IS JESUS “GOD?”

[The origin of the most famous Personality in the history of the Universe is still an enigma to the Church that bears His Name]

SIX UNSCRIPTURAL THEORIES ON CHRIST’S ORIGIN

[1]  Jesus is a myth;  a religious hoax;  an historical fraud….there never was a real Jesus.

[2]  Jesus was not a real person,  but He is real in that He is the spiritual principle of all that is or can be good about humanity and its potential for righteousness.  He is a spiritual principle rather than a literal person.

[3]  Jesus was a real historical figure, but just a man—there is nothing supernatural or divine about Him….

[4]  Jesus was indeed the Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit of His Father God in the womb of a human mother, but had no pre-existence of any kind before becoming human. Jesus was never God and never will be God.

[5]  Jesus did exist before His human birth and co-existed with God from eternity.  He had no “beginning,” but was the Beginner and Creator of all else.  All was created by God the Father, but it was accomplished through Jesus.  Jesus was the instrumentality behind His Father’s creation. Jesus therefore is the Eternal Second Person of the Godhead trinity.

[6]  Jesus existed as God before His human incarnation.  And not only was and is He Deity;  not only was and is He God;  but in reality, JESUS ALSO WAS AND IS THE FATHER.  Jesus is not a separate Individual from His God Father, but actually IS THE GOD FATHER changed into a human.  Jesus as God (#5 & #6) are the reason why Christian theologians say that Jesus did not die on the cross, but only His body died, seeing that Jesus was and is God Himself, and therefore could not have ever DIED.

QUESTION:  Are there any Scriptures to suggest any of these explanations of Who or What Jesus is and was?  Yes.  Several Scriptures can be used to suggest that Jesus was the Creator of all, and that He is indeed called God, but can either #5 or #6 then possibly be true?  NO.  Why not?  Because in spite of the fact that there are some elements of truth to #5 and #6, there are also Scriptures that DIS-prove other aspects of both theories.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR:

 I Don't Know How To Love Him
MARY MAGDALENE--                                           

I don't know how to love him.
What to do, how to move him…..
….I don't see why he moves me.
HE’S A MAN.  HE’S JUST A MAN
And I've had so many men before,
In very many ways,
He's just one more.
Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love,
Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this.
What's it all about?

Anthony Buzzard:  Jesus is a man, HE’S JUST A MAN!!

The Saviour of the World is not “God,” No, the Saviour of the world is JUST A MAN!  A great man;  the Son of man;  the Son of God, but nonetheless, JUST A MAN!  Born of the human woman just like every other man.

So maybe we “don’t know how to love Him?”  After all, He’s just a man.  Is He just one more?  Should we bring Him down.  Let our feelings out?  Or should we Worship Him?  Does the Bible really condone the worship of a “man?”

If one thinks that it is a sin to think of Jesus as “divine,” consider this:

Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, [“…as a common thing” Williams;  “as ordinary blood” Lamas; “as though it were common and unhallowed” Taylor] and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

unholy thing:  from the Greek word “koinos, 

Strong’s #2839,  common, that is (literally) shared by all or several.”

Greek-English Keyword Concordance:  “common, belonging to all equally, by implication, NOT SACRED, contaminating (“to make common”).

Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Biblea;  “common, ordinary, belonging to the generality, as distinct from what is peculiar…unholy, unfit, unclean.

This is precisely what Jesus Christ Superstar has done with Jesus! 

Acquaintance:  “His [Jesus’] blood was no better than MINE!” And one of his disciples told Bob Carisle:  “Jesus was no better than I am—why His very fingernails were SIN.”

Now Buzzard does state:  “He is of course not ‘just a man,’ but the unique virginally begotten, sinless Son of God, the only member of the human race to achieved his destiny as an immortal man now sitting next to God in heaven”

He also says:  “There is no preexisting Son of God as distinct from Jesus who did not preexist.” (p. 142).

And this:  “Jesus, not God, IS the ‘alpha and omega’ who died (Rev. :17).  God cannot die (I Tim. 6:16).  But Jesus “EMPTIED Himself” of His prior glories, so that HE COULD DIE. (Phil. 2:6-7 & Heb. 2:9)

What sense is there is saying that “God can’t die,” but then state that a mere moral human CAN BE SINLESS?    

So Mr. Buzzard freely admits that it is JESUS, and not God, Who is called “the alpha and omega.”  What then are the ramifications of that admission?

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Strong’s #3841, “pantokrator—the all ruling, that is, GOD (as absolute and universal sovereign.  ALMIGHTY, OMNIPOTENT.

Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  48 times Shaddy is used of GOD, and not a man.

Say, did you notice that “the ALMIGHTY GOD” “appeared to Abraham,” “and said unto him [Abraham]…”?

Gen 3:8  “And they heard the voice of the LORD God….”

Deu 5:24  And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he lives.

Now then, consider this: 

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18) “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape” (John 5:37).

“No man has seen God at any time”  (I John 4:12).

Joh 6:46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.  And just when did Jesus “see the Father?”

Many times “men” heard the voice of God ALMIGHTY, but never Jesus’ Father!

Who is the:  “was, and is, and is to come?”

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Is this also JESUSD?  Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The “is, was, and is to come” is JESUS (Rev. 1:8), and Jesus is “the ALMIGHTY” (Rev. 1:8), which is also “The LORD GOD Almighty” (Rev. 4:8).  The only One whose voice was ever heard (John 5:37).

And so the Word of God goes on and on and ON AND ON……………

Notice also in John 1:18 that Jesus said He has “declared” His Father.

What do you mean?  I thought the Old Testament “declared” the Father hundreds and hundreds of times?  The apostles knew nothing of God the Father of Jesus.

Where the apostles aware of this fact of the Father in the Old Testament?

“…believe in GOD (John 14:1) …In My Father’s….(Ver. 2)…no man comes unto the Father, but by ME (Ver. 6)…Philip said unto Him, Lord SHOW US THE FATHER (Ver. 8)…he that has seen ME has seen THE FATHER (Ver. 9).

If Jesus was just another man of the human race with absolutely not divine about Him, why couldn’t any man be the Messiah or the Saviour of the world?  Okay, why not any JEWISH boy then?  And why would he have to be conceived by the Holy Spirit of God?  Did that make Jesus “special?”  But I thought He is not special in and by Himself?

Why couldn’t God have used YOU to be the Messiah/Saviour of the world?  And why not a WOMAN?  Not “special” enough for you?  If there was ANYTHING divinely “special” about Jesus and His birth into the human family, then He was anything but “JUST a man.”

I’ve been accused of blasphemy for stating that I believe Jesus is entitled to the title “God.”  I believe that Jesus IS the Creator Whom God the Father used to create the heavens and the earth.  I believe that Jesus (as Jehovah) EMPTIED HIMSELF of His power, honor, and glory to be MADE a little while LOWER than the angels so that He could indeed DIE for the sins of His Own creatures, His Own creation. Well I believe it is blasphemy to “bring Him DOWN” as the rock opera suggests to the level of “JUST A MAN,” when in reality, He was the DIVINE CREATED SON OF GOD HIS FATHER.

Jesus EMPTIED Himself of His prior divinity and took upon Him the form of a man and the form of sinful flesh.

Phi 2:6-7-- Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity,

(ASV)  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

(Rotherham) But, himself, emptied, taking, a servant’s form, coming to be, in men’s likeness;

(YLT)  but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,

Emphatic Diaglott:  “But divested [to strip, as of clothing; to deprive, as of rights; to free of;  to rid of;  to devest—deprive of a TITLE, or right]  Himself, taking a Bondman’s Form, having been MADE in the likeness of Men.”

If Jesus were “just a man” why did He need to be conceived by the Holy Spirit of God at all?  Why couldn’t He be JUST a normal Jewish boy born to a normal Jewish mother AND FATHER?  Why?  Why did He need to be more than “JUST a man?”  Why did He need to be a SPECIAL DIVINE MAN?

Buzzard wipes away the Scriptural truths concerning what Jesus is, and what God is…..with FOOTNOTES:

[1] That Jesus was God’s “creative original” is wiped out…. . with a FOOTNOTE (p 191, Dictionary of Apostolic Church).

[2] That Jesus “emptied Himself” from a previous life is wiped out with a FOOTNOTE (p. 187).

If Jesus was just another little Jewish boy, and there was nothing “divine” about Him, why was He not just born naturally like every other little Jewish boy?  Or why not supernaturally by using the Virgin Mary?  Why did He need to be “conceived” [impregnated]—given the first ingredient of LIFE, by the Holy Spirit of God?  WHY?  After all, “He’s just a man.’  Would just an ordinary, natural born Jewish Boy somehow not be qualified to be the flawless, perfect, sinless, Saviour of the World?  Why not?

Does Jesus have to be 100% human OR 100% God—one of the other?

Or was he 100% human AND 100% God—both at the same time?

No, Jesus was not 100% human, nor 100% God.  Jesus was totally unique. He was a divine being in the Family of God Who emptied Himself (Phil. 2:7) of His powerful Godly honors and dignities and title.  Yet He retained some glory and honor (Heb. 2:9), when He was MADE (for a little while) lower than the angels for the suffering of death, but He was not 100% God in that He had to ask His Father once more to glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee BEFORE the world was  (John 17:5).  Also,  “all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Mt 28:18).

made Himself….

Emptied Himself…. 

took upon Him.…

was made….

If Jesus never existed before He was fully born into humanity through Mary, how pray tell, could He have “…made Himself….emptied Himself….took upon Him….and was made….” (Phil. 2:7)?

If Jesus had no prior existence, how could He have been “…made a little while lower than the angels….” (Heb. 2:9)?

If Jesus had no prior existence, how could He possibly ask His Father to give back to Him “…the glory which I HAD WITH THEE BEFORE the world was….” (John 17:5)?

If Jesus had no prior existence, how could He possibly say, “…I came down from heaven….”  if He never was ever in heaven before His human birth? (John 6:38)?

If Jesus had no prior existence, how could He state: “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend UP where He was BEFORE”  (John 6:62)?

If Jesus was never in heaven before His human birth how could He dogmatically state:

“I am the living bread which came DOWN FROM HEAVEN….” (John 6:51)?

(At the time Jesus made this statement, when would He have “came down from heaven?”

If Jesus did not have  prior existence, how could He state in John 3:13:  (Rotherham) “And, no one, hath ascended into heaven, save he that, out of heaven, descended,—The Son of Man.”  (Emphatic Diaglott)—And no one has ascended into heaven, except the Son of man Who descended FROM HEAVEN.” 

COMMENT:  The spiritual “sperm” did not descend from heaven, but rather, “The SON OF MAN descended from heaven.”  Do you believe these Scriptures or do you despise these Scriptures?

Joh 3:31-32,  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.  And what He hath seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. Note:  seen and heard from where and from Whom?  From God His Father in Heaven.

 “GOD IS SPIRIT”  (John 4:24).

“I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE”—One WHAT?  One GOD or One SPIRIT?

Excuse me!!  “GOD IS SPIRIT”  (John 4:24)!!

How many “Gods” are there?  ONE

How many Gods does Jesus AND His Father make?  ONE

When God is “ALL in All” how many Gods will there be?  ONE

Jesus came from HEAVEN (John 6:35, 51, 57, 62, and He is “coming AGAIN from heaven” John 14:3.

