Arky51's Blog

People from every Nation, Tribe, and Culture on Earth have some definition of Heaven and Hell; Paradise and Punishment. Many of those definitions have common elements, while some are notably diverse. As one who is ever studying, ever learning, ever thinking, I like to share my thoughts. From earliest record it was said, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

There are two base premises:

1.) There is a spirit in the human being which eternally survives the demise of the physical (and therefore animal) body.
The first point of divergence is:
a.) That spirit inhabits but one physical body, and afterward faces a judgment by the Creator. In said Judgment, the “soul” (the combination of the spirit and its life memories) is primarily evaluated on the basis of performance (behaviors, deeds) and motives.
  - If that soul is found to have met certain standards and requirements, it is rewarded with a new body, designed to exist for eternity, and a permanent avenue of communion with the Creator. (Proper motives can often trump failures in performance.)
  - If that soul is found not to have met certain standards and requirements (ungodly behaviors and evil motives), it is punished with separation from the Creator and all who met the standards and requirements. (The best definition of “hell” is “separation from God — exile from His presence.”)
b.) That spirit inhabits but one physical body, and afterward, as the result of certain defined performances, attains to a state of “enlightenment” similar to the common monotheistic definition of a god.
c.) That spirit inhabits more than one physical body, and afterward numerous reincarnations attains to a state of “enlightenment” similar to the common monotheistic definition of a god.

1. 2.) The spirit in the human being, if such exists, does not survive the demise of the physical body, and enters into oblivion; one simply ceases to exist.

Being conservative, an evangelical Christian in practice as well as profession, I subscribe to Premise #1a, and reject Premise #2 out of hand. As well, I reject points #1b and #1c. If you are one who embraces one of these, it is certainly your option, as reflected in Joshua's pronouncement, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." (Joshua 24:15)

Going forward with the premise of humanity possessing an immortal spirit, despite the obvious mortality of our flesh, let's look at the implications.

Heaven: Mortality swallowed up in immortality; corruption displaced by the incorruptible; rest from earthly drudgery; no more sadness; no more pain; no more sickness; no more death; eternal bliss; continuous communion with the Creator; a completed sense of purpose; laboring only for an absolutely benevolent Master Who loves beyond measure.

Oh yes, I said laboring. That's not far fetched; after all, when Jesus was asked why He did certain things on the Sabbath, He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (John 5:17) What? Did you really think I was going to talk about sprouting wings, receiving wings, and strumming a harp? Please . . . no! Not at all.

My vision (or speculation) is of a Kingdom of Priests for the Most High God, on various and sundry junkets through the limitless Universe, Envoys of Ministry to countless other worlds, as assigned by the Great “I AM.” Persons who have a compassion derived from personal knowledge of what it feels like to fail miserably, and having been reconciled and redeemed despite those failures. What a glorious occupation! Carrying the Gospel (good news) of the opportunity to rise from being simply a creation of the Author of Life, to being adopted into His Eternal Family . . . to be called “A Child of God.”

My view, by the way, is in contrast to that of many others. The Bible tells me He said He is preparing a “dwelling place” for me, and that I will be one of a “Kingdom of Priests.” Others want to see a Mansion waiting for them, where they will be kings and priests. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to be left out.

So then, let us not fail to focus on the alternative. Hell is not so much a place as it is the circumstance of “separation from God.” Jesus spoke of Hell more than any other person in the Bible. "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:30) In those discourses, two pictures are painted. One picture is of being cast into a lake of fire, burning in torments, without relief, forever.

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (Matthew 25:41)

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)

The other is a picture of being cast into eternal darkness. My vision is of one being alive out of body, aware, naked of any physical facility, but with a sense of knowing there are others out there; of being unable to see, hear, speak, touch, taste, smell. Alone with only the events of your memories playing over and over in your mind, and the regret of regrets — “It wouldn't be like this if I had only believed, and obeyed.”

"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:13-14)

Whether or not they are convergent is not entirely clear to me. It is popularly taught that the one is incorporated into the other. However, if they are not different views of the same place, they are equally as frightening from the viewpoint of the average normal social human being. Perhaps, then, it is easy to understand why so many deny the very existence of Hell. They reason to themselves and aloud, “Mankind is too noble a creature for God to sentence to eternal punishment.” They also might say, “God is too noble to sentence any living creature to eternal punishment.”

