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Thank you for the time and thought you have put into your comment. I'm afraid I'm of a more simple mind. For example; a lie is a lie, using any kind of profanity whether the culture accepts it or not: "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Ephesian 5:4 These are not suggestions these are commandments. So I'd like to say in my simple way, that the Law of God was given to the Jews in written form excursively but the teachings of the commandments were already written on the hearts of mankind as a conscience. All sin are covered by the commandments including pride: A proud person isn't going to put God first in the things they do. A proud person probably won't honor anyone including their parents. Also #9 and #10 fit the bill. Anything given from God is for all mankind so that all mankind can know Him and follow Him if they surrender to Him. This is all simple but true.
God Bless :)
With the many traits; which left us with a rather bitter taste in our mouths in regard to less than desirable characteristics of Pentacostals and many fundamentalists at least one thing they often get right; that is emphasizing the cost of serving Christ. At least for the layperson whose status is often viewed as being either as a base servant or useless idiots to amass cash for the "fearless leaders" they usually are given strong messages about living a life of "Holiness"; or how important service and sacrifice is for the cause of the Lord. With this mindset; perhaps some good can be accomplished for the Kingdom in the fields of harvest for those who serve in these churches in missions or other services to the down and out in society. That of course would be despite excesses and other garbage from the leaders who are often referred to as "the Lord's anointed." If some of this sounds sarcastic; yes indeed it is. I may not be a worthy vessel but somebody has to say this; if to see just one more person freed from this tyranny.
Before going on here; I should also say that many fundamentalists do have those even in leadership who truly care for their congregation and are NOT in the category of prosperity preachers. Same could be said for the evangelical crowd; although they have in recent years departed from Orthodoxy so that you can't count on the former foundations or pillars to mean that the current state of any denomination is sound without careful inspection. Sometimes today the rotton stench doesn't take very long to sniff out; if you get my drift.
Anyway my point in this posting is how come none of these Prosperity gospel preachers are being persecuted? I thought that all who were Godly in Christ Jesus would be persecuted. ( 2 Tim. 3:12-13). We better take heed and read all of 1 and 2 Timothy; it seems because a lot of these issues are well covered there as to what is happening today.
9Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.e 10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out:
"Woe, woe to the great city,
the mighty city of Babylon!
For in a single hour
your judgment has come."
11And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo- 12cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; of slaves and souls of men. 14And they will say:f
"The fruit of your soul's desire
has departed from you;
all your luxury and splendor have vanished,
never to be seen again."
Whether America is Babylon in it's final form or not; it is certainly undeniable that a lot of filth from this nation has been distributed around the world; particularly starting in the second half of the twentieth century. The licentiousness of film; from the suggestive genre of the 50's to the smut of the later decades; along with the music industry and of course all the collateral damage from all the sex and violence with today's internet constantly being spread throughout the earth is one facet of the rot of our society but of course the megachurch is also something that has spread its ugly tentacles outward. From one report a year or two ago it was said that 4 of the top 10 salaried pastors in the world were from Africa. This certainly explains some of the "outreaches" that some of these televangelists were involved with (along with the use of their personal jets that used church money for purchase). They groomed these Pastors; and fleeced the poor. Great business.
After analyzing what seem to be the two types of churches that began this whole "prosperity" movement in our nation and later throughout the world we could probably look at some elemental psychology involved in their tactics. The ultimate issue as with all things is what is really going down in the spiritual realms; but nonetheless certain common actions are done by men who doubtless are mentored by demons who have their own agenda. Needless to say that explains the verse that people are "deceiving and being deceived" ( 2 Tim. 3:13).
On the surface; it may seem that a correct Gospel is preached as to the terms of salvific faith in many of these compromised churches. And as the previous scripture also indicates in Timothy; things go from bad to worse over time. We see this often with sons of doctrinally sound preachers of good reputation who go out and begin later to preach a false gospel; but often are able to glean some of the congregation that attended their parent's church.
Anyway; mind games are the usual means to an end with disingenuous preachers. The pressure to live a life worthy of His calling is manipulated to assigning guilt to those who do not contribute what usually becomes a more and more egregious goal over time as the spending habits of the top hierarchy of the church always seem to outpace the mountain of revenue coming in.
