QUESTION
LIST #11:
-
The nature and timing of
the Great Tribulation
-
Does 1st Jn 5:7 belong in the
Bible? (of course it does)
-
Some 50% of non-Catholic
Christians believe in a Rapture, strength in numbers or company on the
way down?!?
-
The origin of the varied
false Rapture doctrines and the differences between them
-
Should true Christians
celebrate Christmas and Easter?
-
Looking for a map that has
'Arimathea' on it
-
The change of bodies at
the Seventh Trump
-
The anointing of your home
-
Reasons why antichrist
can't be a flesh man but is in fact satan himself
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Question #9
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Reasons why antichrist can't be a flesh
man but is in fact satan himself
FAY ASKS:
Hello Nick, I guess I wanted you to precisely interpret Rev.20:10.
Why does God separate the three in this verse, if Antichrist is satan?
Verse 10 says that the devil, or satan is cast into the lake of fire
where the beast and false prophet (Antichrist) are. Therefore
satan and Antichrist are separate.
Fay
ANSWER:
Hello Fay:
I think I know what isn’t sitting well with you. Satan has many
many names, I could pull at least 10 off the top of my head and probably
another 4-5 with some searching. These names are ‘roles’ of the
same one entity. You remember in (Rev chpt.17) where it is talking
about satan and his many roles, but it is the same one entity:
Rev 17:9-11
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 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.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is
of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (KJV)
Who is the only one by name that has already been judged to perdition?
Satan is:
Ezek 28:18-19
18 Thou [king of Tyrus - satan] hast
defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the
iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the
midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon
the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee:
thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. [perished
completely, perdition] (KJV)
Satan is the king of Babylon:
"MYSTERY BABYLON" {Rev 17:5}. Look at it
this way, Jesus has many names and roles but there is only one Jesus
Christ (“Bread of Life”, “Lamb slain”, “King of kings and Lord
of lords”, ...). And in (Rev chpt. 2 &3), in the preface to each
message to the seven churches we see different names and roles for Jesus.
Well, for every positive in the Word of God there is a negative.
Let’s follow satan through the end times and observe the destruction of
him one role at a time until there is nothing left - perished, the son of
perdition.
Rev 19:14-20
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should
smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he
treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. [This is the Second
Advent]
17 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;
18 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.
19 And I saw the beast [2nd beast of (Rev
13:11) antichrist], and the kings of the earth [1st
beast of (Rev 13:1-3). The one world political/religious luciferian
system (NWO)], and their armies, gathered together to make
war against him [Jesus] that sat on
the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast [1st beast of (Rev
13:1-3). The one world political/religious luciferian system (NWO)]
was taken, and with him the false prophet [2nd
beast of (Rev 13:11) antichrist] that wrought miracles before
him [‘It’ In the Greek language (the
original language of the New Testament), he, she, and it are all the
same word, the value of the word comes from the context of the passage],
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. [from this
point on, satan no longer has the cover of appearing as the impostor
christ antichrist. And he does not have his one-world system either]
(KJV)
You have to remember, at Jesus Christ’s return at His Second Advent, all
are changed into spiritual bodies. That has happened in our above
Scripture.
The next event regarding satan is his binding in the Bottomless Pit for
the Millennium (1000 year period):
Rev 20:2-3
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand
years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little
season. (KJV)
After the Millennium, satan is released for a short time and then he is
completely destroyed in the Lake of Fire by God Himself.
Rev 20:10
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever. (KJV)
Satan is now almost altogether gone, he still has one more role to die,
that being ‘death’, for death is one of satan’s many many names:
Heb 2:14
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (KJV)
Ok, then after Judgment Day, even death is destroyed:
Rev 20:14
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. (KJV)
The Lake of Fire is used as metaphor for complete and total irreversible
destruction, it isn’t a literal lake somewhere, it is the final sentence
for the wicked, both wicked souls and wicked things, for all that
offends shall be cast into the Lake of Fire.
And we have seen the one-world political system cast into the Lake of
Fire, as well as several of satan’s roles. Flesh and blood cannot be
cast into the Lake of Fire, for none enter therein until after Judgment
Day. On Judgment Day all are in spiritual bodies. The Lake of Fire is what
people commonly think they refer to when they say “hell”, but hell is
a very misunderstood thing. Hell is not an eternal torture chamber, but an
eternal blotting out. “Hell” so-called (the Lake of Fire) is
the death of a soul, which is the second death. (I say “hell, so-called”,
because in the Bible the word hell actually means the grave and/or the
smoldering garbage pit outside of Jerusalem. It does paint the picture for
us though, does it not?):
Rev 20:14
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. (KJV)
You remember that there are two bodies within each of us, a flesh body
and a spiritual body. The flesh body dies in the first death, and the
spiritual body dies in the second (if you don’t overcome).
1 Cor 15:44
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (KJV)
We have an indepth study of the entire 20th chapter of the book of
Revelation that covers satan’s roles in great detail, you may like to
check it out:
Revelation Chapter 20:
The twentieth chapter of the book of Revelation (known as the Millennial
chapter) is perhaps one of the more misinterpreted chapters in the
Bible. And understandably so, as it covers events so diverse, such as
some end-time events which happen at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ,
the re-incarceration of satan into the Bottomless Pit, then on into the
1000 year teaching time (Millennium), then witnesses satan being
released again from the Pit to test those taught in the Millennium, then
God destroying the remaining evil, casting satan into the lake of Fire
(Hell), and on into Judgment day, and the lake of Fire (Hell) for those
of us who do not overcome. So to say that it is an interesting chapter
is surely an understatement!
God bless!
Nick
FAY FOLLOWED UP WITH THE BELOW:
Hi Nick,
Basically you and I see end time prophecy in the same light. I too ,
don't believe Antichrist will go around chopping people's head's off.
It's his "system" that will cause people to die or be killed.
Just as satan promised Jesus the kingdoms of the world, if He would fall
down and worship him, (satan) I'm persuaded there is a man at some point
and time who will take satan up on his offer. That man will be
Antichrist in the flesh, and most will exalt him and worship him, like
you say.
This is my opinion and I could be wrong, after all I'm not a Bible
scholar; just a housewife, reading my Bible and watching things
transpire on the world scene.
I appreciate your website.
God bless,
Fay
ANSWER:
Hello Fay:
Not to argue with you, but... And I do respect your right to have
your own opinion, I certainly do not claim infallibility, nor do I insist
that everyone agree with me. But allow me one more point of interest
regarding the matter. The issue being, that while you and I may
agree on what the antichrist will do, you think it will be a man, and I
say that it will be satan himself.
I’m sure that we can agree that it is satan (called Lucifer) being
spoken of in (Isa 14:12-16). In that Scripture, in verses 13 &
14 we see that Lucifer is going to do something that we see the antichrist
doing in (2nd Thess 2:4)
Isa 14:12-16
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the
nations!