Don't believe it. While it is written, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9), it is also written, “He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

ORL

People from every Nation, Tribe, and Culture on Earth have some definition of Heaven and Hell; Paradise and Punishment. Many of those definitions have common elements, while some are notably diverse. As one who is ever studying, ever learning, ever thinking, I like to share my thoughts. From earliest record it was said, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

There are two base premises:

1.) There is a spirit in the human being which eternally survives the demise of the physical (and therefore animal) body.
The first point of divergence is:
a.) That spirit inhabits but one physical body, and afterward faces a judgment by the Creator. In said Judgment, the “soul” (the combination of the spirit and its life memories) is primarily evaluated on the basis of performance (behaviors, deeds) and motives.
  - If that soul is found to have met certain standards and requirements, it is rewarded with a new body, designed to exist for eternity, and a permanent avenue of communion with the Creator. (Proper motives can often trump failures in performance.)
  - If that soul is found not to have met certain standards and requirements (ungodly behaviors and evil motives), it is punished with separation from the Creator and all who met the standards and requirements. (The best definition of “hell” is “separation from God — exile from His presence.”)
b.) That spirit inhabits but one physical body, and afterward, as the result of certain defined performances, attains to a state of “enlightenment” similar to the common monotheistic definition of a god.
c.) That spirit inhabits more than one physical body, and afterward numerous reincarnations attains to a state of “enlightenment” similar to the common monotheistic definition of a god.

1. 2.) The spirit in the human being, if such exists, does not survive the demise of the physical body, and enters into oblivion; one simply ceases to exist.

Being conservative, an evangelical Christian in practice as well as profession, I subscribe to Premise #1a, and reject Premise #2 out of hand. As well, I reject points #1b and #1c. If you are one who embraces one of these, it is certainly your option, as reflected in Joshua's pronouncement, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." (Joshua 24:15)

Going forward with the premise of humanity possessing an immortal spirit, despite the obvious mortality of our flesh, let's look at the implications.

Heaven: Mortality swallowed up in immortality; corruption displaced by the incorruptible; rest from earthly drudgery; no more sadness; no more pain; no more sickness; no more death; eternal bliss; continuous communion with the Creator; a completed sense of purpose; laboring only for an absolutely benevolent Master Who loves beyond measure.

Oh yes, I said laboring. That's not far fetched; after all, when Jesus was asked why He did certain things on the Sabbath, He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (John 5:17) What? Did you really think I was going to talk about sprouting wings, receiving wings, and strumming a harp? Please . . . no! Not at all.

My vision (or speculation) is of a Kingdom of Priests for the Most High God, on various and sundry junkets through the limitless Universe, Envoys of Ministry to countless other worlds, as assigned by the Great “I AM.” Persons who have a compassion derived from personal knowledge of what it feels like to fail miserably, and having been reconciled and redeemed despite those failures. What a glorious occupation! Carrying the Gospel (good news) of the opportunity to rise from being simply a creation of the Author of Life, to being adopted into His Eternal Family . . . to be called “A Child of God.”

My view, by the way, is in contrast to that of many others. The Bible tells me He said He is preparing a “dwelling place” for me, and that I will be one of a “Kingdom of Priests.” Others want to see a Mansion waiting for them, where they will be kings and priests. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to be left out.

So then, let us not fail to focus on the alternative. Hell is not so much a place as it is the circumstance of “separation from God.” Jesus spoke of Hell more than any other person in the Bible. "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:30) In those discourses, two pictures are painted. One picture is of being cast into a lake of fire, burning in torments, without relief, forever.

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (Matthew 25:41)

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)

The other is a picture of being cast into eternal darkness. My vision is of one being alive out of body, aware, naked of any physical facility, but with a sense of knowing there are others out there; of being unable to see, hear, speak, touch, taste, smell. Alone with only the events of your memories playing over and over in your mind, and the regret of regrets — “It wouldn't be like this if I had only believed, and obeyed.”

