I am still struggling both with my eyes and painful arthritis. My physician has now prescribed a once a day fairly inexpensive pill that I have now taken for the first two days with significant relief. I'm hoping that continues. But there are encouraging fronts, nonetheless.
A Polish publisher contacted me via telephone directly from Poland. He had been trying to reach me for some time. He said he wanted to have HIDDEN DANGERS OF THE RAINBOW translated into the Polish language for circulation there and in Polish speaking regions. I happily gave my consent. He is sending the proposed contract that I will review and sign. Additionally, I have volunteered to him that I would add an updating foreword as well as an end chapter with updates. I could use that supplemental material to update Hidden Dangers' other editions (English, Dutch, Norwegian, and German). He tells me it will take approximately six months to translate and produce.
Well, I suspect this will not make Isobel Blackthorn (author of THE UNLIKELY OCCULTIST - ALICE ANN BAILEY) happy. It probably will not delight the Fetzer Institute either. Their strategy is to publish the worst of the New Age and then label it as good, right, and true. The New Age Movement is very much out there and in public view as "Meditation", "Mindfulness", and a host of new leaders and shamans. A daughter of the King of Norway is living in the United States and is dating a New Age shaman leader. The New Age Movement is far from dead. The Fetzer Institute claims that they will now succeed whereas they failed in 1982 because now a majority are SBNR (Spiritual but not religious).
I have heard recently from New Agers exiting the New Age Movement and now seeking information to help their still involved friends. I've had some wonderful telephone conversations with some. Steve Bancarz is doing an excellent job of reaching out to New Agers with his own conversion account. I'm greatly encouraged by his work and by the work of another very prominent former New Ager, Doreen Virtue. There is a great deal of discussion about Kanye West and his very public profession of his belief and faith in Jesus. Steve Bancarz believes this is a tremendous victory for God's Kingdom. I am inclined to believe in Steve's analysis. Some watchers feel and have stated otherwise; however, it is my belief that those exiting the New Age Movement and other similar circles have had their heads played with for a long time and there is often far from theological perfection while the Holy Spirit is doing His work. There is a song sung by children, "God's still working on me." Me, too!
I hope to post more frequently from now on. Please pray that God strengthens me.
Sincerely,
CONSTANCE
632 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 632 Newer› Newest»Cameroon: Bishop says “not a day passes without attacks” by Muslims against Christians
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/01/cameroon-bishop-says-not-a-day-passes-without-attacks-by-muslims-against-christians
A Good Decade for the Pro-Life Movement!
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/a-good-decade-for-the-pro-life-movement/
Obama and Hillary’s 16 year Plan To Destroy America!!!
https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2018/02/obama-hillarys-16-year-plan-destroy-america/
GOP governor invites Virginia gun sanctuaries to secede and join West Virginia!
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/01/29/gop-governor-invites-virginia-gun-sanctuaries-to-secede-and-join-west-virginia-880787
Natural News Stories
Coronavirus COVER-UP BEGINS: China Threatens Social Media Users with SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON for Reporting Pandemic News that Doesn’t Parrot “Official” Stories
Coronavirus transmission rates: Every ONE patient infects TWO to THREE other people
Coronavirus cases are being MASSIVELY underreported, reveals nurse
Democrats approve of Mongolia closing its borders to protect citizens from Coronavirus, yet Trump’s a “racist” for stopping illegal immigrants with deadly viruses from entering USA
Chinese Government Keeping Coronavirus Infection Numbers Artificially LOW by Limiting Supply of Medical Testing Kits
China engaging in massive cover-up of Coronavirus deaths while the world edges closer to plague-like catastrophe
Next step of contagion may have been reached with first likely human transmission case of coronavirus in Canada
Stock market takes hit as fears rise over global Coronavirus pandemic, rising infection rate in China
Natural News Stories
(Correction: above link is to all less recent articles.)
For latest stories:
RECENT Natural News Stories
"Official" Coronavirus Count: 7,251 infected; 170 dead
CDC Diverts Flight of Hundreds of American Evacuees to Military Base in California
Brooklyn public school hosting "Drag Queen Story Hour" event for FIRST GRADERS
https://disrn.com/news/drag-queen-story-hour-now-being-taught-to-six-year-olds-in-public-school
Trump lashes out at Bolton: "If I listened to him, we would be in World War SIX by now!"
https://disrn.com/news/trump-lashes-out-at-bolton-if-i-listened-to-him-we-would-be-in-world-war-six-by-now
Buttigieg: I'd be 'tricking' pro-life Democrats if I said they had place in party
https://lifesitenews.com/news/buttigieg-id-be-tricking-pro-life-democrats-if-i-said-they-had-place-in-party
The Line for Trump Rally on Jersey Shore Is Insane: 100,000 Seeking Tickets!
https://pjmedia.com/trending/the-line-for-trump-rally-on-jersey-shore-is-insane-100000-seeking-tickets/
Undeniable Proof That Mystery Babylon Is Mecca Islam The Whore Of Babylon Islam Exposed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kim3ZhZQ_Q0
To: All
Just FYI, 10:59 AM is a DIFFERENT poster (although we both post direct click-on links).
7:20 AM
There Were More Than 1.2 MILLION Monarch Butterflies Wintering in CA in 1997. Now There Are...
...ONLY 30,000!!!
https://strangesounds.org/2020/01/california-monarch-butterfly-population-critically-low-numbers.html
Horrifying Video Shows Officers Mock Suffering Father Until He Turned Blue and Died
https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/76126/horrifying-video-shows-officers-mock-suffering-father-until-he-turned-blue-and.html
No One Is Above The Law? Hillary Clinton Refuses To Be Served Tulsi Gabbard Lawsuit
https://www.blacklistednews.com/political/no-one-is-above-the-law-hillary-clinton-refuses-be-served-tulsi-gabbard-lawsuit-twice
Should have proof read my 12:41 PM above. It's www.zerohedge.com,,, NOT blacklisted news.com
Sorry!
(Tulsi should've hired HRC herself to do it as it's well-known that, if NOTHING else: Hillary is SELF-serving!)
-- In fact, a clue to the real Babylon was just presented in an article by WND's Aaron Klein when he stated: "Forces in the Persian Gulf and Arab intelligence services have noted the establishment of Iranian missile launch sites aimed in the direction of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence officials speaking to WND."
https://www.wnd.com/2013/05/mystery-babylon-is-mecca-not-vatican/
Revelation 17:16
“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”
King James Version (KJV)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/08/muslim-population-islam-survey
One in four people is Muslim, says study
This article is more than 10 years old
World Muslim population estimated to be 1.57 billion
Question:
Should we have a Great Commission today, or should we just hunker and wait to be raptured, reading Left Behind novels while our brethren are beheaded in other parts of the world?
CNN Is Angry That Too Many White People Are Trying To Stop The Coronavirus Spreading
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/cnn-angry-too-many-white-people-are-trying-stop-coronavirus-spreading
NATURAL NEWS
Over the Last 7 Days, Coronavirus Infections Have Increased 1000% … What Happens Next?
ALERT: Coronavirus Now a GLOBAL Pandemic: Here’s What You Need to Know
NaturalNews.com
https://censored.news/NaturalNews.htm
https://censored.news/
NaturalNews.com
Nurse says coronavirus quarantine failing, “EVERYONE will get infected”
http://www.naturalnews.com/2020-01-30-nurse-says-coronavirus-quarantine-failing.html
God's Anointed Leader ISN'T Always What We Expect
By Michelle Fitzpatrick Thomas
AmericanThinker.com
January 28, 2020
Much has been spoken and written lately regarding the evangelical community's feelings toward President Trump, especially since the Christianity Today editorial calling for his removal from office was published last month. Many evangelicals continue to support him wholeheartedly because he has proven repeatedly that he can be trusted to keep his campaign promises and to govern faithfully and conservatively. Others vow never to support him because they feel that he "embodies the anti-Christian ethic."
President Trump certainly has a "colorful" past, and that is the key reason why I did not support him in the Republican presidential primary of 2016. I just couldn't imagine a man of his moral failings representing this nation and becoming the leader of the free world. However, when it ultimately came down to a choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on November 8, it was a no-brainer. I would have crawled on my hands and knees to the polls, if necessary, to vote against her. That's exactly what my vote was at that time — a vote against Hillary Clinton.
It turns out, however, that millions of us who held our noses and voted for Trump have been quite pleasantly surprised by his ardent support of the values and policies that we hold dear. He has been the most pro-life president in the history of our nation, and he was the first president ever to attend the annual March for Life on Capitol Hill. He has been a true friend to small business–owners; he has appointed hundreds of wonderful federal judges; he is defending religious liberty; he is improving our international trade relationships; and among many other accomplishments, he is making our military stronger and our nation safer. Despite all of these successes, many persist in demanding the removal of President Trump because they dislike how he conducts himself.
For many evangelicals, the decision to vote for and to continue to support Donald Trump essentially boils down to this: he operates from the Republican Party platform, which represents life; liberty; and conservative, Judeo-Christian values. Whoever his Democrat opponent turns out to be in November, that person will stand on the Democrat Party platform, which is immoral, anti-Christian, anti-God, anti-life, and anti-freedom.
Seems pretty clear and simple.
My church went through a study in 2019 called OT19, in which we read much of the Old Testament together. The very same week that the Christianity Today editorial calling for Trump's removal was published, our assigned reading included Isaiah, chapters 44 and 45. In these chapters, the Israelites were captives in Babylon, and God used a non-Israelite, a Persian king named Cyrus, to free His people from captivity and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Speaking to Cyrus, God said:
For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know that there is none besides me. (Isaiah 45:4–5)
I see some parallels between God's anointing of the Persian King Cyrus and the election of President Donald Trump. Cyrus clearly was not a follower of God, but God anointed him and gave him a "title of honor." Donald Trump has not historically been a follower of God, either, yet God has also bestowed on him a title of honor and given him the role of shepherding the most influential and powerful nation in the history of the world.
There has been much debate about whether President Trump is truly a Christian and whether he is "morally fit" to lead our nation. He certainly has moral shortcomings, as we all have. It is true that only God can judge the hearts of men, but hundreds of trusted evangelical leaders all over the nation, who have spent time with President Trump and advised him and prayed over him, continue to defend and support him. Regardless of Trump's true spiritual condition, which none of us can know with certainty, God has shown clearly in His Word that He can and will use both people who honor and serve Him and people who do not in order to accomplish His purposes on this Earth. When God anointed the foreign, heathen Persian King Cyrus, He said about him, "He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please"
(Isaiah 44:28).
Cyrus was the tool that God used to bring deliverance and restoration to the Jews thousands of years ago. God has continued to use all sorts of flawed and morally deficient people — Moses, Samson, Rahab, and Paul are just a few examples — down through the centuries, because He is God and He knows best.
God doesn't need our permission or approval to put His choice of shepherd over us to accomplish His purposes. His ways are higher than our ways, and we can't always understand with our finite minds what He is doing in this world. However, we can see when good and moral fruit is coming from the White House, as it certainly seems to be now. I, for one, am abundantly thankful for the shepherd who has been anointed to watch over our nation.
Our responsibility is to continue to PRAY for our president to make wise decisions.
He has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and we, like Aaron and Hur, should help to hold up his hands when he grows weary (Exodus 17:10–13).
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/01/gods_anointed_leader_isnt_always_what_we_expect.html
Trump years bring real hope!
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/01/trump_years_bring_real_hope_and_change_making_america_great_again.html
AMERICAN THINKER
Pope Francis has been busy. Note that although Pope Francis has never made a trip to Mecca to kiss and caress the black rock (the same one formerly housed in a temple in Ephesus) in its vulva shaped setting -- he has prayed in a mosque in Turkey with his head bowed toward Mecca.
THE CATHOLIC-MUSLIM INTERFAITH COUNCIL CREATED BY POPE FRANCIS ANNOUNCES NEW CHRISLAM HEADQUARTERS OPENING IN 2022 THAT COMBINES A MOSQUE AND CHURCH ACCORDING TO SIGNED COVENANT
ONE WORLD RELIGION: Pope Francis Traveled To Thailand And Presented Buddhist Supreme Patriarch With ‘Declaration On Human Fraternity’ Peace Covenant Of Chrislam
The black rock in Mecca is inherently Antichrist, since it is believed to take away the sins of those who touch it. It is said to have been originally white and only to have turned black from absorbing sins. In addition, the Kaaba structure that the black rock is housed in, has Arabic words embroidered on its outer "dress", stating that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his last messenger. To bow your head toward Mecca and pray is, quite possibly, to worship the image of the beast. Pope Francis has, quite possibly, already worshiped the image of the beast.
Hillary Tweets "No One Is Above the Law" Then Refuses To Accept Lawsuit Against Her
https://zerohedge.com/political/hillary-tweets-no-one-above-law-then-refuses-accept-lawsuite-against-her
The Black Stone - the Omphalos of the Goddess
THE CENTRALITY OF THE DIVINE FEMININE IN SUFISM
The Virgin Mary's Coming Triumph In Muslim Hearts
The surprising connection between Our Lady of Fatima and Islam
Hmmm...
https://churchpop.com/2017/09/04/mary-appear-fatima-conversion-muslims/
--Fulton Sheen firmly believes Islam will eventually be converted, but it will not be through the work of missionaries or the direct teaching of Christianity. It will be “through a summoning of the [Muslims] to a veneration of the Mother of God.”
This does not have to be the case. Muslims are being converted right now without being taught to venerate Mary and while being taught to accept the Jesus of the Bible:
SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS
EXPLAINING TO MUSLIMS THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES ARE CORRECT
This is how a New Ager looks at some of the Marian apparitions, including the (claimed) third Fatima prophecy. Notice the Marian apparation of 1961-65 in Garabandal, Spain is said to have issued an environmentalist, New Ager style warning:
"You have brought terrible unbalance unto your Mother Source and Creator’s creations. Can you not see that it is from the unbalance that the change must come in purification and renewal—you push too far."
The Third Fatima Prophecy (Undisclosed by the Vatican)
Islam and the Message of Fatima
-- So just what is the connection between Our Lady of Fatima and Islam? Francis Johnston, in his book, Fatima: The Great Sign, gives a cogent explanation: "The Muslims, who have a certain devotion to Our Lady and recognize her Virgin Birth and Immaculate Conception, were intrigued by the fact that Mary had appeared at Fatima, which was the name of Mohammed's favorite daughter and regarded by the prophet as the highest woman in Heaven after our Lady. In Zanzibar, the Muslim sultan placed a wreath of flowers at the [Fatima]statue's feet, while the Muslim chief of the Ismaeli tribe in Mozambique placed a golden necklace about the statue's neck saying: 'Thank you, Our Lady of Fatima for the work of love you are accomplishing in Africa' " (p. 126).
How Mary can be a bridge between Christians and Muslims
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/05/11/how-mary-can-be-bridge-between-christians-and-muslims
He said, ‘I am but a messenger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste.’
—Qur’an, Sura 19:19-20
It might surprise some Christians to learn that the excerpt from the Annunciation narrative above comes not from the Gospel of Luke but the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam. In fact, the Qur’an contains not one but two Annunciation stories. (The other is in Sura 3.) Mary, the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an, has an entire chapter named after her (Sura 19, “Maryam”) and is honored by Muslims as the Virgin Mother of Jesus.
In an era when Islamophobia is on the rise, it seems especially important for Catholic Christians to know that in addition to sharing our belief in the one God, Muslims also share a reverence for Mary. While contrasting ideas about Jesus have long been a dividing line between Christianity and Islam (Christians call him the Son of God, while Muslims call him a prophet), his mother Mary can more easily be seen as an interreligious bridge.
This is exactly how she is viewed in the Second Vatican Council’s document on the relationship between the Catholic Church and non-Christians, “Nostra Aetate,” which explicitly mentions Mary as a point of agreement between Catholics and Muslims: “[Muslims] also honor Mary, [Jesus’] Virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion.”
Mary, the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an, has an entire chapter named after her and is honored by Muslims as the Virgin Mother of Jesus.
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Like Catholics, Muslims believe Mary to be pure, courageous and faithful. They also believe that she was free from sin. The Qur’an calls her an example for believers, a woman of truth, a sign for all peoples and chosen above all women. Some medieval Muslim scholars even argued that Mary was a prophet. (This was a minority position, however.) The famous Muslim poet Rumi devotes a full chapter of his magnum opus, the Mathnawi, to the Visitation—when John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb at Mary’s greeting in Lk 1:41. Rumi described Mary as a “woman with a silent heart” and “a lovely branch which when touched by a sweet breeze gave birth to Jesus the rose.”
Not only can Christians and Muslims gain insights into each other’s faiths by comparing their images and stories of Mary, but they can also visit several Marian shrines throughout the world that are frequented by Catholics, other Christians and Muslims alike. Some of the more popular shared Marian shrines include Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery in Syria, Our Lady of Africa in Algeria and Meryem Ana Evi in Turkey, the latter of which was visited by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. In Lebanon, a Muslim-majority country with a significant Christian minority, March 25 (the feast of the Annunciation) has been declared a national holiday. The idea originated with a Muslim, who also created the day’s motto, “Together around Mary, Our Lady.”
Yet despite the similar Annunciation stories, common attributes, shared shrines and the acknowledgment in “Nostra Aetate” of Muslim Marian devotion, the Virgin remains largely underutilized as a resource for Christian-Muslim dialogue and understanding. Aside from Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who recently held Mary up as a “model of dialogue,” few church leaders today have highlighted Mary’s potential role as a bridge between the two religions. This seems like a missed opportunity.
If Muslims and Christians in Lebanon can come together around “Mary, Our Lady,” why can’t we?
This article also appeared in print, under the headline “Mary Our Model: The Virgin Mother can be a bridge between Christians and Muslims,” in the May 27, 2019, issue.
Excerpt of:
The ‘Jesus’ revered by Muslims is NOT the same Jesus worshipped by Christians as God!
...
Muhammad hijacked Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (all re-imagined as Muslim prophets) to help sell his patchwork creation. And Muslims are still trying to enlist Jesus in order to sell Islam. Only now, they use modern advertising methods to promote their message. So, don’t be surprised if the next time you’re cruising down the highway, you encounter a billboard suggesting that you “Find Jesus in the Qur’an, Muhammad in the Bible.”
The ad campaign is sponsored by a Muslim group called GainPeace. Sabeel Ahmed, the executive director, claims that “our main purpose is to build bridges, and to erase misconceptions.”
But the ad itself is misleading. I can’t claim to remember every name in the Bible, but I’m fairly sure that the name “Muhammad” is not among them. It’s true, of course, that someone named “Jesus” does make occasional appearances in the Koran. And because Muhammad borrows from Luke’s nativity story, it looks at first as though it might be the same Jesus. But after we find out that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary, the narrative—if you could call it that- -departs radically from the Bible story. Almost everything else spoken by the Muslim Jesus or spoken about him is a subversion of the Christian message.
One last point. Sabeel Ahmed reports that “Jesus is mentioned with love and respect and honor more than 25 times in the Qur’an.” Twenty-five sounds about right, but in most of those mentions, Jesus’s name simply appears in a list of other Muslim prophets who endorse Muhammad’s message. If you’re simply looking for the name “Jesus,” you’ll find it in the Koran, but if you’re looking for a flesh and blood person like the Jesus Christians know, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Unfortunately, this numbers game is effective with some Christians—particularly with those who have not read the Koran. In defense of the thesis that Islam and Christianity share much in common, a priest once pointed out to me that Mary is mentioned in the Koran 32 times. He seemed to think that that was a decisive argument. But, of course, it’s not. And if confusion about the faith continues to rise among Catholics, it’s a good bet that Muslims will ramp up their proselytizing efforts. Catholics who hope to defend their faith will need to better inform themselves about Islam, and not let themselves be misled by word games and number games.
