BOOK OF
MATTHEW
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MATTHEW STUDY #3 [Mt 3:1 - 3:17]
CHAPTER 3
Matt 3:1-17
1 In those days*1came John the Baptist*2, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Explanations from above verse: *1 In those days = Is a Hebrew Idiom for an indefinite time. The date is now AD 26 and Jesus is thirty years of age (our Gregorian Calender is off by four years, most all Biblical chronologist's state that it is off between two and six years, but we agree with the great Christian Scholar E.W. Bullinger that Jesus was born in 4 BC by the Gregorian calender standard).
From the last verse of the previous chapter two till this first verse of this chapter three we have gone from the time of Christ as a small child to Christ as a full grown man of thirty years of age. The last age that Jesus was written of prior to this time of His thirtieth year of age was in [Lk 2:42-52] where Jesus was twelve years old. So from the time of Jesus being twelve years old until now in this chapter marking the start of His ministry at the age of thirty, nothing is written of Him in the scriptures. (Christ would go on to be crucified at the age of thirty-three years old in AD 29, three years from now).
Where was Jesus between the ages of twelve and thirty? We must go outside of scripture for the events of His life during this period of time and go to man's history for record. As always, we must not take man's historical records as though they were gospel but there is a great body of evidence that Jesus went with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, to the British Isles. In southwest England, in the heart of Somerset County is a municipal burrow called Glastonbury. Historical evidence suggests that it was here in Glastonbury England that Jesus spent His teen and young adult years before His ministry was to come to pass. In our Study Aids Section of this web site we review an excellent book by the renowned Christian Archeologist E. Raymond Capt. This book is called Traditions of Glastonbury (click to review). This book is packed full of facts, documents, and pictures of evidence that Glastonbury England is where Jesus spent eighteen years of His life. *2 John the Baptist = this is the John born of Elizabeth and Zacharias [Lk 1:13-17]. We covered this birth quite in depth in the Matthew Study #2. John The Baptist is six months older than Jesus [Lk 1:24-31 & 1:39-41]. Below we will view the scripture in Luke to pick up on the prophesy of John The Baptist coming in the spirit of Elijah to pave the way for Jesus.
Luke 1:13-17
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John*1.
Explanations from above verse: *1 John = This same John would go on to become John The Baptist.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb*1.
Explanations from above verse: *1 filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb =This was fulfilled in [Lk 1:41]: "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost."
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him*1 in the spirit and power of Elias*2, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (KJV)
Explanations from above verse: *1 he shall go before him = John The Baptist would precede Jesus Christ. *2 in the spirit and power of Elias = Elias is the Greek spelling of the Hebrew prophet Elijah, they are one in the same. It is saying that John The Baptist would come in the spirit of Elijah, meaning that he would have been reckoned as Elijah himself had the nations obeyed his proclamations, and the "times of refreshing," and "the restoration of all things" of [Acts 3:19-26] would have followed. But they did not receive him, and thus prophecy continued to march on, exactly as it was written. Now we go on to our second verse in the third chapter of Matthew that we are studying.
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand*1.
Explanations from above verse: *1 the kingdom of heaven is at hand = The Kingdom of Heaven draws near. And what draws near may also withdraw. He is speaking of the coming Messiah and the salvation that He carries in Him. John is telling them to repent of their sins, for what draws near (salvation) may also withdraw (causing their damnation in their sins).
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias*1, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Esaias = Here again is another Old Testament Hebrew Prophet (Isaiah) called by the New Testament Greek name. This same Esaias is the Prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. *2 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight = This is a quote from the Old Testament prophecy in the book of Isaiah. This is the scripture of [Isaiah 40:3], and it was uttered by the Prophet Isaiah almost six-hundred years from this account of it's fulfillment in the person of John The Baptist:
Isa 40:3
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (KJV)
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey*1.
Explanations from above verse: *1 This is the food of the Prophets, and it was considered 'clean' food [Lev 11:22].
5 Then went out to him
Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in
Jordan, confessing their sins
Explanations from above verse: The people came to John from all around the area to be Baptized.
7 But when he*1 saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees*2 come to his baptism*3, he said unto them, O generation of vipers*4, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Explanations from above verse: *1 he = John The Baptist. *2 Pharisees and Sadducees = Two of the three sects of Judaism at the time of Jesus. Below we describe these two sects, the third sect, the 'Essenes,' were not involved in this.
Pharisees: While they did believe in life after death, they will not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Their doctrines and rules are the basis of faith of the Orthodox Party of Jews of our present day.
Sadducees: The Sadducees rejected the belief in a resurrection after death, nor did they believe in future rewards and punishments. The Chief Priest of Christ's time was of this sect. They also will not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Explanations (Cont): *3 come to his baptism = They came to see what this John was doing, to see what this new thing Baptism was. They did not come to be Baptized, but they came to see what new religious practice was drawing the multitudes out of their Temples. They had bad intent, which John Divinely knew.