How does John 14:3 conclusively prove that Jesus WAS IN HEAVEN some time before He was crucified, resurrected, and went to heaven?  If I say I am going to Moscow and will then RETURN in two weeks, does that prove that I was in Moscow at least one other time?  NO.  Neither did Jesus on this occasion say that He would “go and prepare a place for the disciples and RETURN,” did He?  No He didn’t.  Here is what He said:

Joh 14:3  And²⁵³² if¹⁴³⁷ I go⁴¹⁹⁸ and²⁵³² prepare²⁰⁹⁰ a place⁵¹¹⁷ for you,⁵²¹³ I will come²⁰⁶⁴ again,³⁸²⁵  [Greek: ‘palin, through the idea of oscillatory repetition; (adverbially) anew, that is, (of place) back, (of time) once more,  again]

 and²⁵³² receive³⁸⁸⁰ you⁵²⁰⁹ unto⁴³¹⁴ myself;¹⁶⁸³ that²⁴⁴³ where³⁶⁹⁹ I¹⁴⁷³ am,¹⁵¹⁰ there ye⁵²¹⁰ may be⁵⁶⁰⁰ also.²⁵³²

It is possible to go to heaven and to “return from heaven” for the first time. But it is NOT possible to COME AGAIN from heaven for the first time,  if one had never been there before!!  See Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:35;  (KJV)  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again [palin—return back once more], I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Joh 4:3 & 54  This is again [palin] the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

The Greek word “palin” always, always means a second or more times; to do something once more or again—no exceptions. 147 times out of 147 times, palin is translated “AGAIN”—what was or happened before is again or happening again.

“…I AM”  in John 8:58 & John 18:5-6  VS  “..I AM”  in 

Joh 8:58  Jesus²⁴²⁴ said²⁰³⁶ unto them,⁸⁴⁶ Verily,²⁸¹ verily,²⁸¹ I say³⁰⁰⁴ unto you,⁵²¹³ Before⁴²⁵⁰ Abraham¹¹ was,¹⁰⁹⁶ I¹⁴⁷³ am.¹⁵¹⁰

Joh 18:6  As soon then as^{5613, 3767} he had said²⁰³⁶ unto them,⁸⁴⁶ I¹⁴⁷³ am¹⁵¹⁰ he, [‘he’ is not in the Greek] they went⁵⁶⁵ backward,^{1519, 3694} and²⁵³² fell⁴⁰⁹⁸ to the ground.⁵⁴⁷⁶

Why in the world would they “fall to the ground” if all Jesus said was, “yes, I’m Jesus?”

Exo 3:14  And God⁴³⁰ said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ Moses,⁴⁸⁷² I AM¹⁹⁶¹ THAT^{834 [Who, What, (that Which, When]} I AM:¹⁹⁶¹ and he said,⁵⁵⁹ Thus³⁵⁴¹ shalt thou say⁵⁵⁹ unto the children¹¹²¹ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ I AM¹⁹⁶¹ hath sent⁷⁹⁷¹ me unto⁴¹³ you.

“I AM” in Ex. 3:14 is from the Heb. # 1961, hayah and means:  “to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic”  the very same as the Greek G1510 eimi, i-me'   I exist (used only when emphatic): - am, have been, X it is I, was.

“And God SAID unto Moses….”  I though Jesus told us that “NO MAN has ever seen God or heard His voice” (John 1:18 & 5:37)?

Who ya gonna believe—the heresy of men or the Word of God?

Go to Buzzard’s Book:  Jesus was not a Trinitarian……….

DO YOU DESPISE THE WORD OF GOD?

Lev 26:15  And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: Lev 26:16  I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague [alternating chills, fever and sweating], that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Job 5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:   Pro 3:11  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:  Pro 23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. 

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, my son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Isa 30:12  Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because YOU DESPISE THIS WORD,  and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon…..”  Their destruction will come like a falling tower………

Surely no believer would ever admit to despising God’s Word.  What about you?

Do you find satisfaction in believing in contradictions of Scriptures?

“The Bible says thus and such….  Yes, but over here is a verse that says such and thus, and therefore contradicts yours verse, so that I am right and you are wrong!”

Once read a Scripture to a friend of mine who then replied:  “Well, that’s YOUR interpretation.”  Let’s look at some of the most despised Scriptures in God’s Word:

Ecc. 9:5—“The living know that they shall die, but the dead know not ANYTHING!”  Do orthodox Christians believe this Scripture?  Surely not. Why?  Because they think other Scriptures contradict this Scripture.  They particularly like the parable of Lazarus & Rich Man. Where else is a Scripture which if taken literally shows a sinner in hell, immediately after death, in torment, whereas a poor beggar is supposedly in heaven? 

To make this story a literal historical account, they insist that it is not a parable.  On what grounds & proof?   No grounds or proof?   Why do they want this story to not be a parable?  Because they have no real love for most of humanity and want them to go to hell and suffer for all eternity.  I can tell you with complete assurance that many feel this way, because many have consigned ME to this hell that they absolutely delight in. Is Lazarus a parable or a real historical event?

COMMENT:   Never forget, if a premise is true, then all truthful and scientific research will back up the fact that your premise is indeed TRUE.  But if your premise is false, then all truthful and scientific research will back up the fact that your premise is indeed FALSE!

Add one more Scriptural fact to my Lazarus and Rich man paper: Is Lazarus a parable?  You don’t have to just make an arbitrary choice between different arguments on doctrine, and then somehow just hope you made the right choice.

I am now going to show you just one more absolute Scriptural proof that Lazarus and the Rich Man is a classic parable and is called a parable in this section of Scripture.

John 15:3-4—“And He spoke THIS parable unto them, saying.

PARABLE of the Lost Sheep:     “WHAT MAN of you….?”  Is this a parable?  Yes, it just said Jesus “spoke THIS PARABLE unto them.”  Well then, what about the next heading which in my King James says:  Parable of the lost coin?

It doesn’t say in the text that it is a parable, so how do we know that it is?  By the wording that introduces it….

PARABLE of the Lost Coin:     Verse 8—“EITHER [Greek:  ay  ‘A primary particle of distinction BETWEEN TWO CONNECTED TERMS disjunctive, or; comparative….’]  “WHAT WOMAN….?”   See:  Matt. 6:24/Matt. 12:33--masters

PARABLE of the Lost Son:    Verse 11—“AND He said, [Greek: deh A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now]  A CERTAIN MAN….”

PARABLE of the Unjust Servant:  John 16:1—“AND [Greek: deh  -- see above] He said ALSO [“and” in addition to;  “also” included in the above parable examples] [Greek: kahee, a primary particle, having a copulative {to connect coordinate words or clauses}  and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too,  both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, or,  so,  that,  then,  therefore, when, yea, yet] unto His disciples, THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN…”

PARABLE of the Rich Man and Lazarus  Verse 19—“THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN….”  Verse 20—“And there was A CERTAIN BEGGAR….”

So orthodox Christians, Pastors & Priests, Theologians, and College

Professors, cannot and will not concede that:

“AND He said ALSO….there was A CERTAIN RICH MAN…

And:  “There was A CERTAIN RICH MAN….” have anything in common!

The first CERTAIN RICH MAN IS a parable, but the

Second  CERTAIN RICH MAN IS NOT a parable!  Can you not see the difference?

NO, NO I CAN’T because there IS NO DIFFERENCE—they are both parables.

THEY DESPISE THE WORD OF GOD!! 

Note: THIS PARABLE….WHAT MAN OF YOU…EITHER WHAT WOMAN…AND He said, A CERTAIN MAN…AND He said ALSO, THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN…THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN…and there was a certain beggar.”

Is it Scripturally even possible that Luke 16:19 is not a parable?

Matt. 13:34;  John 10:6;  Mark 4:33-34—Not unless Jesus lied!

So now where do they go to find a Scripture that shows good people go to heaven at death and bad people go to hell at death to suffer for all eternity and are not even given a trial? Where?  Nowhere!  So Lazarus must NOT be a parable to support their damnable heresy. And what about all those hundreds of Scriptures that show God will save humanity and not eternally condemn it?  They throw them out, because they despise the word of God!

WHAT DOES “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH” MEANS:

From the Internet site:  The Phrase Finder—“The wages of sin is death” --“Meaning, sinners will be cast into everlasting torment.”

Oh really?  Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  But if you are a trained theologian, you read this verse as follows:

“For the wages of sin is ETERNAL LIFE; but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE….”   It’s just that they say one eternal life is in hell and the other in heaven.

**Prepare for a major Scriptural revelation:  Death and Life are not synonyms.  Death is the absence of Life.  And nowhere in Scripture is “death” called a “separation” from God.

HOW WE MUST WORSHIP GOD

I asked in our Conference Announcement whether anyone would believe me if I told them that my wife’s little Shih Tzu worshipped me this morning?

Hebrew:  shâchâh

A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

Greek:  proskuneō

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

In churches across this land and around the world, countless millions of Christians will be singing, waving their hands and arms, speaking in mumbo jumbo, and often falling over backwards in fits of uncontrollable jerking and general madness.  They call these gathers:  WORSHIP SERVICES

Tis true, such carrying ons does constitute a form of worship, but is this what God wants from us?  In the Valley of Hinnom, they sacrificed babies to worship their god Moloch. 

When one bows down to a monarch, he is acknowledging that this royalty is his Lord and Master, and is willing to obey in any and all things commanded of him.

When one bows down and kisses the ring and hand of the pope for instance, that is WORSHIP.  The first time “worship” is used in Scripture, it is with Abraham, and he is willing as part of that worship to sacrifice his own son! (Gen.22:2 & 5).

Generally, people worship in a way that makes THEM (not God) feel good.  Worship service is a feel good service.  This is one reason why some of the really big Mega Churches now hold worship services which mimic rock concerts.

They literally entertain themselves with their own worship.

Worship today consists of many centuries of church tradition:

ANGELS ARE WOMEN

No they aren’t.   On an average of once a week I receive an “angel email.”  Cut little (sometimes seductively clad teenage bleach blonds) with some cleavage showing.  Does this obsession with “women angels” have anything to do with reality or the Scriptures?   Judges 13:6--A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

Gen. 16:7-8—“HE” said unto her….Gen. 31:11-12—“ and HE said….”  Luke 1:19—“Gabriel” is a man’s name.

THERE WERE THREE “WISE MEN”

The Bible says no such thing.  Matt. 2:1, 7, 16…..[some traditions say 30]

The wise men came to the manger and presented their gifts.  No, they came to Jesus’ HOUSE and saw the “young CHILD”—Two years old

JESUS HAD LONG FEMININE HAIR.. Some errors are more trivial.  No Jesus didn’t have long feminine hair (I Cor. 11:14). Jesus was strikingly beautiful.  No He wasn’t  (Isa. 53:2—no comeliness/beauty)

Some errors are very important:

THE FIRST RECORDED SIN of mankind was when Eve at the forbidden fruit.  No, she sinned BEFORE she ate the fruit, by LUSTING for it. (I John 2:15-16)

One of the very most important:

GOD GAVE HUMANITY FREE WILL.  No He didn’t . 

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.

Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Phi 2:13  For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

There are many more, but here’s one you probably never would have found:

SAYING “GRACE”

Where did “saying grace” at meals come from?  The Bible?  Where?

Some say that I Tim. 4:3 is the origin of saying grace over food.  Others say: Deu 12:7  And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

FIRST BIBLICAL DINNER in Genesis 18:1-8….No thanks or blessing! 