The ‘Jesus’ revered by Muslims is NOT the same Jesus worshipped by Christians as God!
Antichrists and Antichrist
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. NOTE: at the time this was written, WHO was it that is being referred to as "many antichrists?" At that time, Islam did not exist.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. NOTE: they "went out." WHO is this referring to?
IMO, "they" were professors of Christ (see John Chapter 8 & John Chapter 6) that left because they did not accept the totality of God's word.
John 8:47 "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
NOTE: those that "know the truth" are under the CONVICTION that the truth cannot be commingled with lies.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
NOTE: defining an "antichrist," one that denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
NOTE: this is critical. There are those that make the lying claim that one can believe in the "Father" but reject the Son and that this is sufficient. It is a lie and it identifies with the spirit of antichrist. Question: at the time this epistle was written, what group of people were persecuting Christians AND denying Jesus Christ as the Messiah?
I think I know! Can we say it?
Anon,
It's everyone else but .... especially if you pay even an ounce of attention to John Hagee (I can't stand even a gram).
We might have a clue when we read Acts 6 beginning in verse 7 all the way through the entire Chapter 7.
Romans 11 KJV
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
RayB,
It’s certainly true that Islam was not yet a religion when John wrote his first epistle. And your opinion that 1 John 2:18-19 exclusively refers to those Jewish disciples who subsequently abandoned Jesus is possible. But I have to question your interpretation given the overall thrust of John’s epistle. I’ll come back to this, but for now, I must ask why you at first viewed this strictly in its historical context, yet you then anachronistically applied this to the current day (implied in your 1:18 PM comment).
Couldn’t the statement in 1 John 2:20 be applied as a general maxim, as opposed to being strictly limited to the time of John’s writing? If this is how you explain the anachronism I just mentioned above, then why couldn’t that also apply to, say, Islam today?
Now, returning to the overall thrust of John’s epistle: we must account for why John used the term chrisma, “anointing” (a cognate of christos, “anointed”)—a term found only here in the entire NT, specifically in 1 John 2:20 (once [KJV as “unction”]) and 1 John 2:27 (twice). Apparently, it’s this “anointing” that supplies the ‘truth’ as opposed to ‘lies’. Where do the lies come from? From “the liar” (2:20), the one denying that Jesus is the Christ. Grammatically, it is possible that this should be ‘the one denying that the Christ is Jesus’. I’d argue that this better fits John’s line of argumentation. This line flows from chapter 2 to 3 and then 4.
In 4:1-3 John speaks of different ‘spirits’. A spirit not from God is one that fails to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The emphasis of the perfect tense-form of has come is on the present status, the enduring truth of Jesus’ having come in the flesh. John is apparently writing against what was known as Docetism, a proto-Gnostic or Gnostic heresy that dichotomized spirit and matter: all spirit is good; all matter is evil. Thus, the “Christ spirit” was good, but since all matter is evil, the “Christ spirit” could not actually mingle with flesh, and therefore Jesus’ body only seemed real. To Docetists Jesus’ body was an illusion, a phantom.
Alternatively or concurrently, John was writing against the views of a certain Cerinthus (there is an account of John with Cerinthus as told by Polycarp, according to Eusebius [3:28.2-6], who sources Irenaeus’ Adv. Haer.). Reportedly, Cerinthus believed and taught that the “Christ spirit” inhabited (adopted) Jesus for a time—beginning at His baptism, and then leaving him before the crucifixion.
Both Docetism and Cerinthianism are antichrist doctrines, for they separate “Christ” from Jesus. And both deny the Son—they deny the Son as being the Son of the Father. Related doctrines are found in the New Age and in what I call ‘hyper-charismaticism’.
To be clear, I don’t deny that “many antichrists” may refer to former Jewish disciples, as in John 6 and John 8; but, I think John is not limiting his words to these former disciples here in his first epistle. Also, I think both 2:20 and 4:1-3 are to be understood both in their historical context and for all time following John’s initial writing.
Let’s look at things from an orthodox Jewish perspective. From this perspective, Christians appropriated their religion, rejected some aspects of it altogether while altering others, in their accepting of a Messianic pretender as their Messiah. Might someone with that perspective be justified in being a bit offended?
Since this whole thing centers on the thoroughly Jewish idea of Messiahship in the first place, isn’t it quite logical for a Jew to either accept that Jesus (Yeshua) was/is the Messiah or to reject him as the Messiah? If s/he does not (yet) accept Jesus as the Messiah, should we just flat out call them antichrists?
Sinful mankind does not reject Jesus Christ because of what they think is rational, logical reasoning.
They reject Him for the very reasons that the Bible declares:
John 3:19
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
Jesus speaks directly to "those Jews which believed on him." They "believed," but Jesus knew their heart.
John 8:31-40
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8: 41-47
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
From the parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
Luke 16: 29-31
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Continuing from John 3:19 to 3:20-21:
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
So, if some men loved darkness because their deeds were evil and stayed there because they did not wish to be reproved, while others accepted the Light (the Son), doesn’t this imply a very non-Calvinistic, conscious, free will choice on the part of both groups?
RayB,
The question you must answer is this: Who are “the Jews” (hoi Ioudaioi) in the Gospel of John? Jesus was a Jew. The writer of this Gospel is typically understood to be the Apostle John, who was also a Jew. The Twelve were Jews. Other disciples were Jews.
For me, the biggest clue to the identity of “the Jews” (hoi Ioudaioi) in John’s Gospel is in John 11:45-50. What do you think?
Who first came up with “fake news”? Was it Public Enemy?
youtube.com/watch?v=6gfqooW_R-Y&t=1m38s
…False media
We don’t need it, do we?
It’s fake, it’s what it be to ya.
Dig me?
whistleblower is Shiff's daughter's boyfriend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmbJdAMK7RI
RayB John says they CAME OUT FROM US because not of us, so it is not unbelieving Jews but Christianity wannabe hijacker heretic that denies The Son and thereby denies The Father or denies both.
anon 12:34 and 12:35 about Cyrus and Trump, excellent post! Plenty of indications of secret occultism and immorality in other presidents, no squawk about them. Trump isn't part of the trance and took no initiations so is attacked instinctively by those who are.
Hillary's refusal to accept service might make her lose by default in some jurisdictions.
Disney has always been covertly occultic. the fairy stories etc. are softened versions (Grimm's fairy stories) of more hard core ancient legends. "fairy godmother" godmother in WHAT? a godparent stands as sponsor in Christianity for the child, just what demonic cult in a make nice format would this represent? the fae are said to pay a tithe every seven years to hell. the fairy dust that is scattered by Tinkerbell at the start of several Disney programs is like luciferian false light mind scattering stuff. Disney's fascist involvement is known, and they were often into occult philosophy whether racial only or more advanced. https://www.vulture.com/2013/12/walt-disney-anti-semitism-racism-sexism-frozen-head.html fact checks on rumors and still comes up with dirt. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/walt-the-quasi-nazi-the-fascist-history-of-disney.html more info and credible based on observed behavior and statements https://amos37.com/the-disney-deception/ looks at his occultc subtle angle.
the whole idea of fantasy (the word comes from phantasm or spirit or ghost) as being good for children then they have to outgrow it, and the ones who don't seem to be susceptible to all kinds of craziness incl. perversion, is twisted. the idea you only have to imagine and get what you want is life destroying waste and subjectivism unless, even worse, you figure out how to develop some power to affect others' minds and actually get some of it done. While fantasy stories have involved good vs. evil ideas, and C. S. Lewis attempted this in the slop job Narnia series, and Tolkien also but more paganized, more godless a universe, and some people have become Christians by their influence especially C. S. Lewis influence since he goes into reality writing as a Christian also, and the idea of good vs. evil may be pursued into rejecting the whole occultic fairy, otherworldly stuff, it also has been the conveyorbelt that led some into witchcultism.
FAIRIES WERE NOT GOOD PEOPLE IN THE ORIGINAL STORIES, fairy lights (usually methane flames) led you to your death in quicksand on moors and swamps thinking you were heading towards a lit house in the distance, or just wandering out of your way for hours while hypothermia risk increases. fairies were usually terrifying and destructive things who had to be bribed and were easily ticked off classic malignant narcissist types psychologically stole all the time and wouldn't tolerate anyone stealing from them. Their palaces and so forth were lies and illusions.
Fantasia was coming out of the closet so to speak. though it and the original story warns against meddling in stuff you can't handle, it does not rebuke the upstart's boss who is a wizard!
cartoon characters get smashed then reconstitute themselves, go through thin gaps, and so forth. a friend of mine who could see stuff said spirits operate like this. SO WHERE DID THE CARTOONISTS GET THE IDEA? WHAT WERE THEY HANGING OUT WITH, OR AT LEAST ABLE TO SEE AND INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM USED THE IMAGERY?
Virgin Mary pix usually show her with baby Jesus. Fatima pix/statues show her on her own. hmmmm.
INFOWARS
Coronavirus Contains “HIV Insertions”, Stoking Fears Over Artificially Created Bioweapon
MSM Tries To SUPPRESS Evidence That HIV Delivery System Is Embedded In Coronavirus
Philippines Reports First Death Due To Coronavirus Outside China; 137,600 Under Observation In China
Watch: How China Is Enforcing The Corona Quarantine By Drone
‘Burning Bodies In Secret’ – New Accounts From Wuhan Detail Coronavirus Outbreak
Facebook Announces Plan To Remove Posts About Coronavirus 'Conspiracy Theories'
Zerohedge Suspended On Twitter
“They All Knew!” – Chinese Furious At Virus-Fighting Officials Who Lied About Human Transmission
Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 257 As Confirmed Cases Top 10,000
Bird Flu Is Back – China Faces Yet ANOTHER Viral Plague
REPORT: Border wall to include 'hundreds' of flood gates, left open 'for months'
Mike Bloomberg Offers '60 Million' Latinos: $15 Per Hour Plus Mass Migration
U.S. Army Funds ‘Fully Automated Microaggression Detector’ to ‘Catch Implicit Bias’ In The Workplace
Watch: This Video Got a Major Pro-life Group Banned from TikTok
Senate Votes Down Extra Impeachment Witnesses, Paves Way for Trump Acquittal
Ted Cruz Appears to Mock Pelosi’s SOTU Handclap After GOP Blocks Dem Witnesses
‘Trump Won’: Hollywood & Media Melt Down Over Impending Trump Acquittal By Senate
Hillary Clinton For Vice President?
“BOOOO!”: Squadmate Rashida Tlaib Boos Hillary Clinton At Bernie Sanders Event
Hey Don Lemon! Tests Show Trump Voters Smarter Than Hillary Supporters
Infowars articles @ Censored.News
LIFE SITE NEWS
Drag queen hopes to meet Pope Francis in drag, challenge him to accept gay 'marriage'
Italian cardinal: Catholics who don't like Pope Francis can become Protestant
Convicted pedophile released, ‘no longer deemed threat’ because he says he’s a woman
BREAKING: Cross-dressing LGBT activist to appear on 'Sesame Street'
Transgenderism influences Hispanic boys to come out as 'girls' in female right-of-passage ritual
Warren vows to have 'trans child' review Secretary of Education nominee as president
Virginia legislature goes all-out for abortion, ERA, LGBT agenda
Virginia Democrats pass bill to even let NON-doctors commit abortions!
Buttigieg refuses to distance himself from Virginia gov's approval of INFANTICIDE
WATCH: CNN mocks Trump supporters, Republicans turn it into powerful political ad
Trump admin hosts international strategy meeting for pro-life cause!
Having a large Christian family is an awesome lifestyle choice that's easier than you'd think!
After pro-abortion state supreme court ruling, Kansas moves pro-life constitutional amendment!
Kansas Senate passes constitutional amendment rebuking 'right' to abortion!
Human Coalition leader explains how they’ve RESCUED well over FOURTEEN THOUSAND babies from abortion!!!
Life Site News articles @ Censored.News
California Nanny State 'Prisoner' Has Dire Warning About The 'Nightmare In Paradise' That Will Be A 'Model For America' If President Trump Doesn't Win In November:
Medieval Diseases, Loss Of Parental Rights And Unlimited Illegal Immigration Await Us!
02/02/2020
By Robert Kirk
All News Pipeline
I’m a California Nanny State prisoner. I yearn to break free to what remains of the land of the free but family obligations keep me moored to a one party progressive state whose signature achievements are oppressive taxation, business killing regulation coupled with massive immigration of a welfare dependent class. As Victor Davis Hanson has pointed out, the cherry on top are virtue signaling utopian projects such as the bullet train to nowhere and feel good environmental policies and over-regulation of public utilities which have led to the worst wildfires in the State’s history and the “necessity” of shutting off the power to large segments of the population during high winds as an Orwellian third-world solution to government waste and mismanagement.
So. I’m stuck here.
One way I try to cope with it is humor.
Of course, in today’s politically correct culture, even humor is becoming verboten under the influence of the Lefto-Natzis.
That is especially true in the media and entertainment industry which is dominated and controlled by the left.
Awhile back I was encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response of the right wing low brow unwashed Cretans who read All News Pipeline to my article published on ANP a few years back about a nightmare a business owner/émigré from Kansas has about the rules and regulations in his adopted state of California.
So I decided to bring my story to the silver screen. Well, “silver screen” is a bit of an exaggeration. My forte is not only “independent” but also low budget film making. A more apt description would be that I decided to bring my short film as a thrust into the culture war by way of the internet and your computer screens.
My short film, based on my earlier ANP story is titled "Nightmare in Paradise".
My film ends with an ironic twist underlined by the classic song, “California Here I Come” playing during the end titles.
Though I filmed Nightmare in Paradise this past October, I held it for release until now because the classic song “California Here I Come”, written by Joseph Meyers and Buddy DeSylva in 1924, just come into the public domain this January. Waiting two months for release saved me the cost of having to purchase the composition rights.
Also it gave me an opportunity to record our own performance of “California Here I Come” when Lloyd Marcus came out to my home during our filming of his current music video (Trump Train 2020:
https://youtu.be/GQdcH-vPfWY)
In mid-January Lloyd Marcus and seven of his fellow Deplorable Chorus members flew out to my neck of the woods so we could finish the studio shoot of the soon to be release music video. On January 11th, after our studio shoot, I had Lloyd and his fellow Chorus members over to the house for dinner and they graciously agreed to belt out a few bars of “California Here I Come.” Another friend and acquaintance, Lance Roettger, did the musical score and also joined in the chorus so that we could finish up Nightmare in Paradise and release it on January 31st. Lloyd published an excellent article in American Thinker not only about his experience coming out to California but most importantly, about the issues which pertain to the culture and political war we are currently engaged in. As Lloyd stated in part in his American Thinker article:
"California is a state that seeks to remove all parental rights and ban homeschooling, forcing parents to surrender their children for LGBT, socialist/progressive, and anti-American indoctrination. This is a state that coddles illegal aliens, showering them with freebies unavailable to legal residents, while legal residents struggle to survive. This is a state that has ushered in the resurgence of medieval diseases because vagrants are allowed to set up tent cities and defecate on the streets. Criminals who steal under a thousand dollars’ worth of products are not charged.
"If Bloomberg or any of his fellow wacko Democrats is elected president, Americans will immediately fall backward, resuming the economic, cultural, and world leadership decline of the Obama years. …
"Trump must be re-elected in 2020.
"Meanwhile, laugh a bit.
"Please enjoy Robert Kirk’s Nightmare in Paradise:
(https://youtu.be/lK2Mc6mLCCY)"
Yes, I second Lloyd’s opinion.
We need to keep both our sense of humor and our focus on victory in 2020.
Gold help us if Trump is not re-elected and California becomes the model and the norm for the rest of the Country!
Robert Kirk, a retired Prosecutor, suffers from a rare malady that only afflicts a tiny percentage of his fellow Californians – common sense conservative thought. (Website www.alienanthro.com)
A Dire Warning About The 'Nightmare In Paradise'!
Rand Paul calls for John Bolton's security clearance to be revoked immediately
https://www.thedailysheeple.com/rand-paul-calls-for-john-boltons-security-clearance-to-be-revoked-immediately/
THE COMMON SENSE SHOW
CHICOMS FOLLOWING BILL GATES PREDICTIVE PROGRAMMING SCRIPT TO THE LETTER
Home Confinements Appearing In China
CHICOMS DEPLOY DRONES FOR QUARANTINE ENFORCEMENT
BRUTAL: Chinese Leaders to Sacrifice Coronavirus-Infected Cities to Save 11 Others; Prepared to Accept Millions of Fatalities
Frequency Transmission and Coronavirus
Latest Coronavirus Update from Shenshen, China
Every region of China now has confirmed cases of coronavirus
World Health Organization Places Mass Migration Over Containing Pandemics
If the coronavirus makes it to Mexico, open borders will ensure a pandemic in the USA and sanctuary cities will be hardest hit
Ex-NSA Agent On How to Survive What Is Coming
Protect your property when SHTF: Perimeter defense tips for your homestead
WARNING: PREP NOW!!! THE GOVERNMENT IS BUYING UP PREPPER RESOURCES
The Common Sense Show @ Censored.News
(You can't make this stuff up:)
New York Found a Way To Charge People for Looking at the Night Sky
New York Literally Charging People To Look at Night Sky
By Jared Harris
Western Journal
February 2, 2020
New York has discovered a way to charge people for looking at the night sky, and it looks like the state is taking full advantage of the new discovery.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is now offering a stargazing permit for those wanting to observe the night sky in a number of parks throughout the Empire State.
The state office released a pricing guide for the permits in December of 2019.
For anyone wanting to look at the cosmos in 2020, it’ll come with a hefty fee if they plan to use any of the listed New York state parks.
Residents of New York will pay $35 to look at the stars according to New York guidelines.
For those out of state who inexplicably want to travel to New York for stargazing, they’ll have to shell out a whopping $60 for the privilege.
...
https://www.westernjournal.com/new-york-found-way-charge-people-looking-night-sky/
Your Smart Vehicle is Recording YOUR EVERY MOVE
https://themindunleashed.com/2020/01/your-smart-vehicle-is-recording-your-every-move.html
https://thedailybell.com/all-articles/news-analysis/3d-printed-firearms-defense-distributed-ghost-gun-guide/
This Coronavirus Outbreak Has The Potential To Turn Into An ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE!
Weathering The Coming Storm: How To Overcome Our Own Bodies Immune System's Attempts To Kill Us - Understanding The Deadly 'Cytokine Storm'
By Stefan Stanford
All News Pipeline
Live Free Or Die
I reached out Tuesday night to someone I've known for decades who has long worked as an administrator in a major hospital here in America to ask them what they thought about the threat of coronavirus in the US hospital system and if they believed we were prepared to handle something that has the very real potential of turning into a disaster and got back some very interesting answers that we'll share here with you today hoping to give you another perspective about what's now happening here.
Immediately mentioning to me that all international colleges here in America need to be on the lookout because college students, most of whom got out of school in December for Christmas and the holidays, have just returned from their home countries for the Spring semester, as Breitbart reported in this new story, China has the most US student visas, nearly half a million in 2018, with over 8,000 of those students from Wuhan back in 2012 according to this Brookings Institute study.
Also bringing up to me another very interesting fact which troubled them that Susan and I hadn't thought of, that while SARS and MERS are both 'coronaviruses' that killed people, neither one of those 'outbreaks' required the same kind of 'mass quarantines' that we're now seeing in China, they then told me why this 'outbreak', while still hugely limited here in America and around most of the world, had the potential to turn into a nightmare.
Emphasizing heavily to me that this has the potential to become a huge problem due to the fact that this disease can lay hidden within people for up to 14 days, yet during those days the carrier will be contagious to others who become infected and then repeat the cycle, I was told this is why the flu and the common cold often spread so quickly and affect such a large population during some illness outbreaks, because people are contagious to others without even showing symptoms yet spending much time in close proximity to each other. And this coronavirus has many of the same symptoms as the flu or cold. So how many people might end up catching the virus and walking around, infecting others, having no idea they even have it?
