March 30, 2014
When we were last together I said that on my next blog we will begin to study end-time doctrines - the differences between the modern viewpoint and the historical viewpoint on the book of Revelation. This will be an extensive study delving into historical documentation and defining the strange symbolism, idioms, metaphors, riddles, enigmas and esoteric messages. By doing so, the beautiful message in the Revelation will be unveiled.
During this comparison study, I hope you will become a questioner of modern men's religious doctrines, rather than simply accept their opinions without inquiry or challenge. The Apostle John said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." - I John 4:1.
Can you imagine 2,000 years from now what our descendants may think if they read a book published in 2014, where someone asks the question, "Has a cat got your tongue?" Or, when a theater performer goes on stage, another performer says, "Break a leg." If the future reader tries to literalize either one of these metaphors, they would totally misunderstand the context of the story. We can not literalize a metaphor, or it wouldn't be a metaphor.
The languages of the Bible, specifically Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are richly laced with metaphors, idioms, and figures of speech. Did you know that the book of Revelation is rife with these riddles, as well as scary imagery? Even numbers have significant meaning.
If I told you that every one of these riddles and enigmas can be explained with clarity and accuracy, revealing the beautiful truths of the Apocalypse -- would your interest be peaked enough to walk with me as I shed illumination on what some would say is impossible to understand?
Let's go back a bit in time - 55 A.D. We can see the Roman Emperor Nero's persecution of the Christians has just begun, where he is hotly pursuing the fledgling church, whom he imprisoned, tortured, and viciously murdered. They did not have an instruction book to explain why they must endure this horrific treatment, so it was urgent that Jesus Christ get a message of hope to them stat.
Jesus spoke in veiled language with extraordinary imagery, because it would be spiritually discerned by the believers, but would prevent their government enemies from understanding God's plans and purposes for His followers. Believe me - you can understand the book of Revelation!
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
Sunday, March 23, 2014
When we were last together I left you with the questions, "How can my name be blotted out of God's Book of Life? It isn't easy."
A baby, in the womb or outside, or a small child will go directly to Heaven when he dies because he is not accountable to sin. He cannot as yet make a spiritual decision for himself - for or against Jesus Christ. Even though each human being inherits the original sin of Adam and Eve - separated from God - these little one's are innocent and without guile, so God's hand protects his eternal spirit..
God told Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My Book." What provoked God to say this to Moses? When Moses came down from the mountain where he was receiving instructions from God, he found the Israelites worshiping a pagan god of gold, made by their own hands. Surrendering our allegiance to another god (idol) is grounds for our name to be blotted out of God's Book of Life.
The blood of the lamb preserved the Israelites from the spirit of death that came upon Egypt, thus preserved their names in the Book of Life - yet some chose to return to idolatry and were blotted out. The blood of Jesus Christ preserves a believer's name in the Book of Life - but if he chooses to return to idolatry it can be blotted out.
There are two invisible powers in the universe - God and Satan. The Creator allows each human being to chose whom he will serve. Satan is god of this world and all that it offers. If our allegiance is surrendered to earthly things, and all the benefits, this is idolatry - no different than the golden calf designed by the Israelites long ago - names blotted out of God's Book of Life.
Longing for the fame and fortune offered by the world, coveting all of its grand accoutrements, makes us a friend of the world - thus an enemy of God. We can make a mate, a parent, a child, career, talent, or money another god. When our allegiance is surrendered to another god, this is idolatry - subject to our name being blotted out of God's Book of Life.
The earthly life is very short - 70 maybe 80 years on average. So the question to ourselves should be, "Is it really worth all the toil and sacrifice for things that will eventually rot and return to dust - or for a fleeting moment of applause and acclaim?" Remember, we will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse - so store up treasures in Heaven, where moth or rust cannot corrupt.
The next time we get together we will begin the study the differences between the modern and historical end-time doctrine of the church regarding: Mark of the Beast - 144,000 - Antichrist - 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Armageddon. What does history and the Bible really reveal about the riddles, enigmas, metaphors, and symbolic imagery in the Revelation prophecy?
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