"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:13-14)

Whether or not they are convergent is not entirely clear to me. It is popularly taught that the one is incorporated into the other. However, if they are not different views of the same place, they are equally as frightening from the viewpoint of the average normal social human being. Perhaps, then, it is easy to understand why so many deny the very existence of Hell. They reason to themselves and aloud, “Mankind is too noble a creature for God to sentence to eternal punishment.” They also might say, “God is too noble to sentence any living creature to eternal punishment.”

Don't believe it. While it is written, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9), it is also written, “He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

The smartest person who has ever lived was ignorant.

There really is no shame in ignorance. To say one is ignorant should not be considered to be an insult. It means, simply, that you don't know. Although ignorance cannot be fully cured, since no Human knows it all, even though they may act like it. But, with proper Education, the effects of ignorance can be largely alleviated. On the other side of that coin, though a person may be very intelligent, that one displays abject stupidity when they refuse to be educated.

A huge problem is found in the fact that most people believe “Faith in God through Jesus” is just (generic) religion and they do not understand the real meaning of the majority of the terms we refer to. A small part of that is because it is “lost in translation,” but, more importantly, it just is not taught! Then, in those few places where it is taught, there are always some who simply will not believe it.

There are two places in the Bible where the subject of insufficient teaching is directly addressed. The Prophet Isaiah put the onus is on the people in general. Each individual is responsible to the Creator. The Prophet Hosea called the Teachers and Ministers on the carpet, with no small threatenings.

Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, nor do they consider the work of His hands. Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude is parched with thirst. (Isaiah 5:12-13)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people and direct their desire toward their iniquity. (Hosea 4:6-8)

Saved? Saved From What?

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

An American, giving witness of his Faith to a fellow he had met in London, asked, “Are you saved?” The cheeky Brit answered, “I was not aware I was drowning, chap.” Unfortunately, the American was ill prepared to answer, and stood there dumbfounded.

“. . . it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

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, 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. (1 Th 1:9-10)

If you, like the Sadducees of Jesus time, do not believe that the spirit riding in your body continues to live after the mortal coil of your flesh has given up, you are going to be truly amazed when you become aware of the other side. Don't become too excited, though; because, while you will sense your environment, you will not be able to communicate with it in any way. You will be “out of Body.” We are told that those who were obedient to the Faith will rest near the throne of God until Jesus returns to the World to give the final call. At that time, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:18-19)

So many misunderstand the meanings of Humility and Holiness.

There is no shame in humility. Humility is not defined as being open to humiliation. The true definition of humility is "being open to instruction." The coach says, "Do it this way," and you do your best to do it that way. The coach says, "There's no gain without pain," and you do your best to work up a burn.

If we would be as coachable with our God, as we are in training for a mere athletic endeavor, what kind of world would it be?

Holy, then, goes on to to prepare that one for presentation. Our God is clean and pure and righteous . . . in a word, perfect. Holy refers to "set aside for service to," "dedicated for the use of," "completely prepared for" . . . God. To stand before Him - even though our sin is covered by the Blood of the Lamb - we must be as clean and pure and righteous as we can attain to.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Philippians 2:12)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

ORL

There really is no shame in ignorance. To say one is ignorant should not be considered to be an insult. It means, simply, that you don't know. Although ignorance cannot be fully cured, since no Human knows it all, even though they may act like it. But, with proper Education, the effects of ignorance can be largely alleviated. On the other side of that coin, though a person may be very intelligent, that one displays abject stupidity when they refuse to be educated.

A huge problem is found in the fact that most people believe “Faith in God through Jesus” is just (generic) religion and they do not understand the real meaning of the majority of the terms we refer to. A small part of that is because it is “lost in translation,” but, more importantly, it just is not taught! Then, in those few places where it is taught, there are always some who simply will not believe it.

There are two places in the Bible where the subject of insufficient teaching is directly addressed. The Prophet Isaiah put the onus is on the people in general. Each individual is responsible to the Creator. The Prophet Hosea called the Teachers and Ministers on the carpet, with no small threatenings.

Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, nor do they consider the work of His hands. Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude is parched with thirst. (Isaiah 5:12-13)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people and direct their desire toward their iniquity. (Hosea 4:6-8)

Saved? Saved From What?

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

An American, giving witness of his Faith to a fellow he had met in London, asked, “Are you saved?” The cheeky Brit answered, “I was not aware I was drowning, chap.” Unfortunately, the American was ill prepared to answer, and stood there dumbfounded.

“. . . it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

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, 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. (1 Th 1:9-10)

If you, like the Sadducees of Jesus time, do not believe that the spirit riding in your body continues to live after the mortal coil of your flesh has given up, you are going to be truly amazed when you become aware of the other side. Don't become too excited, though; because, while you will sense your environment, you will not be able to communicate with it in any way. You will be “out of Body.” We are told that those who were obedient to the Faith will rest near the throne of God until Jesus returns to the World to give the final call. At that time, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:18-19)

So many misunderstand the meanings of Humility and Holiness.

There is no shame in humility. Humility is not defined as being open to humiliation. The true definition of humility is "being open to instruction." The coach says, "Do it this way," and you do your best to do it that way. The coach says, "There's no gain without pain," and you do your best to work up a burn.

If we would be as coachable with our God, as we are in training for a mere athletic endeavor, what kind of world would it be?

Holy, then, goes on to to prepare that one for presentation. Our God is clean and pure and righteous . . . in a word, perfect. Holy refers to "set aside for service to," "dedicated for the use of," "completely prepared for" . . . God. To stand before Him - even though our sin is covered by the Blood of the Lamb - we must be as clean and pure and righteous as we can attain to.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Philippians 2:12)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

TB

JerseyGirl32822 HAS INSPIRED ME TO ANSWER HER!!

She says: "Sorry to say, but I think most so-called "Christians" are hypocrites, and look down their noses at everyone, like 'I'm better than you, I'm perfect, and you're going to hell.' Yet some of them drink, sleep around, abuse their kids.. etc."

Girl, You are 200% correct!!

Now, please consider this: the Bible says there is a person named Lucifer, who led two-thirds of his fellow angels in a rebellion against the King of Kings. That rebellion included coming to Earth and making children with human women.  (A direct violation of the Prime Directive.)  The Bible seems to explain that those children were the real persons upon whom the Greek gods were based.   The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.  (Genesis 6:4) 

They were subsequently defeated, and confined to our planet to be our adversaries, and as such, to spur us on to spiritual growth. You know . . . like, no gain without pain; no advancement without adversity.

Their Chief, whom we call Satan, or the Devil, is perfectly satisfied with people being "merely religious," while in reality they are totally hypocritical.

The favorite and most effective tactic of the Devil is to convince people that he is not real, and neither is God. When Satan is described as a Serpent, in Genesis, The word translated as serpent actually means “one who whispers and hisses.” He whispers his lies in a soft and mesmerizing voice, much like a hypnotist. The Devil delights in you judging God by the people who "say" they belong to Christ, and probably do not.

So, you say, “I'm basically a good person and I never killed anyone so I think I'll be just fine.” You believe that because, in your physical existence it makes perfect sense. But, God is a spirit, and the Devil is a spirit, and when your body dies, the spirit in it will continue to live. God wants you to experience that eternal spiritual existence in fellowship with Him. Still, if you reject God, He will reject you. The Devil hates God so much that he wants to deprive God of your fellowship. He is insane, and his insanity can destroy you - will destroy you if you believe his lies.

ORL

OVERCOMMING EVIL

There is evil in the World. Because of sin, Mankind has fallen from the glory he was created to enjoy.  At the cost of rejecting innocence in God's Garden “the knowledge of good and evil” was pursued.  If the earliest humans had been content to follow instruction, they (and we) would still have direct communion with the creator.  But, in their pursuit of such knowledge, they sinned against their Creator, and fell under the penalty for that sin.  Subsequently, and the most difficult concept for each of us to deal with, that penalty passes on to all of humanity coming after them.

