

Revelation 1:
[18] I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Jesus' words. He was dead, and lives again. He has the keys of hell (hades, the grave) and death. We see the same thing in this verse as many of the others: hell linked with death.

Revelation 6:
[8] And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Hell also linked with death here. Hades.

Revelation 20:
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Huge verses here! Death and hell delivered up the dead to be judged! Are the dead alive in a burning inferno? No! They're dead! The grave "gives them up" for judgment! What is the judgment? It's the lake of fire! What is the lake of fire? The second death! Does death have anything to do with life? No. Let's take this verse into account:

Revelation 21:

[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Just after the judgment of the lake of fire, the second death, there is no more death, sorrow, or crying. No more pain either, they have passed away. They are no more, they're dead! How can there be no more pain or sorrow or crying if people are alive burning? How can death be finished if there are wicked people in a constant state of death, as I've heard "hell" described? The answer is that it can't be. I'll get more into all of this with my 70+ supporting verses in other parts of this study.

That's it for the hades verses. One more version of hell to look into: tartaroo. This one's easy.

2 Peter 2:
[4] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

What is tartaroo again?

G5020
ταρταρόω
tartaroō
tar-tar-o'-o
From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: - cast down to hell.

I believe this definition is severely misleading. There has yet to be any mention of an eternal torment in the Bible, and this is no exception. Cast down to hell is more like it. Note the verse above. These sinful angels are reserved unto judgment. They're waiting for their punishment! They haven't received it yet! What is their punishment? We just saw it in Revelation: the lake of fire, the second death.

Well I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted! :) These studies always take a lot out of me. I have covered every single instance of the word hell in the Bible, and explained each verse clearly. Hell is the grave, the pit, the valley in Jerusalem, and a place for angels to be reserved for judgment. Not once is it defined as an eternal burning inferno. There is more to uncover to elaborate and fully prove this, this is only the first part. Ultimately I will show the demise of Satan, the judgment/fate of the wicked, the mortal vs. immortal bodies, and more. I have so much information to show here that I hope I present it clearly and thoroughly.

If you've stuck with me this far, thank you very much. I want to get this message out to every single person I can! If you agree with me, excellent! Teach others, we're commanded to! If you don't agree with me, please pray about it and leave me comments as to why you don't. I will be very happy to discuss things! Granted, keep in mind I haven't fully proven this to you yet. I still have to cover smoke of their torment ascending forever, and other things that "prove" a burning inferno. Don't worry, I won't run from any other takes on this!

Thanks, more to come!

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2

Introduction to the Biblical Truth About Hell

2010-05-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have been seeking the Lord diligently for a number of years now. He keeps teaching me, through the Holy Spirit, His truth and His Word. I am outside of the typical "church" setting and I don't rely on men or Bible commentaries to supply me with Biblical knowledge. I ask the Lord for wisdom and understanding, and ask for His Spirit to teach me everything. That's what we should all be doing. We don't need a man with a Bible College degree to tell us what God says, we have God inside us! He is ready and willing to pour out His wisdom to us. On top of that, "scholars" and "theologians" typically just pass down man-made beliefs and doctrines! With that being said, God has been breaking down the walls of Christian mythology, if I may. There is so much error in the Body of Christ that it's appalling. The latest topic that the Lord has been revealing to me over the last few weeks has been the idea of hell. It has been bothering me for at least two years actually. He's been knocking.

First, a disclaimer. I belong to no denomination. I'm not Baptist, Lutheran, non-denominational, nothing. I'm not a Seventh Day Adventist, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness, I am nothing. I believe in Jesus Christ and His Word, that's it. I think denominations are divisive, and that they help think for us. We adhere to a doctrine we like and stick to it. Well, I have to say that every denomination I've ever looked into has had at least one thing seriously wrong with its doctrine. I also believe that the typical church building form of worship is severely detrimental to the Body and to our growth in the Lord. Besides, if we all have the same Spirit and one mind in Christ, why all the disagreeing? Surely God isn't the One who is confused.

So now I will begin to slowly unravel this bombshell that is all over Scripture. I prayed that I organize it well, because I currently have over 70 passages and/or verses to support this.

I will prove, Biblically, that "hell" in most cases is simply the grave, and that nobody burns forever in an eternal inferno. I will show that the wicked are burned up, and ultimately devoured, destroyed, and consumed.

