Sunday, June 29, 2008

Latest Reading - finished another book

I like to read three or four books simultaneously along with the Bible.
Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom, Harper Collins, 1997, 787 pages. This is a very thorough book on the life and exploits of the worst thing to happen to Europe between Attila the Hun and Hitler/Churchill. If there ever was a person in history who acted like Satan in the Bible it was old Nappy. Millions of dead, ruined empires, destroyed villages and cities were left in this man's wake. I never understood why so many considered him a monster but this book makes it very, very clear. Worth reading. A real eye opener. The real hero of the book for me was Prussian Field Marshal Blucher. I hope I'm that active and able at 73 years old.

Latest Reading

Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War, How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West lost the World, by Patrick J. Buchanan, Crown Publishers, 2008. This is a very well written book, an argument, if you will, for the villainy and incompetence of Winston Churchill and the fall of the British Empire. There were at least four great villains in the twentieth century; Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, and FDR. All four were war criminals and Buchanan shows clearly the culpability of Churchill in the destruction of history's greatest empire. This is a must read for students of history.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Leviticus, Chapter Six

1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
This has to do with some basic rules that are common in our American heritage of the rule of Law. First, there are rules about handling what you have borrowed, or what you promise, or take by violence, or by deception. This is about returning property and paying restitution, making good a loss someone suffers because of your actions. This will define a difference between the wicked and the righteous in behavior toward their neighbors and God from here on out. Think of the kind of friend who lies to you to get you to do wrong. Think of the subtle man, the sneaky one, and realize that all of these sins are ultimately against God.
Psalm 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Ezekiel 18:7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
2Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Zechariah 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
2Samuel 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
In addition to making restitution, the person must acknowledge his sin before God.
8 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
Here we have the real, eternal flame, an imitation of which was and is used in ritual and ceremony such as the “eternal flame” which burned at the temple of Delphi in Ancient Greece, and that the Persians used in their religion, and that worshippers of the nation state use before their tombs of “unknown soldiers”, the Olympic torch, and at the tomb of President John Kennedy. These are all counterfeits and phonies, with mankind co-opting things of God for his own religion, which is the worship of Satan through himself.
The human fraud is designed to give justification to human self and state worship. It’s not even a funny joke. In fact, it’s pretty pathetic how we take God’s doings, make them our own, and make ourselves a god. How about this for an eternal flame for mankind; the lake of fire?
14 ¶ And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
Our prayers are a sweet odor to the Lord God, now.
Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
16 And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
Leaven is a type of sin in God’s word. It is also a type of hypocrisy and false doctrine.
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.

It has been said that because of Adam, sin is inherited through the male. It is the male who must be first spiritually accountable to God. Male headship is based on this concept, that although the female is under the same dispensational rules as the male it is the male who knowingly brought sin into the world because the female was deceived while the male willingly and with full knowledge sinned against and rebelled against God. The woman was part of the scam. She was the dupe. Adam could have stopped it at any time. He knew better. She hadn’t heard the word, “surely”, but had depended upon Adam for the contents of that conversation. Read the second chapter of Genesis very closely and then the third paying close attention to the words “surely” and “also”.

1Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
20 This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.

I have no idea what an ephah is in current weights and balances. I try to think of a 5lb bag of flour because an omer is mentioned as being a tenth of that measurement in Exodus 16:36.

21 In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.
23 For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.

I am certain that there is a reasoning behind not only what is called for a sacrifice but in how it is to be prepared but my spiritual blindness prevents me from seeing any connections. Perhaps, at some point in the future a light will come on and I can relate what might be the reasoning behind the method.

24 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
Jesus was our sin offering but His offering for sin was complete and didn’t have to be repeated, and can’t be repeated.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.

Those who touched Christ, even His clothing, were changed to God’s purpose.

Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
Christ’s body was broken for us and we are washed by the word.
1Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
29 All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
30 And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Latest Reading

Unheralded Victory, The Defeat of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, 1961-1973 by Mark W. Woodruff, Vandamere Press, 1999. I really enjoyed this book, filled with research from the archives of the communist north and statistics and information from newspapers and military accounts. It showed how the American military resoundingly won the Vietnam War militarily but how the US lost the war politically. What really linked it together for me was that I had just read the liberal paeon to the 1960's entitled Coming Apart, An Informal History of America in the 1960's. It is clear that people like Walter Conkrite who my father thought could only speak the truth, were notorious liars, communist sympathizers, and would be communist agents. It is also clear that the Anti-War movement was run by the privileged children who did not have to fight for the most part while the war was fought by the working class. It is also clear that many of the most outspoken vets against the war, but most certainly not all, weren't even frontline combat troops and in some cases, never left Saigon. It is also clear that, in the communist's own words, they were beaten decisively. It is book that survivors of that era and students of that era should read. It changed my mind.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Mark, Chapter 12

1 ¶ And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

This is the nation of Israel He to which He is referring. The husbandmen are Israel’s rulers.

