Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 25, 2013

Net Sin

Rather than thinking of us having a sinful nature, it’s helpful to think of ourselves having a dying nature. Sin is what we do to try to avoid death. Except that it accelerates death. Being kind and the like delays death, however little. When God gives us food that allows us not to age, it will be possible to learn how not to sin. But,

“…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…” Romans 5:20
Is there more grace in our world? I would argue yes. Since population is increasing, there is more living than dying (sinning) occurring for mankind. This may not be the case for animals. Perhaps this is the future for our vast universe. There may be lots of room to increase life for mortals on other planets. Who knows?

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 23, 2013

Spurious Scriptures

“How can you say, ‘We are wise,
And the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
Has made it into a lie.” Jeremiah 8:8

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18

Here we have concerns in both old and new testaments about doctoring the scriptures. As older manuscripts came to light in the last couple centuries, errors became evident, particularly in the new testament. That is not to say we throw out the bible. God has seen to it, that his truth will be evident to those who desire it. But he has allowed some falsity to throw the less ardent off. He is a picky God who likes to see people who really dig for the truth. Consider how he chose men for one of Israel’s military campaigns:

“Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.” Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.” So the 300 men took the people’s provisions and their trumpets into their hands. And Gideon sent all the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but retained the 300 men; and the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.” Judges 7:1-8

The Israelites proposed to send 32,000 men against Midian. God said take only 300!

One person who studied spurious texts was Sir Isaac Newton. He was a devout Christian, but secret in his beliefs for fear of official Church doctrine, which he did not agree with. He posthumously wrote a book titled ‘Observations on the prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John. Thomas Jefferson had a copy in his personal library. You can see it at the Library of Congress.

Another person to study spurious scriptures was Constantin von Tischendorf. By comparing manuscripts, he concluded that many words were added to the new testament later. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_von_Tischendorf Here is a list of spurious words and phrases he compiled,

http://www.bibletoday.com/htstb/spurious.htm

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 18, 2013

Many mansions

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

Men go to great lengths to provide houses for their wives. Houses are marketed primarily to women with emphasis on kitchens and bathrooms. This also applied to Jesus’ Bride. The temple had possibly 47 rooms (the exact number of side rooms is not given). Ezekiel’s temple will have possibly 82 rooms. Jesus referred to the temple as his Father’s house.

“To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:16

Did Jesus go to heaven to build a mansion as a gift for his bride upon his return? Imagine how many rooms the heavenly temple will have! Jesus will provide for his Bride better then any earthly man. He’s a lot richer!

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 10, 2013

Lazarus

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31

What was the rich man’s sin? What was the poor man’s virtue? Neither are given. Are we then to conclude that poor people go to heaven, and rich people burn in hell? Are all the righteous to go to Abraham’s bosom? Can millions of people fit in one man’s bosom? How is it that the rich man’s tongue was on fire, but not his body?

These questions illustrate the need to be careful how we interpret Jesus’ sayings. Many people see this as a warning about hell. But it is an illustration of Israel and the Gentile nations. The rich man is Israel, and Lazarus is the Gentile nations. Jesus is rebuking the Israelites for not believing him. It is very likely that Jesus preached this not long before he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. That was the crowning miracle that set the Pharisees hell-bent on killing him. The Pharisees were religious leaders in Israel. How could religious leaders plot to murder the Messiah? Jesus is also hinting that the gospel call will be expanded to the Gentiles since not enough Jews were faithful in God’s eyes. The torment will come at the resurrection when, “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

Isn’t weeping bitterly a torment?

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 6, 2013

Double Portion

“But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.” Deuteronomy 21:17
“but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.” 1 Samuel 1:5
“When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 2 Kings 2:9
“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs.” Isaiah 61:7
“Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.” Revelation 18:6

The double portion is either a blessing or a curse. The double portion for Christians is heaven. For Israelites it will be joy and double their land. We can be confident that the borders of Israel in our day will be much larger in the future. For Mystery Babylon, it will be double the evil they did to their enemies.

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.” Job 42:10,12-15

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 6, 2013

Two Resurrections

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.” Hebrews 11:35

A better resurrection? Doesn’t that imply an inferior resurrection?

Now some see the inferior resurrection as the resurrection of the wicked:
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” John 5:28-29

Most assume that ‘who have done’ refers to actions of the first life. They assume that the judgment is merely a sentencing. They envision multitudes momentarily rising out of hell only to be quickly condemned back to hell. Why bother with the sentencing if they’re already in hell? But we know that court trials first involve a trial and then a verdict. Except in this case the trial will probably last at least one hundred years:

“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.” Isaiah 65:20

The firstborn Israelites received a double inheritance:
“But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.” Deuteronomy 21:17
The church is called the firstborn:
“to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.” Hebrews 12:23
Heaven is the double portion; earth in the single portion.