If guilt doesn't work of course puffing up man's vain aspirations for greed will cause one outrageous promise after another of "blessings" coming to those who give and give big. As with any cult; deprivation is used to control the masses and when necessary there can be physical abuse as well to gain control. OF course the love of money is the root of all evil. ( 1 Tim. 6:10).
This close knit group of megachurch pastors and leaders often have; therefore strange "bedfellows". Hobnobbing with the rich is necessary; and strangely they don't need to hear the Gospel.
I am going to explore fundamentalism and legalism as well as the Pentacostal churches who developed largely after the Azuza Street Revival in California. Let us do a bullet point analysis.
FUNDAMENTALIST CHURCHES
1. Emphasize "Holy living" which is further categorized by
-Frequent church attendance
-Many rules and regulations as to recreational activities
-FOCUS ON TITHING
-Emphasis on formal dress
-Focus on doctrinal issues; often more "Arminian" than not (emphasizing "free will" rather than the Calvinist approach
of Predestination; Election etal.
-Usually strong on evangelism
-Fairly strong stance for preaching against "sign and wonders" gifts today
PENTACOSTAL CHURCHES
=Frequent church attendance
-Many rules and regulations as to recreational activities
FOCUS ON TITHING
-Emphasis on formal dress
-Wildly varying focus on doctrines; often more "Armonian (and rest of characteristics listed for fundamentalists).
Main difference is hyperfocus on "signs and wonders"; and speaking in tongues in particular
-Also wildly varying as to evangelism; seemingly often obsessed with big revivals and today involved with many
international outreaches
A cursory examination here shows there indeed seem to be many similarities between these two types of churches; even though they would normally be less than enthusiastic about any joint fellowship; if not totally ambivalent to it.
The Pentacostal church sort of broke out of the Assembly of God Charismatic church in the early 20th Century following the 1906 Azuza Street revival. I am no expert as I stated before; but it seems the Charismatic church is different than the other two groups in that they were less focused on rules and such.
As per my usual process; I am deliberately NOT including names of individuals; although famous preachers with particular peculiarities aren't that hard to surmise. It is the characteristics of the tactics used which I am attempting to explore; but I am certainly no expert on the matter.
We are reminded of 2 Peter 2:3 which reads
"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
The classic method; it seems for prioritizing regular giving is putting people under a "tithe" approach; something which from my study isn't emphasized in the New Testament. Considering this discipline for weekly offerings or better said "collections" ( 1 Cor. 16:1 and other scriptures) gleaning from a working income certainly is reasonable if we have basic needs already met with our income. Most don't consider how hypocritical it is to rob from widows and orphans in order to build "seed money" to borrow a common phrase used by these charlatans for the "cause of Christ" and to enrich others who probably would do better giving directly to the poor rather than these "ministries" whose accounting is questionable to say the least. We have indeed progressed from the old "shell game" to more sophisticated tactics today; I'll probably explore common tactics later on. But I digress...
We can't ignore either the Catholic church and the large wealth amassed in the Vatican after centuries of acquisitions; or the machinations involved with the Protestants; at least King Henry VIII but also encompassing all the grandiose cathedrals and opulence we see especially in European history. At that time the money was fairly locked up with the aristocracy or establishment; and it would have been illogical to preach a prosperity message to the masses living in squalor.
Next I will explore what I consider the two primary origins of this phenomenon.
That is so true, as in Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. We can't do it without Him, hope your house is finished or close to it.
God bless you Gramma GiGi, and your family and the new baby in the family.
RLW
A very beautiful poem by your grandfather. Thanks for sharing it.
Yes, we have a hope in Christ that He will make all things new for us when He returns. In the meantime, we have the promise of the indwelling Spirit and the cleansing and regeneration He brings. How good it is that God has provided for us who are in Him all that is necessary for life and godliness, strength and courage in times of hardships, and always His unending love and Presence with us. I appreciate the encouragement in your post. God bless.