ENTERTAINING ANGELS:  Gen. 19:1-3….No thanks or blessing! 

THE FIRST PASSOVER (Ex. 12:8-11)….No thanks or blessing given! 

DISCIPLES EATING GRAIN IN THE FIELDS (Matt.12:1)?  No blessing/ no thanks.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE:

Mat 14:16  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

Mat 14:17  And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Mat 14:18  He said, Bring them hither to me.

Mat 14:19  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took

the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Mat 14:20  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Jesus acknowledged God Who MULTIPLIED the loaves and fishes, but He was not giving a customary grace blessing before a meal.  This was an unusual miracle.

The Pharisees had a problem with Christ’s disciples not washing before meals, but said nothing regarding not saying grace over the food (Matt.15:2).

DID JESUS INITIATE SAYING GRACE AT THE LAST SUPPER: 

Matt. 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.

Well, there it is, right?  Let’s read it carefully and pay attention to all the words:

“And as they were EATING….”  There was no apparent blessing of the food BEFORE the meal began.  And notice Luke 22:20—the wine was blessed AFTER supper.

DID JESUS BLESS THE FOOD AFTER HIS RESURRECTION:  ?

 Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Luk 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Luk 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

Luk 24:43  And He took it, and did eat before them.  What happened to the blessing and grace?

Now don’t run out of here shouting “Ray says it’s wrong to give thanks at meals.”

I didn’t say that.  I am merely showing you how that the most commonly accepted

practices of worship in the Church are not even Scriptural.

Later in this Conference we will take a very close look at another doctrinal error

which effects our ability to know how to properly worship God.  Are we or are we not to WORSHIP JESUS?  After all, He was just a “man” wasn’t He?  Or was He

the ETERNAL God of the Old Testament?  HE WAS NEITHER “just a man” or

the “eternal God.”

HERE IS WHAT WE MUST BY ALL MEANS AVOID:

Mark 7:7, "And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth." Exodus 20:4-5, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." 1 John 5:21 we read, "My little children, guard yourselves from idols." 

They literally “worshiped idols in those days.  Act 7:41  And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

But in “these days” we are a little more clever and sophisticated:

Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."

“cheat you”

“philosophy & empty deceit”

“tradition of men”

“principles of the world”

And this:  2 Timothy 4:2-4, "Preach the word.  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap to them teachers; and they will turn their ears from hearing the truth." 

WE MUST HAVE THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE:

Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Matthew 15:8, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." 

WE MUST HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE:

James 4:6, 10 tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up". 

WE ARE ADMONISHED TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER:

Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Hebrews 10:25-27 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another….” 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Hopefully, this IS what we are all doing here this weekend!  We are assembling;  we are here to learn God’s knowledge:  we are humbling ourselves together;  we are determined to walk in the light;  learn God’s Truth;  fellowship with one another;  and be cleansed from all sin!

What about all the days in the year that we cannot assemble and fellowship together and learn God’s Word like we do at these Conferences?  Just follow instructions: 

Joh 4:21  Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

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

There’s the answer as to how, when, and where we are to WORSHIP GOD.

Mat 6:4  That your alms may be in secret: and thy Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:18  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which sees in secret, shall reward thee openly.

SOME HAVE COME TO CONFERENCE AT GREAT SACRIFICE

Luke 14:16-20, 24 which applies quite well to our attending worship services of God.  "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, come for all things are now ready.  But they all with one accord began to make excuses.  The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it.  I ask you to  have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them.  I ask you to have me excused.  Still another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." 

     But notice the conclusion in verse 24, "For I say unto you that none of those men who were invited shall taste My supper." 

REAL TRUE AND SPIRITUAL WORSHIP IS OBEDIENCE!

Matthew 4:10, "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve." 

Luke 6:46, "But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service."  THAT’S WORSHIP!

Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind."  THAT’S WORSHIP!

John 14:21, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me."  THAT’S WORSHIP!

In Matthew 28:18, before Christ ascended into heaven, He was giving His apostles some last minute instructions concerning those they would baptize.  Jesus said, "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you."  THAT’S WORSHIP!

WE MUST FORGIVE EVERYONE OR OUR WORSHIP IS IN VAIN:

Jesus says in Mark 11:25-26, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."  

Mat 6:12-15  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  [Note the colon {:}-- “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”  is not in original Greek]. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

James 4:8 tells us to, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Colossians 3:2  "Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth."

1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

1 Peter 1:15-16 we read, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, Be holy for I am holy." 

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Jer 7:23  But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.   Jer 12:17  But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

Dan 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.

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Tit 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. [I am

‘noting just such a man’ by sharing this heretic’s hate mail]

Col 3:22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

Col 3:20  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13--"What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commands of the Lord and His statues." 

(KJV)  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

(CLV) The terminus of the whole matter has been heard:  Fear the One, Elohim, and keep His instructions, For this is the whole duty of humanity."

“Fear God; keep His commandments and instructions;  for this is the whole duty of humanity”

But listen, God’s Elect:  To do these things we must read God’s Word.  How much do you read and study the Scriptures?  We must pay attention to ALL THE WORDS!  And then do ALL THAT IT SAYS!  Don’t “despise God’s Word.”

Let’s not be guilty of “READING WITHOUT HEEDING”!! 

3 PRINCIPLES FOR UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WORD

1. WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY?
2. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THE WORDS!
3. BELIEVE WHAT IT SAYS!

Next to Lazarus, their favorite proof text for this unscriptural nonsense is Mat 25:41  “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” And Mat 25:46  “And these [the ‘cursed’] shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Everlasting fire:  aionios—eonian, age-lasting [the adjective of the noun aion]

*James Patrick Holding (aka Robert Turkel) agues on his Tetonic site that I am wrong on this and gives two examples to prove it:  The noun super vs. it’s adjective superior, and the noun time vs. its adjective, timeless, price and priceless, etc., ………..Nonsense!

Everlasting punishment:   aionios—“chastening eonian” (CLNT);  “age-abiding correction” (Rotherham);  “aionian cutting-off” (‘the lopping off branches of trees, to prune’—Diaglott).  Pruning trees does not punish them, but aids growth.

Life eternal:  “age-abiding life” (Roth);  eonian life (Diaglott); “life eonian” (Conc)

Rom 2:7  To them who⁽³³⁰³⁾ by²⁵⁹⁶ patient continuance⁵²⁸¹ in well¹⁸ doing²⁰⁴¹ seek for²²¹² glory¹³⁹¹ and²⁵³² honor⁵⁰⁹² and²⁵³² immortality, [Gk: aphtharsia—incorruptibility, unending existence, immortality]⁸⁶¹  eternal [age-abiding, eonian]¹⁶⁶ life:²²²²

Do we believe this verse says:  “…unending life, unending life?”  or:  “immortal life, immortal life?”  or:  “eternal life, eternal life.”  No, they are DIFFERENT, and they do not mean the same thing. Okay, let’s apply the 3 PRINCIPES:

What this Scripture really SAYS: 

(CLV) And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian."

(Rotherham) And, these, shall go away, into, age-abiding, correction, but, the righteous, into, age-abiding, life.

The Craig Nolan debacle:  A few years back, Craig Nolan challenged me regarding the Scriptural fact and truth that Believers in Christ really do DIE at the end of their mortal life.  FIVE WEEKS I debated this guy.  And there were those on our Forum who sided with Craig and said that they really believed that I had met my match in this debate and that Craig had the evidence on his side, and that I was wrong, but just wouldn’t admit it.  Ever try to corner a snake in a briar patch?  After five weeks of my cornering him at every turn, he finally admitted that HE WAS WRONG, and that Yes, of course, we really do die, else there would be no need of the Scriptural resurrection and a dozen other major Scriptural truths.

Now I never claimed to be perfect or to have perfect interpretation or perfect understanding, but when I present Scriptural evidence for something, it behooves you to either accept it, prove me wrong, or just keep quiet until God opens you mind and understanding in a matter.

A few years back I was challenged big time over whether God pours out His Wrath upon Believers all the days of their life.  Dozens parted company with Bible Truths over this matter, yet I conclusively proved from Scripture upon Scripture upon Scripture that God is not ANGRY with His called and chosen Elect.  Neither was God angry and dissatisfied with His Son, Jesus Christ.  I wrote a very long letter and the proof is in their.  It is so easy to follow in the Scriptures, that a child can understand it.  But few indeed have come to see this truth and return to our fellowship.

Hello Ray,                      
You don't know me, but I've been around since the beginning.  I felt that I should mail you and thank you for all you do. [how sweet] God is using you in my life [well that’s wonderful], and hope that your healing will come soon [how loving and gracious of you]. God is using your false teachings to sharpen me for His use. [oops!!]

As you 'know' the beast can call down fire from heaven in the sight of men, and deceive those, but the very elect. Your evil is being used for great use in my life, and I earnestly pray God heal you spiritually first(as Mike reminded me is the most important), then physically.

Your not as foolish as those in orthodoxy, and you have obviously been given 'brains', and the ability to teach with authority. You have so much so give, but your throwing it all away for your own ego. I know what it's like to do that, so I can easily forgive you. I am enduring the wrath of God myself, just as you are.

I beg you to turn from your false teaching, and really understand what this means...

What do you think your cancer is; not the wrath of God? Jesus never sinned, yet endured the wrath of God. Are you above 'your' master? I beg you to turn, and accept that the wrath of God abides on all unGodlyness including your own.

COMMENT:  “wrath” --  Heb:  ire;  anger, angry, wrath.  Gk: orgē violent passion  (ire  [intense openly displayed anger] or abhorrence [being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism;  to shudder horror to regard with extreme repugnance {great dislike; arousing disgust or aversion; repulsive, repugnant behavior, to fight against};  loathe {to greatly abhor});  anger, indignation [anger caused by something UNJUST, MEAN, or UNWORTHY], vengeance, wrath.

And this he tells us is how God felt toward His Son Jesus Christ!!  UNBELIEVABLE!

Talk about despising the Word of God!  They more than despise, they BLASPHEME!

Your teachings are ALL outward physical [oh really?  Is that why you are so spiritually blind as to think the “coming of evening and coming of morning” represents the outward physical meaning of a 24HOUR “day?”], they are the milk of the Word [their outward physical interpretations are not “milk” or “OF the Word” at all], and you know what that means. You know what your doing, and just because those of YOUR flock don't know any better and you 'wow' them with your 'knowledge' of how foolish orthodoxy is they think therefore that your 'God's prophet', like you accuse HW Armstrong of doing. As your 'science lesson' of a conference shows...btw...

Here is the def. of what a day is....
Gen 1:5 And calling is the Elohim the light "day, and the darkness He calls "night." And coming is it to be evening and coming to be morning, day one.
A 'DAY' is the coming of the evening and the coming of the morning, not just is the light=day, but its both the 'coming of the evening and morning', that makes a 'day'. Lets hope God gives you the ability to see it.

You'll never attempt the book of Rev. or any other spiritual teaching, because you have no clue as to whats being talked about. Your flock may not know this, but I do

If you can just judge yourself and admit that you were wrong(as we all were), maybe God will heal you spiritually first, then your body. I imagine how God could use you, if you would only repent(I pray this for my own life as well).
You've truned so far against the word of God that your now begging money(anathama)...

Okay, let’s look this unscriptural nonsense:  “A 'DAY' is the coming of the evening and the coming of the morning, not just is the light=day, but its both the 'coming of the evening and morning', that makes a 'day'. Lets hope God gives you the ability to see it.”