First, I will list all the verses that mention the word "hell" in the Bible. There are 54 instances. I will show their original Greek and Hebrew meanings for each different version of the word. For example, sometimes hell is translated from Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, or Tartaroo. I will break down the distinctions as necessary.

After that, I'm not sure how I will organize this. I will, however, show Satan's ultimate fate, and show through many books of the Bible that the wicked are burned up in the lake of fire, which is the second death.

I really hope I haven't turned anyone off yet with this. I know it's a radical idea, and people are quick to judge and label me as something I'm not. I am fully confident that this is the truth, or else I wouldn't publish these blogs. I'm too scared to teach anything that isn't true. I don't want to have to answer for errant teachings on the day that I meet the Lord. So stick with me, and dive into what I have to show you. Thanks!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART 1

The Thief on the Cross

2010-04-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

In the last article, we explained what Paul truly meant when he said he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, and if you haven't read it, check it out by CLICKING HERE.

We will address the second of the two most popular verses that many use to debate that once we die, we shall immediately be with the Lord. This one is the famous verse spoken by Jesus Christ while He was on the cross. A thief crucified next to him had repented and asked Jesus with a prickle in his heart, "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke 23:42

Firstly, We want to make sure our readers don't miss this. The thief asked for Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. This doesn't occur until the second coming of Christ when He comes to receive His heavenly kingdom upon earth and the saints (us) shall reign with him for a thousand years. We also have several articles about this with many scriptures from the Bible. CLICK HERE if you would like to read more about this.

Going back to our point,

Jesus then turns to the thief in love and compassion and says:

"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise ”(v43)

Let us remind everyone of the rule of the Bible. The Bible never contradicts itself. Keeping that in mind, let us understand all truth for there can only be one.

Why would Jesus tell the thief on the cross that he would be with Him today when Jesus told Mary after His resurrection that He had not yet ascended unto the Father yet? "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.." John 20:17

Why would Jesus tell the thief that he would be in Paradise with Him TODAY, and then tell Mary a completely otherwise story that Jesus had not yet ascended to His father yet three whole days later? That'd be a pretty cruel lie if it were what we thought it really was. But it wasn't.

Our Bible is the English translation of the original Hebrew and Greek text. It is the written Word of God in English, but the punctuations aren't infallible. It's amazing how one tiny comma can make a sentence mean an entirely different thing. With that in mind, let us remove the comma and take another look at the verse again,

Assuredly I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise

Now try this,

Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.

Now we can see what a difference placing a simple comma can be!

When we die, we are asleep in the graves awaiting the coming of Christ. He promises us this, "I will come again and receive you to myself.." John 14:3 We are not received unto Him before then, but at His coming.

The dead are asleep in their graves and are unaware of everything below. All shall die even the righteous and the wicked, (Ecclesiastes 9:2,3). For the wages of sin is death, and since Adam sinned, all have sinned because of him and all shall die. Jesus shall come again and redeem us from our graves, and then death is swallowed up in victory at His coming.

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54

Read all of 1 Corinthians 15 for a detailed description of how the dead in Christ shall be brought out of their graves at His coming, and then they shall receive incorruption and immortality. They are mortal first before they are immortal and this doesn't occur until the last trump on the last day. That is the blessed hope we look for, that Jesus shall come to receive us, and there we shall ever be with the Lord.

Job speaks of the wicked in chapter 21 and says, "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb." (v32) And Job being a righteous man knowing his fate said,

"As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." Job 14:11-14

Job is asleep in the graves and waiting there for his change to come where he will be raised immortal and incorruptible. Job knew he would have to wait until the heavens be no more, after the wrath is past which aligns with 2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

Job is waiting for the Day of the Lord. So is the thief on the cross. So is the dead in Christ. We see that the wicked do not live again until the thousand years are passed, this is the resurrection unto damnation ( John 5:29, Rev 20:5)

Are our loved ones looking down from heaven at all the things we do and waiting for us there? It is a beautiful thought, but it is not truth. Our loved ones are actually very blessed because they do not know about all the things going on earth at the moment. The beautiful thing is that they won't have to miss us or experience the pain of longing to be with us again. At their last moment of awareness, they saw our faces. At their next moment they shall see us there with them and Jesus will be calling us all together unto Him. What an extraordinary moment it shall be!