Scriptures showing the heavenly and earthly resurrections:
“Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore.” Genesis 22:17
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the Lord,
“So your offspring and your name will endure.” Isaiah 66:22
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 4, 2013

Marriage Trials

Tonight at dinner, my daughter asked if she would come back to life if she died. I said yes. But her mom said, “Your dad thinks differently than me, but I think you’d go to heaven.” Nothing like honoring your husband as spiritual head of the house! Not! You can bet the kids are learning this disrespect. Yet she wants me to back up her dictates.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38

It is hard to have a wife who disrespects you. But it’s also hard to have cancer or be politically persecuted. Whatever our lot, we must persevere, knowing that the Lord will repay the persecutors. They will be judged. Maybe Paul right when he said it’s better not to marry.
“But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: it is good for them if they so continue, even as I.” 1 Corinthians 7:8

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 3, 2013

Modern Israel

Modern Israel is a bit of a miracle. What other people have been regathered to their land after 18 centuries? Greece has been regathered, but they do not have as deep a history. In 1878, the first modern settlement began named Petah Tikva. Jews immigrated from Europe while Palestine was under British rule. Israel became a nation in 1948/1949. It has had wars and troubles this whole time. The bible foretells this time in the story of Joseph. The brothers have returned to get food, and they don’t yet recognize Joseph’s help. Joseph (Jesus) will not reveal himself to them until they repent of selling their brother into slavery (or selling Jesus to be crucified). This event is still future. This won’t happen until the bride of Christ is complete. In that day, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10

Modern Israel has everything to do with prophecy. Some prominent pastors adamantly deny this. The institutional church (Papacy) has been the antichrist and they want to deny this. Hence they have substituted a day for a day interpretation of prophecy instead of a day for a year.

“And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:8-10

This obviously doesn’t apply to the exiles returning in Ezra/Nehemiah’s time. It is still future to us.

“Remember these things, Jacob,
for you, Israel, are my servant.
I have made you, you are my servant;
Israel, I will not forget you.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.
Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.” Isaiah 44:21-23

“Those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 51:11

“This is what the Lord says:
Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
‘Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
See, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
expectant mothers and women in labor;
a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son.” Jeremiah 31:7-9

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord. “In those days people will no longer say,
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:27-34

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 2, 2013

Being wrong

Have you ever noticed how everyone in the bible got some prediction wrong? Nobody could see the future 100% John the Baptist is called by Jesus the greatest prophet, yet he thought everything would be wrapped up by one visit of the Messiah. Paul wasn’t sure when Jesus would come back. He seems to say it would be very soon. Yet look at the centuries! Even Jesus didn’t know the future. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36

So in this light, its fun to wonder where we’re wrong. How our assumptions may have lead us astray. I keep wondering where I’m wrong. We will be shown in the future. It’s kind of nice knowing that we don’t have to get everything 100% correct. And it’s humbling knowing that we may be corrected. When the disciples picked Matthias to replace Judas, the Lord did not rebuke them, but merely overlooked it, and supernaturally called Paul instead. God can handle honest mistakes.

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 1, 2013

Isaiah 22:13

“The Lord, the Lord Almighty,
called you on that day
to weep and to wail,
to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth.
But see, there is joy and revelry,
slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep,
eating of meat and drinking of wine!
“Let us eat and drink,” you say,
“for tomorrow we die!” Isaiah 22:12-13

How many people do we know who live like this? How many Christians? They assume heaven will be some monotonous eternal vacation of playing harps and bowing to The Lord. Since their concept of heaven is so vague, it is really nothing to look forward to. Hence the attitude – you only live once!

Wrong! Very wrong. Notice how so many of Jesus’ parables say something like, “What shall we say the kingdom of heaven is like…” It then talks about judgment or how someone’s work is magnified. Like this:

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:14-23

Notice this line – you were faithful with a few things, I will put you charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master. That is heaven! Work, purpose, and meaning on a grand scale. Imagine; The Lord might say to you, ‘you have raised your two children well, raise these 1,000 for me’. Or, ‘you have tended to a few sick, tend 1,000 sick for me’. No boring floating and playing harps! Not everyone likes to play the harp anyway. Some women will be so exalted, they will hardly believe it. Women that wished to have children but could not: “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:1

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