COMMENT:   Never forget, if a premise is true, then all truthful and scientific research will back up the fact that your premise is indeed TRUE.  But if your premise is false, then all truthful and scientific research will back up the fact that your premise is indeed FALSE!

We’re not arguing whether the coming of evening and coming of morning was called “day one” in Genesis One. And just like the parable problem, where do the young earth creationists go to prove that the Biblical definition of a “day” is a 24-hour period of NIGHT AND DAY, if the Scriptures do not allow them to change  “day one” into 24 hrs, or to change “evening and morning” into night & day?”  Genesis one says neither!

Interestingly, there is absolutely no Scriptural reason whatsoever why “day one,” “second day,” “third day,” etc., could not be called “time one”  “second time,” etc.  (See:  Deu 10:10  “And I⁵⁹⁵ stayed⁵⁹⁷⁵ in the mount,²⁰²² according to the first⁷²²³ time [day--yome].,³¹¹⁷ forty⁷⁰⁵ days [yome] ³¹¹⁷ and forty⁷⁰⁵ nights;³⁹¹⁵ and the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ hearkened⁸⁰⁸⁵ unto⁴¹³ me at that¹⁹³¹ time⁶⁴⁷¹ also,¹⁵⁷¹ and the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ would¹⁴ not³⁸⁰⁸ destroy⁷⁸⁴³ thee.”  Scripturally, here “forty days and forty nights” is reckoned as “the first time” [Heb: ‘yome/day’].

Also:  Deu 20:19  When³⁵⁸⁸ thou shalt besiege^{6696, 413} a city⁵⁸⁹² a long⁷²²⁷ time [day—yome], ….”³¹¹⁷  

And:  Jos 11:18  Joshua³⁰⁹¹ made⁶²¹³ war⁴⁴²¹ a long⁷²²⁷ time [yome—day]³¹¹⁷ with⁸⁵⁴ all³⁶⁰⁵ those⁴²⁸ kings.⁴⁴²⁸

Jdg 15:1  But it came to pass¹⁹⁶¹ within a while^{4480, 3117} after, in the time [yome—day]³¹¹⁷ of wheat²⁴⁰⁶ harvest,⁷¹⁰⁵

1Sa 7:2  And it came to pass,¹⁹⁶¹ while^{4480, 3117} the ark⁷²⁷ abode³⁴²⁷ in Kirjath-jearim,⁷¹⁵⁷ that the time [yome—day] ³¹¹⁷ was long;⁷²³⁵ for it was¹⁹⁶¹ twenty⁶²⁴² years:⁸¹⁴¹

Comment:  A TWENTY-YEAR day?

1Sa 27:7  And the time [yome—day]³¹¹⁷ that⁸³⁴ David¹⁷³² dwelt³⁴²⁷ in the country⁷⁷⁰⁴ of the Philistines⁶⁴³⁰ was¹⁹⁶¹ a full⁴⁵⁵⁷ year³¹¹⁷ and four⁷⁰² months.²³²⁰

Comment:  A one year and four month DAY!

1Ki 11:42  And the time [yome—day]³¹¹⁷ that⁸³⁴ Solomon⁸⁰¹⁰ reigned⁴⁴²⁷ in Jerusalem³³⁸⁹ over⁵⁹²¹ all³⁶⁰⁵ Israel³⁴⁷⁸ was forty⁷⁰⁵ years.⁸¹⁴¹

Comment;  A FORTY-YEAR day!

2Ki 10:36  And the time [yome—day]³¹¹⁷ that⁸³⁴ Jehu³⁰⁵⁸ reigned⁴⁴²⁷ over⁵⁹²¹ Israel³⁴⁷⁸ in Samaria⁸¹¹¹ was twenty⁶²⁴² and eight⁸⁰⁸³ years.⁸¹⁴¹

This “day” lasted TWENTY EIGHT YEARS!!

How many more dozens of examples do you want?

CONCLUSION:  a “YOME” A “DAY”  is often used in Scripture to represent a period of time, often consisting of a very LONG “day” or many YEARS!!

 Their contention is this: [1]  That this is the DEFINITION of the word “day,”[IT IS NOT] and [2] that it was a 24-hour day [IT IS NOT].  Both premises are false and unscriptural.

Joe 2:11  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day  [24 hours?] of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

“The DAY of the Lord” is called a day, but is what constitutes this day--Joe 2:2  “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness…”  The definition of “a day?”  No, of course not.

Things that are “called” by a name, more times than not, are NOT THE DEFINITION of the word being used.  The doctor put a SPLINT on the boy’s broken leg.  Is therefore, the definition of a “leg” something on which you put a splint?

American Standard Dictionary:  leg:  1. A limb or an appendage of an animal, used for locomotion or support.  2.  One of the lower or hind limbs in humans and primates.  3.  The part of the limb between the knee and foot in vertebrates.  4.  The back part of the hindquarter of a meat animal., etc., etc., SIXTEEN

Definitions, and not one: a leg is something on which you put a “SPLINT.”

2Pe 3:8   “… one day  [24 hours?]is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day."

Is “a thousand years” the definition of the word “day?”  No, it is one of the ways in which the word “day” is used.

Gen 2:4  These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [24 hours?] that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Is the period of time God used to “make the earth and the heavens,” the DEFINITION of the word “day?”  These are uses of “day” not definitions!

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it:  for in the day [24 hours?] that thou eat thereof thou shall surely die.

Is the period of time it took for Adam to “eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” the DEFINITION of the word “day.”  But was that period of time called a day?  Yes, of course it was.  Usage of a word is not the definition of a word.

Psa 95:8  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day  [24 hours?] of temptation in the wilderness:

Is the period of FORTY YEARS in the wilderness the DEFINITION of the word “day?”  Of course not.  But is it called a day?  Yes.  A 24-hour day?  NO.

Psa 110:5  The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day  [24 hours]  of his wrath.

Is the period of God’s wrath on this wicked world called a “day?”  Yes.  Is this long

period of time the DEFINITION of the word day?  No, of course not.

LISTEN:  Virtually 100% of the two billion Christians in the world believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is in six 24-hour periods called days.  The world of science scoffs at the Scriptures and Christians because of just such nonsense teaching.  Most Scientists “think” the Bible teaches six 24-hour creation days, and virtually all Christian teachers absolutely teach that the creation days of Genesis One are 24-hour days. This is not only scientifically untrue, but it is absolutely Scripturally untrue, and we are going to prove it once and for all right here today.

So it is the Christian theologians and teachers that are causing God and His Word to be blasphemed in the world today.  One of the first responses many Scientists will bring up in response to whether the Bible is accurate and dependable is, the stupid and unscientific teaching that this earth is only about six thousand years old and that 95% of the world’s water-laid strata is the result of Noah’s global flood.  Little do most of them know, that the Scriptures are in totally agreement with most of the finds of geologists, scientists, astronomers, etc.  It is very very important that we know the truth on such vital subjects.

CONTINUING……………………

The first and primary use, meaning, and definition of the word “day” is this:

Gen 1:5 “And calling is the Elohim the light "day [24 hours?], and the darkness He calls "night [24 hours?]" And coming is it to be evening and coming to be morning, day one.”

God did not change His definition of a day half way through the same verse.

Notice that the darkness is NOT CALLED DAY.  NIGHT is not DAY. 

Gen 1:16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day [24 hour period?], and the lesser light to rule the night….[a 24 hour night?—that’s 48 hours]!!

If “the day” is 24 hours, then the sun would rule the day AND THE NIGHT.  Fact is, there would BE NO NIGHT.  How stupid is that?  Why do they despise the Word of God?  The sun rules the day, the sun does NOT RULE THE NIGHT.  Am I going to fast for anyone?   Apparently I am.  Rom 1:22 Alleging themselves to be wise, they are made stupid. (CLV).

Even David knew that “day and night” were two different things:  Psa 74:16  The day  [24 hours?] is thine, the night also [a different 24 hours?] is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

***  This one is precious!  This one like no other Scripture shows how one who professes to be wise, is often dumber than a rock!!  [Concordant:  ‘STUPID’].   Joh 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours  in the day [in the 24-hour day?] day?  And what is their Unscriptural definition of a day?  Read that again!   Did Jesus really mean: “Are there not twelve hours in the 24-hour day?”  And AGAIN…!!  Am I going to fast for anyone?

Joh 9:4-5  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day [24 hours?]: the night cometh, when no man can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.   COMMENT:  Jesus is never called the “night  of the world.” 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn [does the ‘day’ dawn at dusk? In the evening?  In the DARK?], and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts.  COMMENT:  Is this “milk of God’s Word?” :  Is this ‘day’ star a 24 hour star?  Can they not see anything “spiritual”

Strongs:   day star:  G5459 phōsphoros  From G5457 and G5342; light bearing (“phosphorus”), that is, (specifically) the morning star (figuratively): - day star.

What did our friend say:  You'll never attempt the book of Rev. or any other spiritual teaching, because you have no clue as to what’s being talked about. Your flock may not know this, but I do.

Uh-oh!  Look out!  Ray is going to teach something “spiritual” from the book of Revelation:  Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and  THE   BRIGHT   AND MORNING   STAR.”  Morning:  G3720  orthrinos  From G3722; relating to the dawn, that is, matutinal (as an epithet of Venus, especially brilliant in the early day): - morning. 

“The bright and MORNING STAR, IS…the DAY Star,” and that “Day Star” is Jesus, not some physical, unscriptural, 24-hour cycle which would also include the NIGHT.  Jesus is not called the “night and day star,” nor the “NIGHT star,” but rather “the DAY Star.”

And I gleaned all that by comparing Joh 11:9;  Joh  9:4-5;  and II Pet. 1:29 with that ‘spiritual’ book of Revelation 22:16  of which I have not a CLUE as to its meaning.    

And by the way, the reason any man doesn’t stumble is because he is walking in the DAY, and not in the NIGHT, and there are only TWELVE HOURS in a day, not twenty-four.

So then……………….. show me where the Scriptures define a “day” as 24 hours?  Show me?  And just where are we told that “an evening and a morning” equals 24 hours?  Where?  A 24 hours period being called “a day” is virtually unknown in all of Scripture. I don’t know of one example.  When the night portion of a 24-hour rotation of the earth (sunset to sunset) is meant, it states that the night is included.  Why?  Because the word “day” does not include the NIGHT. They are two different things.

Day is found 2200 times in Scripture and not once is it specified as being a 24 hour period.  But hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times it is specified as being the LIGHT portion of a mean solar day when the sun is shining on that portion of the earth.

Dictionary definitions  “DAY—1.  The period of LIGHT between dawn and nightfall: the interval from sunrise to sunset.”  COMMENT:  Say, isn’t that God’s very Own definition of a day as well (Gen. 1:5)?  2.  The time of LIGHT between two nights.  3. DAYLIGHT.  4.  DAYTIME.  5.  SUNSHINE.   6.  An AGE.  7.  The portion of a 24-hour period that is devoted to work, as in an eight-hour day.  8.  A period of time in  history, an era.  9.  The mean solar day of 24 hours beginning at mean midnight.  10.  One revolution of the earth on its axis, 24 hours, called the astronomical day (begins and ends at noon). 11. A specified time, period, or number of years.  12.  Any extension of time.

