Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Anabaptists are what you call "Kingdom Christians" which is the belief that the church is the earthly visible Kingdom of God on earth and those in the church are kings and priests. This ecclesiology then takes literally what Jehoshua says about His Kingdom not being of this world. Jehoshua's Kingdom is not advanced through voting, fighting wars nor trying to change laws. Those things are of the world, we are people of the Kingdom and we simply preach the gospel which is the solution to man's dilemma.
John 18:36 "Jehoshua answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." The above verses is one of the main reasons why Anabaptists don't involve themselves in politics or believe in serving in the military. They believe that one can only belong to one Kingdom and that is the Kingdom of the Son of God, which does not fight for the causes of worldly Kingdoms. This agrees with Paul who says: 2nd Timothy 2:3-4 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jehoshua Messiah.4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Imagine being in the army of the United states of America and then telling your commanding officer that you also want to join the Canadian army and split your time between both. That of course would never be allowed and rightfully so. How much more then, if we are in the army of the Davidic King should we not seek to be part of another army? The army of Jehoshua has a mission that has eternal consequences at stake whereas the armies of this world are striving over temporal things. Just as in secular armies full attention, loyalty and dedication is expected the same is true in the army of Jehoshua. Paul exhorts Timothy not to get involved in the affairs of this life. Ask yourself this, are politics and military battles between nations the affairs of this life? Of course they are! Any honest person would say that. So then, why are evangelicals, Protestants and Hebrew roots denominations so entrenched in politics? Why are they so patriotic that they support wars and even cheer them on when they are against Geo-political Israel's enemies? The answer to these questions is deep but on one level, a failure to understand the gospel is the culprit. A failure to rightly divide the word and understand what the Kingdom of God is. Of course, the lust for power and political clout is a huge reason why the aforementioned groups entangle themselves with the affairs of politics and war. These groups have forgotten and ignored what it means to be part of Jehoshua's Kingdom. The failure to realize that His Kingdom arrived 2,000 years ago and is not merely future is one reason both Hebrew roots and evangelicals get themselves tied to the Kingdoms of this world. For Anabaptists, we take Jehoshua and Paul at their words in that we are not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life because our Lord's Kingdom is not of this world. Those who live by this understanding are Kingdom Christians. Luke 17:20-21 20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The evangelicals and Hebrew roots folks have failed to take this verse literally as they believe that the Kingdom is or will be in earthly Jerusalem led by Geo-political Israel. They say that the Kingdom is not here yet and that we are waiting for a future millennium. The Son of God's words refute this idea of any earthly political nation including modern Israel being constituted as the Kingdom of God. This goes for America as well. Jehoshua clearly said that the Kingdom comes without observation meaning we cannot identify it with any of the political nations on earth no matter how much they try to say they are Israel or a Christian nation. In this Kingdom, we do not take up carnal weapons to fight our battles but rather spiritual ones: Ephesians 6:11-12 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. When we fight for the Kingdoms of the world we are falling for the temptation that Satan laid out for Jehoshua: Matthew 4:8-10 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.10 Then saith Jehoshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship Jehovah thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Satan had authority to give the Kingdoms of this world to Jehoshua because he is the god (mighty one) of this world. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Luke 4:5-8 5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Here in the Lukan version, Satan says that the Kingdoms of the world were delivered unto him. When we fight the wars of this world either through politics or wars or even the culture wars then we are fighting for Satan's kingdom. While it is acceptable for the those of the world to fight for these things it is not for us as Ephesians 2 says: 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: We have been raised up with Messiah to reign with Him in the holy of holies. This speaks of us being kings and priests. Before we were quickened we were children of wrath and walked according to the course of this world who god is Satan. Instead, our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Because of this we don't engage in the affairs of this life such a politics, war, fighting the culture wars etc. See, part of the root of the problem with the evangelicals and Hebrew roots folks is that the Kingdom to them is merely future. For the evangelicals, the Kingdom is a Jewish thing and that they (evangelicals) have the heaven in a sky hope. Anabaptists believe that the Kingdom is here now and had been so for 2,000 years. Let's go to scripture and prove this. Understanding this is key in how the church views it's function in this world, both individually and corporately. Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jehoshua came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. At the start of His ministry, Jehoshua said that the Kingdom was at hand (near). This statement makes no sense if He meant 2,000 years later. Luke 11:20-22 20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. By the works Jehoshua was doing by the Spirit (finger of God) the Kingdom was coming upon the nation of Israel in a real way. This shows that the Kingdom is not about Geo-political ideas or even land but rather the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men and women. The binding of Satan is not future in some earthly millennium but rather it took place during Jehoshua's ministry as He bound the strong man (Satan) by doing the works of the Kingdom in setting the captives free from sin. The strong man's palace is his kingdom. Jehoshua bound Satan in order to plunder his kingdom (palace) and spoil him of his goods i.e. his subjects (us) thereby bringing the subjects of Satan's kingdom into God's Kingdom. This what Paul refers to in Colossians 1:12-13: 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The Son of God binding Satan by the works that the Father was doing through Him was Him entering into the palace of the strong man and plundering him (Satan) of his subjects (those who would believe on the Son) and thereby translating them from darkness to light of the Kingdom. This clearly shows that the Kingdom is a present tense reality for believers and not merely future in some earthly millennium. Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jehoshua Messiah, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah." John identifies himself as already being in the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah showing again that the Kingdom is a present tense reality all the way back in the 1st century. Unlike what futurists teach, the proof that one is in the Kingdom is not that they are ruling over others but rather that they are going through tribulation. Revelation 5:9-10 says we are already reigning on the earth: 9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,10 and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. It was the ransom sacrifice of Jehoshua and the shedding of His blood that made men of every tribe and tongue kings and priests. Again, this is a present tense statement. One cannot be a king unless one has a Kingdom to be a king of. John says that one's purchased by the blood of the Son of God are currently reigning on the earth as kings and priests. This was all the way back in the 1st century. The present reality of the Kingdom is evident in scripture and this is how Anabaptists understand the nature of the Kingdom. Because of this, Anabaptists loyalty is strictly to the Kingdom of heaven and not the kingdoms of this world. This is why Anabaptists do not take part in politics, take public office, fight in wars etc. One cannot split loyalty between two different kingdoms. If this is true regarding the Kingdoms of this world how much moreso the Kingdom of God? Anabaptists believe, as scripture says, that those who are God's children are strangers and foreigners here on earth: Hebrews 11:13-14 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. Those that seek New Jerusalem and the new heavens and new earth consider themselves foreigners on this earth and the nations of this earth. This is why true followers of the Son of God do not engage themselves with patriotism and those things that go with it such as participation in the military and and voting. This leads to the final section on Anabaptism and that is "following Jehoshua". Following Jehoshua is at the absolute core of Anabaptism and this is not just some "Christianese" that is parroted by Christians, for Anabaptists this actually means following the instructions of the Son of God and daily picking up one's cross and denying self. For Anabaptists, following Jehoshua means being willing to suffer for Him and identify with His sufferings. This means that they take His words literally when He says: Matthew 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." The context is persecution and Anabaptists accept the fact that if one truly follows the Messiah then they will be hated and suffer for the faith. Our response to this persecution is not to fight back with carnal weapons or strike back in any way but rather to bless for cursing and turn the other cheek. The author of Hebrews says that Jehoshua not theologians are who we are to look too in terms of how we walk out this race: Hebrews 12:2-4 2 Looking unto Jehoshua the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Jehoshua is our example to follow in terms of how we are to react to persecution. The Hebrew roots folks go to the law of Moses to justify fighting back and the evangelicals altogether ignore Jehoshua to justify striking back. However, we are called to endure the contradiction of sinners just as Jehoshua did who is the author and finisher of our faith. The author of Hebrews says to look unto Jehoshua as we run the race set before us. The Son of God is the pattern man and gave us the example to follow as we have not strived resisting unto blood. We have no excuse to fight eye for an eye or defend ourselves when our Lord paid the ultimate price. Luke 14:26-27 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Jehoshua demands absolute loyalty from those that say they follow Him. In fact, this loyalty supercedes that even of wife and children. We are to hate their lives in this world, meaning any part of their life that is not conformed to the Kingdom. We never let our family get in the way of serving the Kingdom and when push comes to shove, we put the Kingdom first hating that part of our loved ones lives that keeps them from being single minded about it. Jehoshua says that those who don't bear their cross cannot be His disciple. The Son of God means what He says and this means that Anabaptists firmly believe that if you don't bear your cross and literally follow the Messiah you are truly not a Christian. Jehoshua says you cannot be His disciple as that exactly what it means to be a Christian. Luke 9:59-62 59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Anabaptists take seriously Jehoshua's command to follow Him. Here, Jehoshua leaves no space for even what would appear to be legitimate excuses. The statement about letting the dead bury their dead in regards to the man wanting to wait until he buried his father goes right along with the command to hate the life of our father. Jehoshua's number one priority for us as His followers is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Those who start out on this journey and turn back, are not fit for the Kingdom of God. Anabaptists take seriously Jehoshua's call to he single minded about the Kingdom which causes them to abstain from engagement in political affairs including military service. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" This is why Anabaptism is the right principle in order to understand the gospel because of it's singlemindedness about the Kingdom of God. Instead of looking to Moses or Paul they look to Jehoshua and then everything else is read within the lens of His words. Unfortunately, the evangelicals and Hebrew roots movement easily gets involved in the affairs of the world's Kingdoms because of their theology. Because Anabaptists look to Jehoshua as the absolute authority on how to practice the faith they avoid entanglement in politics and everything tied into it. Matthew 28:19-20 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jehoshua commands us to go and baptize people from all nations (Gentiles) and teach them to observe all that He (Jehoshua) commanded. Notice He didn't say all that Moses commanded or some future apostle (Paul) but what He (the Son of God) commanded. Nations is understood as the Gentiles so the proposition by the evangelicals that the teachings of Jehoshua are for the Jews is easily refuted here. The centrality of Jehoshua is paramount to Anabaptists, for us He is the word of God. He is God's final revelation to mankind. Staying centered on Jehoshua and His doctrine safeguards one from falling into the trap of being deceived by false prophets. The failure to stay rooted in the King of Israel's teachings has plagued both the evangelical churches and now the Hebrew roots movement. It has also led to a number of cults rising up who have substituted the centrality of the Messiah for a charismatic personality and their writings. Joseph Smith and Ellen White are two of these charismatic persons who have led whole movements away from focusing on Jehoshua and instead have become the standard of truth in their respective denominations. The same can also be said of well established denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches where the word of the Pope/Patriarch is the ultimate authority and several man made traditions have crept into those systems. Even Islam with it's acknowledgement of Jehoshua as a prophet, has given prominence to Muhammad. At some point those in Islam replaced the centrality of Jehoshua with someone else. It's ironic that evangelicals and others criticize Islam for their minimizing Jehoshua and exalting Muhammad yet they themselves have done just that with the downplaying of Jehoshua's teachings and the uplifting of others in His place. While the evangelicals and others pay lip service to Jehoshua and Him being the savior, they deny Him in their doctrines. As stated earlier in this study, I did want to take a quick look at Protestantism. Protestantism basically consists of Anglicanism, reformed theology and Lutheranism. Within these there are variations. Here, I will focus on reformed theology since it is the most popular within the States. Calvinism and reformed theology often get used as interchangeable terms but they are not exactly the same. For the purpose of this study reformed theology is what will be discussed. Reformed theology arose out of the Protestant reformation and men such as John Knox, Ulrich Zwingly, Thomas Cranmer and John Calvin and even Luther are some of the well known "reformers". Reformed theology in this day has become known for predestination calvinistic theology although it historically it has included the wider scope of Lutheranism and Anglicanism. On the surface, reformed theology has some pretty good ideas such as the validity of the 10 commandments and application of the the moral law of Moses for the new covenant believers and a very detailed breakdown of the doctrine and practices of the Church. Reformed theology acknowledges that the sermon on the mount applies to Christians, however they over spiritualize it lessening the importance of literally following the teachings of Jehoshua. One big issue with reformed Protestantism is it's systematic theology. This has led to an overcomplication of the faith once delivered to the saints. Reformed systematic theology has made the faith so intellectual that they have left the simplicity of the Son of God behind. They have created a detailed set of doctrines intricately explained using terms and definitions that our outside the text of the bible. The result is, that in over intellectualizing the faith, they have left Jehoshua out of the equation. The unfortunate result of the reformed view is explaining away the Messiah's tough self denying teachings. A simple "thus saith the Lord" is no t enough for the reformed Christian as they have to over analyze what appear to be simple commands or statements by Jehoshua. Instead of fitting in their theology into the teachings of Jehoshua they have to fit Jehoshua's teachings into the context of their theology. Anything taught by Jehoshua that goes against their systematic theology is reinterpreted to fit that theology rather than the other way around. This is commonplace in reformed camps. They highly esteem scholarship, which in itself is not bad, however they make an idol of it and look down on the so called layman in terms of their ability to interpret scripture. This haughty attitude goes against the very essence of who the Son of God is and what He taught. Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" Can reformed Christians honestly say this about their theology and about themselves? Whereas they teach a super complicated version of Christianity Jehoshua says that in order to enter the Kingdom you must become as a child. This alludes to the simplicity of the faith and of Messiah. Those who over complicate it will not enter into it because they are trying to understand the Kingdom from a primarily intellectual mindset rather than child like faith. Many of the 1st century believers were simple people and many were likely unable to read yet it was their child like faith that saved them and preserved them and caused them to turn the world upside down. These 1st century Christians were the type of people that so called reformed Christians look down on as too simple and not polished enough in theology. This prideful arrogant attitude of reformed Christianity is really a carryover from the Papal church they came out of. In other words it is the spirit of Rome. In fact, if the Protestant reformers were around during the days of the apostolic church in the 1st century they would have persecuted them. That may be a shocking statement but the proof of this is in how the reformers brutally persecuted and murdered the Anabaptists who were very close in doctrine and practice to the apostolic church. I can say this because Anabaptists put the teachings of Jehoshua as being of paramount importance to the way they lived out their faith. The apostolic church lived out and taught that the commandments of the Son of God were required to be kept by those who call themselves Christian. In the early church there was no such thing as a Christian that didn't think the actual teachings of Jehoshua were to be kept literally. Also, the once saved always saved Calvinism of the reformed church has led to the teaching that one does not have to pick up their cross and deny themselves in order to "go to heaven". This of course goes against the plain words of Jehoshua Messiah but when you over intellectualize the faith then that is what happens, simple commands get twisted to mean something they don't. The reformed view of Predestination also complicates matters because it directly affects the preaching of the gospel. Not all but some of those of the reformed school have almost a defeatest mentality when it comes to preaching the gospel due to their teaching that only those predestined before the foundation of the world can be saved. There is this "hands up in the air" attitude often seen in the reform movement when it comes to winning souls as they say "well if there predestined then they will be saved, if not then they won't no matter if they hear the gospel or not". This type of mindset is in start contrast to what God's word says: 1 Timothy 2:3 "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." Of course due to the super intellectual nature of reformed theology they will take such a simple statement above and twist it to fit their limited atonement doctrine. Also, their view that Jehovah God predestined people to eternal torment is blasphemous to say the least. Now let's summarize the case for Anabaptism after having examined the other theologies. Anabaptism emphasizes the teachings of Jehoshua. While this may seem basic and automatic it actually is not a common approach to the faith by most Christians. Anabaptism's core doctrine is the sermon on the mount and is Jehoshua's Kingdom law, which He was prophesied to bring to the Islands (Gentiles) in Isaiah 42:4. Anabaptism is rooted in the simplicity of Messiah and doesn't focus on the more intellectual arguments about systematic theology. Their mindset is if "Jehoshua said it, then we must obey it". The Anabaptists interpret everything in the bible through the lens of the Son of God. While this may seem elementary it is actually rare in both the mainstream church system and in many of the other more sectarian denominations as well. This viewpoint of the Anabaptists gives them a balanced approach in terms of the law vs. The faith alone doctrine. While the Hebrews roots movement looks back to Moses and the Evangelicals look to Paul, Anabaptists put their focus on Messiah and His doctrine. This gives them the understanding that while we are not under the law of Moses we are also not a lawless church as we are under the law of Messiah. The Anabaptist hermeneutic is a Kingdom theology unlike most of the others. Why is this important? Because it emphasizes Christianity as a way of life and that the principles of the Kingdom are to be lived out here and now instead of just waiting for Jehoshua to come back to rescue us. The Hebrew roots movement certainly has carved out a distinct way of life but their lifestyle tends to lead to monasticism and isolation. Because of this evangelizing is not a strength of the Hebrew roots movement. Anabaptism promotes a practical Christianity that lends itself to evangelism due to it's simplicity in Messiah. Denominations that have a complicated theology or promote a monastic type of lifestyle struggle in evangelizing. Anabaptism also offers a hope outside of the kingdoms of this world due to their stance on separation from the state and not wielding the sword. The Anabaptist view of two Kingdoms keeps them out of the political parties and their ideologies. The Anabaptist view can then cut across all boundaries and offer people a real eternal Kingdom in the present. The futuristic view of the Kingdom by many denominations keeps them from being able to offer a present Kingdom to people in need of hope. Instead, these denominations offer them a religious experience and a distant hope for a Kingdom in the future. The Anabaptist doctrine is that the Kingdom has been here for 2,000 years and that this Kingdom has a constitution which is the sermon on the mount. Because of their emphasis on the teachings of Jehoshua the Anabaptists come the closest to mirroring the 1st century apostolic church. The apostolic church was not poisoned with the later systematic theology of Augustine or the sacramentalism of the emerging Catholic church. They also knew nothing of the concept of what the Hebrew roots is. For true Christians, the teachings of the Son of God are gold.
0 Comments
Unfortunately, many so called Christians have picked up the battle cry of the social justice movement and misuse verses in the bible to support their involvement in the movement.