We prayerfully urge our readers to continue studying about this and learning more about this. Please take a second glance at all these verses about the grave and about the resurrection, and try looking at it this way. See if it makes more sense and see if it matches all the other verses. If it be truth, it shall.

Christ's Kingdom on Earth

2010-04-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Note: We are not associated with any affiliations, nor religion, nor labels. We are not Jehovah's Witness, Seventh Day Adventists, or anything else but those who desire truth and seek it through God's Word and His Spirit. Our teachings may not be like the majority of Christian churches, but it is from the Bible. We believe the Bible is the final authority, even above doctrine and teachings of men.

We are showing what God's Word says about His Kingdom which is yet to come, so feel free to open your Bible and check each verse to verify it. We quote from the King James Bible.

The thief on the cross hung next to Jesus and with a prickle in his heart, he pleaded to Jesus "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke 23:42

The thief asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered His kingdom that He shall inherit from the Father.

Daniel wrote, "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13, 14

We see that Jesus shall be given his Kingdom when He comes at His second coming. Where shall this kingdom be?

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 11:15

Jesus will be King over every kingdom in this world. He shall reign on this earth as the true and perfect King.

More verses to ponder:

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

We pray for His kingdom to come to earth, and for His will to be done on earth just as it is done in heaven.

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" Matthew 13:41

Jesus will send His angels to cast the wicked out of His kingdom. If it were in heaven in the skies, what would the wicked be doing there? Jesus is casting the wicked out of His earthly kingdom.

We await for Jesus to return and he promises that “I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:3)

We shall be redeemed from death and the graves. At the last trump at the last day, those in Christ shall be transformed into an immortal and incorruptible being (read 1 Corinthians 15) Then at that moment we shall be caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord at last, and so we shall always be with Him in His kingdom.

And we shall inherit the kingdom with Jesus forevermore,

"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." Daniel 7:22

"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Daniel 7:27

What exciting and incredible things we have to look forward to!

To Be Present with the Lord

2010-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a verse that is the first one that most Christians will give in order to support that souls are gone to be with the Lord, or to be in hell the moment they die. We are here to show you this one verse for what it really is, and to debunk the popular belief. Hear us out, and let us use scriptures to prove this.

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8

Before we begin, let us read the whole context first.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Paul begins to speak of an earthly tabernacle and a heavenly tabernacle which is not made with hands, and that we are clothed with which refers to our bodies. He expresses his desire to receive the heavenly tabernacle and to be released from his earthly tabernacle (body).

This heavenly one is the one we shall receive at the coming of Christ. We shall be transfigured into a celestial body that is incorruptible. (Read all of 1 Corinthians 15 for an in-depth description)

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. " 1 Cor 15:42-44

Paul stated above:

"..that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

This aligns with 1 Corinthians 15 again. He is speaking of mortality putting on immortality and that death shall be swallowed up in victory.

^"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Cor 15:52-55

The grave shall be defeated at His coming.

Finally, Paul said that we would rather be absent from this body and to be present from this Lord. We all should desire to receive these things and look forward to these earnestly.

But, does this occur before the coming of Christ? It does not.

Because of Adam and because of sin, we all must die.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

But in Christ, he shall make us alive. Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection, and we shall be at His coming. Not before then.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." 1 Corinthians 15: 22,23

But can we enter heaven before then? Do we receive our spiritual bodies before then?

"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die." 1 Cor 15:36

We cannot receive these things for we are mortal and we will die. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God; not until Jesus comes to transform us and redeems us at the Second Coming.

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." 1 Cor 15:50

The Bible also tells us that no man has been to heaven except Jesus,

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." John 3:13

We cannot receive these things on our own. We are simply mortal and await for that promise when Jesus shall come and give us immortality. Until then, we wait in our graves. We await to be released from our earthly tabernacle and to receive the new heavenly tabernacle.

The dead in Christ shall be raised up incorruptible, their graves shall be broken and death shall be defeated. That is why the Bible calls us "sleeping" for we shall awake again.

Paul's desire is to be with the Lord and he shall be when Jesus returns.We will all be caught up together in the air, and then there we shall be with the Lord for always.

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Let us comfort one another with these words.