The simplest definition of sin is: any rebellion against the absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah God. He is the Great Yahweh, in the Hebrew tongue, the Great “I Am,” in the English tongue.  To question Who and What He is, for the sake of simple inquiry, is normal and natural, and not at all sinful. But, at the point where one questions His Authority, the line has been crossed, and that one is culpable as guilty.  "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23) These words were spoken by God's Prophet to the first King of Israel.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18)

Nowadays, the controversy begins with this reading.  The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." ( Genesis 3:12)

Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"  And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Genesis 3:13) Eve had surrendered to the desire to “rise above” the role God had assigned her to.  It is no mystery that it was “that old whisperer,” Satan, who had incited her to rebellion.  Misery loves company, as they say; and this was the same sinfulness that had brought down the Archangel, Lucifer, from his place before the very throne of the Universe, to the despised Office of The Accuser of the Brethren.

To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16)

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)

Saul of Tarsus, known as Paul after his conversion, gives the account that he was taken in his spirit into the third heaven. (2nd Corinthians 12:2).  There, he was instructed by the Risen Lord Jesus what his mission would be, and the tenets of what he should teach the Gentile Believers.  The Apostle gave this insight on original sin: “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1st Timothy 2:14) Adam knew precisely what Eve had done.  There is a mixture on nobility and ignominy, then, in Adam's answer to God: first, it was cowardly of him to offer the excuse that Eve had given him the fruit to taste.  But, I also see some nobility in the fact that he chose to face the penalty with the woman he loved, rather than to live on without her.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

(Genesis 4:6-7)

After the fall, at the sight of the fig leaves sewn together, The Lord clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of animals.  As a constant reminder of the animal sacrifice that provided for the covering of their nakedness, they were instructed that only the blood of an unblemished innocent would cover their sin.

Sin will take us further than we wanted to go,
. . . it will keep us longer than we wanted to stay,
. . . and it will cost us much more dearly than we ever imagined we would have to pay.

So, Abel understood the implications: sin brings death. He was obedient to God, in that he sacrificed a lamb at the prescribed times, and his sacrifice was accepted.  Cain, his brother, was a tiller of the ground . . . and proud of it.  He offered to God the fruits of his labors, and God would not accept Cain's sacrifice.  Many years later, Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)  Please understand, the word “heed” here denotes action upon instruction.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

ORL

OVERCOMMING EVIL

There is evil in the World. Because of sin, Mankind has fallen from the glory he was created to enjoy.  At the cost of rejecting innocence in God's Garden “the knowledge of good and evil” was pursued.  If the earliest humans had been content to follow instruction, they (and we) would still have direct communion with the creator.  But, in their pursuit of such knowledge, they sinned against their Creator, and fell under the penalty for that sin.  Subsequently, and the most difficult concept for each of us to deal with, that penalty passes on to all of humanity coming after them.

The simplest definition of sin is: any rebellion against the absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah God. He is the Great Yahweh, in the Hebrew tongue, the Great “I Am,” in the English tongue.  To question Who and What He is, for the sake of simple inquiry, is normal and natural, and not at all sinful. But, at the point where one questions His Authority, the line has been crossed, and that one is culpable as guilty.  "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23) These words were spoken by God's Prophet to the first King of Israel.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18)

Nowadays, the controversy begins with this reading.  The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." ( Genesis 3:12)

Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"  And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Genesis 3:13) Eve had surrendered to the desire to “rise above” the role God had assigned her to.  It is no mystery that it was “that old whisperer,” Satan, who had incited her to rebellion.  Misery loves company, as they say; and this was the same sinfulness that had brought down the Archangel, Lucifer, from his place before the very throne of the Universe, to the despised Office of The Accuser of the Brethren.

To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16)

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)

Saul of Tarsus, known as Paul after his conversion, gives the account that he was taken in his spirit into the third heaven. (2nd Corinthians 12:2).  There, he was instructed by the Risen Lord Jesus what his mission would be, and the tenets of what he should teach the Gentile Believers.  The Apostle gave this insight on original sin: “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1st Timothy 2:14) Adam knew precisely what Eve had done.  There is a mixture on nobility and ignominy, then, in Adam's answer to God: first, it was cowardly of him to offer the excuse that Eve had given him the fruit to taste.  But, I also see some nobility in the fact that he chose to face the penalty with the woman he loved, rather than to live on without her.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

(Genesis 4:6-7)

After the fall, at the sight of the fig leaves sewn together, The Lord clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of animals.  As a constant reminder of the animal sacrifice that provided for the covering of their nakedness, they were instructed that only the blood of an unblemished innocent would cover their sin.