And with the same previously mentioned Brookings Institute Survey finding that 73% of international college students in America lived in the big cities and metropolitan areas where many 'international universities' are, according to this January 27th story over at Inside Higher Ed, the coronavirus had already arrived on US campuses with a student in Arizona who recently traveled to Wuhan, a student from Baylor University in Texas who had also traveled to Wuhan and a Tennessee Tech U student who tested negative for the virus providing recent scares.
So with coronavirus here in America and the very real potential that it spreads due to it's up-to-14-day-window where a person can be contagious to others without showing any symptoms themselves, short of giving us another reason to 'bug out' to the mountains or the country, we'll also be taking a look below at what some experts say is the best way to weather a 'cytokine storm', what happens when our own body's immune system's turn against itself, what health experts say has been responsible for killing the most people from coronavirus now in China and what health experts say was responsible for killing many people during the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu.
...
Weathering The Coming Storm: How To Overcome Our Own Bodies Immune System's Attempts To Kill Us
In Major Deal, The Babylon Bee Purchases Competing Satire Site CNN
babylonbee.com/news/the-babylon-bee-purchases-competing-satire-site-cnn-for-12-billion
January 25th, 2020
U.S.—The Babylon Bee has been the world's best satire site for thousands of years, spawning dozens of secular knock-offs that just aren't quite as good.
The site announced a new acquisition this week, one that immediately made the site the largest satirical site on the planet: a purchase of competing satire site CNN for $12 billion. The move more than quadrupled the site's catalog of hilarious, satirical articles.
"We've long admired CNN's ability to parody leftist media organizations so effortlessly, and we're thrilled to have them under The Babylon Bee's umbrella," said site CEO Seth Dillon. "When you can't compete with hilarious satire like CNN, you obviously look for ways to get them on your team, and an acquisition seemed to make the most sense."
The new conglomerate organization will be called BNN. CNN writers and hosts will be instructed to simply keep doing what they're doing.
"We don't want them to change anything since you don't try to fix satirical content that's already incredible," Dillon said. "They'll just keep churning out incredibly skewed content in order to satirize the leftist media's inability to report anything without bias or prejudice."
Brian Stelter will produce satirical videos for The Babylon Bee, moving the site into the realm of video content for the first time. Again, though, his show's content will remain unchanged.
CNN will also benefit, as their content will now be clearly labeled satire, protecting them from getting sued to high heaven for their skewed coverage.
Site founder Adam Ford was against the move, but nobody listens to him anymore.
Meanwhile attempts to purchase CNN's long-dormant Australian competitor CNNNN have so far been unsuccessful...
CNNNN - Guaranteed Twice As True As Regular News!
CNNNN Report On America
RayB,
Cyril of Jerusalem wrote about Simon Magus, who was a Samaritan sorcerer, and who later became baptized when all the Samaritans were baptized:
"The inventor of all heresy was Simon Magus: that Simon, who in the Acts of the Apostles thought to purchase with money the unsaleable grace of the Spirit, and heard the words, Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, and the rest: concerning whom also it is written, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. This man, after he had been cast out by the Apostles, came to Rome, and gaining over one Helena a harlot, was the first that dared with blasphemous mouth to say that it was himself who appeared on Mount Sinai as the Father, and afterwards appeared among the Jews, not in real flesh but in seeming, as Christ Jesus, and afterwards as the Holy Spirit whom Christ promised to send as the Paraclete. And he so deceived the City of Rome that Claudius set up his statue, and wrote beneath it, in the language of the Romans, “Simoni Deo Sancto,” which being interpreted signifies, “To Simon the Holy God.“"
RayB and Craig and All,
The influence of Simon Magus eventually extended to Mohammed. The Koran denies that Jesus was really crucified, saying He exchanged himself with somebody else who really died on the cross. Simon Magus was the original liar who started this story. Check Tertullian and Irenaeus. They will detail what Simon Magus taught about the crucifixion. Simon Magus had disciples, who had disciples, who had disciples. Eventually the story influenced Mohammed and made it into the Koran.
Cyril of Jerusalem (Roman Catholic "saint") states:
"The inventor of all heresy was Simon Magus ..."
The REAL inventor of all heresy is not "Simon Magus," but rather Satan. Anonymous, I'm not quite sure what point it is that you are attempting to make.
In the post @ 9:45 PM above, Cyril of Jerusalem makes a lot of assertions based upon suppositions regarding Simon Magus. In fact, the account of a man named Simon is found only in Acts 8:9-24. Based upon Scripture, we only are given the name "Simon," so adding "Magus" in an attempt to further identify the Simon of Acts 8 is a real leap.
Furthermore, there are an awful lot of extra biblical assertions being made in the post @ 9:45 PM & 10:01 PM. The Bible does not tell us an awful lot about Simon.
Anon @ 10:01 PM states: "The influence of Simon Magus eventually extended to Mohammed." Anon, what proof do you have to make such a claim? You also claim that "Simon Magus was the original liar" that "started the story" that Jesus really wasn't crucified. Again, I assume you have proof to back up this claim ... would you mind providing it please?
New evidence emerges: Coronavirus “bioweapon” might have been a Chinese vaccine experiment gone wrong… genes contain “pShuttle-SN” sequences, PROVING laboratory origin!
http://www.naturalnews.com/2020-02-02-coronavirus-bioweapon-chinese-vaccine-experiment-gone-wrong-pshuttle-sn-gene-sequence.html
Anon 9:45/10:01 and RayB:
The Simon in Acts 8 became known as “Simon Magus” based on Scripture identifying him as one who ‘practiced magic’ [‘used sorcery’ in KJV] in vs. 9 (mageuō), astounding others with his ‘magical arts’ [‘sorceries’ in KJV] in vs. 11 (ho mageia). Though I believe Tertullian and Irenaeus, et al, wrote their accounts as they were handed down to them, some of the claims have been found to be historically inaccurate.
E.g., see here: jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13747-simon-magus
In Kurt Rudolph’s Gnosis: The Nature & History of Gnosticism (amazon.com/Gnosis-History-Gnosticism-Kurt-Rudolph/dp/0060670185/) the author writes:
Even if modern Gnosis no longer holds the conviction that Simon Magus has to be considered the ancestor of all gnostic religion, yet his name is in fact the first to appear in the context of Gnosis. But the most ancient source, the Acts of the Apostles, composed in the 1st century A.D., did not describe him as a proper gnostic, but rather as a megalomaniac and capricious magician who seduced people in Samaria…(p 294)
The author proceeds to recount Acts 8:9-24. Continuing on:
…This description hardly does justice to the importance of Simon and reduces him to a mere charlatan…The apologist and martyr Justin (died in 167), who also comes from Samaria, confirms for us for the first time that Simon worked there in the time of the emperor Claudius (41–54) and was allegedly worshipped by his followers as the “first god”…Irenaeus, finally, has the most complete account and knows the system of the Simonians [those who claimed to follow this Simon] more precisely. To the divine worship of Simon as supreme power, there is now added his claim to be a Christ figure. He is also the first to tell us that “at that time a certain Helena went about with him, who had formerly plied her trade in a brothel. Of her it was said that she was the ‘first thought’ (ennoia) begotten by him”. [ED: in some literature she was also called Selēnē, which means “moon”]…Simon’s teaching includes the rejection of the creation [ED: rejecting the Christian creation account in favor of a Gnostically-oriented one] and of the law; it has a libertine character…(pp 294-295)
Some of this is found in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History (2.1.10–12; 2.13.1–15.1).
The account of the statue Simoni Deo Sancto which means, “To Simon the Holy God" may be true or it may be conflated/confused with an account of a statue Semoni Sanco Deo Fideo Sacrum, which was found in 1574. This statue was dedicated to a Roman ‘god of oaths’ Semo Sancus (as per Rudolph, p 295).
In any case, I stand by my interpretation of 1 John as likely written as an apologetic against Docetism and/or Cerinthianism (either of which may or may not have been handed down from Simon Magus).
More on Simon Magus and things related:
If you click on the Amazon link I provided above (amazon.com/Gnosis-History-Gnosticism-Kurt-Rudolph/dp/0060670185/) you can read the pages I quoted—and more—by clicking on the “Look inside” feature (just click on the image of front cover), scrolling to the table of contents. Under HISTORY, select “Early Schools and Systems” which will take you straight to the first page from which I quoted.
As regards the Islamic view of Jesus’ death, not all Muslim clerics agree on the interpretation of the relevant passage in the Koran (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_views_on_Jesus%27_death). Whatever the interpretation, the Koran teaches that Jesus did not die on a cross, that Jesus is not the Son of God (for Allah has no son), and that Jesus is “a prophet”, accorded an inferior status to “the Prophet Mohammed”. This certainly fits the criteria of antichrist in 1 John 2:22-23.
A Muslim Journey to Hope
https://muslimjourneytohope.com/
Video testimonies of former Muslim converts to Christianity.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simon-Magus
Simon Magus, (Latin), English Simon the Magician, or The Sorcerer, (flourished 1st century ad), practitioner of magical arts who probably came from Gitta, a village in biblical Samaria. Simon, according to the New Testament account in Acts of the Apostles 8:9–24, after becoming a Christian, offered to purchase from the Apostles Peter and John the supernatural power of transmitting the Holy Spirit, thus giving rise to the term simony (q.v.) as the buying or selling of sacred things or ecclesiastical office. Later references in certain early Christian writings identify him as the founder of post-Christian Gnosticism, a dualist religious sect advocating salvation through secret knowledge, and as the archetypal heretic of the Christian Church.
Having been revered by the people of northern Palestine as possessing vast preternatural powers, Simon Magus manifested his own admiration for the power of Christian evangelization when, in the New Testament story, he requested Baptism from Philip the Deacon. The biblical account concludes with Simon’s repentance and apparent reconciliation with Christianity after his condemnation by St. Peter.
The 2nd-century theologian Justin Martyr relates that Simon visited Rome at the time of the emperor Claudius (41–54) and was there deified by followers fascinated with his miracle working. Archaeological finds reputed to have confirmed Simon’s divinization have not proved genuine.
Other Christian documents of the 3rd century state that Simon Magus, in the role of false Messiah, had further confrontations with St. Peter at Rome. According to legend, on challenging the Apostle before the emperor Nero (54–68), Simon fell to his destruction from atop the Roman Forum in an attempt to demonstrate his occult ability to fly. Still other sources portray him as the individual responsible for the eclectic fusion of Stoicism and Gnosticism, known as “The Great Pronouncement.”
Simon’s quasi-Trinitarian Gnostic teaching, wherein he, with the title “the Great Power of God,” appeared to the Jews as a mediating, suffering “Son of God,” to the Samaritans as “Father,” and to the pagan world as “Holy Spirit,” is contained in the early Christian writings known as the Clementine literature. The mythic form of these documents raises doubts as to whether the biblical Simon Magus and the Simon of later apocryphal sources are the same.
In the 2nd century a Simonian sect arose that viewed Simon Magus as the first God, or Father, and he was sometimes worshipped as the incarnation of the Greek god Zeus. His consort Helen was regarded by his followers as the earthly manifestation of Athena.
In the Simonian creation myth, the first thought (Ennoia) was produced from the Father’s mind in order to create the angels, who in turn created the visible universe. These angels, however, imprisoned the first thought out of jealousy, placing her in a human body so that she could not return to the Father. She was thus doomed to pass from body to body, the most recent being that of Helen. In order to redeem his first thought, the Father descended in human shape as Simon and offered salvation to human beings if they would recognize him as the first God.
The Simonian doctrine of salvation differed from that of the other Gnostic groups, for it promised redemption within the temporal order, whereas other Gnostics could conceive of salvation as attainable only by escaping their earthly prison.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
In the following video by an apparent independent journalist (THE NEWSMONGER is the YT handle) the desperate situation in Wuhan is detailed by an apparent resident, and he mentions some sort of political scandal (untranslated, though the rest has subtitles):
Wuhan citizen plainly tells the #coronavirus situation in Wuhan & seeks help from the world.
youtube.com/watch?v=7OEqybiGdaA
January 25, 2020
Reading through some of the comments, some confirm the subtitles and cannot ascertain the political situation referred to.
If you click on the channel name, you can view other vlogs.
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Something's fishy, and I don't think it's the virus itself:
Coronavirus and HIV research paper review by Dr. Paul Cottrell
youtube.com/watch?v=zgR18GtO_1Y&feature=youtu.be
Discussion of coronavirus and HIV protein segments
Anon @ 12:27 PM ....
Your post is loaded with baseless assumptions regarding "Simon Magus," so much so that I'll address only a few:
There is absolutely not one shred of evidence available that proves that the "Simon" in Acts Chap. 8 is this character (real or fictional?) "Simon Magus."
Regarding the Simon of the Bible, Peter rebuked him by stating: "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." Acts 8:22,23 To which Simon responded: "... Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Acts 8:24
Nothing in Simon's response reveals anything other than an acknowledgment of his error along with a fear of its consequences. It certainly doesn't indicate any "Gnosticism" on his part. From this point on, Simon of the Book of Acts is never mentioned again (at least to my knowledge).
In your post you claim that this "Simon Magus" was "... the archetypal heretic of the Christian Church." Where is the conclusive proof?
You state:
"Other Christian documents of the 3rd century state that Simon Magus, in the role of false Messiah, had further confrontations with St. Peter at Rome." WHAT "Christian documents?" Furthermore, there is NOT ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE that Peter ever ventured to Rome ... other than Roman Catholic self-serving fiction.
You state:
"According to legend, on challenging the Apostle before the emperor Nero (54–68), Simon fell to his destruction from atop the Roman Forum in an attempt to demonstrate his occult ability to fly."
"ACCORDING TO LEGEND?" This is so ridiculous that it doesn't deserve a response ! However, I will state this; virtually everything related to "Peter being in Rome" at ANY time is based upon NON-BIBLICAL fiction. Again, there isn't one single shred of proof that Peter was EVER in Rome.
NOTE: I'll stop here. Keep this in mind; the case that is being made here is that this "Simon Magus" was instrumental in the creation of Islam.
PS: why am I even wasting my time on this fictional nonsense?
Simon Magus And His Universal Church
Who could have possibly guessed that our "Anonymous" is pushing the "Simon Magus" nonsense because it is all connected to the Worldwide Church of God, AKA, Herbert W. Armstrong? What an incredible shock!
Leave it up to the Armstrong cult to make an absolute mountain out of ant hill .... all based upon totally unfounded assumptions.
Of course, by doing so, THAT helps separate THEM from the rest of those heretics (Bible believers). And THAT is the real purpose. All cults make the bogus claim that THEY ARE THE PEOPLE, which of course appeals to their pride.
The link @ 2:40 PM is to a PDF book written by an ardent Herbert W. Armstrong follower by the name of Earnest L. Martin. Keep in mind that Herbert W. Armstrong "prophesied" dozens and dozens of events that were "sure to happen" because "God himself told him so" and "appointed him the Apostle for the end times," etc. etc. Unfortunately, history unfolded in such a way that proved Herbert W. Armstrong to be a complete, absolute fraud.
It didn't stop with the death of Armstrong, as other "apostles" followed after him .... and continued the practice of not only teaching their Old Testament obedience to the law = "salvation," but also making numerous false prophesies as well.
Who could have possibly guessed that our "RayB" is pushing the "whatever you do: DON'T read it" nonsense because it is all connected to the Church of God. What an incredible shock!
LMAO
"RayB" is pushing the "whatever you do: DON'T read it" nonsense"
NOTE: I never even once said "don't read it." What I have warned about is the fact that the material is being put out by a well known cult, identified as such by Dr. Walter Martin and many, many others.
If you want to read it, go right ahead. But if you get tangled into the web of this cult, you won't be able to lay any blame upon me, because I have done my duty to warn you.
You're being disingenuous as you are very, VERY CLEARLY trying to discourage people from reading it = the ultimate aim in thusly so speaking being to convince them to abide by the implied message which, of course, is: DON'T READ IT!
Here's an idea: How about having friendly discussions with people about doctrinal differences rather that attack?
Ask yourselves this question: Why is our Armstrong friend constantly, incessantly posting * clandestine links to Worldwide Church of God and United Church of God publications? There is only one reason ... in order to recruit followers! Make no mistake about it, this person views this site as a recruiting mission field for Armstrongism.
* Typically, the links do not indicate that they are WCG and or UCG publications. Our friend even posted a link to a book written by Herbert W. Armstrong WITHOUT the author's name attached to it. When I did a search of the title of the book that was linked, it came up under Herbert W. Armstrong's name as the author.
This is why I have advocated in the past that Constance should remove the option to post as "Anonymous." If one uses a screen name, their screen name will always be attached to the posts under that name. It is, for me at least, confusing with so many "Anonymous" names being used. That's just my opinion.
Our 'buddy' RayB uses this Blogspot to advance HIS particular theology ANY longtime reader knows well, so that's VERY rich for him to say similar of others!
And by the way, this Blogspot is for (in addition to dealing with New Age Movement issues) the improvement of the understanding of Christian theology. To do that best, guess what? One may well post articles! But notice RayB just mindlessly blares "CULT! CULT! CULT" instead of simply posting his differing understanding of doctrinal points he questions.
Gee, WHY would that be?
Let's think...
Oh, maybe because he CAN'T effectively show how HIS position(s) is/are more Biblical than what he's trying so hard to tarnish and dismiss?
Maybe because HIS position(s) is/are NOT as Biblical as he would like (us) to believe, perchance?
MEET THE PEST (er, PRESS)
Today on our program, we welcome RayB!
Q: So RayB, why keep Sunday instead of Saturday?
A: "CULT! CULT! CULT!"
I see...
Q: And why keep Easter and Christmas instead of Passover and The Days Of Unleavened Bread and The Feast Of Trumpets, etc?
A: "CULT! CULT! CULT"
Ahhh, yes...okaaay.
Q: Uh, why teach works are unnecessary when the Bible says 'KEEP the commandments'?
A: "CULT! CULT! CULT!"
And there you have it friends, another well-reasoned series of arguments by the one and only:
RayB!
It looks like your being ignored, and rightly so 12:00 AM
Do us all a huge favor and go away!
As regards the observance of Passover, here’s some ‘food’ for thought.
Having finished a blog post last year on the Passion sequence leading up to Pilate’s inscription over the Cross as in John’s Gospel, it became obvious to me—for the first time, I’ll add—what ‘eat my flesh and drink my blood’ in John 6 really signifies. Of course, the RCC erroneously interprets this quasi-literally, which is wrong on a few levels. The key to its interpretation lies in the way John frames his Gospel from a post-Glorification (post-‘Easter’) perspective, with historical occurrences and discourses interspersed with narrative comments explaining these actions from a post-resurrection understanding via the Spirit’s illumination (John 14:26; 16:12-15). This framing accounts for some of its divergences with the Synoptics.
John is at pains to fashion his entire Gospel into one in which Christ is the Lamb of God (1:29). First, we must keep in mind that a ‘day’ in Jewish thought began at nightfall and ended with the next succeeding nightfall. Jesus’ last meal in John’s Gospel, then, was the (‘Friday’) night before Passover (Saturday; Sabbath), on the eve of the Day of Preparation (John 13:1). This is confirmed by John 18:28, for Jesus’ Jewish accusers did not enter Pilate’s palace/praetorium as they did not want to be defiled for the next day’s Passover meal. Thus, Jesus’ trial and execution was on the Day of Preparation for the Passover (paraskeuē tou pascha), as per John 19:14. Why? Because there was and is no longer a need for a Passover meal! With Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Day of Preparation—the day when priests would begin sacrificing unblemished male lambs for Passover—He Himself, the unblemished Lamb of God, was the final Passover sacrifice (1:29; cf. 1 Cor 5:7; Heb 9:11-15; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 5:6).