Who is this Woman?

2010-04-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Who is this woman who calls herself the "Queen of Heaven?"

Is this surely the same virgin Mary of the Bible who declared herself the handmaiden of the Lord instead of a Queen?

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

Is this the same Mary in the Bible who told others to do whatever Jesus told them to do?

"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." John 2:5

She was blessed to be chosen as an earthly vessel to carry Jesus in her womb, but was she anything more? Jesus only recognized those who did His Father's will and called them his own family.

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:46-50

Why would the Creator worship or obey His own creation?

Mary was a humble servant of the Lord who was willing to obey her Lord. She was married to Joseph and after Jesus was born, they had many children.

So, who is this Queen of Heaven? ......

Once upon a time, sometimes after the flood of Noah....

Noah's grandson named Nimrod was exceedingly evil. He created the Babylonian religion that defied God. He was also the one that built the tower of Babel. He married his own mother who was called Queen Semiramis.

His mother told everyone that the moon conceived her and birthed her. She called herself the Queen of Heaven in their Babylonian religion. (IMPORTANT).

Nimrod's uncle killed him and cut up his body in many pieces. The only piece missing was his male genital (which is why obelisks are created in his honor after his male genital).

His mother became pregnant and birthed a child named Tammuz. She told everyone that Tammuz was Nimrod reborn. She demanded worship of her son as the Queen of Heaven and the messiah child.

Nimrod is also known as baal, the sun god. Semiramis is also known as Dinah, Isis.. and Mary. Tammuz was the name of the false "messiah" of Babylon. After Constantine, Jesus began to appear in images with long hair like Tammuz.

This "Queen of Heaven" worship is all over the world, but it is Semiramis, the evil Babylonian queen.

Notice the ring of light around their heads? This is a form of sun worship. Millions of Catholics worship them on SUN-day, a day created by the Catholic church as day in honor of the sun god Baal.

The Roman Catholic Church was originated in a pagan country called Rome. This country was heavily Pagan for centuries. The Roman Catholic Church is Paganism disguised as Christian. All they did was change their names, but Catholics are unknowingly worshiping Babylonian gods. The Vatican are very aware but want to keep it their dirty little secret.

The Bible warns us NOT to worship the queen of heaven,

"The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." Jeremiah 7:18

And the Bible warns us of a mystery Babylon (read Revelation 17) which is alive today and in practice. It is a mystery that deceives many because it is disguised as Christianity. It is the Babylonian religion of today's world and God will send his final judgment and destroy it once and for all.

And finally, God warns us urgently to:

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4

Do not be deceived.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24

Recognizing Satanic Symbols in the World Today 2

2010-04-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a part 2 entry revealing satanic symbols in the world today. It is all over the place and they use techniques such as subliminal messages to send these images to our brains from movies, music, celebrity and so forth. Let this help us to be aware of these things and to take steps to protect our families from such things.

Warning: Be on guard, and pray before you see all these images because images do have power and can have an effect on us.

It is all over Hollywood. Celebrities such as Beyonce sport these symbols. Here we see Beyonce is wearing the eye of horus (lucifer) on her shirt. She often flashes these symbols with Jay-Z. She also reports having an 'entity' named Sasha take over and possess her as she performs.

A lot of young girls emulate her, and unfortunately are being lured by the enemy.

A lot of celebrities gain riches, fame and power through satan. Satan once tempted Jesus in the wilderness to bow before him and he would in return give him the world. Satan has made this offer to many, and still is today. Unfortunately many have accepted his offer and have fallen into his snare.

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:8-10

Every movie incorporates these satanic images, whether obvious or subtly done so. Their goal is to have a subliminal message per shot.

Ghostbusters 2 and a pyramid with the glowing light on top.

Batman Returns with Christopher Walken sporting a headpiece with a pyramid and eye of horus.

Lord of the Rings with the Eye of Sauron... aka eye of lucifer, eye of horus, all seeing eye.

The new Transformers movie sports a pyramid on the cover with the sun behind it which is the dogwood star that represents lucifer and the all seeing eye above the pyramid.

The new Sherlock Holmes movie is crawling with all kinds of satanic images. Here is one example. They have a secret satanic society in the movie (Masons anyone?) and have the images of the sun above the pyramid with falcon wings which are also satanic symbols.