13 For thou [satan - antichrist]
hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north [the
north side of the Temple is always God’s place, the Holy of Holies]:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the
most High [satan is saying that he shall be
as Godm.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee,
saying, Is this the man [satan referred
to as a man] that made the earth to tremble, that did shake
kingdoms (KJV)
II Th 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or
that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God. (KJV)
Do you see the correlation of the two persons mentioned in the Isaiah
Scripture and the 2nd Thessalonians Scripture? It is one and the
same entity, it is satan as the antichrist, his most formidable move ever
upon God’s children.
I am unclear why you seem it to be so unrealistic that satan shall come
and impersonate Jesus Christ as the antichrist prior to the return of the
true Messiah Jesus Christ’ Second Advent. And I am equally unclear
as to why it is so important for you to hang on to the assertion that the
antichrist shall be a flesh man, born of woman, reared and taught on this
earth in the normal fashion of men. It seems, to me, far more
difficult to believe that the locust army, which are supernatural fallen
angels (to be cast out of Heaven with satan in (Rev 12:9) would be subject
to a mere mortal man on earth for their five month reign:
Rev 9:7-12
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto
battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their
faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the
teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the
sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running
to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in
their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the
bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the
Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. [This
is futhur documentation that satan shall be the antichrist, for Abaddon
and Apollyon are two of satan’s many names]
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
(KJV)
Observe from the Strong’s concordance & Bible Dictionary:
Abaddon:
Hebrew word #3 Abaddon (ab-ad-dohn');
of Hebrew origin [11]; a destroying angel: KJV-- Abaddon.
Apollyon: Greek
word #623 Apolluon (ap-ol-loo'-ohn); active participle of 622; a
destroyer (i.e. Satan): KJV-- Apollyon.
There is so much more evidence that satan shall be the antichrist, we
could go much deeper. And we could also reason it out by asking
ourselves what satan shall be doing while some mere puny human is running
the world, and we could also wonder why if satan is not the antichrist,
then why was the Bible mute about him during the critical final days.
For you agree that satan is on earth in the end times, witnessed by your
own admission that satan is cast into the Lake of Fire in (Rev 19:20)
AFTER antichrist’s activities (although in reality, it is not satan that
is cast into the Lake of Fire at that time but merely his role as
antichrist (false prophet in Rev 19:20). Satan (the person, entity)
is finally cast into the Lake of Fire completely in (Rev chpt. 20).
And remember, the antichrist is an impersonator of the true Jesus Christ,
he shall have supernatural abilities to deceive, and even bring lightening
down from Heaven on command:
Rev 13:12-14
12 And he [antichrist] exerciseth
all the power of the first beast [one-world
system - NWO] before him, and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed.
13 And he [antichrist] doeth
great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth
in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying
to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the
beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (KJV)
No Faye, this is no man here, it is satan himself! Let’s revisit the
definition of the word antichrist:
Antichrist: Greek
word #500 antichristos (an-tee'-khris-tos); from 473 and 5547; an
opponent of the Messiah: KJV-- antichrist.
Anti:
Greek word #473 anti (an-tee'); a primary particle; opposite,
i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to):
KJV-- for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote
contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.
Christ: Greek word #5547 Christos (khris-tos');
from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: KJV--
Christ.
Please allow me to explain why it is imperative that you understand that
satan shall be the antichrist. Most people accept the fact that
there will be an antichrist who Jesus shall cast into the Pit at His
Second Advent. The danger in identifying the antichrist as a man is
that satan can then setup a man, a world leader of some sort, to appear to
be the antichrist; then when the real antichrist (satan) comes, he can
cast the imposter into the Pit and rule as Christ to a beguiled world.
The whole world would accept him after that. That is the danger!
God bless!
Nick
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Question #8
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The anointing of your home
Cheryl WRITES:
Dear Watchmen,
I have a question concerning the anointing of your home. I believe in
the anointing of your home and have seen the profits of it, but if I
were ever asked to document it, I couldn't. I have found the anointing
of the sick. Could I use this for documentation for a sick house? I
don't think so. I have been told by a dear friend that is was the same
as putting the lambs blood on the door posts at the Passover.
I feel that is the blood of Christ that covers our sins, no more to
die in our sins, but rather have eternal life in Yahshua. I know this is
real and not just a tradition. Please help me document this. A subject
long over due that needs to be taught.
Sincerely, Cheryl
ANSWER:
Hello Cheryl, I liked your font so much I didn't change it.
'Anointing' is done for several different reasons in the Bible, both Old
and New Testaments. Kings and Priests were anointed to serve God as
his chosen ones, the vessels in the Tabernacle were anointed to dedicate
them to God, and the sick and lame were anointed for a blessing of healing
from the Lord. In all cases the oil was not that which accomplished
the deed or brought about the blessing, it was the Lord God who honored
the obedience and faith of the one doing the anointing, and worked the
divine intercessions.
In the book of Exodus (29:7) we see both the "anointing
(oil)" and the act of "anointing" someone/something.
Exod 29:6-9
6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown
upon the mitre.
7 Then shalt thou take the anointing
oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint
him.
8 And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.
9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the
bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual
statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. (KJV)
anointing :
Hebrew word #4888 mishchah (meesh-khaw');
or moshchah (mosh-khaw'); from 4886; unction (the act); by
implication, a consecratory gift: KJV-- (to be)
anointed (-ing), ointment.
anoint :
Hebrew word #4886 mashach (maw-shakh');
a primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by
implication, to consecrate; also to paint: KJV-- anoint,
paint.
Lev 8:9-12
9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his
forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD
commanded Moses.
10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle
and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed
the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to
sanctify them.
12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed
him, to sanctify him. (KJV)
In the New Testament we see
the anointing of the sick. Once again we see that it wasn't the oil
that accomplished the healing or the driving away of the evil spirits, it
was the obedience and faith in so doing it. For Jesus even anointed
with spit and clay to heal the blind man.
Not all sickness is
exclusively only of either evil spirits, or, of only germs/deformity,
there are different causes on each individual basis. It would serve
no purpose to ask God to cast an evil spirit out of someone with the
Measles, just as it would be incorrect to ask for a medical healing on
someone who is demonically possessed. They are two different things,
but God knows which is which, and a prayer for healing in faith and
obedience avails much in the way of God's good grace. I only say
that because some people think every little thing is a demon, every
illness an evil spirit, heck, some go so far as to call 'poverty' and evil
spirit, but those are usually the 'prosperity ministers' that are really
seeking to separate you from what little money you do have.
But anyway, below are examples of anointing for healing:
Mark 6:13
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were
sick, and healed them. (KJV)
John 9:6
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the
spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay
(KJV)
By far our best
documentation that we are to anoint the sick can be found in the book of
James. Below we see that we are to anoint IN THE NAME OF THE LORD,
for therein is the real power. The act of smearing with oil is
action on our part in faith. But in the context below we see that
all things are to be done in prayer and that prayer is where the real
blessing comes from.