Sin will take us further than we wanted to go,
. . . it will keep us longer than we wanted to stay,
. . . and it will cost us much more dearly than we ever imagined we would have to pay.

So, Abel understood the implications: sin brings death. He was obedient to God, in that he sacrificed a lamb at the prescribed times, and his sacrifice was accepted.  Cain, his brother, was a tiller of the ground . . . and proud of it.  He offered to God the fruits of his labors, and God would not accept Cain's sacrifice.  Many years later, Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)  Please understand, the word “heed” here denotes action upon instruction.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

TB

OVERCOMMING EVIL

There is evil in the World. Because of sin, Mankind has fallen from the glory he was created to enjoy.  At the cost of rejecting innocence in God's Garden “the knowledge of good and evil” was pursued.  If the earliest humans had been content to follow instruction, they (and we) would still have direct communion with the creator.  But, in their pursuit of such knowledge, they sinned against their Creator, and fell under the penalty for that sin.  Subsequently, and the most difficult concept for each of us to deal with, that penalty passes on to all of humanity coming after them.

The simplest definition of sin is: any rebellion against the absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah God. He is the Great Yahweh, in the Hebrew tongue, the Great “I Am,” in the English tongue.  To question Who and What He is, for the sake of simple inquiry, is normal and natural, and not at all sinful. But, at the point where one questions His Authority, the line has been crossed, and that one is culpable as guilty.  "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23) These words were spoken by God's Prophet to the first King of Israel.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18)

Nowadays, the controversy begins with this reading.  The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." ( Genesis 3:12)

Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"  And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Genesis 3:13) Eve had surrendered to the desire to “rise above” the role God had assigned her to.  It is no mystery that it was “that old whisperer,” Satan, who had incited her to rebellion.  Misery loves company, as they say; and this was the same sinfulness that had brought down the Archangel, Lucifer, from his place before the very throne of the Universe, to the despised Office of The Accuser of the Brethren.

To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16)

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)

Saul of Tarsus, known as Paul after his conversion, gives the account that he was taken in his spirit into the third heaven. (2nd Corinthians 12:2).  There, he was instructed by the Risen Lord Jesus what his mission would be, and the tenets of what he should teach the Gentile Believers.  The Apostle gave this insight on original sin: “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1st Timothy 2:14) Adam knew precisely what Eve had done.  There is a mixture on nobility and ignominy, then, in Adam's answer to God: first, it was cowardly of him to offer the excuse that Eve had given him the fruit to taste.  But, I also see some nobility in the fact that he chose to face the penalty with the woman he loved, rather than to live on without her.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

(Genesis 4:6-7)

After the fall, at the sight of the fig leaves sewn together, The Lord clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of animals.  As a constant reminder of the animal sacrifice that provided for the covering of their nakedness, they were instructed that only the blood of an unblemished innocent would cover their sin.

Sin will take us further than we wanted to go,
. . . it will keep us longer than we wanted to stay,
. . . and it will cost us much more dearly than we ever imagined we would have to pay.

So, Abel understood the implications: sin brings death. He was obedient to God, in that he sacrificed a lamb at the prescribed times, and his sacrifice was accepted.  Cain, his brother, was a tiller of the ground . . . and proud of it.  He offered to God the fruits of his labors, and God would not accept Cain's sacrifice.  Many years later, Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)  Please understand, the word “heed” here denotes action upon instruction.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

 WHO ARE THE NICOLAITANES?

from

The Revelation of the Apocalypse

Given by Christ Jesus to John the Apostle
on the Island of Patmos.

Chapter 2
vv. 6 ”Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
vv. 15 “So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitanes.”