When the stormy winds are raging, and disasters take their toll
When the mighty waves of trouble overwhelm your stricken soul
Look to God who reigns above, never doubt Him He is Love
Are you filled with eager longing for the earth's night to turn to day
God will soon dispel all sorrow, He will wipe all tears away
For His Kingdom will soon come and His will on earth be done
No matter what we are facing, the tribulations we are in, and those things that we have yet to face. If we are in Christ and He in us, we must remember this life we are living is not our own. Our hope is in the life to come that is given by the grace of God by the sacrifice of His Son and His resurrection. We are to walk with Him daily, if we do, we have been given a promise, that Jesus will return with the gift of immortality to those who are His.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God bless,
RLW
The saints redeemed from the earth are preserved till the new heaven and new earth are being ready for them. These are the first fruits. "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."(Re.14:1) Daniel gives us a clue. He touches upon the great tribulation and gives us two numbers, "There shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days./ Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."(Dan.12:11-12) Blessed refers to the first fruits. ("A thousand two hundred and threescore days'-Re.12:6 is another way of saying time, times and a half the tag on the period of the earthly ministry of Jesus).
The Millennial reign (Is.11:6-9)is from the holy mountain of Zion while we have the nations enjoying a lull from the terrible times. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid" Rome (the wolf) the leopard (Greece) are merely labels for many nations. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain."
Notice the expression, "in that day"? Is.11:10-12. He shall recover a remnant 'The second time" And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people."
Re.20:7-8 "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,/And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, " This millennial period is between the breaking of the sixth and the seventh seal.
" And he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." Prophet Isaiah is referring to the events in Re.19:15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The inaugural vision presented us the Omega aspect of Jesus Christ.(Re.1:18) The same sword mentioned in the earlier verse prepares us to anticipate judgement. "and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." Ps.2 corroborates it,"It is a conspiracy of nations' "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed,"(Ps.2:2) His wrath is not kindled but is in full blaze now."Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother."(Is.9:19)The breaking the sixth seal prepares us for the wrath of the Lord of hosts, "and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair."
Between the sixth and seventh seal there shall be many calamitous events taking place for the nations while the holy city of God is being prepared.
In the Re.15 we find reference to the consequences of great battle we touched upon in Re.19:15. "for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." So there is a white throne judgment ahead. "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." This is a parenthesis to indicate the change in government below and the inauguration of the holy city. No man was able to enter into the temple. So the saints redeemed from the earth are found on Mount Sion.
Introduction: Jesus was said to be a "man of sorrows; despised and rejected" as Isaiah 53 aptly demonstrates His sufferings; death and eventual exaltation into glory after His Resurrection. Not starting as a man of wealth with a vocation helping His father as a carpenter (which in reality could have involved other related work to that vocation); He gave up all to preach the Word; and expected the same from His Disciples. Despite this; of course we see how Paul had the vocation of tentmaking to help provide financial needs while being an Apostle and spreading the Gospel and starting churches far and wide. ( Acts 18).
We don't need to limit ourselves to the New Testament to see numerous examples of those who gave up their inheritance from pagan origins to follow God; we only need to look at Abraham; Moses and Joseph to see this principle. The argument can be made; of course that except for Moses the other two individuals ended up with great wealth and or authority. Job is also an example of someone stripped of wealth and eventually gaining even more than he started with. It is clear with all of these individuals that wealth didn't deter them from the mission God sent them for. Abraham; for instance with all his wealth lived in tents; albeit he hadn't yet been given the territory that his descendants would eventually inhabit. Joseph accrued great supplies of food and ruled with great authority under the Pharoah; but perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his family and descendants were able to eventually prosper themselves because of his efforts and earlier struggles that his own brothers forced him into.
To look into the origin of this aberration of Christianity we are forced to look at how error crept in initially when such overt antics such as demanding money for a corporate jet and other excesses would never "fly" so to speak. Abuse of power and status is one root cause.
"But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt." The living waters shall only work the living and not the dead. In that context the miry clay in the king's dream acquire more clarity thean ever before. Before we come to that let us how Elisha healed the land. "The waters of Jericho was like Marah was too foul to drink. "And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him./And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land./So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."(2 Ki.2:20-22) Notice the expression "unto this day". Couple the significance of it with the 'new cruse" you have New Jerusalem (of the new earth as different from Jerusalem.
"Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD."(Is.26:10) This explains the miry places mentioned in the key verses. The miry clay trying to compromise with the the two legs of iron explains the imposter church. " And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken./And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men."(Dan.2 :42-43). In the case of Israel left behind mingles with nations never to to rise; similarly the church compromising with the seed of men are reprobate. Unity of the Spirit is like pearls before the swine. This is what we see how the apologists for Israel bends themselves backward to justify Israel's genocide in Gaza."And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:."(2:44) The ungodly are "but are like the chaff (Ps.1:4)
This inheritance we here discuss is with regards to the earth whereas the new heaven denotes that the Law shall go forth from Zion which is on the holy mountain. "
Compare the above with the state of the earth and the heaven. "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." This is how the prophet in his prophetic vision gives us a view from the standpoint of the outer darkness. Jeremiah is referring to outer darkness and not of Jesus the Alpha aspect which so Genesis began with,"In the beginning" Here we are looking at Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever that explains his Omega aspect. So end times refer to him as the ending. "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."(Re.1:18; He.13:8) This distinction is crucial to follow the thread of judgment before the white throne and the day of regeneration.
"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel."(De.32:8) Ezekiel picks up the thread dropped by Moses. Ezekiel gives the other nations also their share, " and to the strangers that sojourn among you" since the land is of the Son. The earth for this reason abides forever. (Ec.1:4) Israel's claim is as good as that of the Gentiles under the new administration."The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me." The stone that was rejected became the headstone; so were "the little ones" despised earlier now exalted and given thrones and sit in judgment.
Psalm 1 is a Messianic psalm, "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away./ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous./For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous."
North indicates judgement. Jeremiah also refers to 'in that day' which is different from what Prophet Zechariah predicted. It is not to cleanse them but to make a distinction between what is holy and what is not. The holy city of God is holy and the footstool is not. "And it shall come to pass at that day,"and "I will give my sentence against them".(Je.4:9-12) "At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,/Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them."
The term 'idols" we need see as a tag overarching from Mount Sinai to the end times. The golden calf was in the hearts of nations and Israel like Rachel had by stealth carried along. (Ge.31:34) Jeremiah continues, " For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end." (4:27) This remnant is what figures in the Zechariah quote. Isaiah also refers to the wrath of the Lamb. "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;/To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." Israel shall be wrung through a great tribulation while the throne of the Lamb is established on the holy mountain.
Compare the line of flax and the reed, "a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed," which refers to Israel and other nations. Among priestly garments God stipulated linen,"fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." and "And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen," for Israel.(Ex.28) The reed of 6 cubits signify nations. The golden reed for faith is what made the single measurement.(Re.21:17)
While continuing with Ezekiel the north refers to Zion founded above mountains, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Ps.48:1-2) This is a holy mountain. Ezekiel is given a guided tour like St John, Ezekiel refers to the city, "and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south."(40:2) The throne of the Lamb is on the right hand of the throne of God. Ps,110:1 also refers to 'thy footstool'. So the nations are given a place in relation to the throne.
" In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness."(Ze.13:1) Further down in Ez.47 we are shown the living waters in its mighty course, "Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed."(47:8) There shall be a revival for them. Prophet Zechariah refers to in that day' to the day of regeneration where the apostles shall judge the 12 tribes. The throne of glory is set in relation to his 'footstool', "when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(Matt.19:28) This judgement we shall see in the measurement the angel uses, "a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit"(Ez.40:5) The same measure applies to the idol of the nations."Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits."(Dan.2:5). On the other hand in the case of St John it was a single measurement man-angel where the man and his angel in Christ served as one unit. "and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."(Is.2:11).O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord./Therefore thou hast forsaken ..."
James 2:9-12: James is writing in these verses about those who would "keep (fully obey) the whole law", yet go astray even by committing one sin in a moment of time, having demonstrated their inability to keep (continually uphold) the Law as required. "So speak ye ( James 1:26), and so do ( James 2:17), as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty (the Law believers are under, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Galatians 5:1, James 1:25)". The Law of Liberty, can also be referred to the Law of the Spirit Who gives Liberty ( 2 Corinthians 3:17, Romans 8:2), assures our hearts that we are accepted of the Lord because we have been forgiven & the Gift of the Holy Spirit continually ministers to our hearts & lives to help us live holy lives or lead us/discipline us when we stray off course.