Both eating flesh and drinking blood were strictly forbidden in the OT, of course. So, the interpretation can in no way be semi-literal. Even the Jew who would have seen some sort of connection between Moses’ manna and Jesus as the true manna would have bristled at any notion of ‘eating’ Jesus. So, this is not about eating or drinking in any quasi-literal sense.
Exodus 12 explains the Passover, of course. Once the lamb is sacrificed, some of its blood is to be put on the lintel (horizontal post over the door) and on the (vertical) door posts. Where was Jesus’ blood shed? On the horizontal and vertical beams of the cross. The remainder of the lamb—completely intact including head, legs, and internal organs—was to be roasted on the fire. Jesus’ entire body, His entire flesh, died on the cross. Thus, ‘eating His body and drinking His blood’ merely means understanding Jesus’ sacrifice as the replacement for, the fulfillment of, the Exodus Passover observance. In other words, ‘eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood’ is to embrace the Messiah’s death on the cross as the once-for-all-time fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice and to recognize that the celebration of the Passover as per the instructions in the Tanakh is no longer necessary. This recognition is the requirement to obtain “eternal life” (6:57-58). Conversely, those who do not will not obtain eternal life (6:53).
For the differences between the Synoptic accounts and John, see this:
https://bible.org/question/was-last-supper-passover-seder
Craig,
I agree with what you've said regarding the eating and drinking of Jesus...indeed.
I stated in this blog a number of months ago that READING and HEARING are indeed a real form of eating. We take in food and drink through our mouths, but we take in thoughts and beliefs through our eyes and ears. The result is the same. We digest the things we take in and they become a part of our being.
You said: "Thus, ‘eating His body and drinking His blood’ merely means understanding Jesus’ sacrifice as the replacement for, the fulfillment of, the Exodus Passover.."
How do we understand these things except by reading them in the holy Scriptures, and/or hearing these things being taught and preached?
So He is the bread of life, the unleavened bread of salvation and he is the Word of God. He once said: "my bread is to do the will of him who sent me."
Hallelujah!
Most of Christianity doesn’t keep the Passover, believing it to be an observance only for Jews. Is this true?
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Question 3: Does the New Testament say early Christians kept the Passover?
Yes, the New Testament is VERY clear that early Christians observed the Passover.
We must first understand that they didn’t observe it in the same way Israel observed it in the past. At His last Passover, Jesus Christ instituted new symbols for New Covenant Christians to reflect His sacrifice for sins.
We read about the institution of the New Covenant Passover in Matthew 26.
Unleavened bread now symbolized the “body” of Jesus Christ (verse 26).
Wine now symbolized Christ’s “blood” (verse 28).
Jesus commanded His disciples to “do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). He also instituted a foot-washing ceremony to teach His people the importance of humility and service (John 13:3-15).
The Bible shows us that the Church continued keeping the Passover in obedience to Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 11:23-26). Today, Christians around the world observe the New Testament Passover in March or April (on the 14th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar) to remember and commemorate Jesus Christ’s death and its significance to our lives.
The fact that early Christians observed the Passover on the 14th of Nisan is a generally recognized historical fact. Unfortunately, the Roman Church eventually substituted Good Friday and Easter Sunday for the biblical Passover—a change that is still accepted and practiced by the majority of mainstream Christianity today.
Questions and Answers About the Passover
If the Holy Days of Passover and Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits and Pentecost were burdensome days such as a fast day or a day of mourning, I could understand why people are so reluctant to observe them. It seems to me that everyone is quick to point out that the Law has been fulfilled by Jesus and so we don't need to observe these things any more in order to be saved. Well that may be true, and it's true that no one is or ever was, made permanently clean by the keeping of the Law. The Offerings had to be done over and over, and the people of God had to be forgiven over and over every week, season and year.
But every Holy Day of every year was a FEAST! The Feast of Passover, the feast of Unleavened Bread, the feast of Pentecost, the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Atonement and the feast of Tabernacles.
Why the reluctance? Granted they were solemn feasts but feasts nonetheless. Who doesn't want a feast? We wrangle over the necessity or non-necessity of observing these days as if they were really troublesome, difficult marching orders from God. Isn't this really a proof of just how stubborn and sinful we all are? It's a feast !
Somebody invents Thanksgiving Day and it becomes a day that everyone just loves to observe even though it's not Biblical, because it's not Biblical!
Why not have seven feasts every year as God ordained them, in observance of things that God wants us to remember, and eat and drink and give Him all kinds of thanks, not in order to be forgiven, but because they are feasts and very much a blessing?
I'm a Christian. I'm not Jewish except in the adopted sense. I wouldn't suggest that anyone is unforgiven if they fail to observe these Holy Days ("by an ordinance forever" by the way; Ex. 12, Lev. 23 and 25,and Numbers 29), but that's not the point. The point is that God is pleased when we commemorate these awesome Holy Days and the events that they recall, and the events that they prophetically foreshadow.
Anon 12:20 PM,
The two references cited that are used to support Christians observing the Passover post-crucifixion (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 11:23-26) need to be read a bit closer. They do not support this position at all. In fact, the former most logically makes a comparison between 'old yeast' vs 'bread without yeast'.
I agree with you too, Craig.
This reference of eating and drinking is clearly, spiritual supernatural food for partaking.
Craig, I have heard it taught that actually Jesus gave His disciples instructions on what would have been Wednesday afternoon so they could go in time before sundown which would become Thursday at that point, to have His last Passover supper with His disciples (what would have been Thursday evening because the Jewish days begin at sundown) because there was a double Sabbath that week. The Passover lambs for that day had been inspected for blemishes for 5 days before approved for the sacrifice as Jewish law required (note when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey colt and presented Himself for inspection in the claims He made as King (Messiah) during His triumphal entry and the Bible says 6 days before Passover Jesus was in Bethany, next day riding into Jerusalem). He was offering Himself to everyone openly then. And notice too, when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were preparing His body for burial to have that done before sundown, so Jesus died what would have been Thursday (not Friday) afternoon and preparation day would begin at sundown, so that is when it became that Friday, the day to get ready for the regular weekly Sabbath that was on Saturday.
Confusing to us because we are not up on Jewish customs or the Jewish calendar of when a day or evening begins.
This fits the Jewish custom and Jesus came and fulfilled all righteousness in the Law as God instituted it back in Exodus and Leviticus for preparing the Lord's sacrifice during the time of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. God gave precise instructions for that because it was ultimately representing Jesus as the future, and one day, Lamb of God, for all time, as the permanent and only needed sacrifice.
And the men who touched His dead body then disqualified themselves for keeping the Sabbath with their families, but they were no doubt, both, satisfied now in their open belief in Jesus that they had indeed "partaken" already. With love, and abandon, they believed Jesus, at risk of reputations and careers, and had to go home and explain to their families where they were when everyone else was gearing up to prepare for what would have, from then on, never be needed again.
Oh to have been a fly on the wall of Nicodemus' house when he went home that evening, after He left Jesus' body in the tomb...and had the fuller dawning upon his heart of Who Jesus really is, 3 days later!
"The point is that God is pleased when we commemorate these awesome Holy Days and the events that they recall, and the events that they prophetically foreshadow.
12:55 PM"
Amen, Paul!
I am 2:09 PM and I so agree with you about what you wrote.
We need to gain the perspective of hallowing what God hallowed, without making it about us in ritual forms, but in keeping with His very heart to have established these things for our understanding to begin with that we may truly KNOW HIM! Phil 3:10 comes to my mind..
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 New International Version (NIV).
7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us KEEP THE FESTIVAL, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
J @ 8:28 AM & 9:38 AM,
#1) As I mentioned, I wasn't intending to reply further on this...
However since then I've felt bad that you thought that I made it too much work (to get around to going to the links I provided to fully answer your questions) so therefore I've decided that I should do something to help ameliorate that:
I will therefore now re-post parts BUT those parts will INSTEAD now have &/or be DIRECT links of my previous reply to TOTALLY ELIMINATE the repeated cutting-and-pasting steps you would've needed to take instead.
#2) When you said: "You have presented a lot of reading material and links without summarizing anything about the reading material that applies to my questions." I'd answered it there simply with links (if a fuller and more complete understanding was desired) BECAUSE those issues were ALREADY addressed earlier BUT I think now that I really should've put a more direct reply there (although, yes, again concise, this is, after all a compromise), (ALONG with putting that relevant section of the 5/7 article there too instead of leaving it as one piece earlier on as I did) to wit:
J said...
"On the other hand, if we are really living in the end times, and we are to expect people to convert from Judaism to Christianity, those who convert from Judaism to Christianity are likely to be similar, just as they were in the days of the early church.
"But this is the question I have. Wasn't this issue dealt with by the Apostle Paul in the very early church? Didn't he say that it's not a requirement for Gentiles to do what you are doing?
"I am just wondering what significance you place on it or if you consider it to be optional, as the Apostle Paul apparently considered it?"
•Reply:
I consider these things to be of very great significance and that observing them is not "optional" (nor did Paul in actuality consider these things optional either incidentally).
Briefly explaining this, here is the last part of the article titled:
Holy Days CONFIRMED, NOT Condemned
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Though it is not within the scope of this article to elaborate extensively on several New Testament passages erroneously used to discredit the Holy Days, a brief mention would be in order. Colossians 2:16-17 is perhaps the most oft-quoted: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
Do you think Paul meant we don’t have to keep the festivals? Did he observe them, while at the same time express God’s desire that they be abolished? This would have been inconsistent and hypocritical.
Why would Paul be telling the Gentile Colossians not to follow practices of asceticism on these festive days? Because they were following the commandments and doctrines of men, not God (verses 18-23). By no stretch of the imagination could one find anything in the Bible labeling the annual Holy Days as doctrines of men. They are God’s feasts.
Quite obviously, the Colossians were being led away from the proper observance of the Holy Days. If anything, these verses corroborate the practice of God’s true Church in the first century to observe these days, following the examples set by Christ and Paul. Paul here cautioned the Church not to be dissuaded by the condemnation of others regarding these festivals, which are a shadow of things to come.
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Some people like to say they were a shadow of Christ, and once Christ came, the shadow disappeared. That’s not what the scripture says. They are a shadow of things yet to come in God’s plan. This was stated many years after Christ was crucified.
Other Observances Condemned
Another misunderstood text is Galatians 4:10: “You observe days and months and seasons and years.” Nothing in these scriptures identifies these as God’s Holy Days. The Galatian Christians were Gentiles who were going back to what they had come from (verse 9). They were returning to pagan observances. God nowhere made any months holy, and He condemned the observance of times in Deuteronomy 18:10, so these could not refer to biblical festivals and Holy Days.
Verses 8 and 9 of Galatians 4 refer to the practices of the Galatians before they knew the true God. Then they are shown to be returning to the weak and beggarly elements. To say that God’s laws are weak and beggarly elements is BLASPHEMOUS. These “days and months and seasons [times] and years” were the PAGAN practices of MEN - possibly similar to astrology today.
When understood, these “problem” scriptures actually succeed in pointing us toward the true days God established for His people. They are days that are filled with meaning and spiritual significance-days that teach us and remind us of the various steps in God’s wonderful plan.
Biblical Record Clear
The record of what Christ and the apostles did is clear. When a person looks into the commands and examples in the Bible to determine which religious festivals to observe, there is only one choice to be found: the annual festivals and Holy Days of God.
If we are to build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets and on the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, we will be faithful to these days as they were. And, as we do, we will learn more and more about God’s plan every year. I have observed these days for 44 years, and each year brings deeper understanding of their meaning and significance. It’s not a process I intend to halt.
(Posted on Apr 4, 1996)
Are Biblical Holy Days For New Testament Christians?
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VIDEO: God's Plan Through The Festivals
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••Does It Make A Difference?
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Only GOD has authority to make a day “holy,” so why have people established days of worship based on their own ideas or traditions?
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Holy Days vs Holidays
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••Just how important are God's Biblical Holy Days? Were they just instituted for ancient Israel, as part of the "Old Covenant"?
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Pagan Holidays
Versus God’s Biblical Holy Days
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Does It Really Matter
What DAYS We Keep?
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Are Biblical Holy Days For New Testament Christians?
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VIDEO: God's Holy Day Plan: Blueprint For Salvation
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Was the LAW of God "Nailed to the Cross"? Were the Ten Commandments "nailed to the cross" when Jesus died for our sins? What is the REAL meaning of Colossians 2:14-17?
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The New Covenant - Does It ABOLISH God's Law?
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What Did Paul Really Say In Colossians 2:16?
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Law And Grace - Colossians 2:16
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Galatians 4:9-10 Are God's Laws Bondage?
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And For The Weekly Holy Day...
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God's Sabbath Rest - There REMAINS A Seventh Day Sabbath Rest For The People Of God!
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Should I Keep The Sabbath?
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VIDEO: Should I Keep The Sabbath?
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The Complete Sherlock Holmes
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•#1) DOES GOD EXIST?
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DOES God Exist?
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VIDEO: Does God Exist?
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(When having PROVEN that then takes one to...)
•#2) IS THE BIBLE GOD'S WORD?
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The PROOF Of The Bible!
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VIDEO: Is The Bible TRUE?
{Page 5}
(When having PROVEN that then takes one to...)
•#3) WHAT ACTUALLY IS BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY?
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What Is The True Gospel?
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VIDEO: The Shocking Teachings Of Jesus: Kingdom Of God
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What Is A REAL Christian?
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FriendsOfSabbath.org - List Of Useful Published Books
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GiveShare.org
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BibleSabbath.org
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[Note: As ever, materials mentioned/linked to are mere 'starting off' suggestions, no claim of one or more of them being necessarily absolutely perfect is (or ever was) made.]
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To conclude:
What does the >BIBLE< say about the NEW Testament Body Of Believers?
"THE SAINTS...ARE THOSE THAT >KEEP< THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD"
Clear as a bell!
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS
Revelation 14:12
Have a great day!
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/02/04/eu-west-bank-annexation-will-not-go-unchallenged/
We as Christians ARE to keep his commandments and walk in his statutes, not in order to be saved, but because we should want to. Didn't Jesus lay down his life to ransom us?
I am of the understanding that the Ten Commandments are THE Commandments.
I am also of the understanding, from reading the plain Scriptures, that the Passover and Unleavened Bread are "by an ordinance forever" (Ex.12:14,17&24). _God said forever here. Do you think He meant forever?
The other Holy days are called Statutes.
There are Commandments, Ordinances, Statutes, Precepts as well as Judgements and Testimonies. They're not all the same things.
Maybe Constance could explain the difference between these things, but suffice to say they are not synonyms but they all pertain to the general Law (Torah).
Leviticus 26:2&3 says to the children of Israel; 2) "Ye shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. 3) If you walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them..." _and then the Lord proceeds to list numerous blessings on those who do those things. Great blessings of the soul, mind, body and spirit.
Read Psalms 119 and hear the rhythmic repetition of the words: law, commandments, statutes, ordinances, testimonies, judgements, and ways. They show up in each and every verse of the longest Psalm of all.
As Christians, I believe we are to take these things to heart, not in a religious way out of guilt, but in our free will, as a friend of Jesus, our Saviour.
Every Sabbath and every Holy Day has a profound meaning to the Christian world right now.
Jesus is so straightforward: If you love Me, keep My commandments.
If (that little word) is really a big word. Because we have a love debt we owe to our Savior for that extreme love and costly forgiveness.
Not by works are we saved, but because we are saved, we do the works (that please the Lord) - that is to obey His commands..He is the Lord!
The "want to", is the impetus, not a "have to", yet I feel a certain "have to", too. Not of guilt, that now takes a backseat to the gratefulness and praise I have to express, in word, and in deed. I would bust otherwise, or harden, oh God please especially not that one.
Love is demanding in that way, the sheer compelling of love, because He loved us first.
Amen 10:02
Opposing "grace" to "works" seems to have perhaps a Western bias toward "gnosis", as if our Christianity does not need to be active, but only needs to consist of giving intellectual assent to the knowledge that Christ is our savior. The earliest Christians saw their Christianity as consisting of "doing", not just "knowing".
Still when "works" are taken to an extreme they are a characteristic of cults, who set up their members to be manipulated into obedience to the leaders, fear of losing salvation through disobedience to leaders, and fear of never measuring up and never being good enough, in an endless cycle of bondage. Jesus said to that all who are weary can find rest in him and if they take up his yoke, they will find that it is light.
There are definitely two sides here.
Anon 2:18 PM,
Yes, 1Cor 5:7-8 speak of keeping ‘the Festival’, yet it specifically juxtaposes the old way with a new way “of sincerity and truth”. Since it clearly states Christ was our “Passover Lamb” Who “has been sacrificed”, why would we sacrifice another lamb? Given that Christ’s sacrifice is once for all and for all time, wouldn’t it make sense to ‘keep the Festival” in a new way? Though I don’t like the term “Easter”, I do believe the idea of changing the Festival to one in which Jesus’ sacrifice is recognized along with the subsequent Resurrection. I also think we should not forget why the original Festival was instituted.
Very well said 9:30 AM,
You've highlighted the very important need to be cautious to not go to EITHER extreme!
4:33 PM
Agreed 9:30 AM.
Truth and Grace are, in a deeply spiritual and meaningful sense, twins. Two sides of the same coin, just like faith and works are two sides of the same coin to exemplify those two very things, truth and grace!
...all of which comes from the Lord....and played out in real time in simple believing, and then actually acting like it in the things that proceed from a life that does believe. People playing hypocrites, merely religious, from either extreme, rather than transformed by the power of God, have not reconciled these facts from the Word of God.
If human works were enough, Jesus would have not been needed as the sacrifice to pay our deficit. Then why would He do what we could have done ourselves? When left to ourselves minus God's transformation in Christ Jesus, we see what humankind does, to themselves..and each other.
Head faith must get down into the heart for it to be true faith that saves, faith that can prove itself by *working to the outside* of the life, what was *worked from within* when real trusting, believing, (not coerced, but chosen) in Jesus began!
All that happens, inside and outside, by the Spirit of God!
What great salvation God hath wrought!
"Head faith must get down into the heart for it to be true faith that saves, faith that can prove itself by *working to the outside* of the life, what was *worked from within* when real trusting, believing, (not coerced, but chosen) in Jesus began!"
Saved in an instant, worked out in a lifetime process..all by the Spirit of God!
In addition to my 11:03 AM post--We are born again in Christ as babes, and growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord involves lots of growing pains I notice! Thank God the Lord's Spirit remains with us, as well as in us!
Anon 2:09 PM,
There are numerous theories on the specific happenings during the days preceding and including the Crucifixion. I am just not sure which is correct.
No matter how we look at this, though, one thing is clear. The Synoptics can be harmonized with each other, but John is different. In John Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14), and Joseph and Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body and buried Him on that day (John 19:28-42). How do we account for this difference? I think we must not attempt to try to harmonize John with the Synoptics, for John has different foci. To take the Gospel of John seriously, we must consider the following, as well:
The sequencing of John is different from the others. The cleansing of the Temple occurs right at the beginning. Comparatively, in the Synoptics the cleansing is near the end, providing the final rage in the Jewish leadership to kill the Messiah. Some claim there must have been two separate cleansings, but this hardly seems plausible. If this were the case, why did John omit the second cleansing, especially since it was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’, so to speak, in the Synoptics?
In John it’s the raising of Lazarus that provides the primary reason to plot Jesus’ death. This is arguably the most stupendous of all miracles, and it is inexplicably absent in the Synoptics.
I could go on, but you get the idea. John is very different. The question is ‘Why?’.
Amen, 9:30 AM!
I don't see it different at all, Craig. He is filling in and fleshing out in different spaces in the same timeline is all. And all of what I mentioned is not solid in my mind because I have gaps in my understanding like we all do. I found it very intriguing and plausible too. I simply trust that God has/d every detail managed for everyone to know that God keeps His Word to the letter, whether we precisely understand it it all, or not.