George Lucas is very famous for his movies which include "Star Wars" that also have a satanic theme. Here is his logo. See the eye?

Television shows do the same thing. Here is one example of a very popular tv show called "LOST."

Here is an image of a painting on the wall when they discover the "hatch." Note the arrow, sun symbol, and eye of horus.

When they find the 'temple', there are satanic symbols everywhere. In this picture, they are on the stairs. In the second picture, they are subtly placed behind Jack and Kate. Hollywood tends to place these images behind the characters, so that while we are looking at the characters, our subconscious is picking up these images surrounding them.

Another subliminal message is the word "Apollo" which is satan. Kate opens an Apollo candy bar in LOST.

Many of us remember Apollo from "Rocky 1,2,3,and 4" which is named after satan himself. Another Apollo image is from the new Hulk movie as the words glow on the side of the screen.

Unfortunately, they do stoop as low as childrens' cartoons. Here we see the popular "Dora the Explorer" climbing up a pyramid with a star on top (dogwood star over the pyramid = all seeing eye of lucifer)

And another popular show called "Spongebob Squarepants" shows these images of masons and the eye as Squidward gets initiated in Masonry.

It doesn't stop there. It is infiltrated with false religions. Here we see a Cardinal priest wearing the eye in a pyramid with the blazing symbols around it on his headpiece. In the second image, he wears the eye of horus surrounded by the sun on his headpiece.

Here are celebrity singers that are heavily satanic. Lady Gaga manages to demonstrate a satanic symbol and message in all her attire and images. Beware of watching her videos and listening to her music. Her music is known to have subliminal messages in there as well promoting sexuality and nudity. She always covers one eye in honor of lucifer, and in this image, she has a lightning bolt on the other which is also a satanic symbol.

Lisa, "Left Eye" Lopez also used this method by covering one eye.

What you do with this information is up to you. We at a Voice in the Wilderness hopes this will help you and your family decide to take steps to protect yourselves from these images and subliminal messages. Some of you may wonder what is the big deal about images and symbols. These things are known to have power, and even draw demons to our presence.

A note from us,

Some may be fascinated with studying these images and motivated to expose the evil works of the enemy in the world. From personal experience, it can do more harm than good for us. We will be exposing ourselves to these images and giving the enemy too much attention. He deserves none of ours.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

How to Understand the Bible

2010-04-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

In the past, I would read the Bible and nothing ever really stuck to me. I would read it and it would pass over from me with none effect. Although the Bible was written in English, I could not understand.

I also heard that the King James Bible is in the sixth grade reading level, so I couldn't exactly say that it was too hard for me to read. I realize that now while I look back is that I was in the carnal mind and could not understand the Spiritual things.

We can take classes, go to Bible college, attend church for years and still not understand the Bible fully. Yet, the Bible is the living Word of God, and excruciatingly important for all Christians to read. We try to get the Word out of alternative sources like through a sermon, or a Christian book, and so forth... yet none of these things can ever take the place of the Saviour speaking to you directly in His Word.

The Bible is most certainly the living Word, for God speaks to us in His Word. It is a book that will never be finished even if we read from Genesis to Revelation. God reveals His truth in His Word as He chooses to do so. He hides the others, and even goes as far to blind those from His Word. He deliberately chooses to confuse wise men and scholars.

It is as a veil covering our eyes that we cannot see the truth, and we are blind unto it. Only Christ Jesus can lift up the veil and allow you to see.

"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." 2 Corinthians 3:13-16

God blinds whom He chooses to, and He reveals His Word and truth unto whom He chooses to.

"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." John 12:40

Let us turn to Him and ask for the Spirit of truth which is a gift unto us from God.

"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 14:17

"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." John 16:13

And when we receive this Spirit, it is an anointment from God. We need to abide in God and He shall teach us all things.

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John 2:17

And the Holy Spirit will help us see God's Word clearly. Think of the Holy Spirit as a pair of glasses to help us see clearly what was blurry to our eyes. We need not any man to teach us or instruct us in the Word, for once we have the Spirit, we also have the mind of Christ.

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:16

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5

God desires us to worship Him in Spirit and truth. If we want to worship Him, we must do it with Spirit and truth.