Dictionary definition of NIGHT:  1. The period from sunset to sunrise.  2. The period of actual darkness after sunset and before sunrise.  3. The time from dusk to dawn when no sunlight is visible  4. Any period or condition of darkness or gloom. 4. A period of intellectual or moral degeneration.  5. A time of grief.  6. Death.  The beginning of darkness.

Night can in certain modern usages be a part of a “day,” however, day can never ever under any circumstances be a part of a “night.”  And nowhere in Scripture that I have found is a “day” specifically composed of both the daylight and the darkness of night.   So clearly they are different and must be defined differently.

Do you see anywhere in there the definition of a day being: “one evening and one morning?”  That’s because an evening and a morning is NOT a definition of a day, anymore than “a thousand years” is the definition of a day, or the period of God’s wrath is the definition of a day, or that forty years in the wilderness is the definition of a day.

This detractor uses the Concordant version in his definition:

“And coming is it to be evening and coming to be morning, day one.”

They would have done well to stick to the King James, because by trying to present amore accurate translation, they have once more shot themselves in the foot. 

The King James better serves their heretical teaching on this subject, whereas the Concordant and others, utterly destroys their interpretation nonsense.

(ASV)  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.  [Yes there “was” evening  and morning, but not until it first finished “coming.”]

(Rotherham) and God called the light, day, but the darkness, called he, night. So it was evening—and it was morning, one day.

(YLT)  and God calls to the light `Day,' and to the darkness He has called `Night;' and there is an evening, and there is a morning--day one.

(New American Bible)  Thus evening came, and morning followed—the first day.

(Moffatt)  Evening came and morning came, making one day.

 (New World Translation)  And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a first day.

Hebrew English Interlinear:  And He is calling Elohim to-light day and to darkness He calls night and-he- is-becoming evening and he-is-becoming morning day one.

(CLV) And calling is the Elohim the light "day, and the darkness He calls "night." And coming is it to be evening and coming to be morning, day one.

This very exact word in Hebrew meaning  “he is COMING”  or  “IT IS COMING”  is used hundreds of times in the Old Testament, and we can learn a lot from how it is used.

First, just what in the world does God mean by “it is coming?”  “Coming from where?  Notice verse Gen. 1:3, And saying is the Elohim, "Become light!" And it is becoming light.  Verse 9 “and it is becoming so.  Verse 11 “and it is becoming so.  Verse 24 “and it is becoming so.  Verse 30 “and it is becoming so.”

NO, when God gave these commands, “it was NOT so,” but rather it was “becoming” so, over an extended period of time.

So there was not “evening and morning,” as the King James and others say, but only after it CAME to be so”  “WAS” it so.

So again:  Where did the first evening come from?  Where was it before it started “coming?”

My detractors contend that Gen. 1:1 to Gen. 1:5 all happened on day one of this creation and remaking week.  So where or when was there a period of “time” or a “day” before day one?  There wasn’t a “day one” until AFTER the “coming” of the evening and the “coming” of the morning, so when and where did it start “coming” BEFORE THERE WAS ANYTHING?

American Heritage College Dictionary:  coming:  “To advance toward a specified place,’ To make progress, to advance, To reach a particular point, To arrive as in due coarse, To move into view, to appear,  To occur in time, to take place, To arrive at a particular  result or end, To arrive at or reach a particular state or condition, …to become available for use…to perform a function in a particular way, To progress or advance in increments as Darkness came on after seven.

[Oh really, and what was it BEFORE it was “dark”—“evening” maybe?

      Next:  This verse does not say “And coming is it to be night and coming is it to be day, day one” does it?  DOES IT?  NO IT DOESN’T.  So why contend that it does and that that is what it means?  It clearly is not “night and day” that is spoken of in these verses, but rather “evening and morning.”  And these particular “evenings and mornings” are nowhere presented as 24-hour periods.

American Heritage: “evening:  1.  The period of decreasing daylight between afternoon and night,

Webster’s:  “evening: the latter part and close of the day, and the early part of the night,

Strong’s #6153, “evening—dusk, eventide.”

Webster’s: “dusk:  to become dark, to make dark or gloomy.”

American Heritage:  “dusk:  the darker stage of twilight; esp. in the evening.”

Lev. 11:24—“unclean UNTIL evening.”  Not all night, just till “evening.”

Ruth 2:17—Ruth “gleaned UNTIL evening,”  Not all night, just till “evening.”

American Heritage:  “morning—the first or early part of the day…the dawn

Webster’s:  “morning—dawn…a period of first development—beginning.”

NOTE:  Isn’t it astounding that even our English Dictionaries understood that “morning’ carries the connotation of something new, a new beginning, a period of first development.

Evening:  Gloominess, disorder, chaos….a period of increasing DARKNESS.

Morning:  a period of first development, beginning, the coming of LIGHT.

WHY?  Why darkness before light?  Why chaos before order and unity?

Notice how Onkelos translates Gen. 1:31—“A God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good [Onkelos—‘a unified order’] and coming is it to be evening and coming is it morning, a sixth [yome/day/time]”

Chaos to unified order.  Do we have examples of just how this works?  Yes we do, and we are looking at one of right here in Genesis One.  Notice….

Gen 1:2  And the earth was [Heb: was already or had existed]   without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

This is NOT a condition suitable for humanity:  Isa 45:18  For³⁵⁸⁸ thus³⁵⁴¹ saith⁵⁵⁹ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ that created [Heb: barah—bring a new thing into existence]¹²⁵⁴  the heavens;⁸⁰⁶⁴ God⁴³⁰ himself¹⁹³¹ that formed [Heb: yatsar—He ‘yatsar/formed humanity {Gen 2:8} and He yatsar/formed  the earth to be inhabited]³³³⁵ the earth⁷⁷⁶ and made⁶²¹³ it; he¹⁹³¹ hath established³⁵⁵⁹ it, he created [Heb:  barah]¹²⁵⁴ it not³⁸⁰⁸ in vain, [Heb: tohu--to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain: - confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness]⁸⁴¹⁴ he formed³³³⁵ it to be inhabited: [‘to dwell, to inhabit’  Concordant: Gen. 1:2(CLV) Yet the earth became a CHAOS and vacant—uninhabited!], and darkness was on the surface of the submerged chaos. Yet the spirit of the Elohim is vibrating over the surface of the water].

So what is the solution to such “uninhabitable, chaotic,  DARKNESS?” 

This is amazing stuff:  Which came first the chicken or the egg?  Which came first, darkness or light?  Isa 45:7  I form [Heb: yatsar—to mold into a form]³³³⁵ the LIGHT,²¹⁶ and create [Heb: barah—bring something new into existence]¹²⁵⁴ DARKNESS:²⁸²² I make⁶²¹³ peace,⁷⁹⁶⁵ and create¹²⁵⁴ evil:⁷⁴⁵¹ I⁵⁸⁹ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ do⁶²¹³ all³⁶⁰⁵ these⁴²⁸ things.

Now Gen. 1:3--And God said, Let there be LIGHT: and there was [Heb: ‘is becoming’] light.   And the coming of “light” ushers in the six time periods for refashioning chaos into order:  From (Gen. 1:2) tohu--to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain: - confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness, To (Gen. 1:31) “a unified ORDER.”

Does God give us any examples of just how chaos is turned into order?  Yes (Gen. 2:11-12—GOLD and Gems—and later men have found diamonds.  And did God “create/barah” these things in Genesis 1:1 or did “the earth bring them forth”  (Gen. 1:11)?  Gold and diamonds come from violent and chaotic eruptions of the earth’s surface—VOLCANOES!

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The whole plan of human salvation is based on this process of going from “chaos to order.”  Read I Cor. 15:42-58…..Human chaos and tragedy to harmonious, spiritual VICTORY!!!

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There is not one Scripture which states, or shows, or insinuates that a “day” consists of 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night time.  Or that a “day” consists of 24 hours.  Or that a “day” consists of a period of time from one sunset until another sunset.  Show me ONE?  Maybe the example of the Sabbath works:

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  [Are these ‘days’ 24 hour days?]

Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:  [is this Sabbath ‘day’ a 24 hour day?]

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” [There is absolutely no  indication that God “made” anything in the DARK!!]

Well there it is:  We are to keep one DAY holy, and labor the six other days of the week.  Is this not clearly saying these days must all be 24 HOUR days?  Give me a break.  On the Sabbath “day” we are not to work.  Does this mean day AND night or just day?  We need to look at the rest of the commandment to know for sure.  How many days could they work according to this commandment?  Answer: 6 days.  Day AND night?  Are you CRAZY?  Does anyone in their right mind really believe that God commanded Israel that must work SIX TWENTY-FOUR HOUR DAYS in a row, 144 HOURS of work before they get a days rest??

What about the “day” of atonement?  Was it not a 24 hour period?  Well, if a day is a 24 hour period, all that need be stated is to keep atonement on such and such a date for ONE DAY.  But no, that is not how God instructed.  Everyone knew that a “day” refers to the daylight portion of a mean solar day cycle, therefore to make it clear that this fast was to be the entire 24 hour cycle and not just a “day”—the daylight portion, as in not working on the Sabbath DAY, God clearly states:

Lev 23:32  It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

They worked for six sun-lit days and rested for one sun-light day.  In the case of atonement, they did more than cease from just “work,” but they were to afflict their souls (fast) and they were to do it not for just the sun-lit day, but “from even UNTO even.”

If “the ninth day  of the month at even” represents a 24 hours cycle, what sense is there in commanding that this observance must be “from even UNTO even?”

It is nonsense to say one must observe atonement “AT EVEN” on the “ninth day of the month” and then state that it must last “from even UNTO even,”  if a day already means 24 hours or from sunset until sunset.

Even Dr. Strong indicates that a singular day can be used to represent a period from sunset until the next sunset, but this is because God Himself already substantiated such in His commandment on observing the day of atonement from “even unto even,” as that was NOT the normal way to reckon “a day” in Scripture.  Moses was in the mount with God not just for forty days, but for “forty days A-N-D forty nights” (Ex. 25:18).  During Noah’s flood, it didn’t rain for just forty days, no, we are told it rained for “forty days A-N-D forty nights” (Gen. 7:12).  Night is not part of day, therefore we are informed that it rained “day” and AND “night” continuously.  Jesus fasted in the wilderness not for just forty days (and then could have possible ate a big meal each day after sunset), no,  Matthew informs us that He fasted for “forty days A-N-D forty nights” (Matt. 4:2).

Well what about, Gen 1:5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Or:  (CLV) And calling is the Elohim the light "day, and the darkness He calls "night." And coming is it to be evening and coming to be morning, day one.

It does not say:  “And coming is it to be night and coming to be day, day one.”

It does not say:  “And coming is it to be evening and coming is it to be evening again, day one.”

No, here is what it really does say:  “And coming is it to be evening [DUSK] and coming is it to be morning [DAWN], day one.”

 The coming of DUSK & DAWN was “day one,” not the coming of night time and day time.  Not 24 hours.  Let’s be Scripturally honest, shall we?  These verses do not say that “coming is it to be night and coming is it to be day, day one, second day, third day…” Etc.

So Gen. 1 does not prove a “day” means 24 hours, nor does any other Scriptures using “evening and morning” represent a 24 hour period. 