And what faith is for....
Craig said...
"Given that Christ’s sacrifice is once for all and for all time, wouldn’t it make sense to ‘keep the Festival” in a new way?"
Very perceptive!
(The question then being: HOW)
********************
How Should Christians Celebrate the Passover?
Posted on Feb 1, 2003
By Gary Petty
...
Jesus instituted a NEW administration of the Passover service for His followers that has deep meaning for us today!
...
• Luke 17-23: Jesus now institutes a NEW Passover observance. The administrative elements of the Passover were to take on a new meaning because a new covenant was being established.
The New Covenant Passover
It is important to notice the profound administrative differences in the Exodus, Deuteronomy and New Covenant Passovers.
The Exodus Passover entailed a slaying of a lamb on the 14th of Abib so that the LORD would pass over the Israelites. The Deuteronomy Passover entailed sacrificing lambs as a memorial of the Exodus Passover. In Israel’s history it was also seen as a means of sanctification. Hezekiah’s Passover included sprinkling the lamb’s blood on those present (2 Chronicles 30:15-17). The New Covenant Passover entails the reality of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Exodus and Deuteronomy Passovers entailed eating a meal including a lamb. The New Covenant Passover entails eating bread and drinking wine as symbols of Christ as the Lamb of God. With the reality of Christ fulfilling the Passover sacrifice, it was necessary to change the symbols of the Passover service. It was no longer essential to sacrifice a lamb as a type of a future event.
On the night before He died, Jesus instituted bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood.
Neither the Exodus nor Deuteronomy Passovers contain any instructions about drinking wine. The Jewish seder contains wine, but the seder is a Jewish tradition, not a scriptural injunction. Notice Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:17-26:
• Verses 17-22: Paul instructs the Corinthian church not to have a meal during this communal ceremony.
• Verses 23-25: Paul instructs the Church to follow Christ’s example of taking the bread and wine on the same night He was betrayed.
The Exodus Passover involved the painting of the lamb’s blood on the doorposts. The Deuteronomy Passover involved the sacrificial blood of a lamb. The New Covenant Passover involves its participants being “washed” in the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:4-6).
The Exodus and Deuteronomy Passovers contain no instructions for foot-washing.
The New Covenant Passover contains instructions for foot-washing (John 13:1-17).
The Exodus and Deuteronomy Passovers entailed sacrificing lambs as a memorial of the Egyptian deliverance.
The New Covenant Passover is a memorial to Christ’s deliverance of Christians from the slavery of sin (Romans 6).
Participation in the Exodus and Deuteronomy Passovers was limited to families whose males were physically circumcised.
The New Covenant Passover is only for those who have been spiritually circumcised symbolized by baptism (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11-12).
The Exodus and Deuteronomy Passovers involved the quick killing of the lamb. The New Covenant Passover involves the suffering of the Lamb of God (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Christ’s sacrifice was more than the act of a Roman soldier stabbing Him around 3 in the afternoon of Abib 14. It included all the events that began the night before.
{Page 1}
{Page 2 of 2}
Typology of the Passover
Many of the types of the Exodus or Deuteronomy Passovers are celebrated in the reality of the New Covenant Passover.
The Exodus or Deuteronomy slaying of a lamb were types of Christ’s sacrifice. Israel’s leaving of Egypt is a type of the Christian leaving spiritual Egypt. Christians should gather on the anniversary of the night before Christ’s sacrifice, not as a type of Israel’s experience, but as a celebration of the profound reality of Christ’s sacrifice and their deliverance from spiritual bondage.
It is important for Christians not to base their Passover observance on the Exodus or Deuteronomy administrations, but to follow Christ’s instructions as the Passover Lamb and High Priest of a better covenant.
...
How Should Christians Celebrate the Passover?
********************
BTW There is more than one school of thought on the "new way" details, here is another to help people make their own minds up (with prayer, asking for understanding, wisdom and God's guidance) as to the New Testament Passover observance specifics:
When Should We Observe
the New Testament
Passover?
********************
Regarding the Resurrection:
"How can we fit three days and three nights between a Friday-afternoon crucifixion and a Sunday-morning resurrection?"
When Was Jesus Christ Crucified and Resurrected?
Again, there is more than one school of thought on the details, here is another to help people make their own minds up (with prayer, asking for understanding, wisdom and God's guidance) as to the New Testament account specifics:
How Long Was Jesus Really in the Grave?
********************
Q: "What is the benefit of keeping a Christian Passover instead of Easter?
A: "I think the biggest benefit is you’re following what Christ taught. He said, remember me by this ceremony, by this service. And so, we’re keeping His commands. We’re keeping what He guided us to keep because there is tremendous spiritual significance in the Passover. And if you don’t keep the Passover, you’re going to miss it altogether."
VIDEO: Christ Our Passover
What kind of an Antichrist do Jews believe in? The Medieval Jewish sage Saadia Gaon wrote about an anti-Messiah who does not seem incompatible at all with the Christian Antichrist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadia_Gaon
Saadia Gaon wrote that during the End Times, an anti-Messiah would appear and would fight against the true Messiah. The true Jewish Messiah would kill the anti-Messiah and then usher in the age of redemption for the Jewish people and the gentile world. He also taught that the anti-Messiah would come with ten kings, and together they would fight over Jerusalem.
What kind of a Messiah, and what kind of a second coming of Jesus, do Muslims believe in? They believe in the Mahdi as their Messiah. Their Mahdi is expected to be the head of their revived Caliphate -- nothing less than a revived Ottoman Empire. Their Mahdi is supposed to come with their version of Jesus, a Jesus who converts Jews and Christians to Islam and kills those who do not convert. This Jesus is a lesser figure than the Mahdi, since to them, Jesus was only a prophet, and not as good a prophet as Mohammed. The Mahdi is expected to be something like a reincarnation of Mohammed.
The Mahdi is expected to do everything that the Bible says the Antichrist will do. The Jewish Messiah written about by Saadia Gaon seems remarkably like the Second Coming of Jesus.
What seems like the better historical and religious set-up? A Jewish Antichrist, or a Muslim Antichrist? When was the last time a Jew beheaded a Christian?
Could it be that Christians in the Middle East and Africa, right now, are going through tribulation? They've already gone through it in the former Byzantine Empire and in the Middle East, but it has become intensified in the Middle East since "Arab Spring".
Should we suppose God doesn't care about their tribulations because their doctrines or their liturgy is imperfect according to Protestants? Do we suppose the biggest apple of God's eye is American Protestants?
We feel persecuted for a Christian being fined for refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding, but is this really a tribulation compared to being beheaded, kidnapped, raped, dismembered, as Christians are right now in the Middle East and Africa?
If Jesus doesn't care about the Middle Easterners who are deceived, why is He appearing in dreams to so many Muslims, who are then converting? If He is even more concerned about Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity than He is about Islam, why isn't H appearing in dreams and converting them to Protestantism?
https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Eastern-Mediterranean-awaits-inevitable-big-earthquake
Eastern Mediterranean awaits inevitable big earthquake
The last major tremor occurred almost 1,000 years ago and the next one is about 600 years late.
...
While the area that encompasses Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria has suffered destructive earthquakes before, the kind of tremors that scientists classify as great — between a magnitude of seven or eight on the Richter scale — haven’t ripped through the region in almost a millennium. The lull in activity means the Holy Land and the surrounding region could soon be in store for a deadly rocker, scientists say.
...
THE BIG WOBBLE
https://thedailybell.com/all-articles/news-analysis/apparently-all-white-males-are-just-mindless-automatons/
https://newswars.com/barnes-noble-faces-backlash-for-superimposing-black-characters-on-classic-novels/
https://thecollegefix.com/campus-queer-resource-center-scrubs-blacks-only-mixer-after-college-fix-queries/
https://nationalfile.com/liberal-white-women-are-paying-thousands-to-learn-how-not-to-be-racist/
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/46153/recent-dead-sea-earthquake-ushering-in-end-days-prophecy-jewish-world/
Recent Dead Sea Earthquake Ushering In End of Days Prophecy
“Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.” (Psalms 114:7)
...
Scientists have noted that the Dead Sea Rift has affected human civilization through time as well as the flora and fauna of the region, causing migrations and creating water sources. However, it should be noted that the location of Thursday’s earthquake is the precise region of Jericho, known for its city walls that came tumbling down, and also the area of Sodom and Gomorra. A biblical perspective certainly seems in order when considering occurrences of geological proportions.
The recent quake was a result of tensions in the Dead Sea Fault which is part of the Syrian-African Rift, extending from Syria to Mozambique. Experts have predicted that a major earthquake could occur in the near future and local authorities have begun projects to bolster building against such an event. Tectonic tension is building and most geologists consider a major event to be inevitable.
...
Pope Francis Calls for Global Wealth Redistribution
What else would you expect from the Papal, New World Order Communist?
From the ariicle: “Every year hundreds of billions of dollars, which should be paid in taxes to fund health care and education, accumulate in tax haven accounts,” the pontiff told participants in a Vatican seminar, “thus impeding the possibility of the dignified and sustained development of all social agents.”
NOTE: The Vatican operates as a tax exempt, global "church" corporation with major financial holdings in over 200 International corporations. It owns untold riches in jewels, art work, along with its very own "Vatican Bank." It is also one of the largest land owners in the entire world (if not the largest). YET, PF (and those before him) laments about "tax havens," when the Vatican pays ZERO in taxes !! Talk about hypocrisy ! But what else is new?
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2020/02/06/tax-the-rich-pope-francis-calls-for-global-wealth-redistribution/
The Catholic Church Is Rich Enough to Settle Sex Abuse Cases Forever
(Guess how much the Church claims St. Peter's Basilica is worth)
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wjynvb/the-catholic-church-is-rich-enough-to-settle-sex-abuse-cases-forever
Anon @ 5:08 PM ...
VERY interesting article. For whatever reason, as I was reading it, I recalled a book that I had read many years ago that shocked my young mind called "The Vatican Connection: The True Story of a Billion-Dollar Conspiracy Between the Catholic Church and the Mafia." The Washington Post did a review of this book way back in 1982 entitled "The Cop, the Con Men and the Cardinal" and details the highlights. Here is the link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/1982/11/07/the-cop-the-con-men-and-the-cardinal/ac0c092b-eac4-492a-8dbe-32e63e9e5f34/
This book is still available @ Amazon. Back when it first came out, it made quite a splash and had widespread circulation. You might be able to find it through your local library ...
"The Vatican Connection: The True Story of a Billion-Dollar Conspiracy Between the Catholic Church and the Mafia" by Richard Hammer
Regarding the book, very briefly ... After obtaining a warrant from a Federal court, the New York City task force on organized crime was secretly wire tapping a member of the Mafia. What they found out alarmed them. The Mafia was supplying the Vatican Bank with highly sophisticated counterfeit bonds and stock certificates in the amount of $950 MILLION (in 1970's money). The Vatican Bank was then able to remove the same amount of cash from the bank and replace that with the fraudulent bonds and certificates in order to "balance the books," thus fooling Italian bank regulators.
It is a revealing, documented account (from task force records) of rampant Vatican corruption. By the way, one of the NY detectives was none other than the legendary detective Joseph Coffey. Coffey was a highly decorated detective with impeccable credentials, who also happened to be Catholic.
Adjusted for inflation, $950,000,000.00 in 1975 is now equal to...
$4,703,763,005.78 in 2020.
"The Vatican Connection: The True Story of a Billion-Dollar Conspiracy Between the Catholic Church and the Mafia" by Richard Hammer
https://archive.org/details/vaticanconnectio00hamm
"The Vatican Exposed: Money, Murder, and the Mafia"
By Paul L. Williams
Over 50 billion dollars in securities. Gold reserves that exceed those of industrialized nations. Real estate holdings that equal the total area of many countries. Opulent palaces containing the world's greatest art treasures. These are some of the riches of the Roman Catholic Church. Yet in 1929 the Vatican was destitute. Pope Pius XI, living in a damaged, leaky, pigeon-infested Lateran Palace, could hear rats scurrying through the walls, and he worried about how he would pay for even basic repairs to unclog the overburdened sewer lines and update the antiquated heating system. How did the Catholic Church manage in less than seventy-five years such an incredible reversal of fortune? The story here told by Rpman Catholic Church historian Paul L. Williams is intriguing, shocking, and outrageous.The turnaround began on February 11, 1929, with the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Vatican and fascist leader Benito Mussolini. Through this deal Mussolini gained the support of the staunchly Catholic Italian populace, who at the time followed the lead of the Roman Catholic Church. In return, the Catholic Church received, among other benefits, a payment of $90 million*, sovereign status for the Vatican, tax-free property rights, and guaranteed salaries for all priests throughout the country from the Italian government.
*(Equivalent in 2020 to more than $1.35 BILLION DOLLARS.)
With the stroke of a pen the pope had solved the Vatican's budgetary woes practically overnight, yet he also put a great religious institution in league with some of the darkest forces of the 20th century. Based on his years of experience as a consultant for the FBI, Williams produces explosive and never-before published evidence of the Church's morally questionable financial dealings with sinister organizations over seven decades through today. He examines the means by which the Vatican accrued enormous wealth during the Great Depression by investing in Mussolini's government, the connection between Nazi gold and the Vatican Bank, the vast range of Church holdings in the postwar boom period, Paul VI's appointment of Mafia chieftain Michele Sindona as the Vatican banker, a billion-dollar counterfeit stock fraud uncovered by Interpol and the FBI, the "Ambrosiano Affair" called "the greatest financial scandal of the 20th Century" by the New York Times, the mysterious death of John Paul I, profits from an international drug ring operating out of Gdansk, Poland, and revelations about current dealings. For both Catholics and non-Catholics this troubling exposé of corruption in one of the most revered religious institutions in the world will serve as an urgent call for reform.
https://www.amazon.com/Vatican-Exposed-Money-Murder-Mafia/dp/1591020654
For Calvin and Luther, their criticism was not either-or. It was not either the Mohammed or the Pope. They criticized both.
Calvin: "As Mohammed says that his Qur'an is the sovereign wisdom, so says the Pope of his own decrees. For they be the two horns of Antichrist." Pretty strong words. See "Calvin on Islam": http://www.historicism.net/readingmaterials/CalvIslam.pdf
Luther: "The Pope is the spirit of antichrist, and the Turk is the flesh of antichrist. They help each other in their murderous work. The latter slaughters bodily by sword; and the former spiritually by doctrine." See: http://infowerke.martinluther.us/OF%20THE%20ANTICHRIST.pdf
Also see Islam According to the Reformers:
http://www.reformationsa.org/index.php/reformation/159-islam-according-to-the-reformers
OH MY! Chicken Little was right! Look at this article from Bloomberg—we have even less time than previously thought!
Climate Models Are Running Red Hot, and Scientists Don’t Know Why
www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-02-03/climate-models-are-running-red-hot-and-scientists-don-t-know-why
Scientists just don’t know why.
But Tony Heller knows.
NOAA has been ‘adjusting’ climate data, reasoning that past temperatures that were recorded as very warm (1920s, e.g.) were as a result of “time of observation [time of temperature taking] bias”. Thus, ‘scientists’ “fixed” them for us. So, the very obvious cooling trend of the past 100 years is actually a warming trend, and trending climactically in recent years like a ‘hockey stick’.
But, Heller shows the fallacy in their method:
The Superbowl Of Data Tampering
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hElTSfQEdsk
Walid Shoebat wrote a book called God's War on Terrorism. He displayed mental gymnastics to avoid acknowledging the Roman Empire in the prophecies of Daniel. These conspicuous mental gymnastics of his were a very obvious contrast to his otherwise impressive hermeneutics. But it called my attention to the complex and confusing nature of lining up prophecy and history side by side.
My problem was this: if there were only four great gentile empires prophesied in Daniel as trampling down Jerusalem, and the first one started with the Babylon empire -- followed by the Persian empire -- followed by the Greek empire -- followed by the Roman empire -- then what about the Ottoman empire, which also trampled down Jerusalem? Doesn't that make five -- not four -- great gentile empires that trampled down Jerusalem from the time of Daniel, to the time of the regathering of Jews in Israel?
Walid Shoebat solved this problem by leaving out the Roman empire. He did so by absorbing it into the Greek empire, noting that some called it "Greco-Roman". I was unsatisfied with that solution, especially since the Roman empire was clearly one of the eight empires in the book of Revelation, and even Shoebat counted it as such when he turned his attention to Revelation. Why would the Roman empire be absorbed into the Greek empire in Daniel, but not in Revelation?
John Calvin had already solved this problem.
From the paper on historicism.net called "Calvin on Islam":
As Rev. Dr. Calvin comments in his 1561 Commentaries on Daniel (at 2:35 and 2:44) -- that Prophet “speak of the Roman Empire as iron.... Daniel says the image perished when the Roman Empire was broken up.... The dream was presented to King Nebuchadnezzar -- so that he might understand all future events till the renovation of the World.....
“There is no doubt, then, that Daniel intended the Romans by the Fourth Empire.... The Jews [or Post-Christian Judaists] agree with us [Christians] -- in thinking this passage cannot be otherwise understood, than of the perpetual reign of the Messiah.... For Daniel here openly affirms that Messiah’s Kingdom -- should arrive at the close of the Fourth Monarchy!
and later:
In his Commentaries on Daniel (7:7-18), Calvin explains that “in this Fourth Monarchy those who are endued with moderate judgment confess this vision to be fulfilled in the Roman Empire.... What is here said of the Fourth Beast -- many transfer to the Pope, when it is added that a ‘Little Horn’ sprang up. But others think the Turkish kingdom is comprehended under the Roman. The Jews, for the most part, incline this way....
“Christ’s Kingdom was erected by the overthrow of the Roman dominion. The Jews...join the Turkish monarchy with the Roman.... There are some of our [Christian] writers who think this image ought not to be restricted to the Roman Empire, but ought to include the Turkish....
“I have no doubt that in this vision, the Prophet was shown the figure of the Roman Empire.... The Prophet simply means that the Roman Empire was complex.... Some twist this to mean the Pope, and others the Turk.... I have no doubt that ‘the little horn’ relates to Julius Caesar and the other Caesars who succeeded him.... Some take this prophecy to relate to the kingdom of Turkey; others to the tyranny of the Pope of Rome.”
For those that have been duped into believing that "pope" Francis is an aberration, think again. It was none other than "sainted" John Paul II, the same "pope" that kissed the Quran in public, sending a profound message that God's word as revealed in the Bible is on equal footing with the Quran. This act also emphasized the official Catholic Catechism that declares that the Christ rejecting Jewish "religion" (actually based upon the Babylonian Talmud) and Islam "worship" the same "God" as Christianity.
Here, John Paul II openly denies that Jesus Christ is the ONLY true Messiah! In spite of what the RCC OFFICIALLY states regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ, they do in fact by their ACTIONS deny Him. That is in fact the definition of the spirit of antichrist.
"In 1985, Pope John Paul II declared to an audience of thousands of Muslim youths, "Christians and Muslims, we have many things in common as believers and as human beings. We believe in the same God, the one and only God, the living God...."
DEAD MEN DON'T NEED IMPEACHMENT
Swamp in Panic: Trump In Danger
https://richardsonpost.com/howellwoltz/12862/dead-men-dont-need-impeachment-swamp-in-panic-trump-in-danger
Epidemiologist Warns, You Can't Keep The Coronavirus Out Of The US
"I have never seen instances where [travel restriction] has worked when we are talking about a virus at this scale"
https://www.zerohedge.com/health/epidemiologist-warns-you-cant-keep-coronavirus-out-us
A Stunning 400 Million People Are On Lockdown In China As Guangzhou Joins Quarantine
All this for 638 deaths?