James 5:13-16
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing
psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall
be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much. (KJV)
In regards to anointing your
home, your home is the vessel of your family much like your body is the
vessel of your soul. As you would anoint your body (head) for a
blessing of healing and protection from that which is evil, you can anoint
your home (entryway) as the vessel of your family to protect them from
harm and evil. Evil spirits are very real, there is more than enough
evidence of that written in the Bible, and evil spirits want no part of a
person or a place that has the seal and blessing of God upon it. It
just makes them very uncomfortable. And remember, God has made a
declaration that must be adhered to, even by evil spirits:
Ps 105:15
15 Saying, Touch not mine [God's]
anointed, and do my prophets no harm. (KJV)
As
far as your friends statement of anointing a 'sick' house - I like
that, I could go with that; and regarding her comparison
of anointing to the blood placed upon the door's of the Hebrews to protect
them in Egypt from the death angel? Well, why not? It wasn't
the literal animal blood that protected, it was the good grace of God to
those who were obedient; for had they not anointed their firstborn would
have died - it was all about obedience to that which the Lord had told
them and faith in Him to protect.
However, I would certainly not use blood, for that would blaspheme the
blood of Christ on the cross, Christ became that perfect sacrificial lamb.
But anoint anything you want a blessing on with pure Olive Oil SET ASIDE
for such purpose, always in the name of the Lord and prayer.
Remember where the word anointing comes from, in both Old and New
Testaments, it is the same idea that the word Christ in Jesus Christ comes
from. Jesus Christ, the anointed of God.
Christ:
Greek word #5547 Christos (khris-tos'); from 5548;
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: KJV-- Christ.
#5548
chrio (khree'-o); probably akin to 5530 through the idea of contact;
to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an
office or religious service: KJV-- anoint.
So
that was a long answer that really didn't answer your question
specifically about Biblical documentation of someone anointing their home,
but it was good to visit the topic of anointing, for the Bible tells
believers to anoint in the name of the Lord. As far as a specific
Scripture as to anointing ones home, I could find none either for or
against, save that the Lords 'home', that where He dwelled with Israel,
the Tabernacle & Temple and the vessels within were to be anointed.
I don't think we err in anointing our homes, for I surely hope He would
dwell with us in our homes, if even by the Holy Spirit alone.
God bless!
(PS: If anyone knows of a verse or
Scripture in the Bible where a person anointed their home or tent, please
share it with us.)
Nick
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Question #7
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The change of bodies at the Seventh Trump
Brenda ASKS:
Dear Nick,
Pastor (A fine Christian Minister) was teaching on the seventh trump,
and in passing he mentioned the bible having a description of what would
happen to the flesh bodies as we are changed into our spiritual bodies.
I cannot remember what book he said. Kindly help me if you can.
Your help would be most appreciated.
Sincerely,
Brenda
ANSWER:
Hi Brenda:
The chapter
that you are looking for is Zechariah chpt. 14, specifically verse 12,
which is what happens at the change of bodies in {1st Cor 15:50-54}.
The difference being, that at the Second Advent, those whom are living on
the planet go into their spiritual bodies in two different ways; the
overcomer (the faithful) shall go into his spiritual body instantly and
not taste of a flesh death, while those who do not overcome shall die and
thusly 'transform' into their spiritual bodies.
Zech 14:12
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the
people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume
away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away
in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
(KJV)
May I
make a suggestion? I don't know if you have a Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance, but it is was how I remembered your
Scripture. I remembered that the Scripture had the word
"holes" in it, but I wasn't sure which book of prophets it was
in. So I simply typed 'holes' into my Strong's and I got the below
read out (the actual read-out had the sentence of each below verse
supplied to help pick the right one, but I couldn't copy those sentences:
1 Samuel 14:11
come forth out of the holes
Isaiah 2:19
shall go into the holes of the
Isaiah 7:19
and in the holes of the rocks
Isaiah 42:22
all of them snared in holes
Jeremiah 16:16 and out of the holes
of the
Micah 7:17
out of their holes like worms of
Nahum 2:12
filled his holes with prey
Haggai 1:6
to put it into a bag with holes.
Zechariah 14:12
consume away in their holes
Matthew 8:20
The foxes have holes, and
Luke 9:58
Foxes have holes, and
So A Strong's is a must-have study tool. God
Bless!
Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance:
(Highly
Recommended!) If you
could only have two books, this would be number two (after the KJV
Bible) for the accurate study of God's Word!!! This is the work of
Dr. Strong S.T.D. & L.L.D. He was a Christian Professor of Exegetical
Theology at Drew Theological Seminary for many years. He lived between
1822 - 1894 and devoted twenty-seven years to the preparation of his
Concordance. He was the first to make a Bible Concordance and many have
come behind him with their own Concordances for different Bible versions,
but Dr. Strong's work is by far the most accurate and reliable.
(Approx. $27-$28)
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Question #6
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Looking for a map that has 'Arimathea' on
it
Sam WRITES:
Hi there--
Hope you can help... Have been all over the web looking for
a map of the has Arimathea on it. We are trying to find out where
our friend, Joseph of Arimathea is from. We have a bit of info
saying he was perhaps Sanhedrin but would love any help you might be
able to give. Biggest question: was Arimathea in Africa and
if possible where in Africa. Thank you in advance for your help.
In His Love
Sam
ANSWER:
Hello Sam:
I have attached a map and several
Bible Dictionary articles on Arimathea.
Arimathea is in Palestine (in Christ's
time). All I can add to the below Dictionary articles would be
that Joseph was Jesus' great uncle on His mother's side (Joseph was Mother
Mary's uncle). This same Joseph was an honored member of the Jewish
Sanhedrin, but he was a good man, unlike most the others. Nicodemus
{John 3:1-21} was also a 'good' Sanhedrin member, he was kind to Christ
and came to believe.
It was Joseph's influence that allowed
him to fulfill prophecy and bury Jesus in a rich man's tomb, whom had died
(crucified) with malefactors: "And
he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because
he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." {Isa
53:9}.
Below we see that while Joseph was on the Sanhedrin that brought
false witness against Jesus and delivered Him to the pagan Roman Empire, he
did not vote in the affirmative:
Luke
23:50-52
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a
counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed
of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself
waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of
Jesus. (KJV)
I
don't know if it is Arimathea or Joseph that interests you, but if it be
Joseph, then you should enjoy the below study:
The
first Christian Church A.D. 37: at Glastonbury; Britain. Founded by
Joseph of Arimathaea, Christ's great-uncle. Also: Irish and Scottish
Ancestry: The reason, today, we are so unaware of the fact
that the British church was the true church established by Joseph of
Arimathaea, by the direction of St. Philip, is because most all the
records have been destroyed There have been enough records to survive,
though, to establish beyond all doubt that the church of Britain (not to
be confused with the present day Anglican Church of England) was the
true church, before being Romanized. For this reason most everyone
has assumed that the true church was the Roman Catholic Church, which is
entirely false. Neither the Roman Catholic Church nor her
Protestant daughters represent the true church established by our
Messiah. Read the history with documentation.