These Christian social justice warriors will focus on the history of this country and the atrocities done to the Native Americans and African Americans and demand accountability from the government regarding what took place over a hundred years ago. Admittedly, the social effects of the slaughter of the Native Americans and enslavement of African Americans has had a ripple effect on both of those communities that continue to be seen today. The social justice movement is one that focuses on the past and demands its rights in the present. Part of this movement is one that seeks to get it's fair share of economic reparations from those they consider to be wealthy in society. There is a perception that those who obtained wealth have done it at the expense of less fortunate communities namely so called minority ones. Distant injustices from the past are not the only issues but also recent past injustices, whether true or perceived ones. The social justice warrior Christian seeks to right the wrongs of the past and often joins or assists secular organizations to do so no matter if said organizations promote anti-biblical principles. In this study we will see that getting caught up in the social justice movement is apostasy and that no true Christian will participate in it. Essential to the social justice movement is looking back to the past both distant and recent, however we are warned by the Son of God to do the very opposite of that: Luke 9:62 "And Jehoshua said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Jehoshua says clearly that those who start laboring for the Kingdom and then look back are not fit for the Kingdom meaning they will not inherit it. It's important to remember that Jehoshua said this in the context of a man making the excuse that he needed to bury His Father before he committed to following Him (Jehoshua). This should show us how serious Jehoshua is about demanding full loyalty to Him and His Kingdom gospel. Even something as important as burying one's father was not sufficient an excuse to delay following Jehoshua. This man obviously started on the path of the narrow road of the Kingdom but didn't want to fully commit to it. Therefore Jehoshua said He wasn't fit for the Kingdom. How much more would Jehoshua say this to the Christian social justice warriors who are hyper focused on the past? This passage in Luke applies to them as they traded full loyalty to the Son of God's Kingdom message for a mix of worldly social justice principles and a watered down gospel. An involvement in politics is required in the social justice movements so now the so called SJW Christian has his loyalty divided along three lines. Paul the apostle understood Jehoshua's command to not look back: Phillippians 3:13-15 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Jehoshua.15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. There is no place in the Kingdom of God for looking back, you are either going forward or your not going at all. Paul says it clearly that he forgets those things which are behind i.e. in the past and He is pressing toward the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah. Paul's goal is to endure to the end so that He inherits the crown of the eternal Kingdom of the Son of God. Paul says those who are minded in pressing toward the prize of the Kingdom are perfect. The opposite is obviously true in that those who focus and look back to the past are not perfect. These who look back are not on their way to the Kingdom but rather have taken a detour. Unless they repent and have the mind that Paul has they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. They may solve some of the ills of society here and now but they will have forfeited the Kingdom. The word "press" comes from the Greek word "dioko" (Strongs 1377) and means "to pursue, to follow after, ensue, persecute, given to, press forward." This is an aggressive action of going forward (pressing) towards the Kingdom of God. Paul's saying that he presses towards the high calling of God in Messiah Jehoshua. This means that Paul is actively and constantly pursuing the things of the Kingdom. Jehoshua talked about this as well in the sermon on the mount: Matthew 6:22 "The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" The context of this statement by Jehoshua is in respect to not serving money and instead serving Jehovah God. When Jehoshua says if our eye be single then our whole body will be full of light it is metaphorical for being single minded about the Kingdom of God. We see this 10 and 11 verses later when Jehoshua says: Matthew 6:32-33 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Jehoshua exhorts us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His (God's) righteousness and then those necessities of food, drink and clothing will be added to us. Jehoshua says it is the Gentiles (unbelievers) who worry about the things of this life but those who are Israel seek the Kingdom of God and have faith that He (God) will provide. What Paul and Jehoshua are both advocating is a single minded determination to live out the Kingdom of God now and to enter into the full consummation of the Kingdom at the second advent of Messiah. Matthew 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force." There is no middle road approach to being a Christian nor is Christianity just something good and moral you add to your life. Jehoshua says the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and violent men take it by force. This is what Paul was describing he does in Phillippians 3 i.e. pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God. The Kingdom suffers violence meaning it is advancing forcefully. Violent men taking the Kingdom by force means they are forcefully laying hold of it. Men and women are taking the Kingdom of heaven by storm. They are seizing it as a precious prize. Eager souls are storming the Kingdom. My brothers and sisters when we enter into the Kingdom through baptism our earnestness for it should be one of violence meaning we let nothing stand in our way and we set aside all previous loyalties. Once we are in the Kingdom we continue seizing it violently following the exhortation of both Jehoshua and Paul the apostle. This means there is no time to take our eyes off the prize and look back otherwise as Jehoshua says we will not be fit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:62). Paul gives another exhortation about being single minded regarding the Kingdom as he gives advice to Timothy: 2 Timothy 2:3-5 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jehoshua Messiah.4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. We have been enlisted in an army and it is the army of God. Jehoshua is our 5 star General and we take our marching orders from Him. He gave us a command in Matthew 28 to preach the gospel to all nations and teach them to observe His commandments and to baptize in His name. Just as no soldier of a secular army would entangle himself in civilian affairs, a soldier of Jehoshua Messiah, even more so, is not to entangle himself in the affairs of this life i.e. the world. Out loyalty is to Him who chose us not some politician or community revolutionary. The only organization we are tied have loyalty to is the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah. If we entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life then we will not be pleasing to God. In the armies of a nation would it be acceptable to join other organizations? Absolutely not! How much more then does the army of God require absolute loyalty? Many of these social justice organizations are striving for the things of this world i.e political power and more wealth which are the very things Jehoshua said not to strive for. The Son of God says His Kingdom is not of this world otherwise His servants would fight for it. That's exactly what these social justice movements are doing, which is fighting for the kingdoms of this world. Matthew 6:19-21 19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. We must ask ourselves, do these social justice movements align with the teachings of the Son of God? Absolutely not! One of the main motivations for these movements is to take some of the wealth from the rich and give to the so called poor. This absolutely goes against what the Son of God taught and what the law of His Father Jehovah says. This very principle of the social justice is a violation of one of the Father's 10 commandments: Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." This is the 10th commandment and it exposes the social justice movements motives as not being according to Jehovah God's law. When we desire what others have no matter how we cloak it covetousness is at the core of it. The excuse that the wealthy have gotten rich through corruption doesn't matter even though many times these are unfounded accusations. No matter how someone got their wealth it does not allow you to break God's law and Jehoshua's teachings by covering even a slice of it. Instead of calling these social justice warriors to repentance from their covetousness many modern Christians are justifying their cause. These so called Christians don't truly love these misguided souls in the social justice movement as Paul the apostle says: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Do you see what Paul said? Those who are covetous are unrighteous and they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Instead, they will suffer the second death in the Lake of fire. True Christians would have nothing to do with these false movements and instead they would give them the true solution which is the gospel of the Kingdom. Many believers hearken to Jehovah God's pleas for old testament Israel to give justice to the less fortunate such as orphans, widows and foreigners as a justification for their involvement with BLM, however what they don't realize is that Jehovah was commanding this of His covenant people and was not telling them to make sure this was happening with the surrounding nations. Jehovah's command to old testament Israel is still true today but it applies to His new covenant Israel which is the church not secular nations. Surely Jehovah desires earthly governments to do these things but His command for justice is directed at His covenant people as the governments of this world are ultimately under the sway of Satan. The earthly governments are in opposition to Jehovah God and His Messianic King (Psalm 2). Jehovah's justice is not the social justice that the world promotes but rather is rooted in His law. Jehovah's justice does not look like the leftwing liberal version. Sure Jehovah's heart for the poor, orphan, widow and foreigner would appeal to a leftist liberal however His Son's command to go and sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you would be hate speech to the left. The same is true of the right wing conservative but in the reverse. Also, Jehovah's law against Sodomy and Lesbianism would not fit the social justice motif. Jehovah's will that the husband be head over his wife would also not fit the social justice movement. Overall the law of Jehovah stands in stark contrast to the principles of the social justice movement. Luke 12:13-15 13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Here is an example of Jehoshua paying no mind to an economic injustice. Actually Jehoshua rebukes the man who is being cheated by his brother. Notice that Jehoshua tells him to beware of covetousness. Jehoshua doesn't seek economic justice for the man but basically tells him to forget about it and that one's life does not consist in his earthly posessions. John 12:5-8 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. Judas tried to put on a show that he cared for the poor. Here Jehoshua puts precedence in worshipping Him over giving to the poor. We know that we are commanded to be giving but what we see here is Jehoshua rebuking a manipulative intent by Judas, who was virtue signaling, and stating that worshipping Him was priority and that we will always have the poor with us. Jehoshua cared for the poor but He didn't make them the be all end all and actually said blessed are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:3). Jehoshua was far more concerned with the spiritual state of the poor than their economic situation. The poor are blessed in that they will have the Kingdom of heaven preached to them not because Jehoshua is going to advocate for economic justice for them. To the contrary, Jehoshua promises those who follow them that they will suffer persecution and be hated by all for His namesake. How does this fit in with seeking social and economic justice for people when we as followers of the Son of God are expected to accept and rejoice in persecution and even rejoice when are goods are spoiled (stripped from us)? It doesn't at all!! Hebrews 10:34 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." The response of those in Messiah when spoiled of their goods wasn't to protest, loot and riot but rather to rejoice since they knew that their treasure was in heaven. Even when maltreated by authorities the apostolic era Christians rejoiced and praised God: Acts 4:24 "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Jehovah, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is" After Peter and John were imprisoned for preaching the gospel and then threatened not to do it anymore they went to their brethren reporting the incident. The response of the believers was not to cause civil unrest but rather to praise Jehovah God. Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." This time Peter and the apostles were imprisoned and beaten by the high priest and captain of the temple for the testimony of the Son of God yet they rejoiced and praised God that they were worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jehoshua. Philippians 2:14-15 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Paul says that we as Christians are to do all things without complaining (murmuring) and disputings. This goes in line with the teachings of the Messiah. It is when we follow this command (not complaining) that we are blameless and sons of God. When we practice this we then are in stark contrast to a wicked and perverse generation. It is the wicked who complain when doing things. They are in darkness. Those however, who do all things without complaining, are lights in the midst of this perverse generation. This exhortation to do all things without complaining is completely contrary to the social justice movement which is founded on the idea of disputing and complaining and not being content with what one has in terms of political and financial power. So called Christians who participate or in any way encourage these social justice movements are going against the very teachings of Jehoshua, the new testament and the bible as a whole. The bible says do all things without complaining yet these social justice warriors do nothing but complain about the past and present and lament what they don't have. Christian's shouldn't be encouraging protesting and rioting but rather should be calling these social justice warriors to repentance and teach them to do all things without complaining and disputing. The Lord Jehoshua teaches that we are not to resist an evil person: Matthew 5:39-42 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Jehoshua teaches us to do the very opposite of what the social justice movements promote. The Son of God tells us not to resist those who are evil but rather to turn the other cheek and to go two miles with those who ask us to go one. Jehoshua forbids us to go to the law to seek restitution and to go even farther and give are cloak in addition to our coat. We are to give to those who ask and not turn them away. At His very core Jehoshua is against the mindset of a social justice warrior. Instead of cheerleading protests and riots bible believing Christians should be calling these social justice warriors to repentance and showing them that Jehoshua would want them to be willing to suffer rather than to seek their own justice, vengeance and restitution. True believers in Messiah are hated by the world not loved by them. I believe this is at the root of why many so called Christians don't speak out against these social justice movements that are promoted and approved by the world including the media, athletes and celebrities. Jehoshua tells us this: Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" We will be hated by all men because we shine the light on their lawless and wicked deeds including those that are rioting and looting. We also will call out and expose the social justice movements for being anti-Christ due to their ungodly principles. This will be a study on Revelation 20:1-3. This is a very key chapter in the book of Revelation as the determination of the chronological nature of this passage will largely shape one's view of eschatology and in a lesser way ecclesiology (doctrine of the church) and soteriology (doctrine of salvation).
