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Theology / Re: Daniel 12:12

« on: January 12, 2024, 12:21:08 PM »

What is the Great Outpouring of God’s wrath?

Rev 6:10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Rev 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

True Christians will be saved from God’s wrath.

Rom 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. (10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Rom 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:19-25

1Th 1:9-10 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, (10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

1Th 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words. (There is no comfort if this occurs after the tribulation. Those who become Christians after this event will thank God that they are killed because their trials are ended.)

1Th 5:9-11 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. (11) Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

The Antichrist cannot be revealed until He who restrains is taken out of the way.

2Th 2:1-12 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, (2) that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (5) Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? (6) And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ( Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (9) that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with every power and sign and false wonder, (10) and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (11) For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, (12) in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Rev 6:16-17 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; (17) for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

No being is powerful enough to restrain someone coming with all the power of Satan Himself, but God Himself:

2Th. 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

(9) that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, (10) and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

1Jn 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (There have been antichrists on the earth since the beginning awaiting but "He who restrains is still here.)

Satan is so powerful, he convinced 1/3 of the angels that were present when God laid the foundations of the earth that he could take God. Even the greatest of the remaining angelic beings won’t even say a word against him.

Jud 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Yet there is “He” singular, this “one” being who restrains the one who is coming with all Satan’s power, wonders, signs … this one being must be taken out of the way first for the anti-Christ to be revealed.

Interesting facts: First: We are talking about One Being that is here on earth right now that has restrained the Anti-Christ from showing up until now. Second: The Holy Spirit who indwells every Christian could not come indwell us until Christ left. Logic and reason dictate that the One being restraining the Anti-Christ that will need to be removed is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would need to depart for the anti-Christ to be revealed.

Joh 16:7-11 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ( "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; (11) and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

But the Holy Spirit indwells us and cannot be removed until we receive our inheritance.

Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Eph 1:13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. (A pledge cannot be taken back until the one who received the pledge receives what is promised.)
Logic and Reason: Since the only one with the power to restrain the power of Satan possessed by the antichrist is God, and since it is a “Singular” being and not a plural entity that is doing the restraining, and since the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus ascended to heaven to be with the Father, the Holy Spirit is the one who is restraining and must be taken away. That cannot occur until every true Christian receives their inheritance.

Everyone believed that the Rapture could occur at any moment.

1Co 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (23) But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, (24) then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

Php 3:18-21 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, (19) whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (21) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

1Th 1:9-10 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, (10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

1Th 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; (12) and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; (13) so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

1Th 5:1-6 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. (2) For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. (3) While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. (4) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; (5) for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; (6) so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th. 2: 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

Tit 2:12-13 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, (13) looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

Heb 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

Jas 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. ( You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

2Pe 3:11-12 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

1Jn 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (Antichrists have always been on the earth since the beginning awaiting He who Restrains being taken away.)

1Jn 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

Rev 1:1-8 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, (2) who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. (3) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (4) John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, (5) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-- (6) and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (7) BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. ( "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Rev 22:7 "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."

Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

But God will postpone His coming for a while resulting in many wondering what has happened, even believing that the rapture already occurred.

2Pe 3:3-7 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, (4) and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." (5) For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, (6) through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. (7) But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The Vast Majority of the People who Believe Themselves to be Christians Aren’t and Will Therefore, Go Through the Tribulation:

I started a new topic on this one in this room. See “The Fruits of a Christian”

Theology / Re: Matthew 11

« on: January 12, 2024, 10:52:07 AM »

Since no one seems to have answered this, John the Baptist was an Old Testament saint who died prior to Christ's death. Jesus says He is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. I'm not going to argue with Jesus, so I accept that as fact without argument. Jesus also says in that passage that the least of the New Testament saints is greater than John the Baptist. Jesus said it. I'll accept that as well.

The next part:

"' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” '

When Jesus refuted the lost religious people's beliefs, He primarily used logic and reason. If I cast out Satan by the power of Satan, then his house is divided and will not stand. He's then punching himself in the face so to speak. And oh, if that's how people cast out demons, are you sure you want to say that? By whose power are your sons casting them out? And on healing on the Sabbath. What man among you, if his donkey falls into an open water pit on the Sabbath would not pull him out? You all know you would. So you would free an animal from his misery on the Sabbath, but you have a complaint when I free a man from the bondage of his infirmities on the Sabbath? Do you see how ludicrous you are being?