This Liberty, the Law could never give - Israel always remained fearful of it, eventually leading them into idolatry & debauchery, but to those IN Christ Jesus there is now no condemnation who walk after the Spirit ( Romans 8:1) - we should not be bound to the letter that had as its goal to expose & destroy souls, but to the Spirit Who gives Power & Life to obey God perfectly, "hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" ( Jude 1:23). Only the Laws given us by the Spirit to our hearts cover every area of our lives, ministering to us in His Way (& not in human strength), so we can live above the letter's demands but as new creations in Christ. There was nothing wrong with the 10 Commandments, for they are from God & His Truth - but they were for Israel alone, for their conduct before God & man, to show them their sin, God's requirements, & prepare them to approach God in Love, Truth, & Faith. All who did at that time were accepted by their faith alone ( Hebrews 11:39,40) & not on how well they kept the Law. Romans 8:3,4 (we allow the righteousness of the Law to work & be fulfilled in us by God's Spirit - never appealing to the letter, which is devoid of life). Every blessing.
c. just considering the two passages you shared about "obeying the commandments":
Romans 2:12,13 which needs to be considered in its entirety Romans 2:12-16. Verse 12: Paul refers to those without the Law (i.e. Gentiles) will perish, just as those of Israel (in the Law), who sin will perish. Verse 13: only the doers of the Law (i.e. those given the Law) will be justified (but none have kept the Law perfectly leading to justification). Verses 14,15: Paul confirms that the Gentiles never received the Law, but by nature/conscience sake demonstrate the working of the Law within them. And so Gentiles construct their own law to suit their lives/consciences, yet without God's Law being their motivation & yardstick.
So these verses don't tell me that Christians come under the Law to obey them, rather they speak of Gentiles who have not received the Law, avoid God's Work of appealing to their (some of their) hearts, & ultimately refusing to hear & obey the Gospel that can deliver them from the agony & weight of their sin. These, along with Israel who do not keep God's Laws perfectly (as none can anyway), will perish, without the One Who came to fulfil the Law & redeem them by being their substitute for sin's punishment.
Not a problem Momsage. I'm more than happy to converse with anyone who wishes to do so, though I was careful to not overstep the bounds you had once set to your communicants.
I understand that you're referencing only the 10 Commandments as the Law given, & as I stated, to Israel only. So your questions:
a. when we refer to Gentiles, we can think of all those outside of God's special called-out people; those of old-time who never even heard of such a Law & were a law unto themselves, and now to us now, who have heard of the Law, but are brought under subjection to governments of men. So, what standards do the Gentiles follow? Those of old times, Romans 2:14 applies, "...the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves", but the 'working of the law is upon their hearts, excusing or accusing them'. Those under civil government are subject to the 'laws of the land' regardless of how well govts adhere to Divine Law or not. Many gentiles today, as those of yesteryear, have no idea of those laws given to Israel, but they do know that civil law bares its ruthless arm against them.
b. the "imputed laws that Jesus expects us (Christians?) to obey", would be everything that we need to know & obey according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit within us. And these 'laws' I think you would agree, go far far beyond the abridged Decalogue. E.g. you won't find the sin of Pride in the Decalogue, yet as Christians we immediately are given conviction & the need for repentance when pride surfaces in our thoughts or speech. Yet, we get a problem: a conviction to one may not always be a conviction to another believer; e.g. a white lie, wearing immodest clothing, using slightly flowery language, etc. Each one of us has to stand before God for our lives, knowing that not all of us have gained the same spiritual understanding/maturity to know & act upon deviations from righteous living.
Revelation 11:18 -
18 And the nations were (WILL BE) angry(wrathed), and thy WRATH is come (GOD's WRATH), and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest DESTROY them which destroy the earth.
Get ready
Romans 2:14-16 and 12 and 5-11
14For when the Gentiles, which HAVE NOT THE LAW, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, HAVING NOT THE LAW, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16In the Day (this Day arrived, the seventh and last Day or seventh and last millennium) when GOD shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (the Judgment Seat of Christ) according to my gospel.
Get ready
12For as many as have sinned WITHOUT LAW(the Gentiles)shall also PERISH WITHOUT LAW:and as many as have sinned in the LAW shall be JUDGED by the LAW;
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself WRATH against the Day of WRATH and revelation of the righteous Judgment of GOD;(This Day arrived)
6 Who will render to EVERY MAN according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, INDIGNATION AND WRATH,
(What is written in the verses 7 and 8 above will be LITERALLY fulfilled from now on. The Word is GOD, GOD HIMSELF, self-executing,understand?)