Below
I include several entries from the Biblesoft
PC Study Bible Complete
Reference Library 3.0
where I obtained the below info, and which we use exclusively here at WBSG.
If you don't have a Bible ware program, then you might consider Bible
Soft, they are the best!
God Bless!
Nick
Almost forgot,
you remember Ramah? It's the same place as Arimathea,
and you remember what happened there that was prophesied in approx. 489 b.c.
to happen:
Jer
31:15 (prophecy
written approx. 489 b.c.)
15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused
to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (KJV)
Matt 2:16-18 (the
prophecy fulfilled sometime between 4 b.c. - 0 bc/ad,
probably 2 b.c. (by
Gregorian Calendar dating)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the
wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years
old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of
the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by
Jeremy [Jeremiah
in Hebrew]
the
prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and
weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would
not be comforted, because they are not. (KJV)
FROM BIBLESOFT:
ARIMATHEA:
ARIMATHEA located at 32 x 35 below
ARIMATHEA
-Also called RAMAH
-A town five miles north of Jerusalem
(Outline from Nave's Topical Bible)
ARIMATHEA
[air ih mah THEE ah] (a height)-- a city in the Judean hills northwest
of Jerusalem (see Map 6, A-4). It was the home of Joseph, a member of the
Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, who placed the body of Jesus in his new
tomb <Luke 23:50>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
ARIMATHEA
ARIMATHEA (a-ri-ma-thi-a). The birthplace and sepulcher of Joseph in
Judea. Here the body of Jesus was buried <Matt. 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke
23:51; John 19:38>. G. Dalman, Sacred Sites and Ways (1935) identifies
it with the present Rentis (Jerome, Remphtis), once most probably
Ramathaim, which was the home of Samuel, situated NW of Jerusalem in the
hill country of Ephraim.
(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright
(C) 1988.)
ARIMATHEA
(<Mt. 27:57>). The birthplace or abode of the rich man Joseph,
who, by Pilate's leave, which he "boldly" craved, casting away
the "fear" which had previously kept him from open discipleship
(<Mark 15:43; John 19:38>), buried our Lord's body in his own
"new tomb" at Jerusalem. Arimathea, a "city of the
Jews" (Luke's vague expression for the Gentiles, to whom no more
precise information seemed needful: <Luke 23:51>) is possibly
identical with Ramah, Samuel's birthplace, called Armathaim in the
Septuagint (<1 Sam. 1:1,19>); but many associate it with Ramleh, on
the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem.
(from Fausset's Bible Dictionary)
Arimathea / Ramathaim / Rama / Arimathaea / Ramleh (KJV)
Matt 2:18
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not. (KJV)
Matt 27:57
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named
Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: (KJV)
Mark 15:43
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for
the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the
body of Jesus. (KJV)
Luke 23:51
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of
Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of
God. (KJV)
John 19:38
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the
body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the
body of Jesus. (KJV)
All info from:
SOFTWARE: Biblesoft
PC Study Bible Complete
Reference Library 3.0: (Highly
Recommended!) The recommended full
version if you can afford it! This is the one we use in the Bible
studies on this website. Product
Description: PC Study Bible 3 is the easiest and most
powerful Bible software on the market today. While other Bible software
packages tell you to search for everything, PC Study Bible finds important
information for you automatically. Thanks to its powerful Smart
Referencing System, PC Study Bible instantly provides information about
every Bible passage and topic, so wherever you are in the Bible, a wealth
of helpful resources is always available at the click of a button. In
addition to this, PC Study Bible 3 takes Bible software to a whole new
level with The Biblesoft Authoring System. This powerful new feature
allows the user to create his or her own Bible study materials, integrate
these works into PC Study Bible, share studies with other users over the
Internet, and continually add to a personalized library of Bible
resources. Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows
NT. Media: CD-ROM. Availability: This item usually ships
within 2-3 days. Shipping: Currently, item
can be shipped only within the U.S. System
requirements:80486 or faster processor (Pentium recommended). Microsoft
Windows 95, 98, or later9 MB hard disk space minimum (342 MB for full
installation). CD-ROM drive (2x or faster
recommended). Mouse or compatible pointing device.
Features: Instantly provides information about every
Bible passage and topic. Includes authoring system
that allows user to create study materials. Can be
expanded through addition of materials from user or third parties. Includes
traditional and modern translations of the Bible. (Approx.
$210.00)
OR
SOFTWARE: Biblesoft
PC Study Bible New Reference Library 3.0: (Not
complete library, but upgradable at a later time with add-on modules):
This is the same program as the above version, however this one doesn't
include all the resources, but you can upgrade as you go along. Platform:
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT. Media: CD-ROM. Availability:
Usually ships within 24 hours. Shipping:
Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. Features:Instantly
provides information about every Bible passage or topic. Includes
authoring system that allows user to create study materials. Can be
expanded through addition of materials from user or third parties.
Includes reference works and translations of the Bible. Bonus for
registration includes Spurgeon's Encyclopedia of Sermons. System
requirements: 80486 or higher processor (Pentium recommended). Windows
95, 98, or higher. 9 MB hard disk space minimum (221 MB for full
installation). CD-ROM drive (2x or faster recommended) . Mouse or
compatible pointing device. (Approx.
$90.00)
God Bless!
Nick WBSG
| Back to top |
Question
#5
| Back to top |
Should true Christians celebrate
Christmas and Easter?
To All:
Regarding the pagan practices
that have crept into Christmas and Easter (otherwise called Passover): Perhaps some have misunderstood
us when we say that it is okay to honor our Lord and Savior in December and
April (Christmas and Easter). We do not advocate heathen practices—God forbid, but much is done in ignorance regarding religion.
And we certainly do not partake in anything heathen on those holidays,
even though most others do so in ignorance. Our
point is that we should use these holidays—which most everybody celebrates
to some degree today anyway, even unbelievers—to
witness to them what Jesus Christ did on the cross for them should they
believe upon Him. In other words, declaring the Reason for
the season.
Now we know about the
origins of some of the traditions regarding Christmas and Easter (Santa
Clause, fertility emblems like eggs and rabbits, etc.); and yes,
they are wrong. But the general mass of people really do believe in
their heart that they are worshiping God through Christ Jesus in honor by celebrating those
holidays, and when they say Grace over their holiday meal it is to God
that they say it, not to some mythical Norse god, Woden (at Christmas) nor the
mythical goddess Isthar (at Easter). Their intentions are good; and with
God intention means everything. Certainly more than the "scholarly
genius" of adept Bible students means ("scholarly
genius" in that they discern correctly that many of the traditions
surrounding the modern day celebrations of Christmas and Easter are of
dubious origin). But God is a "Heart Knower" (1
Chron 28:9, Psm 44:21, Jer 17:10, Acts 1:24, Heb 4:13), not a legalist.