The answer was, no, they could not see because their minds were made up. They weren't open to reconsidering any of their beliefs, teachings, doctrines ... and they certainly couldn't care less if their conclusions were ludicrous or not when logic, reason, rational thinking were applied. They were happy with their beliefs and closed their eyes and ears lest they see or hear anything that might cause them to reconsider their views. Indeed, they did not go to the scriptures to get the fullness of the truth of all God said and meant, cut everything that pertains to each topic out straight, holding to the context, flow of thought, flow of arguments ... surrounding each passage that might pertain so that every detail that pertained fit perfectly with every other detail with no meaning added, subtracted or distorted to try and force the meaning to fit your beliefs in such a way that it makes God, God's people and God's word 100% consistent in all they say and do and don't say and don't do. They went to scripture for one thing only. To justify their beliefs and actions and prove everything contrary to those things false "using" scripture to back them up. They were completely unwilling to keep subjecting their beliefs to the fullness of all that the Word of God said and meant. They, by their actions, were forcing the word of God to fit and be subject to, what they "wanted to believe" "as" truth:

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Since the religious lost don't want to consider logic and reason, nor do they want to reconsider based on other passages that might apply to the topic and would then require them to alter their beliefs and teachings, when logic and reason arguing against their views is presented, or proof that they are violating the context, flow of thought ... surrounding the passages they used, or that they ignored other passages that fit the topic but contradict their beliefs and teachings, they trample these things under foot or get angry that you could ever even question their relationship with God.

Mat 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

This brings us to the reasons for why they said they would not listen to John the Baptist or to Jesus. To be honest they were looking for anything at all that they could find, and they came up with this as one of their reasons:

"' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” '

John they wouldn't listen to because obviously he was demon possessed. Who eats only locusts and wild hone? Who never drinks any wine at all? The man is obviously not in his right mind.

Jesus readily admits that He came both eating without restriction and drinking alcoholic wine without restriction. Just as He states that John the Baptist did neither. But Jesus never sinned, so He never was drunk, nor was He a glutton. He just didn't put any other limits on it.

It is key that Jesus is acknowledging that what the religious leaders and experts were saying about John and His eating and drinking habits was correct. The problem wasn't with their observations, the problem was with their conclusions. But the only reason either of those conclusions was made was because they wanted to have an excuse for responding like dogs and pigs to whatever Jesus shared and to the logic and reason, He was presenting, to refute their conclusions, beliefs and teachings.

I hope that answers your questions. If not, let me know.

Theology / Re: The Fruits of a True Christian

« on: January 10, 2024, 02:24:19 PM »

I am stating what I see in scripture. I only want truth. I am open to examining all the passages that might apply to every topic with all of them "cut-straight" using the rules Jesus states will get people who want truth from erroneous beliefs to truth. Of courser most of the people He disagreed with weren't open to that. If you see anything that is off from what the fullness of the scriptures have to say, let me know. keep in mind that is about 8% of the material in the main study so it is highly abridged.

Here's another reason:

Paul shared the “fullness of the truth”, with all who were willing to listen, because, to a certain extent, if any Christian fails to warn those who are lost, their blood is, to some extent, on our hands.

Act 20:26 "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

His statement is based on this passage:

Eze 3:17 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. 18 “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 “Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. 20 “Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 “However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”

Theology / The Fruits of a True Christian

« on: January 10, 2024, 12:10:33 PM »

The Fruits of a True Christian…

In Mat. 7, Jesus says,

Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

We know who the “Many” who are on the broad path to destruction are because Jesus tells us who they are later on:

Mat 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

They are also those who are not figuring out and are not habitually “doing” the will of the Father:

Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

Nor are they figuring out exactly what Jesus says and means and are not doing that either (See Mat. 7:24-27) The good news is, we will know them by their fruits.

Mat 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits….

Just for the sake of mentioning it, most of the writers of the New Testament, and Jesus, when they quoted from the Old Testament mostly did so from the Septuagint translation. This makes it the one and only “God approved” and used, translation of the Old Testament. Why mention this? Well, that gives us a well spring of additional places to test to see if we have the correct meaning of the words used. When we have the correct meaning, that meaning will fit everywhere the word/root word is used.

The first word for "Narrow Gate" used in 7:13, and for the first word translated ""Narrow"" in verse14, is Stenos G4728. If we search for all the places where it is used in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot + Strongs, (“ABP” from here on out.) we find it is used 18 times. The translation of ""Narrow"" does work in all 18 places the word is used, but don't trust me. Test to see if the word fits in all 18 places yourself. Here's an example:

Num. 22:26 And the angel of God proceeded going forth. And he stood in a “narrow G4728” place for which there was no turning aside right or left.