The Nicolaitanes were a cultish faction, holding to a Christian heresy whose adherents are called nicolaitans, nicolaites, or nicolaitanes. They were apparently much like the Pharisees. The name is a compound Greek term, the Greek word "nicao" means "to conquer," to dominate, intimidate, manipulate. It means undue control. The word "laos" means "the people" …the laity.

In case you don't know, when the church began in Jerusalem, on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb, believers met in their houses, shared meals, and studied the Torah and the Prophets to find for themselves the references to Y'shua haMessiach, and confirm for themselves that they truly were seeing Prophecy fulfilled. Of note were those residents of Berea, who "eagerly examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so", and many of them believed.

There were no official Priests, Bishops, Cardinals, or Popes. When the followers of Jesus met, anyone at all was welcome to share points they had found in study, and to speak out what the Holy Spirit might give them to say.

Now, the Clergy leads the conquered Parishioners in a procession, having made themselves lords over the Heritage of Jehovah God and His Christ. They limit what they teach of the Words of God. Worse, they expel (excommunicate) whom they will from their congregations, even for making study of Scripture apart from their interpretation. And so, “For lack of knowledge, my people perish.”

TB

I have been told that I take the Holy Scriptures much too literally.
I have to ask, "What other way is there to take God's Word?"
Then they say, "But you don't want to offend people."
And I have to ask, "Are they offend by my words, or by God's Words?  Should we obey mankind rather than God?"
Then they asked me what I thought about Feminism.

Naturally, I go straight to the Holy Scriptures, because I believe:
"Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
-- 2nd Timothy 3:16-17"

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church."
-- 1st Corinthians 14:34-35

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
-- 1st Timothy 2:11-14

My thought is that this demonstrates the nobility of a real man.  He would choose to face God's curse and his eventual death with the woman he loves, rather than to live on without her.

Eve's greatest sin, on the other hand, was to follow her desire (as initiated by Satan's lies) to be more than what she was, and to forsake her appointed role as a suitable and appropriate helper, as initiated by God Himself. The simplest definition would be "rebellion."

She was Created by God Himself from a piece of Adam, she was brought to the man by God Himself, assigned to her station by God Himself, and married to the man by God Himself. Adam was cursed because he subjected himself to her by following into her sin.

Anyone who picks and chooses which passages they will adhere to, and which they will ignore or discard, is in grave danger of God's Judgement, not mine.  These words were written by Paul, not to degrade women, but to instruct them in a truth about God's economy for living in the flesh. Paul's teachings were directly from the risen Messiah, and must not be discounted as merely cultural . . .
. . . "that was then and this is now" is pure unadulterated error.

 The one and only exception that I see would be if there were no men of faith in the congregation. I am not saying that women may not be commissioned to ministries. Women are particularly well equipped for Compassion Ministries, Ministries to other women, and Ministries to children.  And, the sharing of their own personal Testimony can also be considered a Ministry.

Spiritually, we are equals, because in the spiritual realm there is no male or female.  And, so, the ground at the foot of the Cross is definitely level. But that equality is manifested in the spiritual realm, and is not appropriate to the physical realm. And so I say, in accordance with other Scripture, any form of Feminism that goes beyond the goal of ending abuse is rebellion against God.

As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people, your leaders cause you to err, and they confuse (destroy and swallow up) the course of your paths.
-- Isaiah 3:12 (Amplified)

In the realm of the ungodly and unfaithful, however, men being bossed around, ruled over, and belittled by women and children is quite the norm, simply because "modern" women do not desire equality, but mastery and subjugation, just as any other politician would.

DC

I have been told that I take the Holy Scriptures much too literally.
I have to ask, "What other way is there to take God's Word?"
Then they say, "But you don't want to offend people."
And I have to ask, "Are they offend by my words, or by God's Words?  Should we obey mankind rather than God?"
Then they asked me what I thought about Feminism.

Naturally, I go straight to the Holy Scriptures, because I believe:
"Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
-- 2nd Timothy 3:16-17"

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church."
-- 1st Corinthians 14:34-35

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
-- 1st Timothy 2:11-14

My thought is that this demonstrates the nobility of a real man.  He would choose to face God's curse and his eventual death with the woman he loves, rather than to live on without her.