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. " John 4:23

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."John 4:24

Let us ask God for wisdom and understanding in His Word. Let us ask God for the Spirit of Truth to guide us. Let us ask God to give us a deep hunger for His Word and to remove the veil from our eyes that we may see.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

And lastly, in this world so many are deceived daily. All Christians must know the Word well to distinguish between truth and deception. So many are led astray into false doctrine, churches and by false prophets because they know not the Word. Let us make that a priority in our lives.

The Lord Jesus Christ vs The Roman Catholic Church 3

2010-04-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Here we conclude the three part study of The Lord Jesus Christ vs the Roman Catholic Church. Click to read PART 1, or click to read PART 2 if you have not read those yet.

The Lord's Supper vs. The Eucharist

The Eucharist is another glaring atrocity in the RCC. A lot of Catholics may look at the Eucharist as a symbol, in remembering what the Lord did for us. This is how we should look at it. However, this is not what the RCC says about the Eucharist in the catechism. The catechism claims that this is a literal sacrifice of Christ, and that it is a crucial "Sacrament" to their faith. They incriminate themselves (i'm thumbing through this link from the catechism):

"It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament."

Do you see what this is saying? This institution claims that a priest converts the bread and wine into Christ! Words can't express how bad this is! It is pure evil to teach this, and to believe this is the case. If you didn't know the RCC advocates this, there it is in plain English from their own catechism. Leave this system! God wants you to! Repent from all of this and come to Christ! He will embrace you and reveal Himself to you, I promise. What does God say about the sacrifice of Christ? This is extremely important.

Hebrews 9:
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: [25] Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; [26] For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

These verses very plainly show that Jesus Christ was sacrificed once for all sin, and it satisfied God the Father forever. Jesus is never sacrificed again, He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He does not come into a wafter and die again. That is a very serious error that God will judge when the time comes.

What should the Lord's Supper be then?

Luke 22: [19] And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1 Corinthians 11: [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

The Lord's Supper is something we do to remember His sacrifice for our sins, by His one time death on the cross. Personally, I think it can be any meal that we choose to remember Him with. It doesn't have to be a wafer and wine, it can be anything we choose. God doesn't limit us to rituals. By partaking in the Eucharist, you are sinning against God and you will be held accountable to Him. Please, I beg you to leave the RCC! Their blasphemous beliefs are in plain sight, and the Word of God exposes them very clearly!

Scripture vs. Tradition

I will start this section with the same verses from Revelation 22 that I posted earlier.

[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

God's Word is final. It is complete. We are forbidden to add or subtract to it, it stands as a whole. This is very important to soak in. There is no adding traditions or rituals to God's Word. It is what it is, and that's it.

What does the Catholic Church do? Add traditions of men and rituals, of course. They have added confessional, in which the priest will absolve sin. They encourage repetitive "Haily Mary" prayers with rosary beads. They command not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent. They set up a system of Sacraments in which a person can hope (!) and not assume(!) they are saved! They forbid priests and nuns to marry, and they pray to dead saints. I'm sure there are many more, but I will expose these with what God's Word has to say about them.

1 Timothy 4
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
[3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
[4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
[5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul, through the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is calling out the Catholic Church here (although probably not exclusively), quite obviously. He calls their traditions "doctrines of devils!" This is very strong language. He rebukes their lies, the forbidding of marriage and abstaining from meat! Nobody is forbidden to marry, the Bible says nothing of it. Marriage is encouraged (1 Corinthians 7, among other passages). We are allowed to eat anything we want, there is no Scripture that forbids us during any time period throughout the year. Lent isn't even in the Bible, it's a made up man-made tradition! Who do you choose to listen to? God in His Word, or what a blasphemous "Church" has to say?

What does Jesus say about prayer?

Matthew 6:
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
[7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

When you see a Pope or Bishop or anyone praying with their hands clasped in front of a crowd, you have to wonder as to what their intentions are. Are they earnestly seeking the Lord or are they seeking attention and their own reverence? God honors the prayers that are made in secret, and that are from the heart. He doesn't want you chanting repetitious nonsense over and over again! Do you think He has a hard time hearing? Do you think He honors robots? God wants a people to love Him from their hearts, not to be disconnected and chant requests with no feeling. Also, things like the Hail Mary aren't even directed to Him! They are prayers to idols!