Not all Pharisees and Sadducees were bad, just as not all Jews were bad. There were good ones and there were bad ones that had intermingled with the good. Many Kenites (sons of Cain, the first murderer) had mixed in with the Jews at that time, which is why Jesus would later speak against them and in [John 8:44], Jesus would call them what they were: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Understand that Jesus stated this to the corrupt 'religious' community of the time; needless to say, this did not endear Jesus to the false preachers of the time. If Jesus were here today, surely He would say this to our present day corrupted 'religions'! He will at His second advent.
This is why it is so important to understand the difference between the Jews and the infiltrated Kenite Jews of the time, because Jews of our generation generally get blamed for the crucifixion of Christ, but in reality, it was the Kenites that had intermixed with the 'good' Jews who yelled: "Crucify Him, Crucify Him" at Jesus' trial. This is why John will harshly scold these in the next verse below, for John knew that they were the evil ones. *4 O generation of vipers = Generation means offspring, and vipers are serpents, not ordinary snakes but venomous vipers. John is calling them the descendants of the serpent. The serpent in the Garden of Eden was satan. Satan as the serpent impregnated Eve and the child born was Cain. Descendants of Cain are called Kenites. One of the places that the Kenites are mentioned in the Bible is in [Num 24:21]. If you do not understand What The Real Sin Was In The Garden Of Eden, you will not understand this. You must know the beginning before you can understand the end. Now we go back to our next verse in our study of the third chapter of the book of Matthew.
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Explanations from above verse: John was telling them that if they are here for repentance and Baptism (in that order) then they had to prove it to him, for John knew that they were there simply to spy on his activities, and to intimidate those that came for the Baptism. For this Baptism was something new.
9 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.
Explanations from above verse: The Pharisees and Sadducees claimed to be the descendants of the Patriarch Abraham [Jn 8:39], and thus claimed to be of the chosen people of God. These were not, for it is them that Jesus called the sons of Cain (Kenites) in [Jn 8:44] prior. They also missed the point that is within the very name: 'Abraham.' For Abraham means: 'The father of many nations.' Ie: Abraham sired Ishmael who would sire twelve Princes (twelve nations). Abraham also sired Isaac who sired two nations by his children Jacob and Esau. Jacob would go on to sire the twelve patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. In other words, just being a descendant from Abraham did not mean anything exact. John The Baptist goes on to basically tell them that alot of people could trace at least some some lineage to Abraham.
There is a little more depth here in the sentence: "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham;" Abraham represents God's saved ones. And this word 'stones' is an interesting word. John is not talking about a pebble or a boulder, He is talking about people who started out bad. John is saying that God can save whom He will, and that people are not bound or fated to their origin or heredity. Below are two verses for you to get a feel for the value of the word 'stones.' Remember that 'Kenites' are the people descended from the Cain from the Garden of Eden, and also remember that God placed a mark on Cain and cast him out of the Garden of Eden for being the first murderer.
Num 24:21-23 (Asshur is a type for antichrist [satan])
21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! (KJV)Rev 2:17 (The Sprit is the Spirit of God [The Holy Spirit])
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (KJV)
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees*1: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 axe is laid unto the root of the trees = The axe is in place and ready to strike. This goes back to the Garden of Eden. Satan was that tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the plan was laid out in [Gen 3:15] that Jesus would come and eventually destroy the serpent (satan, the evil 'tree'). For an In-depth study of this, see the What Was The Real Sin In The Garden Of Eden in-depth Bible study. *2 every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire = In the Bible, trees are used symbolically of men, and the evil ones are cast into the lake of fire on judgement day [Rev 20:11-15]. Here are just a few places in the Bible where trees are used symbolically for men: Isa 61:1-3, Isa 65:16-25, Jer 17: 7-10, Eze 31:1-14, Dan 4:18-28 . . . .
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance*1: but he that cometh after me*2 is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost*3, and with fire*4:
Explanations from above verse: *1 baptize you with water unto repentance = After repentance, John Baptized them with water only. *2 he that cometh after me = Jesus Christ. *3 he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost = Jesus would afford them the power from on High, the power of the Holy Spirit. Whenever you see the word Holy 'Ghost' in the Bible, translate it in your mind to Holy 'Spirit,' for that is the accurate translation of the Greek 'Pneuma Hagion'. The word 'Ghost' is a poor translation and certainly not fitting for the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. *4 and with fire = God is a consuming fire, He will burn the evil rudiments out of this world at The Second Advent and on judgement day, but you don't have to be afraid, the fire of God warms the hearts of those who love the Lord.