Does Revelation 20 teach a future millennium or is it a recapitulation of the new covenant church age? I will comment on each verse showing that this chapter should be understood within the framework of covering the new covenant church age spanning the ascension of Christ to His second coming. Revelation 20:1-3 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time. The phrase "bottomless pit (KJV), Abyss (ASV)" comes from the Greek word "abussos" (Strongs 12) and means "depthless, deep, abyss, bottomless pit" "Abussos" in the Greek is somewhat similar to "thowm" in the Hebrew (Strongs 8415) as "thowm" means "an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water-supply): - deep (place), depth. The word "thowm" was used to describe the waters in Genesis chapter 1, the creation account. "Abussos" also has a somewhat similar meaning to the Hebrew word "tohuw" (strongs 8414) which means "to lie waste; a desolation (or surface), i.e. desert; without form, nothing, empty place, waste, wilderness". "tohuw" was also used in Genesis 1 to describe the earth prior to Jehovah God organizing the earth through His creative works. The bottomless pit (abyss) that Satan is cast down to is the earth as this vision is linked with the defeat of Satan at Christ's exaltation to heaven (Revelation 12:7-12) on the throne of David. In Revelation 12 we see that Satan and his angels are cast out into the earth as a result of his battle with Michael. In verse 10 of Revelation we see that the Kingdom of God and His Son Jesus Christ had come as a result of the Son of God's ascension into heaven and Satan's subsequent casting out. Verse 13 of Revelation 7 shows that Satan was cast to the earth resulting in him persecuting the woman (new covenant Israel). One may ask how is Satan bound if he then goes on a vicious crusade to persecute the church and also we know that many have been deceived during the church age? We must understand the binding of Satan in the context of what Jesus accomplished during His earthly ministry. Matthew 12:28-29 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.29Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Contrary to many false teachers the Kingdom of God arrived 2,000 years ago at Jesus first advent. This is important to understand in terms of eschatology especially when we read Revelation 20. Who is the the strong man? Satan is and his house is his Kingdom. Satan's goods are his subjects meaning unbelievers. Through the power of the holy Spirit Jesus bound Satan in order to enter into Satan's kingdom and spoil (strip, plunder) him of his goods (subjects, possessions). During Jesus first advent the Kingdom of God was breaking through the Kingdom of Satan showing that Christ decisively defeated the devil. It was Jesus casting out devils, performing miracles, healing people and raising the dead that bound Satan and allowed Him (Jesus) to enter into his (Satan's) palace (Kingdom) and plunder his possessions (subjects). We even see the binding of Satan prophesied by Isaiah: Isaiah 24:21-23 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory. The punishing of the host of the high ones refers to Satan and his angels. This was fulfilled at Christ's ascension to Jehovah God's throne in heaven. As a result of the Son of God's victory Michael and his angels went to war against Satan and his angels and won. Satan and his angels were then cast down to the earth (the abyss) coinciding with the arrival of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and His enthronment on the throne of David. Revelation 12:7-2 speaks of this. The pit mentioned in verse 22 refers to the bottomless pit that Satan was bound to Revelation 20 and is simply the earth as Satan has no more access to heaven (Revelation 12:10) therefore he is bound to the abyss (earth). Satan and his angels will be visited after many days refers to the great and terrible day of Jehovah God also known as the second advent of Christ. Verse 23 of Isaiah 24 speaks of the cosmic disturbances that we know are to happen on the day of Jehovah. We know that the day of Jehovah God will be the end of Satan and his Kingdom once and for all. This will result in Jehovah God reigning over the new heavens and new earth where all flesh will worship Him every Sabbath day and every new moon (Isaiah 66:22-23). Luke 10:17-18 17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. The apostles, in partnership with Jesus, were binding Satan and plundering his Kingdom through the work of the holy Spirit thereby the Son of God prophetically saw Satan being cast out of heaven. John 12:31 "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Christ's death is a mysterious conquest of man in rebellion against God. The Son of God's death and resurrection resulted in the casting out of Satan from heaven. This casting out of Satan as a result of the ascension and enthronement of Jesus on the throne of David highlights Christ's decisive victory over the Devil. John 16:11 "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." This statement by Jesus is within the context of the work of the holy Spirit. The ministry of the holy Spirit reveals to men the Son of God's victory over Satan. The Spirit of Jehovah God empowered Jesus to bind Satan by doing miracles, healings and raising from the dead and bringing the reality of Jehovah's Kingdom to the world. This binding of Satan allowed Jesus to enter into his Kingdom and spoil it of it's possessions (the lost). Colossians 2:15 "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." The context here is the death and resurrection of Christ and Paul says that He stripped (spoiled) the Satanic principalities and powers (Satan's Kingdom). In order to spoil Satan's Kingdom Christ had to bind him first which He did during His earthly ministry. This again shows Christ's victory over Satan at the cross and His resulting enthronement. Hebrews 2:14 "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" Christ conquered Satan on the cross and refuses to allow him to charge God's elect. So in the context of Revelation 20 Satan's binding implies two things. First, the Devil can no longer keep the Gentiles outside of Israel in total spiritual darkness (decieve the nations no more), because Christ is gathering His redeemed people through the gospel (Revelation 5:9; John 12:31-33). Second, the Devil cannot so mobilize the world against the church as to destroy it (Revelation 12:15-16), though he will briefly be permitted one last great attack at the end of the age (loosed a little season, Revelation 20:7-10). John 8:58
"Jehoshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am." This verse is used by trinitarians to prove that Jehoshua is God but is Jehoshua really saying that here? Many times when reading verses we must remember the context surrounding that particular verse. John 8:58 is a perfect example of that. On the surface, Jehoshua's statement does seem to indicate that He was preexistent if not outright calling Himself God. I submit that neither of these is the case. Many non trinitarians believe in the preexistence of Jehoshua and use this verse as a proof text. First let's deal with the claim that Jehoshua's statement of "I am" means that He is the God that spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:14. The phrase "I am" by itself does not denote deity as even the blind man healed by Jehoshua uttered this seemingly common phrase. Also, it is noteworthy that in the Greek new testament in Exodus 3:14 in which trinitarians try to connect to John 8:48 the phrase used by God is not "I am" but rather "I am the being". This totally changes everything and exposes "I am" as just a common phrase that anyone can apply to themselves depending on the context and situation. God is making a declarative statement to Moses that He is the "being" an obvious declaration that He is God Almighty and He is above all. So if Jehoshua is God, John 8:58 cannot be used as a proof text because it does not correlate with what Exodus 3:14 states. In fact, we actually have an equivalent to Exodus 3:14 in the new testament and it is not "I am" but rather: "who is and who was and who is to come" This is found in Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8. This phrase speaks of the Father as the eternal being. Jehoshua is spoken of as the first begotten from the dead and as the one who was dead and now lives. This should be enough to realize that Jehoshua is not the eternal being but rather distinct from Him as the one who was dead then raised to eternal life. Also, Jehoshua cannot be the God of Exodus 3:14 which states in the following verse (15): "And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." How do we know this is not Jehoshua? Because Peter the apostle says so in Acts 3:13: "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jehoshua; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him." Peter says that Jehoshua is the servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in other words Jehoshua is the servant of the "I am" (the being) of Exodus 3:14. Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles." This is a Messianic prophecy about Jehoshua and here He is clearly called the servant of Jehovah God. So if Jehoshua is not saying that He is Jehovah God in John 8:58, what does he mean? John 8:24-25 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.25They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jehoshua said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning. This passage is key in understanding what Jehoshua means when He says "Before Abraham was, I am". Jehoshua tells the pharisees and scribes that unless they believe that "I am he" you shall die in your sins". They then ask Jehoshua "who art thou?" Jehoshua tells them He is who He has been saying He is from the beginning. The beginning of what? His ministry! It was when Jehoshua was baptized that He began to teach and preach about the gospel of the Kingdom at 30 years old. Mark 1:1 "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." This is in the context of Jehoshua's baptism. This is when Jehoshua began to preach the word of salvation at 30 years old: "And Jehoshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli" Let's go to two days after Jehoshua's baptism and see what was confessed about Jehoshua: John 1:49 "Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel." Jehoshua affirmed Nathanel's confession and said he was an Israelite without guile. Again, Nathanael's confession was right at the start of Jehoshua's ministry. Let's look at who Peter said Jehoshua was: Matthew 16:15-17 15He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God.17And Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. Peter when asked by Jehoshua stated that Jehoshua was the Messiah, Son of the living God. Jehoshua didn't correct Peter but affirmed his confession of who He (Jehoshua) is. Jehoshua told Peter that he was blessed and that His Father in heaven revealed to him (Peter). The three titles mentioned above by Nathanael and Peter are prophetic titles given to the Davidic Kings: Messiah Son of God King of Israel These are eqauted titles reserved for the royal offspring of David (Psalm 2; 1 Chronicles 28: 2 Samuel 7. In fact when Jehoshua was baptized the Father confessed who He (Jehoshua) is: Luke 3:22 "and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee" Right smack dab at the beginning of Jehoshua's ministry, Jehovah God begat Him as His Son. This was a spiritual begetting per Jehoshua's words in John chapter 3 that one must be begotten from above to see the Kingdom of God. Jehovah declared that Jehoshua was His only begotten Son at His baptism. Even Satan knew that Jehoshua was God's Son and tried to get Him to doubt it right after Jehoshua's baptism: Matthew 4:3 "And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Matthew 4:6 "and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone." Twice Satan tempted Jehoshua by using His Sonship as a way to get Him to disobey God by taking advantage of His position. So to answer the question in John 8:24-25 about who Jehoshua said He was from the beginning, it is the Messiah, Son of the living God and King of Israel. This sheds light on what Jehoshua meant when He told the pharisees and Saducees before Abraham was "I am". Before Abraham was, Jehoshua was the prophesied Messianic Davidic King who by covenant is God's begotten Son. 1 Peter 1:18-21 says that Jehoshua was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This means before Abraham existed God already had the plan of salvation ordained and that Jehoshua would be the Savior. Jehoshua being before Abraham has nothing to do with Jehoshua literally existing before Abraham as a concious being but rather being predestined by God to be His Messiah. What did Jehoshua mean when He said: John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." This led to Jehoshua's statement that Before Abraham was "i am". We have to go back to Genesis to see what Jehoshua meant by this statement. Genesis 17:19 "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." This is known as the Abrahamic covenant in which Abraham's seed would be in an everlasting covenant with Jehovah God. This seed would be established through Isaac which the book of Hebrews calls "his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17). The promise of the death and resurrection of Jehoshua was also foreshadowed in Isaac: Hebrews 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. The author of Hebrews goes back to the time that Abraham offered up his only begotten son Isaac to be sacrificed to Jehovah God. This passage was a foreshadowing of the gospel. Notice the phrase "only begotten son" used for Isaac. We know by this usage that Isaac was a type of messiah as Jehoshua is called the only begotten Son. Abraham had Ishmael so Isaac wasn't his only son in a literal sense but the title "only begotten Son" denotes preeminence and son of inheritance. The offering up of Isaac by Abraham was a prefiguring of Messiah being crucified on the cross and offered up to Jehovah God as the lamb. The author of Hebrews mentions that in Isaac shall Abraham's seed be called. We know from the new testament that in Messiah shall Abraham's seed be called as Paul says: Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah" The seed was Isaac which is now fulfilled in Messiah. This is similar to the Davidic covenant in which Solomon was the first beneficiary but the promises of the royal covenant were ultimately fulfilled in Jehoshua. To be Abraham's seed isn't about the various families of the earth that are literal descendants of Abraham but rather those who are in covenant with the singular seed of Abraham, Messiah Jehoshua: Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Jehoshua Messiah is the only seed of Abraham and those in a covenant relationship with Him are also Abraham's seed. Any other claim to be the seed of Abraham outside Jehoshua are invalid before Jehovah God. Genesis 22:2 "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Here in Genesis 22 we see the foreshadowing of Jehovah God sending His only begotten Son into the world to be sacrificed. Jehovah refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only son" and the author of Hebrews states "only begotten son" in reference to Isaac. Genesis 22:7-8 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?8And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together. Isaac asks where the lamb was that they were going to offer to Jehovah and notice what Abraham says in that God will provide it. This was a prophetic statement by Abraham regarding Jehovah offering up His Son Jehoshua as the Lamb. Genesis 22:9-10 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. Abraham was about to slay Isaac and offer him up as a sacrifice to Jehovah God. This was a foreshadowing of the cross and God offering up Jehovah as the once and for all sacrifice. Genesis 22:11-12 11And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am.12And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. The angel of Jehovah's Spirit calls out to Abraham and prevents Him from slaying Isaac. Jehovah God commends Abraham from not holding back "his only son" from Him (Jehovah God). This was evidence of Abraham's love for Jehovah God. Here we see another prefiguring of the gospel as John the beloved says that God didn't withhold His Son but gave Him to us as a manifest token of His love: 1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." Just as Abraham showed his love for God by offering Him (Jehovah) his only begotten son Isaac, God showed His love for the world by sending His only begotten Son Jehoshua. Genesis 22:13-14 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be seen. After Jehovah held Abraham back from offering up Isaac, Abraham then got a ram and sacrifices it to Jehovah God. What is noteworthy is what Abraham called the place where he offered up Isaac which was "Jehovah-Jireh" meaning Jehovah will provide. What will He provide? What does Abraham mean by this? For one, Abraham already told Isaac that Jehovah would provide a lamb. Yet it was actually a ram that Abraham sacrificed to Jehovah God. Abraham was showing the gospel by His statement in that the lamb was the future Messiah (Jehoshua). Basically this event at mount Moriah was the gospel being played out in type. Also, Abraham in saying that Jehovah will provide was foreshadowing the resurrection of Jehoshua because as Hebrews 11 says he recieved Isaac in a figure believing that God could resurrect him from the dead. So what we have here at mount Moriah is a type of the death and resurrection of the only begotten Son of God. This gospel message in the book of Genesis gets even better as now we are included in this prefiguring of the Son of God's death and resurrection. Genesis 22:15-18 15 And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven,16 and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice. This is where Galatians 3 comes in which is that the fulfillment of this promise to Abraham by Jehovah God was fulfilled in Messiah as the singular seed of Abraham in whom the inheritance is tied up in. The multiplication of Abraham's seed is fulfilled in those who are in covenant with Abraham's seed Jehoshua Messiah. This is the day that Abraham saw and was glad, the fulfillment of the promise made to Him by Jehovah God in that his seed would multiply as numerous as the stars in the sky & the sand on the seashore & that his seed would possess his (Abraham's) enemies gates. When we take John 8:56-58 together then we can understand that this has nothing to do with Jehoshua claiming to be Jehovah God or to have literally existed before Abraham. The Son of God is making a prophetic statement that He was the prophesied Messiah before Abraham was & whose day Abraham saw in terms of Jehovah's promise that his (Abraham's) seed would multiply greatly. Jehoshua doesn't say that Abraham literally saw Him but rather saw His day, meaning the fulfillment of his seed multiplying & possessing his enemies gates. Jehoshua is speaking of the Abrahamic covenant in these verses & Himself being the fulfillment of it. Why would Jehoshua be talking about Himself being preexistent and/or being Jehovah God when there is no prophetic value in those claims? It's simple because He is not as there is far more prophetic value in mentioning Himself as the fulfillment of Jehovah God's promise to Abraham. The fact that the pharisees & saducees picked up stones to kill Jehoshua does not prove He was claiming to be Jehovah as His claim to be the Daniel 7:13-14 Messiah got Him accused of that. ReplyForward We live in interesting times and no doubt prophetic times as we see the coming of our King Jesus Christ near, even at the door. As we see these things taking place in today's society we must cling to that sure word of prophecy and not fall into the trap of unbiblical speculation.