[1]  Psa 55:17  Evening,⁶¹⁵³ and  morning,¹²⁴² AND AT NOON,⁶⁶⁷² will I pray,⁷⁸⁷⁸ and cry aloud:¹⁹⁹³ and he shall hear⁸⁰⁸⁵ my voice.⁶⁹⁶³

So here we have proof that just a “evening and a morning” do not represent a 24 hour cycle, seeing that “at NOON” is also part of David’s prayer day.  In fact neither “evening and morning AND NOON” combined represent an entire 24 hour cycle.  David did not praying FROM evening UNTIL morning and then FROM morning UNTIL noon, and then again FROM noon UNTIL evening, which would have been a full 24 hour cycle.  These represent only three PORTIONS of a 24 hour cycle.  If David prayed for one hour in the evening, morning and at noon, it represents in this scriptural example only about 13% of a 24-hour cycle.  If evening, morning (and noon) is the definition of a 24-hour day, then David did nothing in his entire life, except pray.  He never went to war, never ate, and never slept.

[2]   Psa 90:5  Thou carry them [the children of men, verse 4] away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which grows up [the early and middle years of life].  

Psa 90:6  In the morning it flourishes, and grows up; In the evening [years and years later as life nears its end] it is cut down, and withers.

GOT QUESTIONS.ORG:

We can determine how yom should be interpreted in (Genesis 1:5-22) simply by examining the context in which we find the word and then comparing its context with how we see its usage elsewhere in Scripture. By doing this we let Scripture interpret itself. The Hebrew word yom is used 2301 times in the Old Testament. Outside of Genesis 1, yom plus a number (used 410 times) always indicates an ordinary day, i.e., a 24-hour period. The words “evening” and “morning” together (38 times [NO, 26 times]) always indicate an ordinary day. Yom + “evening” or “morning” (23 times) always indicates an ordinary day. Yom + “night” (52 times) always indicates an ordinary day.

WHAT A CROCK!

THE UNSCRIPTURAL ORDINAL NUMBERS ARGUMENT:

ONE day……. Gen 33:13  And he said unto him, My lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.  Note: NOT 24 hours.  They did not drive the herd all day AND all night long.

TWO days…… Ex. 16:8  And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full…

Exo 16:29  See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  Note: the bread was gather in the morning only—two mornings equals TWO “DAYS.”   Now then:  Did they eat flesh for 12 hours (all day) and then eat bread for 12 hours (all night).  If  “evening and morning” means a 24-hour day, then they ate flesh and bread for a total of TWENTY-FOUR HOURS!!

THREE days…… Gen 30:36  And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.   Note:  Did they drive them 72 straight hours?

FOUR days…… Jdg 11:40  That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.  Note: Did they lament for 24 hours a day—NINETY-SIX straight hours?  They lamented during the day and then WENT TO BED AT NIGHT.

FIVE days…… Num 11:19  Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils…” Note:  Did they eat 24 hrs a day for a month?

SIX days…… Exo 16:21  And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. Exo 16:22  And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

SEVEN days…… Gen 31:23  And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.  Note:  Did they journey for 168 straight hours?  No, they journed seven DAYS (day-LIGHT, while the SUN WAS SHINING).

EIGHT days…… 2Ch 29:17  Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.  Note:  Is there reason to believe they worked 24 hr days?

NINE days…… Num 7:60  On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:  Note:  Did Abidan’s offering take 24 hours?

TENTH day……Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:  Note:  Not the tenth NIGHT, nor 24 hours.

 ELEVEN days…… Deu 1:2  (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)  Eleven “days,” or “daylight” periods, not 264 hours!

TWELVE days…… Ezr 8:31  Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.  Note: Since a “day” is the “sun-lit” portion of a mean solar cycle,  yet our detractors insist that the creation periods in Genesis one all begin at “evening” which to them is the definition of a day, does anyone really believing that they waited until evening and began this trip IN THE DARK?

THIRTEEN days: …… Est 9:18  But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.  Note:  they did not assembly on the 13^th day IN THE DARK.  Also, if these days represent 24-hour days, then it is not necessary to assemble on the 13^th AND 14^th AND 15, seeing that on the 14^th and 15 they would have ALREADY BEEN ASSEMBLED FROM THE 13^th!!

FOURTEEN days…… Est 9:19  Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. Note:  There is no reason to believe this feast day lasted 24 hours, and then at sunrise of the 15^th day, they all went to bed.

FIFTEEN days…… Num 29:12  And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:  Note:  I’ve heard of long sermons, but 24 HOURS?  Did they eat and feast 24 HOURS A DAY FOR 168 STRAIGHT HOURS!?  How many more examples do you want?

WILL YOU INHERIT GOD’S KINGDOM?

Are you overwhelmed by all of the seemingly negative and almost impossible statements in the Scriptures regarding the requirements for entering God’s Kingdom? How about this statement:  “Be ye therefore PERFECT even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).  How confident are you in the area of becoming as PERFECT as your heavenly Father?  And how confident are you with all of the following admonitions and warnings regarding entrance into God’s Kingdom?

Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luk 14:26-27  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.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

And remember the warning to the Seven Churches.  It is only “…to him who OVERCOMES….”  that entrance into the Kingdom is promised, (Rev. 2 & 3).

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. 

Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:19  Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  

 Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mat 10:38  And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  

Mat 12:37  For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words you shall be condemned.

Mat 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.   

2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Jam 4:17  Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.  COMMENT:  Oh great, so now we have to figure out which ones of us are the heretics!

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

Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Had enough?

How many are sometimes bothered by such Scriptures and think that maybe we just won’t make it?  We just won’t be acceptable to God?  We fold every time a severe trial comes our way?  You want to live godly, but you just can’t conquer some sins, and then all these many Scriptures condemn you.   Am I talking to anyone in this room?

It’s not a very peaceful or rewarding life living like this with so many uncertainties, is it?  Never ever being quite certain as to where you stand with God.  We see too many areas where we know we fall short and then we condemn ourselves.  Or worse, we fall short and JUST THINK we are doing fine, that we are in effect spiritual giants, when we are barely spiritual babies.

I want everyone to leave this Conference with a confidence from God that will enable him to live in peace with himself/herself, and be assured that he will be in the Kingdom of God and receive a reward.  God did not call us to a life of uncertainly, doubt, and frustration.  Ninety-nine percent of those in Christendom know for a fact that when they die they are going to heaven, when in reality and according to the Scriptures they know NO SUCH THING.  Is your assurance that you will be in the Kingdom of God built on any more solid ground that these?

What Paul has to say about QUALIFYING:

"Endeavor to present yourself to God QUALIFIED as an unashamed worker ..." (II Tim. 2:15).

"... that those also who are QUALIFIED may be becoming apparent among you" (I Cor. 11:19).

There is but one Scripture on "qualifying" in all of the circumcision writings  (CLV) “Happy is the man who is enduring trial, for, becoming qualified, [K.J.V. ‘approved’] he will be obtaining the wreath of life, which He promises to those loving Him” (James 1:12).

HERE’S WHAT YOU GOT GOING FOR YOU:

Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  There’s the secret, but there also is the problem.  DO YOU   “minister to the saints?”

THE KEY TO ACCOMPLISHING MISSION IMPOSSIBLE:

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel [OR, ten cities, five cities, etc.].   

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

But again we ask:  Have you “forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, FOR MY [Christ’s] SAKE?”  How are you to know whether you are doing all required to enter God’s Kingdom?  Just what is it that you have sacrificed so that God will take you into His Kingdom?  What?  Jot down on a piece of paper the things that you have done and are presently doing (according the Scriptures) that will ensure that you will be in God’s Kingdom.  Go ahead….And don’t be looking at your neighbors paper.

How many of you feel confidence enough right now to come up here to the podium and give the rest of us a Bible Study on just how we can leave this Conference with the Scriptural confidence that we WILL BE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION AND KINGDOM OF GOD?...............anyone??

Are you doing these things:

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  Are you believing what it is you are to believe?

Pro 23:7  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.  Just what is it that you are “thinking” most of your day?

1Ti 1:5  Now the end of the commandment [consummation of the charge] is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:  “Do you possess a “pure heart/good conscience/faith unfeigned?”

2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.   Have you fled all your youthful lusts?  Do you follow “righteousness, faith, charity, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a “pure heart?”  Are you becoming PERFECT as your Heavenly Father is perfect?

Is there ANYTHING that is more important for you to know right now sitting here in this room at this Conference?

We all want God’s approval.  We all want to hear God say: “WELL DONE

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

How well do you read and study God’s Word?  2Ti 2:15  Study [use speed,  make effort, be prompt or earnest:  do diligence,  endeavor, labor, study] to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

READ THE ENTIRE 25^TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW

Those who will and those who won’t be in the Kingdom of God………

Therefore, we should be doing right, not just to avoid wrath or to receive a reward, but rather because doing good to others IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I CAN’T STOP SINNING!

Heb 12:1,  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Well, there’s your answer:  “Lay aside [throw off, rid ourselves] the SIN which does so easily beset us [entangles us, naturally entraps us, hinders us].”

Now do you know how to stop sinning?  No?

Rom 6:12-13--  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

So we have:  lay aside sin; don’t let sin reign in you;  don’t yield yourself as an instrument of sin.

See, you can do it—just DO IT?  Or rather with sin, DON’T DO IT. 

How many of you have tried to not do it—not sin?  Did it work?  Do you no longer sin?

There are the instructions as to what we must do, so what else can I tell you?

Just do it; lay it aside; throw it off; rid yourselves of sin; don’t let it reign over you; don’t yield yourselves as instruments of unrighteousness and sin.   Or as Jesus told the young woman caught in adultery:  “Go and SIN NO MORE!”

Does everyone now know how to stop sinning?  Can all of you now go out of here today and “SIN NO MORE?”  No?  You don’t think it will work?  You already tried for years?

Well aren’t you glad you came to this Bible Conference to get some encouragement from me so that you can leave this Conference with your head held high?  There is indeed hope for all of you:

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation [Gk: ‘adverse sentence, condemnation] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom. 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.   What in the world does that verse mean?

(ASV)  But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.

(Bishops)  Hym that is weake in the fayth, receaue: not to iudgementes of disputyng.

(CLV) Now the infirm in the faith be taking to yourselves, but not for discrimination of reasonings."

(Rotherham) Him that is weak in his faith, receive ye,—not for disputing opinions:—

(YLT)  And him who is weak in the faith receive ye--not to determinations of reasonings

(Living Bible) “Give a warm welcome to any brother who wants to join you, even though his faith is weak.  Don’t criticize him for having different ideas from yours about what is right or wrong.  For instance, don’t argue with him about whether or not to eat meat that has been offered to idols.”

1Co 11:32  “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned  [katakrinō to judge against, that is, sentence: - condemn, damn] with the world.”

WRATH IS: PUNISHMENT & JUDGMENT

Psa 78:49  He cast⁷⁹⁷¹ upon them the fierceness²⁷⁴⁰ of his anger,⁶³⁹ wrath,⁵⁶⁷⁸ and indignation,²¹⁹⁵ and trouble,⁶⁸⁶⁹ by sending⁴⁹¹⁷ evil⁷⁴⁵¹  angels⁴³⁹⁷ among them.

Why:  Because of their great sin (Ver. 17)  Refused to “walk” in God’s law (V.10)

Fierceness:  H2740  chârôn burning anger: sore displeasure, fury, (fierce) wrath.

Anger:  aph, ire: - anger, wrath.

Wrath:  ‛ebrah an outburst of passion: - anger, rage, wrath.

.