If God were a legalist He would be very lonely in Heaven because none of
us could ever measure up. Did not even Jesus Christ spare the
terrified adulteress? (John 8:1-11).
I just think that when we
Bible-literate Christians—who do know better regarding some of the
corruptions fused into Christmas and Easter—spend the holidays calling others
who are ignorant to
religious history, ''heathens'', that we turn people off to Christ and God and
most certainly to any message about Them that we might have to share.
In essence, we become the enemy of that which we love—God and Christ
Jesus. And why? Because hundreds of years ago the Catholic church consolidated
feasts with the heathen? We" allowed them to leaven-in corruptions
into these holidays, but now will we also allow to be cast off those who were
caught in their snare? The heathen will worship whomever they
will, but do you really think that the majority of Biblically-illiterate
America are really in their hearts worshiping some pagan god or goddess?
No, they are not; and you know that. For many people, this is the most
"religious" time of their lives. Do you think that God does not hear them
when they thank Him over their Christmas or Easter meal? You know that He
hears them and that He takes their intentions of giving honor and thanks well to
heart. And if He will be with them as they dine, why wouldn't we?
And if they aren't
intentionally observing pagan rituals and rites, then why
don't we lovingly and with patience teach them the truth in the context of
the holiday seasons (Christmas and Easter), instead of haughtily throwing our weight around with
our "much knowledge" about the history of pagan feasts and how
the corrupt churches have let them slip in?
There is much true Christian doctrine related to those holidays, why don't
we draw that to peoples remembrance instead of ''throwing the baby out
with the bath water''?
Are we that vain, or do we seek
to help gather others into the Kingdom of God. My position on this
is Biblical, observe Apostle Paul teach that it is not good to let our
knowledge become a stumbling block to others. We should take the time to
read the below Bible chapter, for it is written to us who do know better,
and how that we ought to have a little mercy on the well-meaning, albeit
ignorant, folks. To educate them, not rebuke them.
Rom 14:1-23
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak,
eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him
which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he
standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make
him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day
alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that
regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth,
eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to
the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die
unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might
be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought
thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to
me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this
rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his
brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing
unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to
him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not
charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and
approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and
things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but
it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that
condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of
faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (KJV)
Have a heart,
Christians; these poor people in our modern society don't know what their
doing. For most of them the Holidays are the most religious time in their
spiritually empty lives; a time where when perhaps only once or twice a
year they actually think about God and Jesus and what it all means.
Don't we dare take that from them! Help them to understand, yes;
show them were the myths are and where the truth is. And consider
this: You yourself once
did not know the truth (that sure goes for this writer!), but somebody lovingly and with patience took you by the hand
and led you into the truth of the Gospel of Peace. They didn't turn
you way with scorns of "heathen! heathen!"
And for those who observe that Christ
wasn't actually born on December 25th (and He wasn't, it was circa September
29th), bear in mind that Christ did enter the world on or about December
25th (the approx. date of His conception in Mary's womb). So why quibble
over dates on the calendar? What does this accomplish?
The Messiah from God, Jesus the Christ, entered this world at that time, and I
for one am thankful for this and use that time to reflect upon and appreciate
that “He hath done this”
(Psalms 22:31)—all that Jesus Christ has done for us Christians, and that
the Lord God had made it so.
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to
[engaged to marry]
Joseph, before they came together
[before
sexual intercourse],
she was found with child
[pregnant]
of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a
publick example
[to not embarrass her publically with a
perceived infidelity],
was minded to put her away
[divorce]
privily
[privately, instead
of telling the whole town that she was pregnant and not by him].
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that
[Jesus]
which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins
["Jesus" is the Greek word for the Hebrew
name, Jehoshua' (Joshua);
and Joshua in Hebrew means "Jehovah the Savior." Thus this Jesus ("Jehovah
the Savior") was "God with us" (Emmanuel)].
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel
[fulfilling Isa 7:14],
which being interpreted
[translated]
is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had
bidden him, and took unto him his wife
[he married her]:
25 And knew her not
[NO
sexual intercourse]
till
[until after]
she had brought forth
[delivered,
bore]
her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. KJV
So Merry Christmas to all
of you and your loved ones, in the precious and powerful name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Nick Goggin
Watchmen Bible Study Group]
Should true Christians celebrate
Christmas and Easter?
Is it OK for Christians to celebrate
Christmas (and Easter) even though it has been Paganized?
How to figure the exact day which Christians are to observe Passover (Easter
otherwise called in the churches)
A defense of the King James Bible's use of the word "Easter" in Acts 12:4, and
thereby; a defense of the King James version Bible itself
| Back to top |
Question
#4
| Back to top |
The origin of the
varied false Rapture doctrines and the differences between them
[John], who
is a died in the wool Rapturist (Ok, a dyed in the wool Rapturist) sent us
a 'doctored' copy of Margaret MacDonald's A.D. 1830 Rapture vision.
Below is our reply to him including a means to view the original autograph
of her monumental Scripture laden demonically channeled Rapture vision
which spawned ALL the present day variations of Rapture theories.
We also explain how those many variations came about:
I wonder if you
know that there are two versions of Margaret Macdonald's 'vision'?
One version was very carefully edited (by guess who?) to remove much of
what she said.
And while
Margaret did start the Rapture doctrine, it was in no means as it is
today. Two preachers stole her 'vision' account, and reformed the
Rapture doctrine and put it out as their own.
Before
Macdonald in 1830, the concept of a Rapture was not found in the Christian
church (not in any church for that matter). That means that for some
1800 years there was no Rapture theory taught out of the Bible.
Hmmm.... You don't find that the least bit alarming????
Two very good books on the subject are below. The
reviews are not mine:
The
Rapture Plot: By Dave Macpherson.
A eye opening documentary of the dubious origin of the various Rapture
'doctrines'. A must read for anyone who is staking their soul on the
validity of the so-called Rapture Theory. Packed full of facts and
history. (Approx. $14-$15)
The
Incredible Cover Up: Excellent piece of
documentary work! This book is some of the best Christian research I
have ever read. It tends to be a little dry at times but hey its not
fiction after all. The way Dave MacPherson researched the issue of the
Rapture historically reads like he left no stone unturned. This book has
given me a new way to look at my life and a new defense of my feelings
that the "Rapture" is not part of God's word. The Incredible
Cover-Up needs to be in every church library and every Christian should
read it. (Approx. $5-$6)
But John,
your very assertion that MacDonald's version of the Rapture is so much
different than today's Rapture theories is a condemnation of the Rapture
theory itself (though I'm sure that escaped you, or you wouldn't have
admitted it). God's Word and His Doctrines in the Bible do not change.
HISTORY OF THE RAPTURE THEORIES (plural):
- At first there was only the PRE-Trib theory
(Pre-tribulation, i.e., a Rapture before the Tribulation).
- Then as scholars found so many Scriptures that
documented that Christians would indeed be here during the
Tribulation, the Rapture theory was altered into the MID-Trib
theory (Mid-tribulation, i.e., a Rapture during the middle of the
Tribulation).