Eve's greatest sin, on the other hand, was to follow her desire (as initiated by Satan's lies) to be more than what she was, and to forsake her appointed role as a suitable and appropriate helper, as initiated by God Himself. The simplest definition would be "rebellion."

She was Created by God Himself from a piece of Adam, she was brought to the man by God Himself, assigned to her station by God Himself, and married to the man by God Himself. Adam was cursed because he subjected himself to her by following into her sin.

Anyone who picks and chooses which passages they will adhere to, and which they will ignore or discard, is in grave danger of God's Judgement, not mine.  These words were written by Paul, not to degrade women, but to instruct them in a truth about God's economy for living in the flesh. Paul's teachings were directly from the risen Messiah, and must not be discounted as merely cultural . . .
. . . "that was then and this is now" is pure unadulterated error.

 The one and only exception that I see would be if there were no men of faith in the congregation. I am not saying that women may not be commissioned to ministries. Women are particularly well equipped for Compassion Ministries, Ministries to other women, and Ministries to children.  And, the sharing of their own personal Testimony can also be considered a Ministry.

Spiritually, we are equals, because in the spiritual realm there is no male or female.  And, so, the ground at the foot of the Cross is definitely level. But that equality is manifested in the spiritual realm, and is not appropriate to the physical realm. And so I say, in accordance with other Scripture, any form of Feminism that goes beyond the goal of ending abuse is rebellion against God.

As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people, your leaders cause you to err, and they confuse (destroy and swallow up) the course of your paths.
-- Isaiah 3:12 (Amplified)

In the realm of the ungodly and unfaithful, however, men being bossed around, ruled over, and belittled by women and children is quite the norm, simply because "modern" women do not desire equality, but mastery and subjugation, just as any other politician would.

ORL

I have been told that I take the Holy Scriptures much too literally.
I have to ask, "What other way is there to take God's Word?"
Then they say, "But you don't want to offend people."
And I have to ask, "Are they offend by my words, or by God's Words?  Should we obey mankind rather than God?"
Then they asked me what I thought about Feminism.

Naturally, I go straight to the Holy Scriptures, because I believe:
"Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
-- 2nd Timothy 3:16-17"

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church."
-- 1st Corinthians 14:34-35

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
-- 1st Timothy 2:11-14

My thought is that this demonstrates the nobility of a real man.  He would choose to face God's curse and his eventual death with the woman he loves, rather than to live on without her.

Eve's greatest sin, on the other hand, was to follow her desire (as initiated by Satan's lies) to be more than what she was, and to forsake her appointed role as a suitable and appropriate helper, as initiated by God Himself. The simplest definition would be "rebellion."

She was Created by God Himself from a piece of Adam, she was brought to the man by God Himself, assigned to her station by God Himself, and married to the man by God Himself. Adam was cursed because he subjected himself to her by following into her sin.

Anyone who picks and chooses which passages they will adhere to, and which they will ignore or discard, is in grave danger of God's Judgement, not mine.  These words were written by Paul, not to degrade women, but to instruct them in a truth about God's economy for living in the flesh. Paul's teachings were directly from the risen Messiah, and must not be discounted as merely cultural . . .
. . . "that was then and this is now" is pure unadulterated error.

 The one and only exception that I see would be if there were no men of faith in the congregation. I am not saying that women may not be commissioned to ministries. Women are particularly well equipped for Compassion Ministries, Ministries to other women, and Ministries to children.  And, the sharing of their own personal Testimony can also be considered a Ministry.

Spiritually, we are equals, because in the spiritual realm there is no male or female.  And, so, the ground at the foot of the Cross is definitely level. But that equality is manifested in the spiritual realm, and is not appropriate to the physical realm. And so I say, in accordance with other Scripture, any form of Feminism that goes beyond the goal of ending abuse is rebellion against God.

As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people, your leaders cause you to err, and they confuse (destroy and swallow up) the course of your paths.
-- Isaiah 3:12 (Amplified)

In the realm of the ungodly and unfaithful, however, men being bossed around, ruled over, and belittled by women and children is quite the norm, simply because "modern" women do not desire equality, but mastery and subjugation, just as any other politician would.

TB