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/more-400-million-people-lockdown--guangzhou-joins-quarantine
NATURAL NEWS
The lies we are being told about the Coronavirus – NaturalNews.com
Projecting “wave 2” and “wave 3” of the Coronavirus pandemic – NaturalNews.com
Womb transmission: Newborn baby tests positive for coronavirus just 30 hours after birth – NaturalNews.com
Entire cruise ship with thousands of passengers exposed to coronavirus, 20 confirmed new cases – NaturalNews.com
Cruise ship quarantined in Hong Kong over coronavirus as 30 crew members test positive and city infection rate climbs – NaturalNews.com
Coronavirus infections explode across Diamond Princess cruise ship, now reaching 61 confirmed cases out of 273 tested (22% infection rate) – NaturalNews.com
Hyundai, Kia shut down production due to coronavirus – NaturalNews.com
The WHO sends out 250,000 test kits for a pandemic that its own leaders now absurdly claim isn’t real – NaturalNews.com
Doctors, journalists who try to SAVE lives during the coronavirus pandemic are being arrested, threatened and censored – NaturalNews.com
Pandemic, Lies and Videos – Charles Hugh Smith asks, “What were we thinking?” when the world denied the reality of the coronavirus pandemic – NaturalNews.com
Even the BUGS are extra dangerous: Study reveals INSECTS FROM HOSPITALS carry enough BACTERIA to cause INFECTIONS – NaturalNews.com
Containment BREACHED: The nCoV coronavirus is out of control; mainstream health experts warn world to prepare for global spread – NaturalNews.com
Political 'elite' may have already been vaccinated against coronavirus – NaturalNews.com
China launches biological warfare agenda; covertly infiltrates Wuhan evacuation plane with “Trojan horse” carrier of the coronavirus to infect all passengers headed to Taiwan – NaturalNews.com
CDC is distributing possible coronavirus carriers all across U.S. cities, including San Antonio, Omaha and San Francisco – NaturalNews.com
Fears rise that highly contagious coronavirus could explode throughout Hong Kong as thousands of healthcare workers strike after leader keeps borders open – NaturalNews.com
Coronavirus deaths WAY WORSE than what official Chinese government numbers portray – NaturalNews.com
CREMATION VANS running 24/7 as China orders door-to-door mass roundups of infected citizens to be placed in “quarantine prison camps” – NaturalNews.com
If the coronavirus is no big deal, why is China engaged in draconian crackdown measures? – NaturalNews.com
...AND HERE'S THE KICKER:
DOUBLE JEOPARDY: Health experts warn that people who have had the coronavirus can get it AGAIN even after they have recovered! – NaturalNews.com
Natural News Articles @ Censored.News
CENSORED.NEWS
Coronavirus Exposé Videos @ Bright Eon
The Natural News Video Channel @ Bright Eon
Browse The Video Channels @ Bright Eon
BRIGHTEON.COM
HOW I GOT MY HUSBAND BACK HOME
Ever since my husband got me divorced for the past 1 year, i v'e not been my self. I was reviewing some post of how i could get back my husband then, i saw a testimony shared by Rissag Jaden from NEW YORK about a spell caster named Dr AGBAKA. I contacted Rissag Jaden to confirm about how Dr.AGBAKA helped her and she clarified everything to me of how he helped her and that gave me the courage to get in touch with Dr AGBAKA for help. Dr AGBAKA assured me that my days of sorrows will be over within 48hours after he has finished with his work. I followed his instructions he gave to me because i had the believe, faith, hope and trust in him. Verily i say to you today that i and my husband are back together and i can proudly say and testify to the world of what Dr AGBAKA did for me. Contact him today via E-mail (Agbakaspelltemple @ gmail . com) OR call him or whatsapp him +2349052647861 if you seek his help. Also specialize in treating all kinds of illness, HERPES VIRUS, HEPATITIS B, CANCER, BRAIN DISEASE, INFERTILITY, DIABETES AND MORE..
lisadonalds,
We don't need no Dr. Agbaka. Just ask Nina Simone:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua2k52n_Bvw
Or the original spell-caster, Screamin' Jay Hawkins:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=82cdnAUvsw8
CCR did it, too:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeXqtzusIU0
I dunno Craig,
This Agbaka guy is a dancin' FOOL!
https://youtu.be/D8ZtulDEzvU
Dancin' Fool - When I hear a band blowin' basie I can count on losing my cool Take me where the rhythm is racy Let me be a dancin' fool Some prefer the caf europa Sipping dubonnet on a stool Me, I get my kicks at the copa That's where i'm a dancin' fool I'll show you some moves Smooth as satin And others they don't teach in school!
https://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/copacabana/dancinfool.htm#video
Students Call Number Of White Male Oscar Nominees "A Problem"
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/students-call-number-white-male-oscar-nominees-problem
UK Supermarket Forced To Apologize For Asking People Not Steal Female Menstrual Products
https://www.zerohedge.com/health/uk-supermarket-forced-apologize-asking-people-not-steal-female-menstrual-products
US East Coast No Longer "Safe Haven" Due To Russian Submarines, Admiral Warns
https://zerohedge.com/geopolitical/US-east-coast-no-longer-safe-have-due-russian-submarines-admiral-warns
Vatican Misuse of Charitable Donations
90% of charitable donations that were made specifically to "help the poor" were diverted for "off the books" Vatican budget items.
Known as the Pope's personal charity, Peter's Pence, once had a treasure trove of 700 million Euros. It is now down to 100 million Euros.
Try to imagine that you've donated your hard earned money in order to help the poor, only to find out that only 10% of your contribution found its way to the poor.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/vatican-uses-donations-for-the-poor-to-plug-its-budget-deficit-11576075764
Anonymous posted @ 6:50 PM (in part) from Romans Chapter 11 (in bold print):
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Anonymous,
Would you mind clarifying what exactly you think this passage means?
Thank you.
Romans 11 v. 28 is the condition - collectively blinded (though some individual Jews have turned in faith to Christ all through time since the time of Christ on the earth and until He returns which is soon) so their blindness of that collective heart (no faith in Jesus) will have it's remedy in v 26 and 27. Compare also, they will mourn over Him as in Zechariah chapter 12 in that coming deliverance because you can keep reading and see in chapter 13 also what happens to the Jews that there is a yet future promise to 1/3 to whom God will say: "This is My people" and each one will say: "the Lord is my God". Carry through the thoughts in the chapters I have mentioned for the true an full context regarding the Jewish people and God's intention for them. Lifting portions out of context create confusion!
The natural olive branches (the Jewish people) were broken off to allow the grafting in of the Gentiles in Romans chapter 9 (Israel's rejection) and chapter 10 (Israel needs the Gospel as Apostle Paul declares-just like all the rest of us so he preached to them) and chapter 11 (Israel's rejection is not total--not forever).
RayB, You being a man of the Word, please read Romans 9,10, and 11, in succession..straight through from chapter to chapter and see the process by which God gave the Gospel and made way for us all...Jew and Gentile...and for us to be grateful, for this is a great salvation.
Joseph as a type of Christ took a Gentile bride--so does Jesus---and God divorced His wife Israel in the Old Testament (in Isaiah etc) but in the future, after the New Testament was written and we are now awaiting the rest of fulfillment, God does restore His wife, Israel. Much parallelism, symbolism, in antonyms and synonyms of contrasts, throughout the Word of God and utterly fascinating when we even slightly began to grasp it.
Romans 11:33-36 is breathtaking in it's scope.
(Just so you can distinguish-I am a different anonymous than the one you are referring to above)
A Nun's Testimony
https://biblebelievers.org.au/nun.htm
"We were constantly taught that living loved ones as well as those already in purgatory would be delivered sooner by the nun's suffering here. Mother Superior had observed that I was willing to suffer without murmuring or complaining, therefore she broached the idea of my taking the black veil. Of course I had no idea what the cloistered nuns did or how they lived so she began to tell me about the cloisters.
Mother Superior told me that in the cloisters, I would have to shed my own blood as Jesus did on Calvary. I would have to be willing to endure heavy penances and live in crucial poverty the rest of my life. Already I was living in poverty, but if this would make me holier, draw me closer to God and a better nun, I thought it would be worth it to accept this crucial poverty, whatever it was."
the panic in China is probably because nCov bonds to receptors present a lot in male Chinese lungs, not much in caucasian. they accidentally unleashed a Chinese ethnic specific pathogen on themselves. oops. Alex Jones suggests it was deliberate correction of sex imbalance after pref killing of girls, holdover from pre communist tradition Mao failed to eradicate and/or cover for their economic problems.
"But the most ancient source, the Acts of the Apostles, composed in the 1st century A.D., did not describe him as a proper gnostic, but rather as a megalomaniac and capricious magician who seduced people in Samaria…(p 294).…This description hardly does justice to the importance of Simon and reduces him to a mere charlatan"
well, isn't that typical of cult founders?
RayB asks WHAT Christian documents? church historians you idiot. drawing on information passed from one aged person to another and that were written and compiled from the originals lost.
WHICH IS HOW WE KNOW WHO WROTE WHICH GOSPELS, AND THAT PAUL WAS BEHEADED.
"why keep Sunday instead of Saturday?" BECAUSE JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON SUNDAY, IDIOT and because it was the first day of beginning of the old creation and now the first day of the beginning of the new creation.
"why keep Easter and Christmas instead of Passover and The Days Of Unleavened Bread and The Feast Of Trumpets, etc?" Because "easter" as called in the far west, actually Pascha Greek for Passover as in Jesus is our Passover, celebrates Jesus' Resurrection, and Christmas (or Nativity) His birth and Annunciation His actual Incarnation in the womb of the Virgin Mary. These Jewish feasts look forward, and the Christian feasts are the reality they looked forward to, and are superceded by.
"why teach works are unnecessary when the Bible says 'KEEP the commandments'?" We are saved by faith but kept by faith and works because if we do not works then we show we have no faith, but the commandments we are to keep are not Mosaic specific indicators but more universal. Paul hammers on avoiding sin and doing good as much as James. WE ARE SAVED FROM SIN TO DO GOOD WORKS
Jesus said the LAw and prophets would not pass till all were fulfilled, and Jesus said He came TO FULFILL THEM which did not destroy but made them pass away as Paul said in Col. 2:15, 16 the shadow and Christ the reality. Moses' food and ceremonial rules and circumcision ended at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Some have mistakenly concluded that the New Testament must include accounts of worship on Sunday. To see the proper explanations of some of the passages commonly proposed as supporting Sunday, see “Was the Sabbath Changed to Sunday?”
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).
The Greek word translated “rest” in every other verse throughout Hebrews 3 and 4 is katapausis. But the word translated “rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is sabbatismos. This is the only New Testament occurrence of this word, and its meaning is fundamental to understanding this pivotal verse, which is the conclusion of everything previously said about “rest” beginning in Hebrews 3:7.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary states regarding the meaning of sabbatismos:
“The words ‘sabbath rest’ translate the [Greek] noun sabbatismos, a unique word in the NT. This term appears also in Plutarch … for sabbath observance, and in four post-canonical Christian writings … for seventh day ‘sabbath celebration’” (p. 855, emphasis added).
The same resource continues with an explanation of the context:
“The author of Hebrews affirms in Heb[rews] 4:3-11, through the joining of quotations from Gen[esis] 2:2 and Ps[alm] 95:7, that the promised ‘sabbath rest’ still anticipates a complete realization ‘for the people of God’ in the … end-time which had been inaugurated with the appearance of Jesus [Hebrews] 1:1-3 …
“The experience of ‘sabbath rest’ points to a present ‘rest’ (katapausis) reality in which those ‘who have believed are entering’ (4:3) and it points to a future ‘rest’ reality (4:11). Physical sabbath-keeping on the part of the new covenant believer as affirmed by ‘sabbath rest’ epitomizes cessation from ‘works’ (4:10) in commemoration of God’s rest at creation (4:4 = Gen[esis] 2:2) and manifests faith in the salvation provided by Christ.
“Heb[rews] 4:3-11 affirms that physical ‘sabbath rest’ (sabbatismos) is the weekly outward manifestation of the inner experience of spiritual rest (katapausis) in which the final … rest is … experienced already ‘today’ (4:7). Thus ‘sabbath rest’ combines in itself creation-commemoration, salvation-experience, and eschaton [end-time]-anticipation as the community of faith moves forward toward the final consummation of total restoration and rest” (pp. 855-856).
In summary, The Anchor Bible Dictionary decisively and correctly concludes that sabbatismos means keeping the SEVENTH-day Sabbath. Therefore, Hebrews 4:9 stresses the need to CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH in a NEW COVENANT context, even though the day also embodies all it meant under the Old Covenant.
God's Sabbath Rest - There REMAINS A Seventh Day Sabbath Rest For The People Of God!
Some people like to say the annual Holy Days were a shadow of Christ, and once Christ came, the shadow disappeared. That’s NOT what the scripture says. They are a shadow of things YET to come in God’s plan. This was stated many years AFTER Christ was crucified.
Are Biblical Holy Days For New Testament Christians?
Christine Erikson (aka Justina, aka Guidette Sarducci)
Thank you so much for sharing from your endless well of wisdom!
Have a nice day!
Anon @ 3:12 PM:
Respectfully, I have read Romans 9, 10, 11 many, many times and am very familiar with it. Just a couple of points I'd like to make. First, Dispensationalism puts a great deal of emphasis upon Zechariah 12:10 in an attempt that there is coming a "great awakening" amongst the Jewish people that will suddenly "see" that Jesus is the true Messiah. I strongly believe that this is NOT going to happen and that the verse has been taken out of context in order to make it fit into their peculiar theology.
Please consider:
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and THEY SHALL LOOK UPN ME WHOM THEY PIERCED, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zechariah 12:10
Where do we find further reference to the prophecy of Zechariah?
"For these things were done, THAT THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE FULFILLED, A bone of him shall not be broken."
"And again another scripture saith, THEY SHALL LOOK UPON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED." John 19:36,37
Scripture is clearly declaring that the prophecy of Zechariah has been "fulfilled."
Note: BLOCK LETTERING for emphasis.
RayB,
As regards John 19:36,37 you miss the fact that verse 36 is present tense, while 37 is future. That is, the former (36) was fulfilled at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, while the latter (37) awaits fulfillment. Specifically, "They shall look upon [in the future] whom they pierced [past, as in very recent past]." In the future they shall look upon the One they had pierced. This is to occur at the parousia, at Jesus' Second Coming.
To add to the above, Thomas saw Jesus' post-crucifixion hands/wrists, and the Throne scene in Revelation 5:6 depicts a "Lamb looking as [if] it had been slain". This indicates we will see the effects of the Crucifixion on Jesus.
Anon @ 3:12 PM ....
I really wanted the "Anonymous" poster to comment specifically on the statement that he/she made regarding "All Israel shall be saved ..."
I have known many Dispensationalists, with quite a few of them being pastors and teachers. They all have claimed that this statement means that "all Jews will be saved" once they "see" Him whom they pierced" at some particular point in the prophetic future.
The real issue is, WHO is "Israel?"
In Romans 9, a key to understanding who exactly "Israel" is clearly set forth:
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. FOR THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE OF ISRAEL.
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
The remnant of believers in the Old Testament were on and the same with the remnant of believers in the New Testament; spiritual Israel. It is THIS "Israel" that shall ALL BE SAVED. Dispensationalists make the mistake of emphasizing PHYSICAL Israel, which are made up of unbelievers, and thereby attribute that promises that God has made for HIS SEED (or people) to the unbelievers of physical Israel!
This is the basis of the entire Dispensationalist system, and it is an utterly false foundation.
NOTE: there are MANY verses and passages that prove that the true children of God, in both the OT & NT are the spiritual remnant found among both Jews and Gentiles. Being born a "Jew" does not offer any particular advantage, both now or in the future as far as salvation is concerned.
Over the years, I have heard many "Christians" make this claim: "America will be blessed as long as we continue to support the State of Israel. Once that stops, it will be all over for America." Of course this bogus claim is based entirely on a grossly misinterpreted verse of Scripture: "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:3 I distinctly recall Jerry Falwell defending Israel's bombing attacks on Lebonese residential neighborhoods ... killing thousands of innocent civilians .... all because of this verse !
PS: the Bible clearly declares the true meaning of this verse. Apparently, Dispensationalists never allow the Bible to get in the way of their man made theological system.
Sure thing Craig ...
"For these things were done, THAT THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE FULFILLED, A bone of him shall not be broken."
"And again another scripture saith, THEY SHALL LOOK UPON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED." John 19:36,37
Scripture is clearly declaring that the prophecy of Zechariah has been "fulfilled."
RayB,
What do you make of Matthew 24:30 and Rev 1:7?
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Though the KJV chose "mourn" in the former and "wail" in the latter, the word is identical: kopsontai. Also, the word for "pierced" in Rev 1:7 is the same word used in John 19:37.
Craig,
The fact that they will be "mourning and wailing" does not portray in the slightest that they will be converting en masse as the Dispensationalists claim. Mourning and wailing is consistent with the realization of their own impending judgment, not conversion.
This is completely consistent with Luke Chapter 13 ...
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." vs 28
Their mourning and wailing will be in repentance, in Zechariah ch 12, RayB. Clearly God opened up the fountain for their cleansing (this is not fulfilled yet) in Zechariah 13 (v 1)--the humbling will have begun and by v 9 God has given them mercy calling them My people and them calling Him the Lord my God. Finally...fully reconciled..Israel and the Lord. This is their future and I have no idea why you would acknowledge the Lord's own words..My people, and want t withhold that from them. What is up with that?
Why do you cherry pick the verses to dismiss the future grace given to the 1/3--those left after God took care of all of Israel's unbelief problem? God loves to give Mercy. Be grateful for yours, right?
Excuse me..correction--"I have no idea why you would NOT acknowledge the Lord's own words.. MY PEOPLE" and their response is recorded in advance for us.
His words are to them, the Jewish remnant. The faith of the Fathers coming full circle.
RayB,
Luke’s word in 13:28 for crying/weeping (noun form [klauthmos] of the verb klaiō) for oneself is in distinction from koptō, which is the word used for mourning for another, as in 23:27, specifically with respect to Jesus and the forthcoming crucifixion. This word koptō is the one used in Matthew 24:30 and Rev 1:7. This latter word is also used in Matt 11:27 (KJV: “we have mourned [thrēneō] unto you, and ye have not lamented [koptō]”; ESV: “we sang a dirge [or ‘lament’], and you did not mourn”—no textual variants here, except the extra “unto you” in KJV not present in the Critical Text).
There is a big difference between these two words.
RayB,
Perhaps you should remove that anti-Semitic-influenced John Calvinistic plank from your eye so that you can more clearly judge the Scriptures.
Anon 3:27/31 PM is correct. Their mourning will be in repentance, for this is what is implied in the sequence of Jesus' words in Matthew 11:17...21: "...we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn (koptō)...if the miracles had been performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." That is, mourning leads to repentance, and this is what would have happened had Jesus been there at Tyre and Sidon and what will happen (to "all Israel") at Jesus' return. Jesus' return comes at the close of the "time of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:25; Luke 21:24).
-----
The KJV mucks up Rev 1:7. The translators took kai, which has a range of meanings, including "and", "also", and the ascensive "even", mistranslating this word in its second occurrence in the verse. Given that "every eye shall see him", why does it subsequently state and they also which pierced him, as opposed to even those who pierced him [ESV, NASB, etc.]? In other words, wouldn't "every eye" necessarily already include "those who pierced him"; and, thus, wouldn't an intensive "even" make better sense? The KJV translates the ascensive force of kai elsewhere, so why not here?
Craig,
As is typical, you have to make a false accusation in order to bolster your argument.
Claiming that I have an "anti-Semitic-influenced John Calvinistic plank" is insulting and in gross error of not only myself, but the Reformer as well. Furthermore, I am not a "follower" of John Calvin. Although I believe in the doctrine of Election, I did not learn it from John Calvin. In fact, if you knew as much as you claim you do, Calvin was not the "inventor" of what is attributed to his name. The term "Calvinism" came much later. And by the way, ALL of the Reformers held to the view of sovereign election.