- Then, in the process of time when Scholars once again
supplied Scriptures documenting that Christians will be here THROUGH
the tribulation, they tuned up the Rapture theory into a POST-Trib
theory (Post-tribulation, i.e., a Rapture after the Tribulation but
before the Second Advent of Jesus Christ).
- Then, when that also was found to be at variance with
Scripture, and to make the theory cover more Scriptural 'problems',
they came out with the TWO STAGE Rapture theory (a little here and a
little there, some at one time and some at another).
- Now, Rapturists are so confused even among themselves
over their Rapture doctrine, the have become polarized forming
subgroups who each have a pet theory and often fight vehemently
amongst themselves over with variation of the Rapture theory is the
correct one.
But due in no
small part to the Internet, wherein the Rapturist can sit in the privacy
of their own home and explore the Rapture doctrine, questioning it without
fear of being cut off from their churches and fellowship with their
bretheren, people are seeing the Rapture doctrine for what it is.
The Rapture
doctors are being called out and confronted with so much overwhelming
Scriptural documentation that Christians will be here until the
Second Advent, they will soon have no choice but to drop the whole
thing, or, create some new unheard of Rapture theory (three-stage? Then
four stage? Then five...)
In all honesty John, is this the kind of doctrine that
you wish to place your soul into?
And why do get angry with me for trying to help people
see the truth?
Nick
Watchmen Bible Study Group
| Back to top |
Question
#3
| Back to top |
Some 50% of non-Catholic Christians
believe in a Rapture, strength in numbers or company on the way down?!?
Hello [John]:
You wrote:
"It is not only [Jane} that believes this way
[believes in a Rapture] I do also, and
there are MANY of us that believe this way"
John, what
does that mean? Strength in numbers or something? The majority
have been wrong since the beginning of time. There are 2 billion
Christians on the planet today, a full 1 billion of them are Catholic,
that makes them the greatest majority of Christians on earth; does
that mean that they are right? Does that mean that I should go out
and buy a Rosary and place idols all over my house? I only stress
this with you because I'm worried about you John.
You wrote:
"As far as I am concerned, this can only come
from the Holy Spirit, because it guides me, encourages me, increases my
knowledge, makes my faith and belief stronger and most important of all
reduces the confusion in my studies. I must be close to being on
track, else I would be under conviction to change my direction and I am
not under any such conviction."
Is it that
same Holy Spirit that told you that there was going to be a Rapture of the
Church, and that Bill Clinton may be the antichrist, or that the Pope may
be the antichrist? You wrote:
"I agree with [Tim], in that Antichrist will
have a lot of the characteristics of Bill Clinton in personality,
temperament, values(?), etc. So much so that when you begin to do
a mental check off of this "list" you automatically put Bill
Clinton on the Antichrist list."
John, the
Holy Spirit of God would not lie to you, therefore you are receiving your
ideas from some other spirit. The antichrist is satan,
no one else but the Son of Perdition himself! {2nd Thess 2:3, Ezek
28:18-19, Isa 14:12-18}, not the Pope, not the President, not Carlos
what's-his-name, not Adolph Hitler, ...
John, I think you've hear the Scripture, but allow me to post it for
others that may not:
I Jn 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they
are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
(KJV)
Just because
a 'spirit' makes you think that something is true (like satan's Rapture
doctrine for instance) does not mean that it is true.
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming [disguising
- Strong's word #3345 - see below] themselves
into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed [disguised]
into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his [satan's
false] ministers also be
transformed [disguised] as
the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works. (KJV)
transformed:
Greek word #3345 metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from
3326 and a derivative of 4976; to transfigure or disguise;
figuratively, to apply (by accommodation): KJV-- transfer,
transform (self).
The way to
tell if it is the Holy Spirit of God is that He will tell (or cause you to
believe) nothing that contradicts the Word of God, that is one reason why
God had the Bible to be given to us.
It is so very dangerous to
stake your soul on doctrines because you feel that that simply because you
'feel good about them' that they must be from God. Satan is not a
lazy person, he works day and night to deceive with his false doctrines
that he sends to earth through his deceived false preachers/teachers.
Test the spirits people, test
the fruit of that spirit and compare it to our trusted guideline - the
Word of God, the Bible. That is how you can be assured that you
aren't running around willy-nilly with itchy ears and half truths and
deceiving doctrines. Some of the doctrines and beliefs expressed by
the Rapturist are so ridiculous when compared to Scripture that one can
only suspect satanic deception in those that believe and spread them like
a spiritual plague throughout the body of Christ - His church. Where
are all the true Bible teachers from God, and whence came the Tares?!?
Satan's greatest feat of all
was to convince man that either he wasn't real or that he had no influence
nor power over the affairs of man. The best way to defeat an enemy
is to trick him into laying down his armor and weapon, satan is a master
at destroying man spiritually. A word to the wise is sufficient -
compare anything you learn to the Scriptures of God in your Bible!
We have shown Rapturists on
this Website many many Scriptures that discount a Rapture happening, but
they just pull out another twisted verse and point to it as their new hope
new savior, forgetting the dozens that were corrected before that one.
What gives with that? Do you guys so desperately want to believe
that there will be a Rapture so bad that you are oh-so-willing to close
your eyes to the Scriptures? It is that which amazes me most about
Rapturists, they seem like such faithful Christians: But even a
Catholic, when presented with overwhelming evidence, will lay down their
idols and come out of the idolatrous Catholic Church. But the
Rapturist? Leave his false fly-away doctrine? No way, he's
gonna keep the faith in his dogmas even if it means going to hell
for it. Though I judge not.
God bless you, not in what you believe (Rapture), but that the Lord will
pull you out of it before it is too late.
Nick
Watchmen Bible Study Group
| Back to top |
Question
#2
| Back to top |
Does 1st Jn 5:7 belong in the
Bible? (of course it does)
T.S. Writes us back (see his first
question: Was
Jesus God? )
Hello ,
Thank you for your answers regarding my questions.......i will down load
your article on the Holy Spirit etc etc....when i can get out..to buy a
refill.......my son just did the last few pages..etc.
Regarding your comment that we have been made in the image of Angels...?
with this i can`t agree.......in the opening scipture God says let
us........make man in our image....hence what we are..........You are
correct when you say that jesus is God,but he was also the Angel of God
and the Logos/spokesman etc etc.............as you know all things were
created by Jesus/Logos /the Word etc........
so i find that, God Almighty the Father was talking to his son to
be..........why would he want to ask the angels.......... in what image
shall they be .....??
Also regarding the image.......? are not all cars made
in the same image..? yet they are all different......if we keep the
scripture as simple as possible we will not go far wrong..
As God is the most powerful being alive..
Because Jesus said that my Father is greater than i......do you not think
that you may be putting a limit on what he can do....create etc..
That is why we are all different......all of us are unique ??...just look
at our earth,look at the animals...ie..birds...all one image ....but all
so different..