Indignation:  za‛am, froth at the mouth, that is, fury (especially of God’s displeasure with sin): - angry, indignation, rage.

Trouble:  tsârâh, adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble.

Evil:   ra‛  râ‛âh,' bad or evil , adversity, affliction, distress, grief, harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured) mischief, misery, naughty, noisome,  sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked, wretchedness, wrong.

But NOT ON GOD’S ELECT: 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.  But God has appointed us to tribulation: 1Th 3:3-4--That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

God’s Elect are God’s favorites upon whom He is now showing great favor.  He does not hate us, neither is He angry with us.

I Cor. 10:1-11…….We are NOT to do as those upon whom God poured out His WRATH!

SO JUST HOW IS IT THAT WE STOP SINNING?

The answer is, we can’t, but God can and does.  And He does it BY GRACE, through faith:  Eph. 2:8.

And that is why:  “There is now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).

Do we chastise our children when they do wrong because they always KNOW that they are doing wrong?  No.  God uses anger and wrath to TEACH humanity that what they ARE doing is wrong, but God does not use anger and wrath on His very Elect.  Nowhere does God pour out wrath upon His chosen saints. So don’t think that God is angry with you because you have a lot of trials and tribulations.  It is part of your training to become SONS OF GOD.

But if we are “saved by grace through faith, and that not of our own,” (Eph. 2:8), why are we still sinning and seemingly unable to conquer certain sins?

Well, there is a process, and it is all according to God’s timing, not ours.

First we are called of God:  “For you see your CALLING brethren….” (I Cor. 1:2 6).  This will bring about “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (Verses 30-31).

But there are other processes necessary to reach that goal.  We must first “repent and believe the Gospel”

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

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

And just how do we “repent?”  Repentance too comes from God:

Rom 2:3  And think you this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and do the same, that thou shall escape the judgment of God?

Rom 2:4  Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

If you just can’t understand how this sinful world can do the evils that they do, and you shake your head at them, then you are “despising the riches of His goodness………….not knowing that the goodness of God [not your own wise choice to follow God] leads you to repentance.”  So if you are going to stop judging [condemning] the sinful world, you are going to have to “HUMBLE yourself” (James 4:6-11).

Just how does one acknowledge another’s sins, shortcomings, and stupidity, and yet “not speak EVIL one of another brother.”

First of all, those who despise the word of God and do evil, are not really “brothers,”  are they?

Mat 12:47  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Mat 12:48  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Secondly, there is a giant difference between acknowledging someone’s sins and shortcoming, and condemning him to some evil fate.  Notice how Jesus handled the evil and sinning scribes and Pharisees:

Notice that Jesus said they were “blind.” Now the very last verse:

Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Ah yes, They will see Jesus and they will be “BLESSED.”  Jesus said so: Jesus did not condemn them to an hopeless, endless, hell of suffering.

So it is necessary to be blessed and covered by the Sacrifice of Jesus.  How do we come to accept Jesus?

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Gk: ‘drag’] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

So it is GOD Who calls you;  it is GOD Who brings you to repentance;  and it is GOD Who brings you to Christ.

But wait.  Didn’t Jesus say that we must also “believe” the gospel?  Faith and believe are the same Greek word.  Surely here is where WE must do our part by supplying the faith necessary to believe, right?  NO, wrong, it too is of God:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [that FAITH] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD:

So how then do we conquer sin, overcome, endure unto the end and all the rest of it?  Same answer:  It is GOD Who does these things in us:

Eph 2:10  For we are HIS [GOD’S]  workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So then it appears that “ALL is of God,” doesn’t it?  Rom. 3:23-27—Can’t boast!

ALL IS OF GOD:  I Cor. 11:12;  II Cor. 5:18;  Eph. 4:6;  Rom. 11:36--  (CLV) seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him IS ALL: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen!

God will see us through.  God is no failure.  We are God’s achievement.  Yes, Paul worked on himself so as to not be a castaway  (I Cor. 9:27), but he had complete confidence that:  “a crown of righteousness” was already waiting for him and ALL OF US at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Tim. 4:8).

ARE YOU  “…YET CARNAL?”

Carnal:  Probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): carnal, carnally; flesh, fleshly.

Is it bad to be “carnally minded?”  YES!

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Carnal minded and spirit minded are at diametric opposite poles, and one is life and the other is death.  Are YOU “carnally minded? or spiritually minded?”  Or…..maybe you are a little of both.  Could that then possibly make you “lukewarm?”

Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Rev 3:16  So then because you art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew [vomit] you out of my mouth.

Rev 3:17  Because thou say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18  I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent

ARE YOU RICH AND INCREASED WITH GOODS?

You know the truth about the Christian hell of eternal torture, immortal souls, going to heaven, tithing money, secret rapture, fire & brimstone, gehenna fire & lake of fire, death is not life, hope of resurrection, saved by grace through faith, spiritual Sabbath keeping, commandments are spiritual, Sovereignty of God, fabled free will, the god of context, the Bible is to be taken literally, etc.

You have INCREASED in many spiritual gifts of understanding.

BUT ARE YOU YET CARNAL?  Are you guilty of despising portions of God’s Word?

Are you yet more interested in physical/material things, than things of the Spirit?

The Corinthians were enriched and increased “…in all utterance, and in all knowledge”  (I Cor. 1:4-7).  And still, they were “YET CARNAL”  (I Cor. 3:3).

There are dozens (hundreds) of ways in which we can all be “yet carnal.” Let’s look at just a couple of areas where we just might yet be deceived:

I certainly do not have the time to cover many of them, but my hope is that covering a few in more detail, you will prepare you minds to obey all such commandments and admonitions from God’s Word.  Okay, here’s one--You all have heard:  “For where you treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:20-21).  I know for a FACT that this is one important area where most of you, are “Yet carnal.”

Read:  THE RICH YOUNG RULER (Luke 18:18-25)…..He was a good and conscientious man, but he woefully lacked “ONE THING.”  He loved mammon more than he loved God.

He KNEW the commandments of God, and he obeyed them from his youth!

But was “yet carnal?”  “He went away SORROWFUL”  (Ver. 23)!

Was that being “spiritually minded” or “carnally minded?”

You say:  “But Jesus asked A LOT of this rich young ruler.”  Yes, and don’t think that He doesn’t ask A LOT of us.  Jesus said that “riches” will keep one from entering the kingdom of God.  He didn’t say it was impossible, but ‘hardly possible.”

What if anything then, can a rich man do to enter the Kingdom?  Luke 19:2, Zaccheus was RICH, but what did he do with his riches?  He gave HALF of all his riches to the poor.

There are many many things which “God HATES.”

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,   Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  mo 5:21  I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

 But how many times are we told what specifically God LOVES?

First thing mentioned in the Scriptures that God “loves?” Joh 16:27  For the Father Himself LOVES YOU, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God?   DO YOU “love Jesus?”  DO YOU “believe that Jesus came out from God?”  (We will cover that portion in a later lecture)

Second thing mentioned in the Scriptures that God “loves?”  2Co 9:7  Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

II Cor. 9:6-15—“…for God loves A CHEERFUL GIVER.”

Do you pretend that this verse is not in the Bible? Does not apply to you? I said we are going to get up close and personal in this Bible Conference.  I want to help you to grow spiritually and get rewarded for your journey. What’s the difference between being “cheerful” or being “sorrowful?” The sorrowful man who came to Jesus won’t be in the Kingdom of God. Some of you are saying:  “RAY!  I would much prefer that talk to us about how “God loves US.”

The cheerful giver  is loved of God and will be in God’s Kingdom, and He will also receive a reward.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Gal 6:7-9  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

I HAVE TRIED TO SET AN EXAMPLE OF CHEERFUL GIVING

I have personally tried to set an example of accomplishing as much as possible with as little as possible.  I stated in my tithing paper:  “Never have so many [the rich Christian world] accomplished so little with so much.”  That’s especially true in the world of televangelists.  Soooo much money:  soooo little accomplishment. 

WHAT ABOUT THIS MINISTRY:  I believe we have accomplished a great deal with a tiny amount of money, limited talent, and only a handful of supporters, a few Forum moderators, two staff members, and one researcher & writer.  We have reached probably close to six millions people to one degree or another.  More importantly we have effected the lives and thinking of tens of thousands, and have turned around completely the lives of several thousands.  And possibly hundreds have seen the Light, and are spiritually converted.  Of these there are a couple of dozen who contribute to this ministry, and of those couple of dozen there are approximately seven people who support 95% of this ministry expense.

For a few years, there were two who carried out this work--Dennis Vogel my web master, and myself.

For ten years now we have devoted our lives to this ministry.  I have put in an average of five to ten hours a day at Bible-Truths.com.  I seldom have slept more than five or six hours a night.  Even those years when I worked full time in roofing, I worked five to ten hours a day on our site.  There were long stretches when I put in 12 to 14 hours a day.  I have read and answered literally tens of thousands of emails.  We have not so much as a secretary.  Many write and say:  “I know you are extremely busy, but could you have one of your staff researchers answer my enclosed questions for me?”  There are no staff researchers.  There really is no staff.

When we started Bible-Truths I seldom worked a full forty hours due to the fact that in most cases we could not start work before 8am and we could never work when it rained.  But as I averaged about $40 an hour, I did okay on a shorter work week.  My clients loved me, and I never had to advertise. I didn’t even have a business telephone.

Now then, if you multiply $40/hr times just seven hours a day that I put into Bible Truths, for 365 days (I usually only miss the days I am at a Conference) for ten years, it comes out to be a sizable chunk of change (it’s about a million dollars).  I took no salary and even paid my own way to Conferences, paid for printing,

paid for all my office and computer needs, etc.

Dennis  (my Web Master and founder of Bible-Truths.com) has devoted many hundreds of hours plus thousands and thousands of dollars to this ministry. Dennis is constantly upgrading the site.  We now video all of our studies and Conferences.

My wife and I are pretty frugal when it comes to money and materialism.  Had I not taken early retirement to devote more time to this ministry, I could have (cleaned up as they say), if I continued roofing during those next few years when all those hurricanes were destroying roofs in Florida.

My wife and I have not taken a vacation in the last seven or eight years. (We did go to my 50^th class reunion and visit my brothers whom I haven’t seen in ten years).  I bought this new shirt, trousers and blazer and shoes I’m wearing today--first new suit of clothing I bought in over ten years. The shoes were $25—they’re not real leather.  My wife hardly buys a thing unless it is 50-75% off.  God can bless your “little things” into “big things.”  Have you heard how I bought my house when we moved to Mobile in 2003?

Six years ago—Mobile Conference.  Looking for a house—one whole week, nothing.  My short prayer… “Lord, if you want me to move to Mobile, find me a descent home” …My prayer was answered in just a few minutes.  My home cost $125,000.  My ALL STATE agent told me the replacement value of my home is now $300,000!

For six years now, we used the old curtains that were left behind by the previous owners.  They were tattered, dirty, and faded.  So I let my wife get new curtains (50% off curtains/80% off the rods and hardware--$100 rod assemblies =$19.95), and put fresh paint over the flowery wall-papered walls.  Last November I bought a new car.  Did I say “new?”  Actually it is ten year old car going on its second hundred thousand miles, but I love it and thank God for it.  I couldn’t be happier if it were a new Mercedes. 