9TRIBULATION and ANGUISH, upon EVERY SOUL of man that doeth evil,of the JEW first,and also of the GENTILE;
( Isaiah 26:20-21->20 Come,my people,enter thou into thy chambers,and shut thy doors about thee:HIDE THYSELF as it were for a little moment(the last week-week 70th- Daniel 9:27),until the INDIGNATION be overpast. 21 For,behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to PUNISH the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity( Matthew 24:10-13): the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain)
10But glory,honour,and peace,to every man that worketh good,to the JEW first,and also to the GENTILE;
11For there is no respect of persons with GOD.
Get ready
When I refer to the law I am only referencing the 10 commandments. It's my sense that you are saying that the law was purely for the Jews only, does that includes the 10 commandments? if you are saying that the 10 commands were only for the Jews then I do have some questions:
A) What standard do the gentiles follow in order to live righteous lives for God if not the commandments?
B) What are the imputed laws that Jesus expects us to obey?
C) There are so many verses in the new testament that deal with obeying the commandments, like the two below. What do you believe they are telling us?
Romans 2:12-13
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. God Bless :0
v.1 "Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house." The Spirit uses Afterward with direct reference to the measuring of the holy city of God.(Re.21:15-16) We need look at this vision from the tree of life being positioned on this side of the river where the throne of God and of the Lamb is situated. (Re.22:1). This water which flows from the threshold "And, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward" requires explanation. Threshold is set as the line connecting the two thrones" so the pure water of life ("a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb," is implied here. Another word 'eastward' also requires help. We are looking at the nations 'the kings of the east' that includes Israel as well. Drying of the river Euphrates so "that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared" draws Israel as hostile to the saints following the Word of God. (Re.16:12; 19:14) Prophet Ezekiel refers to 'top of the mountains' ,-Zion, as a high mountain(Is.2:2). So Ez.40:2 we have this verse " set me upon a very high mountain."
vv.2-5 we have "the man that had the line" proceeding with measuring. What does 4x1000 tell us? Compare John's vision where the golden reed shows 12x100 furlongs. "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."(21:16) Ezekiel according to his Jewish sensitivities gives us the decalogue as base unit.
Another point we need consider is this line, "and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house" Always it holds to the rightside of the house or the throne. Consider the verse:"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Ps.110:1) The earth is designated as the footstool in relation to the Son. He is the judge.
I will lift up your request to the Lord today. Thanks for letting us know your prayer needs. God is good and will hear.
Good to hear from you again.
I will be praying for you today.
24:1 The earth is the Lord's,and the fulness thereof; the world,and they that dwell therein. -->(Comment:Luke:4:8-9:->8The Devil taketh JESUS up into an exceeding high mountain, sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And he said to the Lord GOD, Lord JESUS: All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.)
Yes,"The earth is the Lord's,and the fulness thereof;the world,and they that dwell therein",This is true,of course, but what the Devil said to JESUS is lie, he is the father of lie, never abode in the Truth- John 8:44.
24:2 For the Lord hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?(Satan intends to climb the mountain of the Lord- Isaiah 14:13-15),or who shall stand in His holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the GOD of His salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (in the war)
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.Selah.
Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise GOD, be Honour and Glory for ever and ever. Amen.(1Ti.1:17)
Here's a big difference between government of GOD,GOD's Kingdom,and government of Devil's children around the world
Government of demons
Government of nations manipulate mountains of money and produce misery,infermities,death,among many other demoniac efects,caused through satanic structures invented by the Devil through men dominated by his spirit.
Governament of GOD
10The apostles,when they were returned,told Him all that they had done.JESUS took them,and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
11And the people,when they knew it,followed him:and he received them,and spake unto them of the Kingdom of GOD,and healed them that had need of healing.
12And when the day began to wear away,then came the twelve, and said unto JESUS,Send the multitude away,that they may go into the towns and country round about,and lodge,and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
13But JESUS said unto them,Give ye them to eat.And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes;except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
14For they were about five THOUSAND men.And JESUS said to his disciples,Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15And they did so,and made them all sit down.
16Then JESUS took the five loaves and the two fishes,and looking up to heaven,He blessed them,and brake,and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
17And they did eat,and were all filled:and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
Re.11:15&18KJV
15...The kingdoms OF THIS WOLRD are become the kingdoms of our Lord,and of His Christ;He shall reign for ever and ever.
18And the nations were(WILL BE)angry,and GOD's wrath is come, and time of the dead,that they should be judged,and that GOD should give reward unto His servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear His name,small and great;and should DESTROY them which destroy the earth
Get ready