..
Also you mention...1 John 5-7.......
It is a well know fact that this translation is spurios....it became
famous because a man named...Erasmus said he would put it into
the book if another scripture to be the same was found...etc..etc
Another was found in a single manuscript in the 16th century....so he kept
his promise..!!
it has stayed there.........as a reminder of the diligence needed to
be taken when reading the scripture......Everett F.Harrison...Introduction
to the N.T....page 71
In my eyes,there is only one God.........but it has two in the family
??...so..far ?
The fact that Jesus died......was truly dead.......and was raised by his
Father leaves us with the conclusion that the.....Father and Son are
two...Distinct Beings........
As i said,i will get around to down loading your article....on the trinity
etc..but in the mean time i must say that your site is very
interesting...........
There is a lot of rubbish being put around,and the trouble is most are
following it.....
However,it was said that they are blinded to the true Gospel ..
Yours T.s
ANSWER:
Hi T.S.: You said [some]
things that I can agree with, but as far Gen 1:26 we can agree to disagree,
[To the reader: see his first question: Was
Jesus God? ],
It is not a Salvation issue, neither of us is damned for being wrong on it.
Like I said, it is deep and as such not all will see.
I must however take exception to your below point. I will explain it
in a minute, but you are an 'old student' of the Word, and as such, you are
harder to teach; for much has been ingrained into you, some err, [some]
truth. I hope that you understand what I mean. But we agree that
Jesus came to save sinners like us, and that is enough to enable us to
fellowship and share.
You said:
"Also you
mention...1 John 5-7.......
It is a well know fact that this translation is spurios....it became
famous because a man named...Erasmus said he would put it into
the book if another scripture to be the same was found...etc..etc"
Oh, is it a well known
fact? Sorry, you have been lied to, my friend. From our
study on the matter I take the following excerpt for you to peruse:
SOURCE: Adulterations
in the Newer Bible Versions (NIV, NASB...); Proof that the King James Bible
(KJV) is the True Word of God
EXCERPT:
"Some glaring omissions from the
corrupted manuscripts and 'newer' Bible versions:
Only a minute portion of the glaring
omissions from the corrupted manuscripts and 'newer' Bible versions are
included in this study. At the end of this study the reader will be
given a booklist of reference works that more comprehensively collates the
individual verse comparisons in the different Bible versions compared to
the King James Bible version. The purpose of this Bible study is not to
redouble their efforts, but rather to alert the reader to the problem.
Let's look at some of the so-called errors in the King James
Bible, and throughout this study we will document that the King James
Version Bible had it right all along and that the newer versions are the
ones that contain the corruptions. The reason that I refer to the
omissions in the newer versions as 'corruptions' rather than errors is
because it will be seen that it was a concerted effort to consistently
remove certain points of Scripture while leaving others unmolested. let's
look at 1st Jn 5:7-8, and observe
that it can be no error that they methodically left out 24 key words
documenting the Holy Trinity:
1st
Jn 5:7-8:
|
SCRIPTURE
|
KJV
(King James Version)
|
NIV
(New International Version)
|
NASB
(New American Standard
Bible)
|
| 1st
Jn 5:7-8 |
7 For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth,
the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one. (KJV) |
7 For there are three that
testify:
8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
(NIV)
*(And
similarly in all newer Bible versions)
|
7 And it is the Spirit who bears
witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
8 For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water and
the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NASB) |
*NOTE: Not all
NIV Bible editions read exactly alike! The same goes for the other newer
Bible versions. That in-and-of-itself should alert the Bible student that
something is dreadfully wrong with the newer Bible versions. I mean, how
can they justify correcting the Scriptures from one
edition of the same Bible version to the next every several years or so?
And it is this same they that told us that we had to replace the
Manuscripts used in the King James Bible (Textus Receptus -
Received Text) since AD 1611, and that they needed to make new
Bible versions and we had to buy them because they found older,
more reliable Manuscripts! If you smell something 'funny', you're
right.
Later on in this study we shall examine just who the they
are. The same goes for the many newer Bible versions, as the corrupt text
they are all based upon is always changing as new Manuscripts, Papyri, and
Scrolls are recovered by Archaeologists. Countless times the newer Bibles
have had to release newer modified editions of their same versions to keep
up with the new evidence - and when they do change something from one
edition to the next, it almost always moves toward aligning with the
original King James Bible! That in itself says a lot.
The Textus Receptus (Received text), the text
underlying the 1611 King James Version Bible, has been the same for some
400 years to our present day. The Scripture references supplied in this
study are from the Biblesoft
PC Study Bible Complete Reference Library 3.0.
(An excellent and recommended complete computer Bible study software
program)
1st John 5:7 (Illustrated above) is the single most powerful
witness of the Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit). the Corrupt
Manuscripts (Sinaicticus,Vaticanus) used in the newer Bible versions omit
the key words.
They simply omitted the key words supporting the Holy Trinity! The
newer versions say it doesn't belong, but it is the single most powerful
witness of the Trinity. But do these powerful and key words belong in the
text? You bet they do, let's look at some authorities for those key words:
Latin Manuscripts: There are between 10,000 extant
(existing) Latin manuscripts, 29 of them don't have it, all the rest of
the 10,000 of them that contain the verse do have the key words.
Sirac Version: The Sirac version also has them.
German Bibles: As well, all pre-Luther German Bibles
have the verse. Martin Luther then omitted it as he based his Bible
on Erasmus' corrupt 2nd edition manuscript which does not
contain the verse. Two years after that, the German Bibles put it back
in. Then in 1956 to the present time it has once again been omitted.
Greek Texts:
There are only six to eight Texts out of the some 5,000 extant Greek
Texts that do not have the key words in the verse!
Perhaps one of the most telling proofs that the verse was included in
the original manuscripts is evidenced by the writings of one of the early
Church Fathers - Cyprian, who in his writing: "Treatises"
found in The Ante-Nicene Christian Library (5:423): included a
quote from 1st John 5:7. In the verse quote from Cyprian he
writes: "...and again it is written of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy spirit, 'And these three are one' "
Cyprian died in A.D. 258, some one-hundred years before the compilation
of the corrupt Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts from which all the
newer Bible versions are based upon. And his (Cyprian's) quote of 1st
John 5:7 supports the King James Bible version's inclusion of the key
words and opposes the newer Bible versions in their omission of them!
Four of the strongest and most point-blank references to the Holy
Trinity (Triune Godhead) in the New Testament are omitted in the newer
Bible versions: The one we have just studied in depth and the below three.
Look what they have done to them, it would seem from the newer Bible
versions that there is no longer a Holy Trinity - God forbid! They have
changed the Holy Trinity into some generic 'force'.
|
Scripture:
|
NIV, NASB et al.
|
KJV
|
| Romans 1:20 |
divine nature (Notice
the case of the letters) |
Godhead |
| Colossians 2:9: |
Deity |
Godhead |
| Acts 17:29 |
divine being (Notice
the case of the letters) |
Godhead |
(End
Excerpt)
You might profit from the whole study: Adulterations
in the Newer Bible Versions (NIV, NASB...)....