I'd love to hear your take on how "repentance" is found in the following, which you conveniently ignored, but rather, chose to build upon the foundation of what you claim was "implied." Thrust OUT does not indicate REPENTANCE.
Luke Chapter 13 ...
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." vs 28
Calvin's doctrine of election informs his anti-Semitism. He wasn't as blatant as Luther, though.
As regards Luke 13:28, I already covered that in my 3:47 PM comment, which you apparently did/do not understand. This is because you eisegetically read it through your Calvin-informed "Election" doctrine that excludes the Jews. One doesn't have to be a Dispensationalist or a 'two-covenant' believer to see that there's a future for "all Israel".
Craig,
You are rather amusing. You don't even have a clue regarding "Election" if you think that Calvin OR ANY Reformer "excluded the Jews."
WHERE ON EARTH did you get that from? I have read Calvin's Institutes. I own a complete set of his commentaries. YOU ARE COMPLETELY, UTTERLY FALSE in making such a reckless, unfounded claim!
Regarding "all Israel," do you really believe that ALL JEWS shall be saved ? Is that what you are claiming?
How do you handle Romans 9: 6&7 Craig?
"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
" Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."
Over and over and over again, the Scriptures declare that God's people are a "REMNANT" that He has chosen and protected:
Isaiah 1:9 "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah."
Isaiah 10:20 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."
Isaiah 10:21 "The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Isaiah 10:22 "For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness."
Isaiah 37:32 "For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this."
Jeremiah declares that God's PEOPLE is "the REMNANT of Israel."
Jeremiah 31:7 "For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel."
Promise for the protection of the future REMNANT:
Ezekiel 6:8 "Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries."
Ezekiel 14:22 "Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters ..."
Joel 2:32 "... for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."
Micah 2:12 "I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;"
Zephaniah 2:7 "And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon:"
Romans 9:27 "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:"
Romans 11:5 " Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
Revelation 12:17 ?And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Craig 4:05 PM
(Not meaning to 'pile on' but) I try to be impartial and (although you and I have agreed more times than RayB and I have) and yes, sometimes strong language is called for, I really have to speak up and say that your statement to him: "Perhaps you should remove that anti-Semitic-influenced John Calvinistic plank from your eye so that you can more clearly judge the Scriptures." was unnecessarily incendiary and counterproductive there and at that point. A phrasing there instead such as "Is it perhaps possible that you might have a (conscious or UNCONSCIOUS) bias regarding things Jewish that might be affecting your thoughts about these matters? That possibility might be something that you may want to pray about and meditate on in case it might have some substance." would, I think, have been much better.
"One doesn't have to be a Dispensationalist or a 'two-covenant' believer to see that there's a future for "all Israel"."
RayB goes to great length to exclude the Jews, for what reason, or from what influence I do not know, but to not take God's word in it's direct face value and realize His intense longing for the Jewish people's return to Him, is to not only slight what God has plainly said about and to them, but disregards His Heart evidenced throughout the Scriptures. Apostle Paul's heart for his Jewish brethren is a small picture of God's own heart as expressed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle in Romans 9:3. How is that missed when so amply and aptly said?
What was broken, becomes restored. What grace! Almighty Grace is what that is! My own life is this picture, the before and after. God through Jesus Christ the Son, champions restoration like none other, for Jew and Gentile alike.
The Jews as a people (must come the same way any one has to come, individually, yet God can and does move in collective ways also, so they have a before and after story too, RayB. Zechariah 12 shows us that (v 12-14) clan by clan, house by house, person by person, they mourn Whom that have spurned, but now they see, (v 11) their blindness lifted, not unlike Saul's (Paul) eyes were as they has scales removed, so faith has come by the Spirit (v 10's spirit of grace and supplication), they repent and call upon Him.
I once was blind but now I see sound familiar?
Why the hardness RayB?
"All Israel shall be saved" and YET "for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel."
The 2/3's do you suppose?..1/3 is saved.
You are not God, as I am not God, let's let God do the sorting, shall we RayB?
Grace is beautiful. Let's learn to give it as Jesus gave it to us......
Anon @ 5:21 PM
Thank you for your objective comment.
However, might I ask, is it possible that you are blinded to the Scriptures (as illustrated by the verses above) due to the prejudicial teachings by people that have been influenced by Dispensationalism?
I know people that NEVER consider any Scripture that is outside the realm of what they have been exposed to. It's as if these verses and passages don't even exist.
By the way, when it comes to the Jewish people (or any people for that matter), I believe in complete equality; they are all in the same boat, that is, Jews and Gentiles alike... "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
If you think I am an antisemite, you'd have to label Jesus, Paul, Stephen, OT prophets, etc. with the very same label. I can post many verses and passages that are far stronger than anything I ever posted here.
In case you are unaware of this, there is quite a movement going on right now within the Jewish community to have the "antisemitic" verses and passages removed from the Scriptures.
Calvin and anti-Semitism
As I wrote above, Calvin’s doctrine of election is informed by his anti-Semitism. In the following, Calvin intersperses his own comments alongside that of a Rabbi he cites—one whom Calvin found exceptional in that he seemed to be the lone quasi-intelligent one (“I shall now relate what our brother Anthony has suggested to me, from a certain Rabbi Barbinel, who seems to excel others in acuteness.”). This is Calvin’s commentary on Daniel 2:44-45:
…It seems very absurd that Christ, who was born under Octavius or Augustus Caesar, should be the king of whom Daniel prophesied. For, says he [this certain Rabbi Barbinel], the beginning of the fourth and fifth monarchy was the same, which is absurd; for the fourth monarchy ought to endure for some time, and then the fifth should succeed it. But here he not only betrays his ignorance, but his utter stupidity, since God so blinded the whole people that they were like restive dogs. I have had much conversation with many Jews- I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness — nay, I have never found common sense in any Jew. But this fellow, who seems so sharp and ingenious, displays his own impudence to his great disgrace. For he thought the Roman monarchy began with Julius Caesar! as if the Macedonian empire was not abolished when the Romans took possession of Macedon and reduced it to a province, when also Antiochus was reduced into order by them — nay, when the third monarchy, namely, the Macedonian, began to decline, then the fourth, which is the Roman, succeeded it. Reason itself dictates to us to reckon in this way, since unless we confess the fourth monarchy to have succeeded directly on the passing away of the third, how could the rest follow on? We must observe, also, that the Prophet does not look to the Caesars when he treats of these monarchies; nay, as we saw concerning the mingling of races, this cannot in any way suit the Caesars; for we shewed yesterday how those who restrict this passage to Pompey and Caesar are only trifling, and are utterly without judgment in this respect. For the Prophet speaks generally and continuously of a popular state, since they were, all mutually related, and yet the empire was not stable, through their consuming themselves internally by intestine warfare. Since this is the case, we conclude this rabbi to be very foolish and palpably absurd in asserting the Christ not to be the son of Mary who was born under Augustus, although I do not argue for the kingdom of Christ commencing at his nativity.
– John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries (Complete), trans. John King; Accordance electronic ed. (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1847), paragraph 52863.
My intention is not to judge whether Calvin was right or wrong in his criticism of the Rabbi’s interpretation of Daniel, but to illustrate his anti-Semitism in his critique. I kept the complete context lest someone think I treat Calvin unfairly here.
Anon @ 5:40 PM ....
And where exactly do you get your "1/3 or 2/3" amount from?
Personally, I don't "suppose" any number. I only know it shall be a REMNANT, of which Isaiah states is a "very small remnant."
Isaiah 1:9 "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah."
Romans 9:27 "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:"
Romans 11:5 "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
Anon 5:21 PM,
I’ll accept your criticism. I think, though, you perceive that I did not label RayB an outright anti-Semite. My phrasing was purposeful. Calvin was a bit less open about his own anti-Semitism than, say, Luther, but he did express it, as I point out above @ 5:58 PM. This informs his doctrine of election (or, perhaps, vice versa). Thus, RayB’s doctrine of election is informed by Calvin (though I note RayB’s claim that he arrived at this doctrine independently, FWIW), whose was informed by a form of anti-Semitism [note Calvin’s “…so blinded the whole people…” comment]. In other words, it’s Calvin who expressed the anti-Semitism, and one who adheres to the Calvinistic doctrine of election may be blinded by the inherent bias in Calvin’s doctrine here. Removing this bias may allow a different interpretation to present itself.
In any case, comments such as RayB’s @ 1:18 PM from a few days ago betray at least a hint of anti-Semitism, no?:
It's everyone else but .... especially if you pay even an ounce of attention to John Hagee (I can't stand even a gram). [ED: Hagee is a proponent of CUFI: Christians United for Israel.]
We might have a clue when we read Acts 6 beginning in verse 7 all the way through the entire Chapter 7. [ED: A clue about WHAT exactly?]
Anon 5:34:
You wrote: Apostle Paul's heart for his Jewish brethren is a small picture of God's own heart as expressed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle in Romans 9:3. How is that missed when so amply and aptly said?
Amen! This is what must be taken into account here. Israel's hardening is only temporary, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Romans 11:25), after which "all Israel" will be saved (11:26). Yes, there's ambiguity in "all Israel", but to think this means strictly 'the "Church"' (meaning Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ) does not account for "the fullness of the Gentiles" in the previous verse, nor does it account for the Scripture quoted in the remainder of v. 26 and v. 27.
Craig,
Do you actually believe that Calvin's comments that you cite betray an antisemitic bent on his part?
First and foremost; back in Calvin's and the Reformer's days, harsh language was VERY common place. Those were incredibly harsh times it was reflected in the language that they used. This is also evidenced by the writings of Roman Catholics as well during that time. I'm not at all excusing its use, but merely pointing this fact out for consideration. Along the same line of thought; during my lifetime, the use of the term "Negro" was commonplace. Today, the use of that term would deeply offend many in the Black community.
Now, let me say this; I too have had numerous conversations with Jewish people. A little history; many years ago, my future wife and I became very active in the Hebrew Mission that was located in a major city. We both became personal friends with the Director and his wife. We spent many hours with this couple (along with missionaries that were under his direction). I was being recruited as a possible missionary by the Director.
The mission would hold "events" at the mission home designed to reach out to the Jewish people. My future wife & I were always invited to these events. Aside from the missionaries, we were the only non-Jews in attendance. The Director would read "Messianic" passages from the Old Testament, while never ONCE mentioning the name of Jesus Christ. ( I came to find out later why this was so).
After the readings, etc. a social hour followed in which we were encouraged to mingle with the Jewish people in attendance.
I personally found the Jewish people fascinating to talk with. However, they had absolutely no desire to hear ANYTHING regarding Christ. If the conversation went "there," they would put a stop to it. I even had one lady say to me: "You are a very nice young man, but I know what you are. Do NOT bring that name up to me." The very Name of Christ was extremely offensive to these people, so much so, that I have never seen anything even close to their reaction. It is also the reason as to why the Director never used the Name of Christ. This bothered me a great deal, because "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
I wouldn't use the term "stupid" as Calvin did, but I can relate to his frustration. However, the very same "spirit" existed in Calvin's time as it did when the prophets of God were killed by the Jews. That spirit exists in our day as well. As Scripture states, they are a "stiff necked people." There is a spiritual blindness and I believe the Reformers expressed their harsh frustration with that blindness.
RayB 5:54 PM
That was my bad, sorry. I didn't mean for it to look as if I was taking sides there so I should have put a disclaimer stating that I was neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Craig's view but simply meaning to say and show how that HIS view could have and probably SHOULD have been expressed in a better way.
Anonymous RayB said...
Anon @ 5:40 PM ....
And where exactly do you get your "1/3 or 2/3" amount from?
RayB, it is clear you have not read the Scripture portions in Zechariah I mentioned! You can't miss it if you are reading, looking intently with an open heart and mind!
Evidently you are going by rote..
RayB,
You wrote, Do you actually believe that Calvin's comments that you cite betray an antisemitic bent on his part?
Yes I do. Those are his plain words. And those words were for the "whole people"--all Jews. I understand hyperbole, but I think the words speak for themselves.
You made a comment earlier regarding Scripture's negative portrayal of "Jews".
In Scripture, the target was the Jewish aristocracy, not the common people. Even John's Gospel, which uses "the Jews" quite often in a very negative manner, sometimes used the same term in a neutral or even positive way. I'll just copy one of footnotes in an article I wrote last year:
I place ‘the Jews’ in single quotes when the text uses οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι (hoi Ioudaioi), since this is the manner in which the Gospel of John chooses to identify this sub-group. Note, however, that while John’s characterization is mostly negative in the text here [ED: the portion I was citing for the article], there are quite a few times in the Gospel when the term is used in positive (2:6; 4:22; 8:31; 11:19, 31, 33, 36, 45; 12:9, 11; 19:31) or neutral (1:19; 2:13; 3:1, 22; 5:1, 15; 6:4; 7:2; 11:55; 13:33; 18:20; 19:20, 40, 42) settings (such as in describing a certain festival “of the Jews”), or times in which the group is perhaps understandably perplexed (2:20; 6:41, 52; 7:15; 7:35; 8:57; 10:19). The term’s meaning in John is a bit ambiguous and remains an enigma. Even the designation the Pharisees is sometimes used positively or neutrally (e.g. 9:16).
Craig @ 6:23 PM ...
John Hagee teaches the HERESY that the Jews DO NOT NEED to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. He wrote an entire book on this subject that was roundly rejected as heresy. Hagee believes that God had a special covenant with the Jewish people that bi-passes the necessity of Jesus Christ as their sin sacrifice.
Craig, are you in agreement with Hagee that the Jews do not need to believe in Christ for salvation?
If you think that I meant anything that was a "hint of antisemitism" because I cited Acts 7, you are totally wrong. You seem to be waiting to pounce on anything that you perceive to be some secret, nefarious motive on my part, all based entirely on your assumptions. I was merely pointing out what Scripture has recorded as to the Jews response to Stephen's message, which is very important to read. If you think that reading Stephen's sermon is "antisemitic," I find that quite strange to say the least.
Craig,
Calvin was speaking specifically regarding "Jews" that rejected Jesus Christ.
Get a grip.
ALL of the Apostles were Jews. Do you think Calvin was ignorant of that fact?
The Department of Justice Coverup of its Spying on Me Continues
By Sharyl Attkisson
American Thinker
January 29, 2020
There has been a lot of water under the bridge since 2013 when CBS News first publicly announced the forensic evidence proving I was victimized by a long-term, remote effort to illegally spy on me and my CBS work through my computers. (You can watch the original news story at the site linked to at the end of this article.)
A half dozen independent forensics exams later, with uninvited government IP addresses definitively identified as pathways into my computers, with forensic testimony from a former NSA specialist, with a sworn statement of confirmation from a former FBI Unit chief, and with a former federal agent confessing to being part of the government’s illegal spy operation against me AND MANY OTHER U.S. citizens, it is reasonable to ask:
Is the Department of Justice (DOJ) alarmed by the shocking injustices and crimes?
Is DOJ interested in holding accountable the federal agents who are responsible?
Is DOJ concerned with making sure the activity has stopped and does not happen to others?
Apparently not.
Going on SEVEN YEARS now, the DOJ remains precisely where it started: in huddle down and cover up mode. Rather than acknowledge the forensic evidence and dig deeper to identify all of the agents who touched the illegal operation and all of the victimized Americans, and rather than being incensed by the confession of a former federal agent who admitting spying on me, DOJ has used unlimited taxpayer dollars to BLOCK pursuit of the facts.
In a just or fair system, the DOJ would not have searched for legal excuses to dismiss the lawsuit I filed to bring the abuses to light… in fact, there would be no need for me to pursue a civil court case because the DOJ would have already prosecuted the guilty parties.
Yet here we are.
The fact is, DOJ is the entity that is supposed to administer law and order in our country. DOJ should be PROSECUTING the guilty federal agents.
Yet DOJ officials were the ones who employed and TASKED the guilty federal agents.
As Senator Ron Johnson pointed out in a recent letter to the DOJ and FBI, both agencies have stonewalled for six years refusing to answer basic questions about the intrusions into my computers. Instead, when they have responded at all, it has been to avoid the questions and replace them with answers to questions never asked.
It is no surprise to me that the Inspector General recently flagged FBI and DOJ officials for egregious misconduct involving government surveillance of former Trump campaign associate Carter Page, that an FBI lawyer allegedly doctored documents to wiretap Page, that DOJ has had to admit at least two wiretaps against Page should never have been granted, and that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court belatedly ruled the wiretaps were invalid.
All of that is a little late: Page cannot recover his privacy or his reputation.
We could have seen this coming had we paid attention to the red flags and demanded real accountability. We already knew DOJ secretly subpoenaed phone records of Associated Press reporters and surveilled then-Fox News reporter James Rosen. We had discovered that our own Director of National Intelligence James Clapper gave false testimony to Congress denying the government was conducting mass surveillance of TENS OF MILLIONS of Americans. We knew, thanks to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, that our intel community had granted itself wide latitude to spy on U.S. citizens suspected of NOTHING AT ALL through tactics such as “incidental” surveillance. We knew that communications of U.S. political figures were captured by intelligence officials and improperly leaked to the press. Incredibly, we even knew the CIA had gotten into computers of Senate Intelligence Committee staffers, though CIA head John Brennan initially denied it.
Brennan and Clapper eventually 'apologized' for the lapses.
A little late for that, too.
"You seem to be waiting to pounce on anything that you perceive to be some secret, nefarious motive on my part, all based entirely on your assumptions."
RayB, this you wrote of another is precisely what may easily be gathered from your posts here, and way too often, if honest.
Iron sharpens iron, that type of back and forth can be constructive.
However, bludgeoning sharpens nothing, assumptions come under this category.
You assume a lot, brother.
"But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren." Acts 14:2
Was the writer of Acts an "antisemite" for writing these "harsh" words?
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." Acts 13:45
Sounds rather harsh and judgmental, don't you think Craig?
It is becoming more obvious than ever how all of this fits together. Also obvious is the likelihood that the abuses we KNOW about today are only a SMALL slice of what may have REALLY occurred — and what may continue to occur. It would explain the otherwise inexplicable double standards we are growing accustomed to. DOJ leaves no stone unturned pursuing the likes of Carter Page as a Russian spy only to have their suspicions revealed to be a figment of their imaginations. Yet provable crimes happening right under their own noses, sometimes committed by their OWN agents, are conveniently deposited down a memory hole like they never even happened.
It is in the hands of an independent news media to hold the powerful accountable. They could press until the abuses are addressed, the perpetrators held accountable, and the guilty brought to justice.
But there is NO such interest.
I have a feeling that if Trump administration intel officials ever got accused of illegally spying on journalists and hundreds of citizens through an illegal operation via computers, even without the forensics we have, even without the confession we have, it would still make international news and the media would not let go of it until heads really did roll.
As for me?
I was unlucky on two counts: I got targeted by the government in the first place, and I was spied on by an administration whom the press did not wish to admit would do such an unthinkable thing.
I once read about an ancient form of government whose premise was that an orderly society was only possible if its citizens had confidence that the law would be applied equally to the poorest and richest among them.
Things would devolve into CHAOS if the citizenry came to believe people were held to different standards or escaped accountability depending on their power or status.
Considering the course of my case, it is hard to look at our system today and not wonder if we are reaching that point.
A few years ago, several members of Congress who were concerned about intelligence community abuses told me they had been convinced not to call for wholesale reforms and heads-on-a-platter by the argument that it would “undermine the public’s faith in our institutions.” I think there is a strong argument to be made that the public is losing faith in our institutions because it sees double standards and absence of accountability.
As incredible as it seems, all of our forensic proof, expert testimony and even the confession may NOT matter. The way the game is played, a jury may NEVER have the chance to see any of that simply because the other side has more lawyers, deeper pockets and all the power. However, we are exhausting all avenues and remedies, looking for glimmers of hope, and continuing to expose the facts— because the fight is TOO IMPORTANT.