Indeed, having “No Room to Turn Around” to the right or left in a gate, that's a tight, "squeeze through", situation. The major thoroughfare into the city is what most people believe Jesus is referring to for the broad path and the wide gate Jesus says most people who believe themselves to be Christians are on. Almost everyone uses this path, and this gate because they can bring everything with them, and there is no limit to what you can get through the front gates: lumber and stone for building, packs for food and water for travel to the next town, … lots of open space and it’s the main trek everyone uses. Now picture is a crack in the wall a person can get through, with a grate over it. It’s off the beaten path and the gate is so tight you can’t turn right or left. Obviously, you aren’t bringing anything substantial through with you, right, and this severely limits the percentage of true Christians there are vs. the ones that have all the signs, wonders, miracles, … the true Christians of the day had, but aren’t going to see heaven.

Now think about all the different belief groups that honestly and truly, with all their heart, mind, soul and strength believe they are Christians. Are these things true of pretty much all of them? Do they …

ii. KNOW they have the Son, so they KNOW they have the life.

iii. Know they believe in Him.

iv. Know they are doing the will of God.

v. Know they are keeping the commandments of Christ.

vi. Know the Holy Spirit has guided them and those that believe as they do into all truth.

vii. Love their brethren who believe as they do.

viii. Know they should be baptized and they have been baptized.

ix. Cast out demons in His name.

x. Have the Fruits of the Spirit.

xi. Do many marvelous works of power in His Name.

xii. Prophesy in His name

xiii. … and so on and so on …

Most people, in all the belief groups who believe they are Christians possess the beliefs above and many believe they have the exact same gifts, characteristics, abilities … those who were true Christians in the first century possessed. All believe they pass the test of being true Christians. All believe they believe the truth and are living in accordance with it. There is no difference in the belief they, and those that believe as they do, and live as they do, are true Christians. There is no difference! Yet the religious lost, who believe in Jesus at the end of Matthew 7 also will say and believe these things.

Is Jesus right? Is His description of the “Narrow Gate” accurate? Out of a thousand people entering and exiting through the major gates to the city, how “few” are going through the gate you have to squeeze through? Got a percentage? Write it down somewhere because I’m going to ask you to reconsider it again after we look at the word Jesus chose to describe the “way” to that “can’t turn to the right or left” gate.
It's the second word used in “The way is Narrow” / ""Thleebo"", that scares me. That’s Strong’s #’s G2346 & G2347. If we search the Apostolic Bible Polyglot + Strongs (Septuagint) for these 2 Strong’s Numbers, we find they are used about 242 times. (Note: Ignore all Strong's Numbers in the ABP+ with a decimal value as those refer to a different word altogether meaning “decaying flesh”.)

Remember, if we want to get the meaning God meant, and not replace it with something we “want to believe”, we need to pick a meaning that fits perfectly in all 242 places. If it doesn’t fit everywhere, we have the wrong meaning and we changed it because we didn’t like that meaning/belief/teaching. But Jesus knew what that consistent meaning was, and that’s the exact meaning He intends here. Now I’m not going to go through all 242 locations this word is used, but be noble minded and check it out yourself. Here’s an example of a location where the same word is used 6 times in 4 verses. Remember we have to find a singular meaning that fits everywhere the same word is used throughout the scriptures, so pick a meaning that totally expresses the feelings, emotions, … you would feel if you were in the process of having to live through the following situation. I’ve plugged in some possibilities(Underlined), and I included the translation of “narrow” that most translators chose in Matthew 7 to describe the meaning they want to express. Choose the one that fits best:

Deu 28:53 And you shall eat the progeny of your belly, the meat of your sons and your daughters, as many as the LORD your God gave to you in your straits, and in your affliction/ torment/ anguish/ agony/ narrow, in which your enemy. … shall afflict/torment/cause anguish/cause agony/narrow to you 55 so as to give one of them from the flesh of his children whomever he should eat, because of the not having left behind to him anything in the straits, and in the affliction/ torment/ anguish/ agony / narrow, in which ever your enemies should afflict/torment/cause anguish to/cause agony to/narrow you in all your cities. … 57 and her afterbirth coming forth through her thighs, and her child which ever she should give birth to -- they she shall eat them because of the lack of all things, secretly, in the straits. and in the affliction/ torment/anguish/agony/narrow by which your enemy shall afflict/ torment/cause anguish to/cause agony to/narrow you in your cities,

Ongoing Anguish, Torment, Agony, Affliction or Narrow? What meaning did you pick that fits everywhere and accurately conveys the feelings, emotions, fitting the events in Deu. 28 above? “Thlebo” is used of being in such ongoing anguish, torment, agony, ongoing affliction, “Narrow” that you would choose to eat your own children. That you would eat both your new born baby and the afterbirth? Now, apply that meaning to Mat. 28 and the “way” that leads to that “tight squeeze of a door you can’t turn around in”. Imagine… a “way” to a door that is so agonizing that half-way through, if someone said, “I can get you out, but then we have to butcher and eat your kids. Is it a deal?” that you would stop and think about it. Imagine how nasty that “way” would be to experience thoughts where you would consider such a deal. But Jesus says the “way” is much more agonizing than just “considering” that deal. The people in Deuteronoimy actually took that deal. They went through it. They lived it. And … it was that agonizing. Is the way to the narrow gate also “Narrow”? Yes. It’s eat your own kids narrow… and then you get to the can’t turn around in it gate.

Most people who believe they are Christians pass their own tests of being valid Christians, including the ones above. They have confessed Jesus is Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead. They believe in Him, so they are true Christians just like everyone else who believes it. But then…

2Co 10:12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

Every person in every belief group believing they are Christians passes their own tests. It’s everyone “Else” that doesn’t have their core beliefs that fails the test. That said, the tests every belief group gives themselves are not the tests true Christians will take. They will look at the fruits. We already have some from Mat. 7. False Christians “believe” they are doing the will of the Father and believe they are hearing Christs’ words and are doing them, but they aren’t. The true Christians get to the truth of all He says and means and are actually obeying exactly what it says and means. They actually love truth and keep on studying to get to the truth of it so they can obey it. Everyone else goes to scripture to prove their beliefs true and all opposing views to be false. (Ro. 10:1-3) But they don’t love truth. They just want to justify their beliefs and justify themselves.

2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Since Paul compares the lost in the end times yet to come, and the believers in Thessalonica in His day to the exact same test and those in his day passed and received faith in the truth, and those in the end times fail and not only end up believing a lie, God helps them and sends a deluding influence to harden those who do not receive a love of the truth into those beliefs. This explains the signs and wonders the false Christians often have (See Mat. 7) Everyone gets what they want. Love your beliefs and you get confirmation of them. Love the truth and you will keep on doing all those things the bible says true Christians will be doing over and over again, as a habit and way of life for the rest of their lives. (Present tense in Greek) Here’s one of those “Fruits” we should be examining ourselves and others by, over and over again for the rest of our lives, according to the scriptures.

2Co 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
Here is an expanded the translation that includes the meaning of the present tense.

2Co 13:5 Keep on testing yourselves over and over again as a habit and way of life, and never stop doing it, to see if you are in the faith; keep examining yourselves! Or do you not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you are failing the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves are not failing the test.

Remember that 2 Co. 10:12 passage? That’s a part of the context of the discussion 2Co. 13:5-6 is a part of. That’s a way for everyone to pass their tests. Let them all write their own tests. And in case someone wants to argue that this isn’t actually checking to see if you, and others truly are Christians or not, based on their deeds/fruits, consider what Paul does in the middle of this discussion in 2Co. 11:13-15 “… whose end will be in accordance with their deeds.”

Notice the end of verse 5: “unless indeed you are failing the test?”. Paul states that those who refuse to keep on continuously examining themselves and others according to all that God says is true about true Christians, and those who believe they are but fail the tests automatically prove, by their disobedience to this command, that they are failing the test.

The problem is that since 99% of the people who believe they are Christians, “Know beyond any shadow of a doubt” that they are true Christians and are examining themselves by themselves and amongst themselves and KNOW they pass, to keep on habitually doing this process of examining themselves and others over and over again is repetitively redundant over and over, again and again, repeatedly. And frankly, for most in most belief groups, questioning your own Christianity is contrary to “their” definition of faith. But holding fast to this “traditional view” of faith nullifies God’s commandments in this passage. (Mat. 15:3-6, Mar. 7:8-13 …) And frankly since their tests always remain the same the results will always be the same, so obeying God’s commandment here is ludicrous. The problem: Paul says that if you fail to keep on examining yourself and others to see if they really do pass the tests of being in the faith, it automatically proves that you fail.
Here are a few more that tie in the idea that some of the fruits we should be checking are, are they/we getting to the truth of the meaning of all God commands (Including the ones we just looked at.) and are they habitually obeying them.

Joh 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Joh 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (The Fruit of Saving Belief is What in this Verse? What you truly “believe”, you always fully align your life to. “If” you do “believe in Jesus” you will figure out exactly what He, the Word of God, truly says and means, so you can obey it as a habit and way of life, because your “saving belief” always results in that process getting done. If you don’t have this “saving belief” you won’t be habitually figuring it all out for and by yourself and you won’t be habitually obeying all of what the Word of God, Jesus Christ, says and means. And if that’s where you are your “belief” doesn’t save.)