Heb 12:26-29
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire. (KJV)
12 Whose*1 fan*2 is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor*3, and gather his wheat into the garner*4; but he will burn up the chaff*5with unquenchable fire*6.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Whose = God's. *2 fan = Winnowing fan (see below). *3 purge his floor = The thrashing floor (see below). *4 gather his wheat into the garner = Gather the good souls (see below). *5 he will burn up the chaff = Destroy the evil ones (see below). *6 unquenchable fire What kind of fire is unquenchable? - It is the eternal fire of perdition in the Lake of Fire.
This whole verse is referring to the Judgement day. It is likened by analogy to the thrashing floor where the people of old would prepare flour for the baking of bread. What they would do is toss up the raw gain in the breeze of the winnowing fan, and the bitter husks (Chaff) of the grain would blow away, while the heavier grain would fall back down to be collected. Often the chaff that blows away would be drawn into the draft of the oven flame and be incinerated. What is being said here is that oven fire can both bake nutritious life sustaining bread, of it can completely consume and incinerate the waste product. On judgement day, the fire of God will try man, and the good will spend an eternity with God in Heaven, but the evil ones who did not overcome will be destroyed in the flame and fires of the lake of fire:
Rev 20:7-15
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
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.
11 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.
12 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.
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. (KJV)
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan*1 unto John, to be baptized*2 of him.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Jordan = The Jordan. *2 to be baptized = This should settle the dilemma of whether we should be Baptized or not. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to be Baptized by John with water, and in doing so He set the example to all of us. As you will see in the next verse, John is a little uncomfortable about Baptizing Jesus. It's not that John was being disobedient, it just that John Divinely knew that this man was The Christ, and John did not feel worthy.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Explanations from above verse: John intuitively knew that this was the Prophesied Messiah. Jesus never told John who He was, The Holy Spirit told John. In a second witness to Jesus' Baptism in [Jn 1:28-34] John The Baptist tells us how he knew that this was The Christ. (The Gospel of John was written by St. John whom is not the same person as John The Baptist. St. John was one of the twelve Apostles and he wrote The Gospel according to John, the 3 Epistles of John, and the book of Revelation).
John 1:28-34
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (KJV)
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now*1: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness*2. Then he suffered him*3.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Suffer it to be so now = We must do this now. *2 it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness = We must fulfill that which is ordained of God and written in the scriptures. *3 he suffered him = He accommodated Him, John Baptized Jesus.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water*1: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove*2, and lighting upon him:
Explanations from above verse: *1 went up straightway out of the water = After John had laid Jesus down under the water, Jesus immediately (straightway) bolted upright to his feet. This should clear up another question about Baptism; that being whether to be sprinkled or submerged. Jesus was submerged, for he could not have come up out of the water had He not been down under the water. The very word 'Baptize' means: To put under (see below).*2 the Spirit of God descending like a dove = The Dove is always symbolic of the Holy Spirit. And The Holy Spirit is simply: The Spirit of God.
Below is the definition of the word used in the Bible for 'Baptize.' This definition from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. With a Strong's Concordance you can trace any word in your King James Bible back to the original Greek or Hebrew word that the scribes translated from the manuscripts into the English of the Bible. This is one tool that you should have. If you don't have one, you can order a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance or other Biblical reference materials from our Study Aids Section. Below is the definition that will let you know how you should be Baptized:
Baptize: Greek word #907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:
17 And lo a voice from heaven*1, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased*2. (KJV) (End of Matthew chapter three)
Explanations from above verse: *1 a voice from heaven = Almighty God speaking. *2 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased = This is self explanatory, but you might want to remember where this verse is in the Bible because you will encounter Muslims and Jews who have been taught that God never actually said that Jesus was His Son. Of course they have been lied to and deceived. Thus, showing them this verse would sharpen them up to the fact that someone has been lying to them. But you shouldn't push your Faith on other people if they do not ask.
Although we Christians know that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, peoples of other faiths have been programed since birth that Jesus was only a prophet, and that to worship Him is a blasphemy against God. Satan does his work well, does he not?!?
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)
That is not to say that those who follow heathen religions that do not believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, Savior to the world, are without exception doomed to Hell, the thousand year period between the Second Advent and Judgement Day will be a time for teaching to those who DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE to hear the true Word of God. This would include mentally retarded people, stillborn and aborted fetuses, and even some people who due to circumstance, just were not able to learn the truth about God, Jesus, and all the promises and conditions in God's Holy Written Word. But this is not a second chance, there are no second chances for anyone; it's just that some souls don't get a first chance before they die. God knows the hearts of man, and He decides who didn't have a legitimate first chance, and who was just lazy or void. God is totally fair, and that cuts both ways.
But God has a time and a way to afford all His children the opportunity to choose Him and the salvation that accepting His Son Jesus Christ brings; we can not override God's timetable, and if God is not yet ready for them, we can do nothing to show them; likewise, when God is ready for them, no man can hinder Him.