Peace to you, and God bless your studies.
| Back to top |
Question
#1
| Back to top |
The nature and timing of the Great
Tribulation
Just Wondering states:
If the bible tells us, that Christ returns AFTER satan
is revealed, and at the 7th trump, don't you think that many would be
deceived if they thought that they would not go through tribulation,
because they would be looking for Christ to remove them instead of
watching and warning about the anti-christ.
Doesn't the bible warn us that satan will appear as a
angel of the light? satan comes first then Christ comes isn't that
the way the bible states it? So if this is true then Christ's
return is NOT imminent (any time) there are things that have to happen
BEFORE Christ can return.
JUST WONDERING
Answer:
Hello Just Wondering:
You are right on the money!
There are several misconceptions that the Rapturist has been taught to
labor under (And please, I really mean no disrespect. To me a
''Rapturist'' is simply somebody who believes in a Rapture of the Church.)
So let all the Rapturist's take a step back and allow me to state some
things, and then you can check me out in the Word of God or they can
choose to simply disbelieve what I say. I cannot make you believe as
I do, but I must show Rapturist's a couple of things that are just plain
incorrect in their perceptions, and it is that which is throwing them off
course Biblically. I will be addressing my response to an imaginary
Rapturist named "You", nobody in particular, and
certainly not yourself Mr. Just Wondering.
The first misconception is that
of the nature of the Great Tribulation. "You" confuse the
Tribulation with the wrath of God at Jesus Christ's Second Advent.
They are two entirely different things! The Tribulation is that
deception of satan as the antichrist when he comes as the false messiah.
Satan/antichrist isn't going to running amuck killing people, nobody would
believe him to be Jesus Christ if he did that. Below Jesus gives us
a great clue as to the nature of the Tribulation:
Matt 24:21-27
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the
beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Explanation for above:
Jesus is saying that this Tribulation will be satan's greatest feat
ever.
22 And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake
those days shall be shortened.
Explanation for above: Jesus
is saying that the deception (Tribulation) will be so powerful that
even God's Elect (True Christian followers in end time) would
themselves even be deceived had not God shortened the times, time and
a half in the
book of Daniel to 5 literal months (Rev 9:5 & 9:10). This is
also a clue that God will have His end time Christians on the earth
during the Tribulation. In the next verse, Christ identifies the
nature of that Tribulation which will be greater than any before it
even unto the ends of time.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is
Christ, or there; believe it not.
Explanation for above: Here
is the Great Tribulation, the false christ antichrist that
stands in Jerusalem claiming to be God, claiming to be the awaited
Savior of the world: "Who
opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God." {2nd Thes 2:4}.
24 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.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go
not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Explanation for above: Jesus
is warning that an impostor is coming first. It's not the first time
the Word of God warned of that: "That
ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor
by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at
hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition" {2nd Thes 2:2-3}.
In the next verse Jesus will tell you how the true Messiah shall come.
27 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. (KJV)
Explanation for above: To
the whole world, every one shall know when the true Messiah Jesus
Christ comes: "For it is
written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall confess to God." {Rom 14:11}.
It is upon Jesus Christ' return
at His Second Advent AFTER the Tribulation of those days that we see the
wrath of God type stuff, Armageddon, etc.
Another common misconception,
and perhaps the most dangerous of all, that I see here is that you
(Rapturists) suppose that satan/antichrist is going to be killing
Christians, demons flying around loping off Christians heads, hell on
earth type stuff. He cannot! God bound him and his fallen
angels (locust army) from doing any such thing. Satan cannot kill
anyone EXCEPT the Two Witnesses, and when he accomplishes that then Christ
returns and has His Second Advent {Rev chapter 11}, but he can destroy
with deception. Not only cannot satan and his fallen angels (locust
army) kill Christians, they cannot even kill heathen satan worshipers.
Observe St. John's word on the matter while being aware of when this
happens, it happens in the FIFTH TRUMP out of the seven, you remember that
your great Rapture verse {2nd Cor 15:52} doesn't happen until the
LAST TRUMP, the seventh which is the Second Advent!:
1 Cor 15:52
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump [the seventh trump {Rev 11:15}]:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (KJV)
Ok, let's look at what the Holy Spirit revealed through John, and it
should be very important to you because by your own Rapture verse and
Rapture timeline you see that you will be here for what happens below:
Rev 9:1-5
1 And the fifth angel sounded [fifth
trump], and I saw a star [lucifer,
the illuminated one, antichrist, devil, satan, death, serpent, dragon,
beast; what ever name you want to call him, he has many] fall
from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the
bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the
pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were
darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts [locust
army - fallen angels - supernatural evil beings] upon
the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth
have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt [deceive,
tempt] the grass of the earth, neither
any green thing, neither any tree [thus
we see that they are not insects]; but
only those men which have not the seal of God
in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them
[the ones that they CAN deceive],
but that they should be tormented five months [shortened
from the 7 years of Daniel - 70th week]
and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a
man. [a scorpion dissolves backbone and
all and consumes its prey from within - a type of deception]
(KJV)
I could go on
to explain the those beheaded for a witness of Jesus in {Rev 20:4} who
were beheaded are not end time Christians, but rather the Apostles and
Martyrs of old who have been waiting a long time, and the Two Witnesses of
{Rev chpt. 11}. I could go on to say that when Jesus says that some
Christians will be delivered up to death that simply means delivered up to
satan, for death is one of satan's names {Heb 2:14}. But we can cover that
later.
It is written that antichrist
comes in peacefully and prosperously and will destroy wonderfully {Dan
8:24}, and that he corrupts by flatteries {Dan 11:32}. Now that is
pure evil genius, a 'destroying wonderfully':
Dan 8:23-25
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are
come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up [antichrist/satan].
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall
destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper,
and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
[end time Christians ON EARTH!]
25 And through his policy also
he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall
magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall
destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but
he shall be broken without hand. (KJV)
Dan 11:32
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by
flatteries: but the people that do know their God
[faithful end time Christians ON EARTH]
shall be strong, and do exploits. (KJV)
Satan is
coming as an impostor to Christ, he cannot be outwardly
evil acting and still deceive anyone. Satan is not interested in killing
your body, what does that gain him? He knows that when he gets here
he has but a short time {Rev 12:12}, so killing a body that is going to be
discarded in a matter of months at the Second Advent means nothing to
satan. But satan knows about the eternal body residing in the flesh
body (the true teaching of {1st Cor 15:35-52}), it is that which satan
seeks to destroy - our souls in Hell! He will attempt to
deceive God's Christians into worshiping him (satan/antichrist).
Satan already has a lot of the other heathen and pagans, but the
Christian, that's his mark! He knows that he cannot torture you into
following him, but he can deceive you into it.
God bless you my Christian brethren!
Nick
Watchmen Bible Study Group
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