I try to do a lot with a little.  When we moved to Mobile, I wanted to fix up our carport like an outdoor living room.  I saw this loveseat at Hobby Lobby that I really liked.  It was over $400 dollars.  Way above my budget.  Some months later they had it setting at the entrance door on sale for $110.  I bought it.  When Betty Rogers moved into their new home she gave me their old swing set.  As my wife desired to have you come over for Sunday lunch after the Conference, we knew we would need more seating. So a few weeks ago Dennis’ son helped me paint some old patio chairs and table left behind by the previous owners.  I dug out a love seat from my storage shed that I salvaged from a dumpster in Florida. It had reupholstered it and painted it black, then white, and now I painted it Chinese red and will use it again.

About a year ago, when I was told I had only about six months to live, I did, however, splurge and bought something that I wanted but couldn’t afford for many years-- I bought a 50” flat screen TV at 30% off. Sears had a great sale on a Panasonic, plus an additional three day sale, plus an additional 10% if we put it on a Sears Charge Card.  So we bought it.  So SHOOT ME.

Now don’t think that I consider what I do to be some great sacrifice.  I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything in life, just because I devote myself to this ministry.  It is what I love to do.

And likewise, there are in this room a number of people who love what we do, and contribute regularly and generously to this ministry.  And they do it CHEERFULLY, FROM THE HEART, not of some necessity. Most of our readers contribute nothing.  And most of the people who come to our Forum contribute nothing.  And most of you contribute nothing.

And please don’t think that I’m asking you to contribute.  I am not.  That is between you and your God what you do with your money.  But I am a teacher, so I’m going to teach.  

So, “Where is your treasure?  Where is your heart?”  Will you continue to go away “sorrowful” like the rich young ruler when it comes to parting with your hard-earned money? You don’t have to support Bible-Truths, but support something.  Do as Jesus said and give to the poor!  But don’t deceive yourself. Giving a couple of quarters to a panhandler outside the entrance to Wal-Mart does not qualify as “GIVING TO THE POOR!”

AN HERETIC EMAILED ME:

Email from a detractor who follows one of the men that disassociated with Bible Truths some years ago. And this man fervently believes in the “Salvation of ALL”—Trust me when I tell you that believing in the Salvation of all is not the test for spiritual conversion.  I will read part of his email here and the other part in another lecture:

I felt that I should mail you and thank you for all you do. God is using you in my life, and hope that your healing will come soon. God is using your false teachings to sharpen me for His use.  

Your not as foolish as those in orthodoxy, and you have obviously been given 'brains', and the ability to teach with authority. You have so much so give, but your throwing it all away for your own ego.

I beg you to turn from your false teaching, and really understand what this means...

What do you think your cancer is; not the wrath of God? Jesus never sinned, yet endured the wrath of God. Are you above 'your' master? I beg you to turn, and accept that the wrath of God abides on all unGodlyness including your own.

Your teachings are ALL outward physical, they are the milk of the Word, and you know what that means. You know what your doing, and just because those of YOUR flock don't know any better and you 'wow' them with your 'knowledge' of how foolish orthodoxy is they think therefore that your 'God's prophet'

You've truned so far against the word of God that your now begging money (anathama)...

Do you think I get angry with such mean-spirited slander?  No, I rejoice!

There were those who knew my cancer protocol was going to be quite expensive, and volunteered to help with my expenses.  Dennis asked if he could put my address on the Forum (not our home page) for anyone who

wished to contribute to that expense.  So now the enemies of the Gospel accuse me of “begging money” and pronounce me ANATHAMATIZED—“excommunicated and cursed (Am. Hert. Col. Dict:  “a prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone”)!  Lovely Christ-like attitude, don’t you think?

Don’t you become guilty of such hatred toward others:  (James 3:9) So if anyone thinks I am “begging money,” please don’t send any. As for all of you who are “cheerful givers,” I say, THANK YOU and God bless every one of you!  I wouldn’t have my head above water right now without you.

We thank God daily for all of you who are so generous and concerned for my personal health and well-being and this ministry.  The financial situation in the world has taken its toll on our ministry this past year.  Dennis has to turn off the advertising money periodically, as the funds just dry up from time to time.  Now giving money and supporting this ministry is not the only way to lay up for yourself treasure in heaven, but it is one way. 

THE WIDOW’S MITES

How many have heard of the TWO WIDOW’S MITES by Jesus?

Why is this story in the Bible?  Is not “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16).

How many of you could spare two widow’s mites for this ministry?  How many of you have ever seen a widow’s mite—well here’s one, two thousand years old. The widow who tossed her last two mites into the temple treasury, has been extolled for two thousand years now for that cheerful act of giving.   *(Back to Luke:  Luke 18, 19, 20, and 21 are all about money and riches and giving).

Luk 21:1  And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luk 21:2  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luk 21:3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

Luk 21:4  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

The coin referred to in this passage was the “half prutah,” also known in Greek as the “lepton.” Leptons were first minted by Alexander Jannaeus beginning in the year 103 BC. These coins were of very low value and were used only in the poor province of Judea. At the time of Jesus it took 48 leptons just to buy a loaf of bread.  It took two leptons to equal one penny.  A penny would buy about half a slice of bread. Today you can buy a “mite” for about a thousand times their original value. I paid $12 for this one……………………..

How many of you can afford one slice of bread for this ministry?  Embarrassing isn’t it?

Please don’t think this is a plea for money, because it is not. But I do want us to think about how dedicated we are to what we believe to be the Truths of God.  How concerned are we that others receive these messages?  Husband/wife doctor team from California. Gave $60,000 a year to a tithe collecting church. Learn the truth from Bible-Truths, wrote and thanked me profusely, and I have NEVER heard from them again!!

I know that many cannot give, as they just don’t have the money.  Well then I am certainly not speaking to you.  But seriously, it’s a shame that a work such as ours has to operate on such a tiny budget.

BIBLE-TRUTHS BUSINESS CARDS  Over the years I have had maybe a dozen people ask if they could hand out business cards or something similar advertising our bible-truths.com site. Not wanting to have people design all kinds of cards that may or may not reflect the quality of our message, I decided to print some cards and distribute them below my cost to anyone wishing to hand them out.  That was several months ago.  To date 5 people have requested them, and only one who originally asked.  There just isn’t much real interest, not even among our inner circle of Believers.

But there are those few who really are thankful for what they have learned and for what we have accomplished through Bible-Truths.com.  I am proud to say that ALL of my medical expenses, lab tests, many specialized supplements, consultations, etc. are being met by the extreme generosity of a few loyal supporters. Without that help, I probably wouldn’t be holding this Bible Conference today.  When I am gone, there is no one waiting in the wings to take my place.  Bible-truths will be locked down. It will be there for all to read, but there will be no new material posted.

Don’t make excuses as to why you can’t obey the commandments of God.

Luke 19:12—23……………

Luk 19:23  Wherefore then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

Some of you might be thinking:  “I would be ashamed and embarrassed to give two mites (one penny) to support Bible Truths.  Oh really?   And just how ashamed and embarrassed do you think you will be when Jesus asked why you couldn’t have given at least as much as the poor widow?  One penny?  One slice of bread?  Acts 3:6…Give “such as you have.”  It’s all about attitude—don’t just be a “giver,” but be a “CHEERFUL giver.”

WHAT ABOUT THIS THING OF WRATH ON GOD’S ELECT?

What about this idea that God is pouring out His ANGER, INDIGNATION, AND WRATH upon me in the form of this cancer.  Does God really HATE His Own very Elect?  The Greek word “orge” translated “wrath” means to loathe, abhor, which is HATEFUL & DETESTABLE (which means “to CURSE)!

[1]  Rom. 1:18—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN….” 

Note:  We are told that even God’s Elect are “ungodliness & unrighteousness?  Then God’s wrath IS revealed against us, (God’s Elect) right?  Rest of verse:  “…men, who hold [Gk: hold back/suppress] the truth in unrighteousness.”  Does their ministry consist of “hold back the TRUTH in unrighteousness?”  Apparently so, as they contend that God’s wrath is upon them.  And the Scriptures tell us that “holding BACK the truth in unrighteousness” is cause to receive the WRATH OF GOD upon you.

Is Rom. 1:18 speaking of God’s “Elect?” Or is this speaking of those who: “professing themselves to be wise, the become fools/stupid”  (Verse 22).

[2]   Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Eph 5:7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them. If God’s Elect are still “the children of disobedience,” then it is impossible and foolish on Paul’s part to admonish us to “BE NOT ye therefore partakers with THEM.” See Eph. 2:3

and Col. 3:6-8.

[3]  Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Wrath, Anger & Indignation is severe CONDEMNATION!  EXTREME condemnation!

[4]  1Th 5:9  “For God hath NOT appointed US to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”  And just what do the stupid and foolish detractors say this mean?  That God has not appointed “us”—MEANING HUMANITY, the entire world of sinners and unbelievers, to ETERNAL WRATH, but to ultimate salvation.  WHAT?  WHAT?  Are they crazy?

I stated in my Lake of Fire series that if I Tim. 2:4 had said:  “God our Saviour; who will [NOT] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,”  would Christian teachers and theologians not use that verse to prove that God does not intend, and will NOT “have all men saved.”  But it doesn’t say that.  It says that God “WILL have all men saved.”  So what then does that mean?  Well, to those stupid and despisers of God’s Word, it also means that God will NOT have all men saved? 

So likewise, if I Thes. 5:9 had said:  “For God HAS appointed us to wrath…” would these detractors use such a Scripture to prove that God does appoint His Chosen Elect to Wrath.  Why yes of course they would.  But it doesn’t say that.  It says God has NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH?  Why would anyone twist and distort such plain Scriptures like that?  Because they DEPISE the Words of God, and they are “YET CARNAL.”

Now then, let’s see from the Scriptures, not the blasphemous  minds of men, just who the “US” is referring to in I Thes. 5:9—to us, THE WORLD OF WICKED AND UNREPENTANT SINNERS, or to us, God’s Chosen Elect Few?

READ  I Thes. 5:1-11………. And compare the following words: “brethren, ye, you, yourselves, children of light, children of the day, we, us who are of the day, us,, us, we, we, yourselves, ye, etc., with these words: they, them, they, others, they

Where in those eleven verses does the pronoun “US”  include the “they & them?”

*PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE WORDS AND BELIEVE ALL THE WORDS!

Now then:  When you read and study the Scriptures, APPLY THEM ALL TO YOURSELF for either:   doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

So as I taught in this lesson:  If you are not a cheerful giver, you are yet carnal.

As you read the Scriptures: 

If you do not “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,”  you are yet carnal.

If you do not “turn the other cheek,” you are yet carnal.

If you do not “humble yourself,” you are yet carnal.

If you do not  “…deem one another superior to one’s self” (Phil. 2:4 CLV)

You are yet carnal.

If you do not “pray without ceasing,”  you are yet carnal.

If you do not “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” you are yet carnal.

I could go on for hours and hours.  EVERYTHING in the Scriptures that admonish you personally, you must obey and follow, or “ye are yet carnal.”

I chose just one subject of “a cheerful giver,” because this is one in which I can be pretty sure that most of you “are yet carnal.” 

Now here is what I DON’T WANT YOU TO DO:  I don’t want you to be afraid to look me in the eyes, because you have not been a “cheerful giver.”  I don’t look down on any of you.  I look upon all of you as God’s called and hopefully in time, God’s chosen ELECT.  I love you all and mean the best to everyone, and it is a privilege to be able to serve you!