Eschatology has been made into a cottage industry within Christianity with its prophecy seminars and conferences. Numerous Books and DVD's have been produced about the end times, many claiming to have all the answers on what is going to take place before the day of Jehovah. Many of these ministries have strayed from the sure word of prophecy and have delved into wild theories and speculations about what is going to happen right before the return of Christ. Everything from unbiblical rapture theories to Alien invasions and the antichrist being transhuman. Peter the apostle wrote that we have a sure word of prophecy and that no prophecy is of private interpretation. As we see events unfolding in these tulmutous times Peter's words and warning are more important than ever. 2 Peter 1:19-21 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.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. Peter says that we do well to take heed of the sure word of prophecy as it is a light that shines in a dark place. We are to follow the light of true bible prophecy until the day star arises in our hearts at the last day resurrection when our salvation will arrive. The day star is Jesus Christ as this title "day star" applies to Jesus being the Davidic King (Revelation 22:16). The day dawn refers to the second advent of our King. Peter is stating that we need to stick with the prophetic testimony given concerning the prophetic eschatological Davidic King and His return to earth to consummate His Kingdom on earth. We are stay away from any wild speculations that contradict these simple but powerful truths. Therefore we must be rooted in true biblical prophecy. This is why reading and understanding the books of Daniel and Revelation are crucial so that we do not get sidetracked by wild theories. Any eschatological scenario that diminishes the Davidic Kingship of the Son of God and that complicates the "day dawn", meaning His second coming at the last day, is to be rejected. Jesus only comes back once and He comes back to consummate His Davidic Kingdom here on earth not in the skies of heaven. These are true prophetic facts. Peter makes it clear that we are not to come up with our own fanciful interpretations of prophecy but rather hearken to the prophets of old and obviously the apostles who further explain and shed light on the great and terrible day of Jehovah God. Let's examine the context of the above passage: 2 Peter 2:10-11 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To make our election and calling sure we must put on those things that Peter previously mentioned in this chapter. Things such as faith, virtue, knowledge and love just to name a few. What's in Peter's view here is the eternal Kingdom of our King Jesus Christ. Remember, it was the seed of David the bright and morning star that was promised an eternal Kingdom. Obviously Jesus is that eternal Davidic King. All talk of bible prophecy should be focused on the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ which is rooted in the throne of David. True bible prophecy teaches that Jesus Kingdom would be on earth: Daniel 7:27 "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him" Men engaging in private interpretations have confused the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and have robbed it of the prophetic truth that His Kingdom will be on earth. They teach that when we die we go to heaven as immaterial spirits. Then they also teach a secret rapture of the church before the antichrist is revealed and that Jesus will rapture the church to heaven. The various rapture theories and the heavenly hope has replaced the sure word of prophecy that we get resurrected with physical bodies on the last day and that Jesus is return is loud and visible and that His Kingdom will be consummated on the earth. As stated already the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ is rooted in the covenant that Jehovah God made with David (2 Samuel 7). In fact, the old testament points to the eschatological as being found in the Davidic King of bible prophecy. The private interpretations of the church have replaced the sure word of prophecy centered upon the Davidic dynasty with a false God-man version of Jesus whose Davidic kingship is merely an afterthought. All over the old testament the prophets repeatedly make mention of the future royal seed of David being raised up to deliver Jehovah's people from their enemies. Peter exhorts that saints to make their election and calling sure by putting on the character of the divine nature so that they obtain an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Again, this Kingdom will be on the earth as prophesied all throughout the bible and it will be run from the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7). 2 Peter 1:12 "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" Peter is all about the Kingdom of the Son of God and that is the present truth. Peter wants to constantly exhort the brethren to be all about Jesus Kingdom as well. The way to gain entrance into the Kingdom is to make our election and calling sure by putting on the attributes of the divine nature. The present truth is the gospel of the Kingdom which is centered upon the Davidic Kingship of Christ. The Davidic Kingdom is the hope of the saints as it is the sure word of prophecy as Jehovah God said He will not alter the thing that has gone out of His lips concerning the oath He made with David: Psalm 89:34-37 34My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.35Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David:36His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me.37It shall be established for ever as the moon, And [as] the faithful witness in the sky. Jehovah makes it clear that His unconditional promise to David will be accomplished in that David's dynasty will be established forever. This is fulfilled in Jesus, first at His ascension into heaven where He was enthroned on David's throne (Hebrews 1:8-9) and when He comes back and rules from the throne of David here on the earth made new from New Jerusalem. The sure word of prophecy teaches us that the way into this Kingdom will be via resurrection not dying and going to heaven or a rapture. Let's look at Ezekiel 37 for proof of this: 13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people.14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah. The verses preceding this spoke of dry bones being raised up and sinew, flesh and skin covering them and Jehovah God's Spirit being put in them. In verse 13 above it says the dry bones (the dead) will come out of their graves showing that this is speaking of the last day resurrection. As result of coming out of their graves and being given the Spirit of Jehovah the dry bones (dead) will live i.e. eternal life. As a result of the resurrection Jehovah will place redeemed saints in their own land which is the New Jerusalem in the new heavens and new earth. The land grant to Abraham expanded to include the whole new earth. The resurrection of the dead and the placing them in their land (New Jerusalem in New Israel) will lead to this: Ezekiel 37:23-24 23......... I will be their God.24 And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in mine ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. In the new heavens and new earth Jehovah will be our God and dwell with us and David will be our King. This is of course referring to David's royal offspring Jesus. The commandments of God will apply even in the new heaven and new earth as we will worship Jehovah every Sabbath and new moon (Isaiah 66:22-23 and celebrate the feast of tabernacles (Zechariah 14). Ezekiel 37:25 "And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children`s children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever." When Jehoshua comes we will be given the whole Kingdom under heaven (Daniel 7:27). The land promises to Abraham are expanded to the new heaven and new earth with New Jerusalem as it's capital. Basically the whole earth will be the new Israel. David (Jesus) will be our King forever as promised in the covenant Jehovah God made with David. Jesus was given the throne of David and an eternal Kingdom at His ascension into heaven (Hebrews 1:8-9). He was also given a Kingdom that will never end. Ezekiel 37:26-28 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.28 And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. The covenant of peace was made at Christ first advent. The covenant was made in His blood. However, it will be after the second advent of Jesus when New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and the tabernacle of God dwells with man. We see this in Revelation 21 where God dwells with the redeemed and they see His face. In that day, when Jesus comes and destroys the unbelievers and the judgement takes place, the nations (Gentiles-unbelievers) will know that Jehovah God loves His saints i.e. spiritual Israel. Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." 2 Peter 1:16-18 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. Peter says that he and the other apostles have not followed fables when they testified of the coming of the King Jesus Christ but rather have given the sure word of prophecy. Peter witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus which validated that He indeed is the Son of God as the Father proclaimed in the holy mount. The transfiguration was a foretaste of the glory that Christ would receive at the resurrection and ascension into heaven. The transfiguration also showed His superiority to Moses as the new covenant glory would be permanent whereas the glory that shone upon Moses was temporal and faded away (2 Corinthians 3). Jehovah God's declaration that Jesus was His beloved Son was proof of His Kingship as the title Son of God comes from the Davidic covenant. The Father was proclaiming in the earshot of Peter, John and James that Jesus was the prophesied eschatological Davidic King. 1 Peter 1:3-5 1 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Jehovah is both the God and Father of Jesus Christ. This is important as it is prophetic and covenantal that Jehovah would have a Father-Son relationship with the royal seed of David. Jesus if of the loins of David. Us being begotten from above "or born again" as popular Christendom states is not just to have the new birth here and now but to have the hope of the resurrection at the last day. The resurrection at the last day is the sure word of prophecy in regards to being the hope of the follower of the Son of God. The rapture doctrine as well as the dying and flying up to heaven is false prophecy. The hope for those who believe in the Son of God is not in earthly Jerusalem as the false dispensational, Hebrew roots, Messianic Jews teach but rather it is reserved in heaven for us as it will be the New Jerusalem that we inherit. The sure word of prophecy teaches that full salvation comes at the last day as Peter states it will be revealed in the last time. The doctrine of once saved always saved, the dying and going to heaven are contradictory to Peter's statement and the doctrine of the apostles which teaches that full salvation is not realized until the second advent of Christ. "who are kept by the power of God through faith" The key word is faith as that is what gives us access to the power of God i.e. His Spirit. John 15 is a good passage to correalate with this verse as faith is defined not just by mental ascent but by action. In order to be kept by the power of God we must remain connected to the holy vine of David Jesus Christ. In John chapter 15 Jesus says we remain connected to Him if we bear fruit which is done by keeping His commandments (John 14:15). In other words, the above passage by Peter does not prove a Calvinist view of salvation but rather highlights the importance of "faith", which is our response to the gospel. Our faith in the Son of God gives us access to Jehovah God's Spirit (1 John 3:23-24). Again, faith is evidenced by good works. These good works bear fruit and keep us connected to the Son of God and the Father. If we are steadfast in the faith by being obedient then we will be kept by the power of Jehovah God until the day of salvation. 1 Peter 1:18-21 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God This is the core of the gospel which is that God had foreordained that Christ would fulfill the day of atonement once and for all. Redemption is found in the precious blood of Jesus not with corruptible idols (silver and gold) or vain religious traditions. Jesus was manifested in the last days which began when He was anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus baptism fulfilled bible prophecy (Isaiah 11) and Daniel 9:24: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Jesus is the most holy as the Father dwelt in Him from the time of His baptism and throughout His ministry. Peter highlights the resurrection of Christ and says that God raised Him up and gave Him glory. Again, the resurrection is connected with the Kingship of Jesus. The glory that the Father gave Jesus is the glory of the throne, crown and Kingdom of David. It was Jesus resurrection that paved the way for His enthronment as King. In fact, this is the content of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:29-36). Hebrews 1 details exactly what took place at Jesus ascension into heaven after His resurrection: Hebrews 1:8-9 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. This is an Israelite coronation hymn first applied to King Solomon (Psalm 45:5-6). In Hebrews 1 it applies to Jesus in respect to exaltation at His ascension. Paul the apostle also connects the resurrection with the Kingship of Jesus (Romand 1:4; Acts 13:32-37). Remember, the resurrection and Kingship of Jesus is rooted in the sure word of prophecy as Peter states that David prophesied of this: Acts 2:30-31 30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. That oath that Jehovah God made with David comes from 2 Samuel chapter 7. David both prophesied of Jesus resurrection which facilitated His enthronement on the throne of David. Christ the cornerstone 1 Peter 2:4-5 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. The religious establishment of Israel rejected their King yet it did not matter as Jehovah God chose Him. We see this in Luke 1:29-36 where the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her Son Jesus will be given the throne of David by Jehovah God and be called the Son of the Most High God. Just as Jehovah God chose Solomon to be His son and to sit on the throne of Israel (throne of David) (1 Chronicles28:5-6), He also chose Jesus to sit on the throne of Israel and to be His Son. As Jesus is the chief cornerstone we as His younger brethren are lively stones of the spiritual temple of Jehovah God. The sacrifices we offer are spiritual as Jesus is the once and for all atonement for sins. 1 Peter 2:6-7 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16 "therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste." Jehovah God is the one who set Jesus in the midst of Israel as the foundation stone. Jesus is a tried stone as He was put through the fire being tempted in all points like us yet He overcame and conquered death. Those who believe in the cornerstone Jesus Christ will not be confounded. The religious establishment of Israel rejected the Christ yet Jehovah God chose Him as the precious peace-stone of Israel. Jesus was made the head of Zion as He was anointed as King at His baptism with Nathaniel confessing that Jesus was the Son of God and King of Israel just two days after (John 1:49). In fact, Psalm 2:7 according to manuscript evidence was quoted at Jesus baptism: "Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee." This is a royal coronation hymn of an Israelite King and it was said to Jesus at His baptism by Jehovah God showing that Christ was anointed as King of Israel at His baptism. The whole controversy concerning Jesus during His earthly ministry was claim to be the King of Israel and Son of God which are eqauted titles. 