Many of the corrupted 'faiths' in this world do not listen to God and they reject the salvation made possible by the torture and murder of His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They also reject Almighty God's Holy Written Word, The Bible. Instead they cling to lies and fables written long after the Holy Scriptures were written, they would rather listen to 'Prophets,' Dalai Lama's, Imam's and Rabbi's and read Koran's, Talmud's, and books of the mysteries; all of which are in direct contradiction of God's Word. They are even in contradiction with each other and themselves. I do not intend to offend them, but God's word is "Yea Yea, or Nay Nay" [Mt 5:37 &1st Cor 1:17], there is no room for consensus or compromise. This was the beauty of John The Baptist's teaching, he told it like it was, strait forward without apology he taught the Word of God.
Jesus tells us in the book of Revelation just how unhappy He is with Christians that are wishy-washy about professing the True Word of God, and who instead yield and cater to every heathen fantasy religion that pops up out of nowhere:
Rev 3:15-16 (Jesus speaking)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (KJV)
Let's close this study with a scripture from Apostle Peter, one of the twelve, for he saw Jesus with his own eyes:
2nd Peter 1:16-21
2 Pet 1:16-21
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables*1, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 cunningly devised fables = Peter is saying that they did not follow they false doctrines and religions of mystery men over the Word of God. *2 but were eyewitnesses of his majesty = They saw Jesus and the miracles written in the Book with their own eyes, the walked, talked, and traveled with Jesus.
17 For he*1received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice*2 to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased*3.
Explanations from above verse: *1 he = Jesus. *2 when there came such a voice = The voice of Almighty God. *3 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased = This is referring to the last verse in the third chapter of Matthew that we just studied.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Explanations from above verse: And this voice which came from heaven... = This same voice of God they heard themselves at the Mount of transfiguration [Lk 9:28-36]:
Luke 9:28-36
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (KJV)
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed*1, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place*2, until the day dawn*3, and the day star arise in your hearts*4:
Explanations from above verse: *1 a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed = Peter is saying that the prophecies that they wrote in our Bible are true and sound because they were divinely inspired and personally witnessed. He is saying that you had better obey them. *2 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place = Jesus is the true light, and the dark place is the lies and false doctrines of dubious origin:
John 1:1-5 (Jesus is the living Word)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (KJV)
Explanations (Cont): *3 until the day dawn = The second advent of Jesus Christ. *4 and the day star arise in your hearts = Christ is the true day star:
Rev 22:13-16 (Jesus speaking)
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (KJV)
20 Knowing this first*1, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Knowing this first = Know this first of all, know this paramount, this is the most important. *2 that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation = This is to warn you of people who say that they have special hidden prophecies that only they can interpret. This speaks against the secret inner circles that exist in all major religions of today. God's Word is for all that would chose to hear it. God is not a respector of man or office [2nd Chron 19:7 & 2nd Sam 14:14].
2 Chr 19:7
7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (KJV)
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Explanations from above verse: The writers of the books of the Bible did not write their own words or ideas, but rather they wrote that which the Holy Spirit of God moved them to write. That is why you can count on all of God's Word coming to pass exactly as it is written.
John The Baptist told it like it was, he was the example to follow, John only taught that which was God's Word, he did not let the traditions of man that had crept into the Temples and Synagogues of that day, creep into what he taught. John was beheaded for this [Mk 6:27]. John set the example and taught only that of which could be stated: "Thus saith the Lord." Oh but if we only had that today. We will have it some day. We will have it in the eternity, where all lies, evil, and false doctrines will have been purged into the lake of fire. God bless you and your studies of HIS Word; in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
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In His Service:
Nick Goggin
Watchmen Bible Study Group
* NOTE : While we do not in any way represent another Ministry on TV with Pastor (A fine Christian Minister) , it is where we at Watchmen Bible Study Group enjoy to study. If you would like to check it out, "The Shepherds Chapel" is on over 250 television stations in the United States, and can be found by that name in any TV guide. It is also on satellite: Galaxy 6 Trans 16. On Direct TV on channel #373 (The Word channel). Also on short wave radio: WHRI & KWHR from Indiana (17.780 MHz @ 0500-0600Hrs, 5.745 MHz @ 0700-0800 Hrs, 13.760 MHz @ 1700-1800Hrs. (All times Universal Time). They also have a website @: www.shepherdschapel.com. Introductory Offer: (another Ministry on TV) has a free introductory package which includes the Mark of the Beast tape which is available to all new students - from the United States, Canada and Mexico call (800) 643-4645 or (501) 787-6026 or write to: The (another Ministry on TV); P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736 USA.
NOTE: To insure quality and content integrity, these In-depth Bible Studies are © copyrighted and may only be downloaded for study and shared private use. They may not be reproduced or distributed for sale or publication without prior written approval. Other Web sites are welcome to link up to this Web site.
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