So, how do you know if you are on the “eat your kids its so agonizing a way” and are headed for the “squeeze your way through” gate? One way is to see if you are habitually studying, over and over again, to get to the truth of what passages, like the ones you see here in this short - abridged study, (The longer one is in excess of 50 pages.) say and mean, so you can obey them, and are doing this process for and by yourself. Why, for and by yourself? Because all you will get from individual belief groups are the passages they use to prove their beliefs are fact, the passages they use to prove all opposing views false, and how they interpret everything to fit their beliefs. Another test or fruit: Are you/they constantly examining all the scriptures, again, for and by yourselves. to see if you, and the others around you who claim to be Christians, really do have every “habitual fruit” the word of God says is habitually true of true Christians. And if you refuse to habitually keep on doing so, scripture states you automatically failed the test of being a true Christian.

Are you getting the agonizing, I’d rather eat my kids than go through it, “way” leading to the can’t turn around “gate” that leads to the kingdom of heaven yet? Everyone either picks this one or the broad thoroughfare the vast masses of Christianity are on. If you find yourself on the wrong side of this issue and you want to find out more, you might want a copy of the longer study. PM me and I’ll be happy to send it to you, or to set a time to discuss it.

Theology / Re: Was Jesus Crucified on a Friday

« on: January 10, 2024, 09:25:53 AM »

Does whether or not Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb, just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, matter? The question is, what is the penalty for being a prophet of God and getting a prophesy wrong? Well, it's stoning to death for your sins. Does it matter if Jesus was a prophet of God, or a sinner who should be stoned to death for His sins? Well, if Jesus is a sinner, He needed to die for His own sins.

The good news... everyone knew He was in the tomb for a full three days and a full three nights, in bible times or all His detractors would have stated, "He was a false prophet and a sinner deserving to die for His sins." And they'd have been right. But this never happened. So, the question becomes, how do you get three days AND three nights out of: Died on Friday afternoon, in the tomb at dusk, out of the tomb before dawn on the first day of the week (Sunday)? The woman showed up at the tomb before dawn and He was already gone. The answer: You can't. Sorry, that's one, and a portion "nights", and 1 "day". Jesus was a false prophet who should have been stoned to death for His sins, and since He had to die for His own sins, He can't pay the penalty for anyone else's.

So what's the solution? For that day was a "High Day". The "Sabbath" Jesus died on was a High Sabbath. Passover, to be specific. What day of the week is Passover? Since it's based on moons and not on days of the week, it can fall on any day of the week. Interestingly, those who have gone back and studied the moon phases in the years anyone believes Jesus was crucified, has found that none of those Passovers could have fallen on a Friday. The moon phases never line up with any Fridays. Wednesdays' yes. A Tuesday, But no Friday. So, since no one called foul and stated Jesus was a false prophet because He got the length of time in the tomb wrong, and since most scholars agree on the approximate year of His death, and since twice in those years Passover fell on a Wednesday, let's try that one out.

We have Wednesday night. 1 Night, Thursday day, 1 Night and 1 day. We have Thursday Night, 2 nights and 1 day, we have Friday day, 2 Nights and 2 Days. We have Friday night. # nights and 2 days. We have Saturday day, 3 nights and 3 days. And interestingly enough, it says Jesus rose "Early on the first day of the week". But, since the Jews calculate days from dusk till dusk, Jesus rose Saturday night at dusk after 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb.

Thus, if you want to be accurate, we have "Good Wednesday" and "Easter Saturday". Or, Jesus was a false prophet and should have been stoned to death not crucified. Pick one.

Theology / Re: Marriage

« on: January 10, 2024, 08:47:46 AM »

When the 2 become one flesh they are considered joined in the eyes of God. Doing so prior to marriage is still a sin. "Fornication". That said, according to the bible, Joseph was betrothed to Mary and sought to divorce her quietly and not make a public example of her, i.e. stoning for adultery. But ... the marriage is not finished till it's consummated. Like puzzles? David married 7 women and consummated his relationship with them. Wife 8, Bathsheba, he committed adultery with. Then David took another 10-20 wives. (Depending on which Jewish scholar you trust.) God says Davids' only sins were regarding Uriah the Hittite. i.e. he slept with his wife and got him killed. (Note: Even though David felt bad about numbering the people, there was no "sin" it what he did or how he did it. God actually influenced him to do it.) The question is, according to scripture, how many times did David commit adultery? Solomon not only looked at 1000 women naked, he became one flesh with all of them. According to scripture, how many times did he commit adultery. Now, if we take more than one wife, have we committed adultery against the first wife, according to God's definition of the word?