1 Peter 2:8-9 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Even to this day the world gets offended at the very name of Jesus. It is considered unthinkable to criticize any other religion in the world yet Christianity is fair game and this is because of who Christians represent, Jesus Christ the Son of God. These disobedient rejecters of the Son of God were appointed unto this. We however who do dont stumble at the word of God and believe in the cornerstone are a chosen generation. This means we are a chosen race i.e. the race of the Christian's. In this race neither color nor ethnicity matter as Paul the apostle says: Colossians 3:10--11 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. The only race that matters is the race that is created after the image of Jehovah God. In this race can be neither Jew nor Greek, black or white, brown or yellow but rather you must be recreated in the image of Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26-29 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. With all this racial pride in the so called Christian identity movements it is crucial that we rebuke it with scripture. Paul clearly teaches that one is a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else including being an ethnic Jew or Israelite. Paul says that those in covenant with Christ are Abraham's seed and heirs of the Kingdom according to the promise given to Abraham. Neither gender, social/economic status or ethnicity have absolutely nothing to do with are standing before God or even if we are a child of God. Back to 1 Peter chapter 2:8-9: We are not only a chosen race but we are a holy nation of Kings and Priests (royal priesthood). Peter is applying this statement to new covenant Christians of which many are Gentiles as His epistle is being sent to those in Asia minor. John the beloved apostle writing to seven churches in Asia said that we are kings and priests made so by Jesus shedding His blood on the cross (Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-10). Peter is applying old covenant Israelite titles to the new covenant church, many of which are Gentiles. John agrees with Peter in applying the title of Kings and Priests to a Jewish-Gentile new covenant church. Paul also does this in a less direct way: Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" What are the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ? The heavenly places refers to the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary. This is where Jesus sits on the right hand of God. What are the two offices that Christ holds as a result of His ascension into heaven? King of the seed of David and High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5). Paul reiterates this truth in Ephesians 2: 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We presently sit together with Christ in the holy of holies. This is a result of Jesus shedding His blood on the cross and then being resurrected and ascended to heaven and enthroned at the right hand of God. Psalm 110:1 "Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool" Psalm 110:1 is at the heart of bible prophecy. It is a propechy of Jehovah installing Jesus on the throne of David. It is the most alluded to old testament text in the new testament. Peter attributes this as being fulfilled at Christ resurrection and ascension. The author of Hebrews states the same as well as Paul the apostle. The sure word of prophecy is that Jesus fulfilled the Davidic covenant at His ascension into heaven. The teaching that Jesus is going to sit on the throne of David for the first time after His second advent to inaugurate a 1,000 earthly millennium headquartered in earthly Jerusalem is false prophecy. We must avoid this understanding of bible prophecy like the plague as it has so many deceptions intertwined. A return to animal sacrifices via a Levitical priesthood with a rebuilt temple with so called ethnic Israel ruling over the world for a thousand years and with mortals living and dying during this time with one final Satanic rebellion is a false delusion which contradicts the sure word of prophecy. As Peter stated in 1 Peter 2:5 we as believers are the lively stones of the spiritual house of Jehovah God. We as believers in Christ Jesus are the royal priesthood of God, this includes both Jew and Gentile. We as followers of the Son of God are the seed of Abraham and the true Israel of God as Paul states (Galatians 3:26-29; Galatians 6:16). The author of Hebrews says the Levitical priesthood is abolished and we are now under the Melchizedek priesthood which is an unchangeable and everlasting. The whole book of Hebrews talks about this but especially chapters 7 through 10. Animal sacrifices are abolished completely as Jesus is our once and for all atonement for sins. Tho go back to animal sacrifices is antichrist. Hebrews 10:9-10 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The author of Hebrews clearly states that the old covenant is now taken away by the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ who thereby establishes the new covenant. What about this so called thousand year millennium centered in earthly Jerusalem where mortals and immortals will live together? What's amazing is that Peter who writes about the sure word of prophecy somehow forgot to mention this false prophecy. Instead Peter says that we (new covenant believers) look forward to a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells as this old earth will be burned up. This totally contradicts the idea of the future thousand year millennium. 2 Peter 3:12-13 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Peter makes it crystal clear that the day of Jehovah (the coming of the day of God) does not bring about a future earthly millennium where sinful mortals will live with redeemed saints but rather the day of the coming of God will bring a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells thereby there can be no sinful mortals that live there. Peter and the apostolic church were, according to Gods promise, looking for a new heavens and new earth not a future earthly millennium. Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 66:22-23 prophesy of the new heavens and new earth. 2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." The day of Jehovah God will bring forth a burning of this earth and a dissolving of the elements in this earth's atmosphere. The whole environment, atmosphere and eco system of this earth Dissolved and burnt up. May Jehovah God keep us on the sure word of prophecy especially in these times. ReplyForward Having already done a study on the Holy Spirit in somewhat if an extensive manner connecting it with the angel of Jehovah I thought I would put together a small addendum. Let's go to Psalm 34:
7The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them. We see that the function of the angel of Jehovah throughout the old testament was to guide, fight for, the authority to not forgive transgressions, and to surround (encamp) the saints during their pilgrimage through life. Why would this be any different for the new testament saints? In fact, the angel of Jehovah is given the same job responsibilities in the old testament as the Holy Spirit has in the new testament. This is likely why at least some of the early Christians believed that the Holy Spirit was an angel. Justin Martyr appeared to possibly have a view that the holy Spirit was an angelic being and the ascension of Isaiah written in the second century referred to the Holy Spirit as "the Angel of the Holy Spirit" throughout the book and seems to link the angel Gabriel with the Holy Spirit. Some Christians today believe that the angel Gabriel is the holy Spirit as well as many Muslims. For myself, I try to stay away from such assertions unless there is a "Thus saith Jehovah". There is however ample evidence that the Holy Spirit is the angel of Jehovah as I have proven from my previous study. Let's look at the book of Revelation: Revelation 1:1 "The Revelation of Jehoshua Messiah, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" Jehoshua sent the revelation given to Him by God via His angel to John the apostle. Could this angel, which is noted as Jehoshua's, be the Holy Spirit? Let's continue in the book of Revelation: Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne" Many Christians teach that these seven spirits are representative of the fullness of the holy Spirit. Of course, they believe that the holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. Again, without a "thus saith Jehovah" we cannot make that assertion. These seven Spirits are likely seven Angel's which are possibly mentioned in the book of Revelation as having the seven last plagues. Remember, Angels are Spirits. The angel mentioned in verse 1 of Revelation is not the seven spirits mentioned above in verse 4. Revelation 2:11 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Remember, it was the angel that was commissioned by Jehoshua to give John the message of the Revelation. It is noteworthy that the letters to the seven churches are being addressed to the angels of the seven churches which shows that the seven stars (seven angels) that Jehoshua has in His right hand are not the seven Spirits (angels) before God's throne. Why would Jehoshua send an angel to deliver a message to John just to have the message be delivered to angels again? This shows that these angels must not be spirit beings but actually human angels i.e. messengers as they are next to last on the information chain to get the message of the Revelation. The last is the actual members of the churches. The early church believed these angels of the churches were Bishops. Who is the one delivering the message to John and instructing him to write these things to the angels (Bishops) of the seven churches? We know it is Jehoshua's angel. When the above passage says "hear what the Spirit saith" then we see that very likely this Spirit is referring to the angel who is giving the Revelation to John. Some believe this Spirit to be referring to Jehoshua Himself however we know from scripture that the Son of God is not the Holy Spirit. Remember what Jehoshua said about the Holy Spirit and His job duty during the new covenant church age? John 14:26 "But the Comforter, [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you" That's exactly what the angel is doing with John, he is teaching him the things that will take place during the last days (new covenant age). He is also giving John the instructions that Jehoshua has for the churches. The angel is doing the precise thing that Jesus said the holy Spirit would do. Revelation 2:7 "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 tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." This is to the church at Ephesus and the Spirit is giving the believers the hope of the Paradise of God and to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of it. Revelation 2:17 "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." This is to the church at Pergamos and the Spirit promises overcoming believers to eat of the hidden manna and to get a white stone with a new name. Four more times we hear the same declaration: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22). Hebrews 1:7 "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." Angels are spirits. Jehoshua sent His angel to give John a message about the last days to deliver to seven churches and after each particular church is addressed we read the above declaration "hear what the Spirit says". The Son of God who commissioned the angel is exhorting the churches to hear what the Spirit (angel) is saying to them. The angel is audibly giving the message to John. The angel was commissioned by Jehoshua to deliver the message as He (Jehoshua) received it from God. The angel is coming to John in the name (authority) of Jehoshua which is precisely what Jehoshua said the holy Spirit would do (John 14:26). The seven Spirits before Jehovah's throne are seven angels but not thee angel that is giving the message to John. The seven angels of Revelation 7 and Revelation 15 are not thee angel that is giving the Revelation to John. The three angels of Revelation 14:6-12 are also not the angel. Nor the two angels mentioned in Revelation 14:17-18. However we do see the angel mentioned as the Spirit again in Revelation 14:13 "And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them" Here we see the wording of "saith the Spirit" just like we did in the letters to the seven