But we know one thing for certain: the abuses surrounding my case are deeply symbolic. It they are dismissed and forgotten, we can CERTAINLY expect MORE of the same.
(FullMeasure.news)
The DOJ Cover-up Of Its Spying Continues
RayB,
I already implied I don't believe in 'two-covenant theology'. No red herrings, please.
Your reference to Acts 7 came just after an Anon responded to your comment regarding your interpretation of “antichrists” in 1 John (@ 11:58 PM). The Anon (@ 12:31 PM) exclaimed:
I think I know! Can we say it?.
So, tell us all here—now—what you meant then by your reference to Acts 7, RayB.
You wrote @ 6:51 PM:
Calvin was speaking specifically regarding "Jews" that rejected Jesus Christ.
Get a grip.
ALL of the Apostles were Jews. Do you think Calvin was ignorant of that fact?
Nope. Not by his context. Calvin meant ALL JEWS post-NT era. Of course Calvin knew the Twelve were Jews.
Anonymous @ 6:58 PM ...
I admit to having a "problem" when I see false doctrine being proclaimed. I have ALWAYS had a problem with the proclamations by men that contradict the proclamations of Scripture.
To that I plead guilty. But being guilty of defending the truth of God's Word is nice thing to be guilty of.
The Department of Justice Coverup of its Spying on Me Continues
By Sharyl Attkisson
American Thinker
January 29, 2020
There has been a lot of water under the bridge since 2013 when CBS News first publicly announced the forensic evidence proving I was victimized by a long-term, remote effort to illegally spy on me and my CBS work through my computers. (You can watch the original news story at the site linked to at the end of this article.)
A half dozen independent forensics exams later, with uninvited government IP addresses definitively identified as pathways into my computers, with forensic testimony from a former NSA specialist, with a sworn statement of confirmation from a former FBI Unit chief, and with a former federal agent confessing to being part of the government’s illegal spy operation against me AND MANY OTHER U.S. citizens, it is reasonable to ask:
Is the Department of Justice (DOJ) alarmed by the shocking injustices and crimes?
Is DOJ interested in holding accountable the federal agents who are responsible?
Is DOJ concerned with making sure the activity has stopped and does not happen to others?
Apparently not.
Going on SEVEN YEARS now, the DOJ remains precisely where it started: in huddle down and cover up mode. Rather than acknowledge the forensic evidence and dig deeper to identify all of the agents who touched the illegal operation and all of the victimized Americans, and rather than being incensed by the confession of a former federal agent who admitting spying on me, DOJ has used unlimited taxpayer dollars to BLOCK pursuit of the facts.
In a just or fair system, the DOJ would not have searched for legal excuses to dismiss the lawsuit I filed to bring the abuses to light… in fact, there would be no need for me to pursue a civil court case because the DOJ would have already prosecuted the guilty parties.
Yet here we are.
The fact is, DOJ is the entity that is supposed to administer law and order in our country. DOJ should be PROSECUTING the guilty federal agents.
Yet DOJ officials were the ones who employed and TASKED the guilty federal agents.
As Senator Ron Johnson pointed out in a recent letter to the DOJ and FBI, both agencies have stonewalled for six years refusing to answer basic questions about the intrusions into my computers. Instead, when they have responded at all, it has been to avoid the questions and replace them with answers to questions never asked.
It is no surprise to me that the Inspector General recently flagged FBI and DOJ officials for egregious misconduct involving government surveillance of former Trump campaign associate Carter Page, that an FBI lawyer allegedly doctored documents to wiretap Page, that DOJ has had to admit at least two wiretaps against Page should never have been granted, and that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court belatedly ruled the wiretaps were invalid.
All of that is a little late: Page cannot recover his privacy or his reputation.
We could have seen this coming had we paid attention to the red flags and demanded real accountability. We already knew DOJ secretly subpoenaed phone records of Associated Press reporters and surveilled then-Fox News reporter James Rosen. We had discovered that our own Director of National Intelligence James Clapper gave false testimony to Congress denying the government was conducting mass surveillance of TENS OF MILLIONS of Americans. We knew, thanks to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, that our intel community had granted itself wide latitude to spy on U.S. citizens suspected of NOTHING AT ALL through tactics such as “incidental” surveillance. We knew that communications of U.S. political figures were captured by intelligence officials and improperly leaked to the press. Incredibly, we even knew the CIA had gotten into computers of Senate Intelligence Committee staffers, though CIA head John Brennan initially denied it.
Brennan and Clapper eventually 'apologized' for the lapses.
A little late for that, too.
RayB @ 6:58 PM,
I already covered that in my 6:46 PM comment. Let's not make false equivalences. Calvin referred explicitly to the "WHOLE PEOPLE"--obviously in reference to all post-NT Jews, with Romans 11:25 apparently in mind (oh, but what about 2Cor 12-18?). Conversely, when we see the contexts in the NT, the verses that speak negatively about "the Jews" referred to a sub-group, as opposed to the entirety of the Jewish people.
CORRECTION: 2Cor 3:12-18.
(Whoops!)
7:04-7:05
"But being guilty of defending the truth of God's Word is nice thing to be guilty of."
Amen!
But don't forget the 1 Corthinians Chapter 13 admonition....
And this:
2 Peter 1
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.…
We all need to be adding this lineup from God's Word or we wield His sword (the Bible) in vain.
Craig,
Jews that Calvin HAD SPOKEN TO. Calvin experienced the exact same thing that I experienced. They found Christ offensive.
What did Simeon prophesy regarding Christ?
" ... Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2: 34, 35
Craig,
Stephen's sermon and the Jews response (they stoned him to death) is very revealing. Do you think the writer of Acts was wrong to record that? Was the writer an antisemite ?
All people (both Jews and Gentiles) that reject the Lord Jesus Christ stand in disobedient defiance against Him. They reject Him because "their deeds are evil." Do you think the unbelieving Jewish people are an exception?
I agree with you, Craig. That there are people who insist on a broad brush of the whole people (the Jews) from the time after Jesus' death and resurrection, right up until today, is a really wrong-hearted, wrong-headed view of grace from God.
Be careful how you treat the broken natural olive branches, when you are the wild branch who is grafted in at their expense. Paul makes this so clear in his plea from the book of Romans (Chapters 9-11 specifically)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGz9BVJ_k6s
How to witness Jesus Christ to Jews
Anonymous @ 6:58 PM
RayB's 7:03 PM comment (clarified):
I admit to having a "problem" when I see false doctrine (doctrine that I personally don't agree with) being proclaimed. I have ALWAYS had a problem with the proclamations by men that contradict the proclamations of Scripture (except those proclaimed by Luthe, etc).
To that I plead guilty. But being guilty of defending the (entire) truth of God's Word is nice thing to be guilty of (and hopefully someday I will be guilty of THAT).
RayB,
As regards your explanation of Acts 7 in the context above: nice try. Acts 7 records Stephen’s speech and the Sanhedrin in their stoning of Stephen. Yes it does. But how does that tie in to the implicit words of the Anon who responded to you—who understood you to be speaking of “the Jews” in some current collective sense? I sure interpreted your overall response to mean all current Jews in a collective sense. And, your interpretation of Romans agrees with this same train of thought. Show me how I’m wrong here.
In your comment headed “Antichrist’s and Antichrist” your questions, implications and statements make it clear that “antichrists” in 1 John refers strictly to non-believing Jews, seemingly in the NT-era. Then your implication re THE Antichrist is that he would be a Jew (I don’t necessarily disagree, BTW). So, far, no problem, even if I’m not fully onboard with your interpretations. But it’s your response to the faintly veiled anti-Semitism in Anon 12:31 PM’s comment (“I think I know! Can we say it?”)
This is where you wrote:
It's everyone else but .... especially if you pay even an ounce of attention to John Hagee (I can't stand even a gram). [ED: thus implying current Jews]
We might have a clue when we read Acts 6 beginning in verse 7 all the way through the entire Chapter 7.
I followed this up with a comment that you did not respond to, which read, in part:
… I must ask why you at first viewed this [1 John] strictly in its historical context, yet you then anachronistically applied this to the current day (implied in your 1:18 PM comment).
And this is where we’re at right now.
RayB,
Being an apologist for Calvin’s words above is not at all helping your cause here.
I don’t care how many or how few Jews Calvin came across. His words are anti-Semitic, demeaning ALL Jews. He labelled them—the entirety of Jews—the “whole people” as “restive dogs”. This is not ONLY those he came in contact with, but ALL, “since God so blinded the whole people”. That’s a blanket statement. This statement, then, is followed by the following descriptions of those he had come across:
All are not pious (“I have never seen either a drop of piety…”)
All are liars (“[I have never seen…] a grain of truth”)
All are not ingenuous (“[I have never seen…] ingenuousness”)
All possess no common sense (“nay, I have never found any common sense in any Jew.”)
Oh, but this Rabbi Barbinel, a seeming exception initially, is found to be merely ‘impudent’. There is not a hint that any other Jew might somehow be different from the above. None.
This is a far cry from your toned-down ‘they found Christ offensive’. Well, of course non-believing Jews find Christ offensive.
------
You wrote (a red herring here in the current discussion):
All people (both Jews and Gentiles) that reject the Lord Jesus Christ stand in disobedient defiance against Him. They reject Him because "their deeds are evil." Do you think the unbelieving Jewish people are an exception?
But, this reprises an earlier comment of yours that I responded to that did not elicit a subsequent response from you. You source John 3:19. I’ll just repost my earlier response:
Continuing from John 3:19 to 3:20-21:
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
So, if some men loved darkness because their deeds were evil and stayed there because they did not wish to be reproved, while others accepted the Light (the Son), doesn’t this imply a very non-Calvinistic, conscious, free will choice on the part of both groups?
Anon 7:24 PM,
I just read Zechariah 10-14, and I stand (well, sit) in awe. It’s been awhile since I’d read any of the prophetic books, as I have been focusing in other areas, putting eschatology aside. But, the beautiful, poetic words of the prophet Zechariah have reinstilled a bit of hope in me—a hope that, I admit, has diminished of late because of personal circumstances.
In any case, I cannot fathom how anyone reading this section of his prophecy would not see a connection to the Olivet Discourse, Rev 1:7 and Romans 9-11.
Zechariah 10-14
Pope Francis Sides With The Hard Left, AGAIN!
The clueless pontiff talks politics from the pulpit.
By David Kamioner
LifeZette
2/9/20
If he wasn’t such a walking and talking cliche it could be tempting to have some pity for the clearly befuddled Pope Francis.
But when it comes down to brass ticks he’s just another very rich Bolshie telling everyone else they have too much money.
At least some of the exceedingly upscale earned their moolah themselves. But not this guy. He lives and works in a sumptuous palace, has 24 hour armed police protection, is surrounded by sycophants and courtiers, and still has the self-righteous gall to play the long-suffering pal of the poor.
MORE NEWS: Disturbing new report reveals FBI had multiple informants in Trump’s presidential campaign
He’s not a legitimate religious leader. He’s a slow-learning Sanders staffer. And I say that as a Roman Catholic.
Breitbart reports the pope’s latest foray into issues he knows nothing about happened at the Vatican last Wednesday, “Every year hundreds of billions of dollars, which should be paid in taxes to fund health care and education, accumulate in tax haven accounts. Thus impeding the possibility of the dignified and sustained development of all social agents,” he said at a Vatican seminar.
Here’s the really sanctimonious part:
“Today’s structures of sin include repeated tax cuts for the richest people, often justified in the name of investment and development,” Francis told the meeting of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.
Given that logic I assume His Holiness is going to refund some of the countless totals put in collection plates this Sunday by wealthy parishioners who gained money from those tax cuts? Maybe give back certain big dollar d0nations from rich donors?
No?
I guess to HIM, RANK HYPOCRISY is NO sin!
Not only do many, including this writer, resent any politics at all from the pulpit, but this absurd Argentinian can’t even get his basic facts right.
Again, Breitbart reports, “According to data from the World Bank, however, annual per capita income worldwide has been increasing dramatically year by year and in 2018 was $17,948. Furthermore, the World Bank reveals, global per capita income has increased by over 200 percent since 1990 and is now more than three times higher than its 1990 level of$5,498.”
I know the pope is distracted by virtual church civil war over his papal ideology, ongoing financial scandals, and the issue that won’t go away, predatory priests.
But he could have had some young seminarian check his speech for accuracy.
However, the facts would not let him…wait for it…
pontificate
...on subjects that make him look dreamy to idiotic socialists.
To MANY OTHERS, he just looks HYPOCRITICAL and Out Of Touch!
https://www.lifezette.com/2020/02/pope-francis-sides-with-the-hard-left-again/?utm_source=thepoliticalinsider.com
~~~WINNING~~~
EXCLUSIVE: Funding Secured For ONE THOUSAND MILES Of Border Wall!
https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/09/trump-white-house-secures-funds-thousand-miles-border-wall/
Yes, Craig, it is so beautiful to me as well.
The magnitude and beauty of the doxology in the short portion in Romans 11:33-36 sweeps through my heart as I read the prophetic passages. Understanding what God said of His word, that it does not return to Him void, blesses me so incredibly. My heart and life are held together by it..believing the Gospel and trusting the Lord's sovereign plan, for my own life in the now and beyond, and it's glorious intent that is meant for every tongue, and tribe, and nation, satisfies me like nothing of this world ever could. God chose the Jewish nation to bring Jesus to us...somebody had to do it...to bring heaven's mercy down to the world it had to come in this very goodness, and yet, within a severe, inexplicable, form (behold the goodness and severity of God the Bible says). Do I understand all this? No. But does my heart worship God because of it? It does.
Can God write a story or what?
Following is Calvin on Romans.
First is Romans 11:7:
As the elect alone are delivered by God’s grace from destruction, so all who are not elected must necessarily remain blinded. For what Paul means with regard to the reprobate is, — that the beginning of their ruin and condemnation is from this — that they are forsaken by God.
The quotations which he adduces, collected from various parts of Scripture, and not taken from one passage, do seem, all of them, to be foreign to his purpose, when you closely examine them according to their contexts; for you will find that in every passage, blindness and hardening are mentioned as scourges, by which God punished crimes already committed by the ungodly; but Paul labors to prove here, that not those were blinded, who so deserved by their wickedness, but who were rejected by God before the foundation of the world.
You may thus briefly untie this knot, — that the origin of the impiety which provokes God’s displeasure, is the perversity of nature when forsaken by God. Paul therefore, while speaking of eternal reprobation, has not without reason referred to those things which proceed from it, as fruit from the tree or river from the fountain. The ungodly are indeed, for their sins, visited by God’s judgment with blindness; but if we seek for the source of their ruin, we must come to this, — that being accursed by God, they cannot by all their deeds, sayings, and purposes, get and obtain any thing but a curse. Yet the cause of eternal reprobation is so hidden from us, that nothing remains for us but to wonder at the incomprehensible purpose of God, as we shall at length see by the conclusion. But they reason absurdly who, whenever a word is said of the proximate causes, strive, by bringing forward these, to cover the first, which is hid from our view; as though God had not, before the fall of Adam, freely determined to do what seemed good to him with respect to the whole human race on this account, — because he condemns his corrupt and depraved seed, and also, because he repays to individuals the reward which their sins have deserved.
The Editor comments on Calvin here (bold added):
“The foregoing reasoning is not satisfactory: it goes beyond the evident meaning of the Apostle. He no doubt quoted the texts according to their original design, and to say he did not is to assert what is incapable of being proved, and what is even contrary to the Apostle’s reasoning throughout. The hardening or blinding spoken of by the Prophets, is stated uniformly as a punishment for previous unbelief and impenitence, as admitted by our author himself, and the obvious fact as to the Jews in the Apostle’s days, was an evidence of the same, and though he states not this fact here, he states it in the sequel of this Epistle. But why some were hardened, and others were softened, is what must be resolved altogether to the will of God. This, and no more than this, is what the Apostle evidently teaches here: and it is neither wise nor right to go beyond what is expressly taught, especially on a subject of a nature so mysterious and incomprehensible.”
Calvin on Romans 11:25:
That blindness in part, etc. “In part,” I think, refers not simply to time, nor to the number, but means, in a manner, or in a measure; by which expression he intended, as it seems to me, only to qualify a declaration which in itself was severe. Until does not specify the progress or order of time, but signifies the same thing, as though he had said, “That the fullness of the Gentiles,” etc. The meaning then is, — That God had in a manner so blinded Israel, that while they refused the light of the gospel, it might be transferred to the Gentiles, and that these might occupy, as it were, the vacated possession. And so this blindness served the providence of God in furthering the salvation of the Gentiles, which he had designed. And the fullness of the Gentiles is to be taken for a great number: for it was not to be, as before, when a few proselytes connected themselves with the Jews; but such was to be the change, that the Gentiles would form almost the entire body of the Church.
The Editor (bold added): “The explanation of this verse is by no means satisfactory. It does not Correspond at all with what the Apostle has already declared in Romans 11:11,12, and 15; where the restoration of the Jews to the faith is most clearly set forth. Besides, by making Israel, in the next verse, to mean generally the people of God, the contrast, observable through the whole argument, is completely destroyed.
The word for “blindness” is πώρωσις, hardness, callousness, and hence contumacy. “In part,” is generally regarded as having reference both to extent and duration: the hardness did not extend to all the Jews, and it was not to endure, but to continue for a time; and the time is mentioned, “until the fullness of the Gentiles come in.” This is obviously the meaning, and confirmed by the whole context. The attempt of Grotius and Hammond, and of some of the Fathers, to confine what is said to the Apostolic times, is wholly irreconcilable with the drift of the whole passage and with facts.
Much has been written on the words, ἄχρις οὖ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ. That the event was future in the Apostle’s time, (and future still as history proves) is evident, especially from the following verse, “and so all Israel shall be saved.” The plain construction of the passage is, “until the fullness of the Gentiles shall come.” What this “fullness” is to be has been much controverted…
…Hammond tells us, that many of the Fathers wholly denied the future restoration of the Jews, and we are told by Pareus, who mentions some of the same Fathers, that they maintained it. But it appears from the quotations made by the first, that the restoration disallowed was that to their own land, and that the restoration referred to by the latter was restoration to the faith; two things wholly distinct. That “Israel” means exclusively the Jewish nation, was almost the unanimous opinion of the Fathers, according to Estius; and that their future restoration to the faith is here foretold was the sentiment held by Beza, Pareus, Willet, Mede, and others, and is generally held by modern divines.”
Calvin on 11:26:
And so all Israel, etc. Many understand this of the Jewish people, as though Paul had said, that religion would again be restored among them as before: but I extend the word Israel to all the people of God, according to this meaning, — “When the Gentiles shall come in, the Jews also shall return from their defection to the obedience of faith; and thus shall be completed the salvation of the whole Israel of God, which must be gathered from both; and yet in such a way that the Jews shall obtain the first place, being as it were the first-born in God’s family.” This interpretation seems to me the most suitable, because Paul intended here to set forth the completion of the kingdom of Christ, which is by no means to be confined to the Jews, but is to include the whole world. The same manner of speaking we find in Galatians 6:16. The Israel of God is what he calls the Church, gathered alike from Jews and Gentiles; and he sets the people, thus collected from their dispersion, in opposition to the carnal children of Abraham, who had departed from his faith.
Calvin misses it again, as the Editor in the immediately preceding notes. Calvin gets confused by Paul’s different usages of “Israel” in 9—11, settling on “Israel” here in this verse as consisting of both Jew and Gentile. But, as I (and the Editor above) mentioned earlier, this does not account for the distinction of “the fullness of the Gentiles” in the previous verse and the intent of what immediately follows.
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Calvin sounds like RayB here—or RayB sounds like Calvin.
If it walks like a duck…
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