God's Word on the forgiveness of sin:

1 Timothy 2:
[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 8:
[6] But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Mark 2:
[10] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,

Luke 5:
[20] And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
[21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Colossians 2:
[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him (Christ), having forgiven you all trespasses;

John 1:
[29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 11:
27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I (Christ) shall take away their sins.

Acts 13:
[38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

God alone has the power to forgive sins, through the spilled blood of Jesus Christ! No man has any chance in the world, I don't care if it's the blasphemously exalted Pope, he has no power whatsoever! Jesus Christ is the only mediator, and through Him is the only way sins are forgiven!

Even the Pharisees knew that God alone could forgive sins, and they didn't get much right! Some of the Gospels consist of Jesus' blasting them! (Note the similarities between the Pharisees of old and the modern day Catholic Priest system. Jesus knows everything.)

What does our Lord say regarding praying to saints? First, let's learn about what happens to people when they die. This could be a blog of its own, but I will give you the short version here.

1 Corinthians 15:
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1 Thessalonians 4:
13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Matthew 9:
[24] He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

John 11:
[11] These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
[12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
[13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
[14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Now I know this is highly controversial, but the Bible clearly uses the term "asleep" or "sleepeth" to describe the state of the dead before Christ returns. Jesus Himself says it throughout the gospels. It's truth.

With that being said, any and all "saints" in the Catholic faith are dead. So what does God say about praying to the dead? Before we get into that, remember the Second Commandment? We are commanded not to pray to anyone or anything other than the Lord! If that hasn't convinced you yet, let's look further. Please read 1 Samuel 28:3-20. Also, this website shows many other verses as to why praying to saints is not scriptural.

Are we saved by faith alone or do works play a role in salvation, as the RCC teaches? I have already address this to some extent in an earlier blog entitled "Evidence of Salvation and Faith Evidenced by Works." I encourage you to read the bottom third of the entry or so. The top part isn't a bad read either, if you have the time. ;)

Does purgatory exist? The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it does, and scares its members into giving money for the hope that they can shorten a loved one's sentence. Do you believe them, or will you believe what Almighty God has to say? First, the verses on sleep that I showed you teach us through God's Word that the dead are dead. They aren't anywhere else but the grave right now. It's all over Scripture. With that being said, how can there be a Purgatory? Do a Bible search for that word, you won't find anything. Hades is the state of the dead, the grave. So is sheol. It's not gehenna either. Don't try too hard, it doesn't exist in the Word. Here is one verse that closes the book on Purgatory for all eternity:

Hebrews 9:
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

A final point: doesn't the idea of purgatory suggest that Christ's sacrifice wasn't good enough? I hope you realize that it was definitely good enough, and through His blood we are redeemed and justified to the Father! We don't need to spend time in limbo to earn our way to Him!

Conclusion

This has been a very great and time consuming undertaking, but I have done it for the Lord's Glory and for His Truth. I have done it because I care about those trapped in the Roman Catholic Church, and I want to see them free from that bondage. I want them to experience true salvation and a true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, because the one in the RCC is a counterfeit. I know I came on very strong in this blog entry, and that I was blunt. The truth cannot compromise, and I have to tell you like it is. I pray that you soak this up and examine it through the Bible. Read, read, read. God's Word will mold you, and you will see the errors of the Catholic system. The more you learn of the Lord, the further He will distance you from "doctrines of devils."

Please, if you get something from this, pass it on! That goes for born again Christians too. This has to get out there, because the Christian world has embraced Rome as one of their own, while that can't be further from the truth. Nobody wants to stand up for this anymore. The reformers knew it in the 1600s, and this voice existed strongly until the dawn of the 20th century or so. It's been stifled with ecumenism and a very lukewarm Body of Christ. Let's stand up for the Lord and do something for Him. Let's separate ourselves from the world, and learn of the Lord from His Word alone, and conform to it. Make a difference! Jesus told us not to hide our light under a table. Embrace being radical for Him. We aren't on this earth to compromise, we are here to live holy lives for the God who has given us eternal life. We are the only light this darkened world will ever see, and we are commanded to teach the gospel to the lost!

I thank you dearly for reading this entry, if you got this far. There's no prize for finishing this, except maybe the gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. :) I pray He touches the hearts of anyone who came across this.

I welcome any and all comments you have. May the Lord bless you.