churches. Again, this is the angel who is relaying the words of Jehoshua to John. The four angels of Revelation 7 are also not the angel who is giving the message to John. The mighty angel of Revelation 10 could be the angel of the Holy Spirit but we have no direct connection. The angel that talks with John in Revelation 17:1 is one of the seven angels of the last seven plagues. Revelation 18:1 "After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory." This could be the Holy Spirit Angel as He has great authority which indeed was said by Jehoshua to be given to the Holy Spirit: John 16:13-15 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.14He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.15All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you. The authority that the Holy Spirit speaks with is not his own but rather The Father and Son thereby as Revelation 18:1 says about the angel he has great authority. What makes me open to the possibility that this angel in Revelation 18 is the holy Spirit? Acts 2:1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost and appeared like cloven tongues of fire and was the sound of a mighty rushing wind. This event inaugurated the Kingdom of Jehoshua on earth (spiritual Kingdom). How fitting would it be if the Holy Spirit fell on the earth right before the Kingdom of Jehoshua was to be consummated on the earth? Very fitting however we don't have a direct connection between this angel and the Spirit so can not make a presumption. We do see in Revelation 19:9-10 that the angel that is giving the message to John tells him (John) not to worship him: 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.10And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The angel instructs John to write down the above regarding the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the same angel who was commissioned by Jehoshua to give John the message of the apocalypse. John then bows down to the angel in worship but then is quickly admonished not to as we are only to worship Jehovah God. The identity of this angel with being the holy Spirit shouldn't be a problem because nowhere in scripture is the Holy Spirit worshipped. In fact, nowhere in scripture is the holy Spirit prayed to or directly called God. Certainly there were times when the Angel of Jehovah appeared to man and those that he appeared to said they had seen Jehovah but this is because that particular angel brings Jehovah's presence with him. Revelation 22 "And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." This is one of the seven angels that had one of the seven last plagues who is speaking to John. The Lord God is Jehovah, the Father of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah. The angel that is mentioned as being sent by the Lord God is not the angel that is speaking but rather the angel that Jehoshua sent to signify the Revelation to John and the churches. Revelation 22:8-9 8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Is this the angel that showed John the new Jerusalem or the angel that showed John the entirety of the Revelation? It's not clear but it likely could be the angel that has showed John the entirety of the book of Revelation. Either way we see the angel correcting John and telling him to worship Jehovah God. Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." The bride is the church and the Spirit is the same Spirit which dictated to John the letters to the seven churches. Who was commissioned by Jehoshua to give John the apocalypse? We know from Revelation chapter 1 that it was Jehoshua's angel. The Spirit and the angel are one and the same. This is the holy Spirit who is the angel of Jehovah. Acts 5 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land. This is one of the texts that trinitarians use to prove the personhood of the holy Spirit and they are right however they are wrong in designating the Holy Spirit as the third person of the trinity. As my previous study showed the holy Spirit is identified as the angel of Jehovah God. To both prove the personhood of the holy Spirit and that it is the angel of Jehovah we can go to the book of Exodus to see a warning that Jehovah God gave Moses and the Israelites that brings to mind the above situation with Ananias and Sapphira. Exodus 23:20-22 20 Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.21 Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.22 But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. Jehovah God warns Israel not to provoke His angel for the angel will not pardon their transgression. This is exactly what Ananias and Sapphira did to the holy Spirit as they lied to him thereby provoking him and the result was the couple being struck down. This outcome is what Jehovah warned Moses about in Exodus about provoking His angel as the opposite is true that if Israel hearkened to the angel Jehovah would be with them. Let's continue In Acts chapter 5 to see even more of a connection with the holy Spirit and the angel of Jehovah God. Acts 5:4 "While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God." Trinitarians weakly use this passage to teach the holy Spirit must be God because Peter tells Ananias that he has lied to God. However, we know throughout scripture that angels and men are given authority to speak as Jehovah's representative so to lie to the messenger of Jehovah is the same as lying to Jehovah Himself. Acts 5:8-9 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.9 But Peter [said] unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of Jehovah? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. Now Peter addresses Ananias wife Sapphira and tells her that she has agreed with her husband to tempt the Spirit of Jehovah. This is obviously the holy Spirit that was mentioned in verse 3. Biblical Unitarians will say that this Spirit is simply Jehovah's power yet how could you simply lie to and tempt a power? Some biblical Unitarians will ascribe personality to the holy Spirit and will say that it is God's and Jehoshua's mind and presence. While that view is much closer to the truth it still falls short when we look at John 14 and 16 which clearly shows that the holy Spirit has to be a separate person from the Father and Son. The same principles mentioned above re Exodus 23:20-23 apply here as Sapphira and Ananias provoked the Spirit of Jehovah which Israel was warned not to do with the angel of Jehovah God. Let's now go to Acts 5:19-20 19 But an angel of Jehovah by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. This incident takes place shortly after the Ananias and Sapphira situation but it is still in close proximity and shows that there is a connection between the holy Spirit and angel of Jehovah. Here the angel of Jehovah does Holy Spirit functions and is with the church by delivering them from prison and then telling the apostles to go and preach the gospel at the temple. Here in Acts 5 we have the names "holy Spirit", "Spirit of Jehovah" and "angel of Jehovah" in one chapter of scripture closely intertwined. This mirrors exactly Isaiah 63:9-14 where we see the phrases "angel of His presence", "holy Spirit" and "Spirit of Jehovah" in one chapter in close proximity. If trinitarians can boldly claim, without one scriptural connection, that Jehoshua is the angel of Jehovah why can't we non trinitarians have that same boldness in proclaiming that the holy Spirit is the angel of Jehovah when we have numerous direct and indirect connections? ReplyForward Today, we have many versions of the gospel being preached and most of them are complicated. Lost in the confusion of the various gospels of Christendom is the simplicity of the gospel preached by the apostles. Let's look at the gospel preached by the apostles that turned the world upside down.
Acts 2:29-31 29 Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne; 31 he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. The first sermon in the new covenant should be a template for believers in how to preach the gospel and what the contents of it are. Above Peter speaks about the Davidic covenant and Jehoshua fulfilling it at His resurrection and ascension. The fulfillment of this covenant would take place when the fruit of David's loins would be raised up to sit on his throne. The Davidic Kingship is a central theme in the new covenant gospel. The rest of Peter's sermon is about the resurrection and Kingship of Jehoshua. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Messiah died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; The death and resurrection of the Son of God are essential to the gospel. The death shows the redemption provided at the cross and shedding of Jehoshua's blood and the resurrection signifies the Kingship of Jehoshua and His enthronment on the throne of David. 1 John 5:2-3 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. While modern Christendom tries to remove the 10 commandments from the gospel, John the beloved apostle says that the love of God is defined by His commandments. You cannot have the love of God, which is what the faith is all about, without His commandments. To have a gospel minus God's commandments, summed up in the decalogue, is to have no gospel at all. Acts 9:30 "And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jehoshua, that he is the Son of God." Having the right identity of Jehoshua is super important in preaching the right gospel message. After being baptized and filled with the holy Spirit, Paul preached that Jehoshua is the Son of God. There was no complicated Christology in the apostolic church. John 14:15 "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." We talked about God's commandments above which is the 10 of the royal law but we also have to remember that Jehoshua gave us commandments during His earthly ministry and these are also based and rooted in love. In fact, Jehoshua says that if we love Him we will keep His commandments indicating that if we don't keep His commandments then we don't love Him. Matthew 10:38 "And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me." Denial of self and picking up your daily cross has been largely left out of the preaching of much of the institutional church but it was the mark of a true disciple of the apostolic church. John 11:23-24 23 Jehoshua saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Many churches teach a painfully complicated end times scenario with various rapture timings & they also teach that upon death believers go to heaven. Both these false doctrines totally negate the apostolic truth that we get raised to eternal life at the last day. The resurrection at the last day was the hope the early church not going to heaven upon death or some rapture before the actual last day. Hebrews 10:9-10 9 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is the once and for all sacrifice and that we need not ever offer a animal sacrifice as the old covenant has been taken away. The teaching among many churches that we will go back to animal sacrifices during some future millennium is a false gospel. This false doctrine often leads to endorsing the animal sacrifices that Judaism wants to reinstitute in line with a third temple. In fact, one Hebrew roots teacher Zach Bauer actually sacrifices a lamb on passover. The recent animal sacrifices done in Geo-political Israel were actually cheerleader by many evangelicals, Hebrew roots and Messianic Jews. Again, the simplicity of the gospel is that Jesus Christ fulfilled the day of atonement and thereby ended the old covenant system of worship with its Levitical priesthood, animal sacrifices and physical temple. Jesus blood is the mercyseat for our sins in the new covenant nothing else. John 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." Throughout history many Christian groups have tried to establish Geo-political-religous kingdoms and even to this day many Americans get confused of what exactly is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. The true gospel teaches that Jesus Kingdom is not of this world and that is why those who are part of Jesus Kingdom don't fight in the arena of politics or military. The true gospel teaches that the Kingdom of the Son of God cannot be established here on earth as a Geo-political entity. The simplicity of the gospel is that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is a heavenly one that reigns in the hearts of it's people. The true gospel teaches that Christian's are looking for a heavenly country and are only sojourners here on earth: Hebrews 11:16 "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." The simplicity of the gospel is that those in the Kingdom will inherit New Jerusalem not earthly Jerusalem. The dispensational/Hebrew roots/Messianic Judaism teaching that earthly Jerusalem is the future destiny of the saints is a false gospel. Jesus words are above man's opinions: Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name" The 10 commandments The modern 501 C 3 church goes out of it's way to denigrate the keeping of the 10 commandments boldly stating that they are antithetical to the gospel yet the 10 commandments were repeatedly validated in the new testament: James 2:10-12 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Clearly James the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ eqautes the law of liberty with the 10 commandments. The evangelical will go along with 9 of the 10 commandments due to their disdain for the Sabbath but James says if you break one then you have broken them all. Regarding the Sabbath Jesus said this: Mark 2:27 "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" Here, Jesus clearly states that the Sabbath is for mankind (Adam). This destroys the notion that the Sabbath is just a Jewish thing. Trinity theories The modern Church is obsessed with the so called nature of Christ. This topic further complicates a simple gospel by delving into all kinds of philosophical and mystical speculations. The truth of who Jesus is found in 2 Timothy 2:8 "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel" According to the gospel Jesus Christ is of the seed of David. This simple truth of who Jesus is in nature has been perverted by so called "Orthodox" Christianity. ReplyForward |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |