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mharrell08:
Quotes from Lake of Fire series Part 1 (http://bible-truths.com/lake1.html):
Symbols, metaphors, and parables ARE NEVER LITERALLY TRUE! But they powerfully demonstrate SPIRITUAL TRUTHS!
All languages have many, many figures of speech that are not literally true. And God also uses symbols, figures, idioms, metaphors and parables, over and over in His Word--hundreds and hundreds of times!
Again I state: All God’s Word is TRUE, however, much of it is figurative language which is not literally true to fact, but rather in what the figurative language of symbols, metaphors, and parables represent.
Be it known however, that the lake of fire and the second death DO INDEED picture something spiritual that relates to or has some properties of, LITERAL FIRE and LITERAL DEATH. Without some similar properties, the metaphor would be meaningless.
A friend and I were talking once and the subject of the Lake of Fire came up, particularly the order it was done in. We both thought at the time, why didn't Ray do the material of Part 2 (Origin of Satan, Evil, Sin) first? It seemed logical, if talking about 'origin' why not that subject first?
But some time afterward, when reading through the LOF series again, I saw 'why' Ray was lead to go in the order he did. This first installment is ESSENTIAL in understanding not only the Lake of Fire but also the entire Bible.
The reason why all of us trip up when first attempting to understand the scriptures after coming out of the church is because we have 'baggage' that we bring with us. This baggage simply refers to the way we think and look at the scriptures. Some have more baggage than others, but either way, this baggage continually trips us up in our walk with Christ. And one big piece of luggage is 'Literal, literal, literal...the scriptures are LITERAL!'
Now, this is not to say certain events did not happen (ie. Abraham leaving his pagan country, Joseph sold down into Egypt, David ruling over Judah & Israel, etc.) but only the 'meaning' of these events have a higher, spiritual purpose. These events that happened, especially in the OT, had a higher, spiritual meaning than what happened. These events were only a metaphor for a spiritual reality.
Now some examples even a child could understand (David & Goliath, Noah's ark), other examples it takes more spiritual maturity (Lake of Fire, Joseph & and his brothers, Christ's earthly ministry with apostles). But the key to understanding is the same for both categories, Ray goes over relying on scriptural principles in helping our understanding here: http://bible-truths.com/twelve.htm
This paper is a GREAT read and will help one's understanding in remarkable ways. Great thread Samson
Thanks,
Marques
Ninny:
Thanks Samson... you know Extol, the sovereignty of God was a wonderful truth to learn..to know that God is in control of all things and all things are under His control was a HUGE thing for me!! Marques..that "baggage" is real and it takes a while to get rid of all of it!!
Kathy :D
Samson:
Yes Marques,
I especially appreciated a quote from your post copied and pasted below in blue regarding Literal, Literal, Literal. Read below !
The reason why all of us trip up when first attempting to understand the scriptures after coming out of the church is because we have 'baggage' that we bring with us. This baggage simply refers to the way we think and look at the scriptures. Some have more baggage than others, but either way, this baggage continually trips us up in our walk with Christ. And one big piece of luggage is 'Literal, literal, literal...the scriptures are LITERAL!'
Yes, at times I trip up when considering the Scriptures in the Old Testament and what they Spiritually represent, so thanks for the reminder and the information from Ray and the point regarding the order of His Lake of Fire Series.
Kind Regards, Samson.
Deborah-Leigh:
Here is another Witness to the Sovereignty of God from no less than Nebuchadnezzar. This Scripture is also prophetic in that it points to the end of days when every knee will bow and God will be all in all.
Dan 4:34 And at the end of days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule is from generation to generation.
Dan 4:35 And all the people of the earth are counted as nothing; and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the people of the earth. And none can strike His hand, or say to Him, What are You doing?
Arc
Extol:
Great Scripture Arcturus!
I've liked that story for a long time, but I never really grasped the full meaning of it (when I was in the Church). He does according to His will! None can say 'What are yuo doing?' !
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