Isaiah 5:1 ¶ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

God expects fruit when He plants something. Here the church is speaking in type.

Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Song of Solomon 6:11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.

Song of Solomon 7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

Song of Solomon 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

It’s easy to knock ancient Israel for not producing fruit. What fruit have you produced?

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Your works will mean nothing without the fruit of the Spirit.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

The husbandmen in type could also be likened to modern day preachers. They are making a mess of the vineyard.

3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

This is a history of the nation of Israel literally and doctrinally and all the prophets you can read about in the Old Testament as they try to keep Israel straight.

5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

They knew what they were doing. When Jesus, God the Son, God in the flesh came, He was to be killed.

8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
The mystery of the Church Age is that the spiritual kingdom of God will be turned over to the Church for a time.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Jesus is the cornerstone of the building and you can’t build a physical, literal kingdom of heaven on earth without His bodily presence without working against Him.
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Psalm 118:23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Some preachers, by this verse’s statement, claim that the Jews knew Jesus was the Messiah, the very Son of God, which is God in the flesh, born in human form. However, they knew He claimed to be equal with God but were they still not ignorant of the truth of His claims? How then, could Jesus plea on their behalf from the Cross and Peter’s statement in Acts have any meaning?

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

I think that clearly they did not believe Him but saw Him as a threat to their position.

13 ¶ And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

The fundamentalists and the politically oriented religious party try to catch Him. Just imagine what it looked like to God when Pensacola Christian College testified against Kent Hovind, consorting with the IRS to imprison an evangelist who had had great success in debating against evolution. PCC and the Federal Government are far apart in their beliefs but united in attacking someone working for Christ.

14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Here is the question. Do we pay taxes or not? Is not the authority unlawful and isn’t the IRS illegal according to our Constitution? Wasn’t the amendment that permitted taxing our income the way it is done gotten by lying and corruption?

15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Here is your answer. Don’t refuse to pay your taxes and use God as an excuse. You register your church as a tax exempt organization so you can get your people to donate money to your church organization so that they can deduct it from their taxes. You make your church an agent of the state and, in essence, ask the IRS’ permission for certain allowances, and then you complain. Once you make yourself an agent of the state you have no right to complain about the state (government).

What is Caesar’s? Anything he wants to take. If you don’t like the tax code, work to change it. Don’t refuse to pay. Don’t shoot the tax collector.

What is God’s?

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

These aren’t taxable.

What is not Caesar’s? Worship of the king or of the state is not Caesar’s. This is something American Christians seem to be misguided on. Your children belong to God. They are not Caesar’s. You are responsible for their education in God and if you surrender them to the state you are wicked and worship the state. The state has no regard for God. If you turn your children over to the state you are willing to have the Godless civil religion indoctrinate your children against God.

Pay your taxes, obey the laws that don’t go against your commission to preach the Risen Saviour to the lost and educate your children in Christ, pray privately, and read your Bible, or display the fruits of the spirit.

18 ¶ Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

What a bunch of liars? These are like the modern liberals who think everything is figurative in the Bible and support many left wing political ideals such as homosexual marriage and abortion. They are intent on cleaning up the waiting room to Hell with their own beliefs. They see only the temporal, the flesh, unless they are dying or in trouble.

20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

When someone uses extremes to justify their convictions you can be sure they are phonies and hypocrites. People do this quite often when objecting to the Bible’s clear statements.

21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

Remember, they don’t believe in the resurrection. This is similar to those modernists who mock a Bible Believer’s stance against homosexual behavior by quoting Leviticus and then comparing the admonition there to the ancient Hebrews against homosexuals to wearing a beard and a robe and not mixing seed. They are fools and stupid people. Pay them no attention. The Sadducees did not survive the destruction of the temple and the modern fakers won’t survive the Great Tribulation.

24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Angels always appear in the form of men. There is no institution of marriage between the residents of the New Jerusalem. The angels are not sexless beings. They always appear as men.

See Genesis 6:4.

Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

I’ve already shown that the “sons of God” are represented by angels, which is an appearance of something or someone; either a person, a nation, a church or something that is somewhere else.
26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

Here, Christ blasts their lack of belief in a resurrection. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive. They will be resurrected bodily.

28 ¶ And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

First step. There is one God.

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

You must first love God with everything you have. That is the foundation upon which everything else is predicated.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

This is the second commandment. You can’t please God by denying Him and then going off to do good works, to save children in Africa, etc. etc. You must first love God, then your neighbor. I spent fourteen years as a Christian before I understood that I did not love God. It took my daughter’s suicide note to make me realize that she, in her agony, could make a profession that I, who remained alive, could not.

Then, later, I read John Wesley’s sermon, “The Almost Christian”. Now, I am certain that I was saved by Christ back on March 19, 1986 but, like most Christians, I was immediately taken prisoner of war by Satan in full collusion with my flesh. I was useless. My daughter had received Christ as her Saviour on October 7, 1990 but I had spiritually neglected her and starved her. As God’s representative in her life I had failed to ever point toward God. To her, as she cried out, God had abandoned her, in spite of her love for Him. That was because I had spiritually abandoned her. It is a great evil that “Christian” parents commit. It was her death that woke me up. What a horrible price to pay, what a horrible wakeup call. Don’t need God to break you in order to understand.

First, God, then others. Your “self” is not mentioned.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Notice understanding is substituted for mind. Loving others is far more important than ritual observance. Many people never miss church but have no relationship with Christ at all.

Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

1Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Micah 6:6 ¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

This man is close, but notice that he is not there. He has answered discreetly and not been deliberately argumentative and foolish like the others before him. Now, the intellectual elite are going to stop trying to trick Him with questions.

35 ¶ And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The LORD is God the Father, the great Jehovah.

37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

How can David be the father of the messiah and call Him, Lord? Jesus Christ is of the lineage of David, therefore his son, but that is impossible, if Christ is his Lord. They didn’t have a father call his son, Lord. So the only possible conclusion is that Jesus Christ is also Jehovah. The Messiah is God manifest in the flesh. The Son of God reveals the great God born into human form.

The common people; rednecks, hicks, whatever racial or cultural slur you want to use, wanted truth.

38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Religions that make long prayers for the dead in order to get money from widows are still with us today. Do you know any religious people who receive money to pray for the dead today to get them out of a place they invented called purgatory?

41 ¶ And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

Christ is watching how people give, not just what they give.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

They were paid daily for their work, according to the Law. She gave in all she had, her whole income for the day, in the offering. The poor lived from day to day. The equivalent would be today if you were to quietly give your savings, all your 401K, stocks and bonds, etc. etc. to God’s work. This is not calling you to do exactly that but is set for you an example. The rich give a portion and still have plenty left. She, trusting in God, gave all she had. It is something to consider.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Leviticus, Chapter Five

1 ¶ And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
You are responsible, in principle, if you are a witness to a sin and do nothing about it. In our society there have been many debates about the responsibility of witnesses to a crime. The landmark case was that of a murder victim named Kitty Genovese who screamed for help and was ignored by frightened neighbors who wanted to “mind their own business.”
2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
This commandment is so obviously, through its religious application, a health oriented rule that it defies argument as such.
3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
This also argues for the ignorance and poor hygiene that mankind had fallen into. Consider today, the spread of Ebola and other diseases through the cultural practice in Africa of washing the dead relative’s body in preparation for burial.
Keep in mind how unclean spirits and devils are obsessed with death and the dead. Spiritually, it is essential that we bury our dead and put them out of our sight, not leaving them on a hillside to rot like some ancient Celts.
Genesis 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
With regard to the fascination with the dead and with death.
Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Mark 5:1 ¶ And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
Of course, the uncleanness of a man may refer to excrement and body waste or “seed of copulation” as well.
4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
We sometimes do things without realizing what we’ve done immediately, but it is clear by all of these statements that we are not excused from our guilt. This is perhaps one of the things that infuriates critics of the Bible so much. They are incensed that a person could be held guilty for a sin of which he is unaware. This accounts for the need to reach the lost in other cultures who have never heard the name of Christ to give them a chance to be saved for they will be held accountable even in their ignorance.
5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
Your safest response to sin is to immediately confess it to God. Don’t hang onto it so you can crawl up front on Sunday morning and cry out to God at the step on which the pulpit sits and impress the preacher with your spirituality.
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
Keep in mind the setup after Christ’s death and resurrection. We are a priesthood.
1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
So, keep thinking that each Christian is like, in type, the entire nation of Israel. Each Christian is also a priest. Each Christian is also the temple of the Holy Ghost. Just as each Christian is part of the organic body of Christ.
7 ¶ And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
Joseph and Mary were poor and notice Mary’s offering.
Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Notice the impossibility of Mary being sinless.
8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:
9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.
10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
Apparently, Mary wasn’t the poorest of the poor, however.
12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.
In that Christ Himself was our offering for sin and in that He spent three days in Hell, this is an interesting verse.
13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.
Meat is synonymous with food in most places in Scripture.
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
14 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:
16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.
17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
Here is a repetition of the concept that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even if the person did not know that what he did was against God he is still guilty. This grates at our modern communist sensibilities because to modern man no one is guilty of anything.
18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
Ignorance itself is a sin. There is no Christian, in particular, who should not make it a lifelong practice of reading and studying the Bible to know what God’s standard for his life is. I’m not talking about some goofy dress code, some non-scriptural commandments that modern Pharisees add to the word of God but what God’s standard is. Ignorance of the Bible, when there has been nearly a billion put into print is no excuse for any Christian. As soon as you get saved the very first thing you should be doing is reading God’s Book and letting Him talk to you daily, hourly if necessary.
19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Bible reading and sin

I've had some real breakthroughs lately with Bible reading and sin in my life. God has amazingly managed to take certain sins and simply make them unappetizing to me. I have struggled with many of these things my whole life but never so intensely as after I became a Christian.
It's impossible for me to understand the mechanism by which He does this. I can only refer you to certain verses like the following.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Apparently, it has something to do with "assuaging" my sins much like the waters of Noah's flood were assuaged to reveal the dry land in degrees. Perhaps, if everything were removed at first and at once, in certain cases, I would be open for worse things.
Genesis8:1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
Job 16:6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?With the Canaanites being a type of our sins, as William Tyndale pointed out, notice this statement.
Deuteronomy 7:22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
I was delivered from alcohol at once and even though I tried to go back to it, it simply had no taste for me. However, there were other sins that must have had such a grip on my flesh that it was too dangerous to remove them at one time.
Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.So, if you are struggling with something that seems to have a death grip on you, continue to pray for God's deliverance through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, but be persistent. It may, like the tide, come in and go out, assuaging, until it is gone.
Don't get me wrong, I am still struggling with some very wicked things but am watching how He removes them.
Submit yourself to the words of God daily. Read, read, read, and memorize as much as you can.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Leviticus, Chapter Four

1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
This is repeated 72 times. That is the number of the elders that God placed his spirit upon plus the two other men in the camp that Joshua complained to Moses about.
Numbers 11:16 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
24 ¶ And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. 26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! 30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:
6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
There is some significance here between the physical, flesh and blood cattle, and the spiritual creatures after whose likenesses all animals were created. The question you must ask is why were cattle cursed from the beginning?
Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Now, since we have already established that the first creatures were created after their kind, some type of archetype in the spiritual world;
Genesis 1:20 ¶ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
(See also Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10.)
I can only conclude that some of these spiritual creatures figured into;
Satan’s rebellion in his attempt to destroy God’s plans which is found in Genesis 3:1.
Or;
The gap theory stating that there was an age between Genesis 1:1 and verse 2 is correct, but not in a physical sense, that there was a spiritual world before flesh and blood and a rebellion previous to God’s creation of the earth. There was no death in the sense that we know death. This would not create a contradiction.
Or perhaps some other reason which I can’t see due to my sin nature and blindness.
Note that some animals are called not clean even before the Law.
Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Note that Christ made all animals clean.
Acts 10:9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Another suggestion might be that the sons of God in Genesis 6 introduced a lot of alien DNA into life on earth and this had to be purified by a transfusion of God’s blood for all life was cursed until God cleansed it. This may be the origin of some of our mythological beasts. In any event, something in the offering of animal sacrifices is linked to events in the spiritual world, I am sure.
A plain, literal reading would indicate explanation “A”.
7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
The bullock, a young bull (see Exodus 39:1), is carried “without the camp”. The tabernacle is pitched “without the camp” (Exodus 33:7). The defiled and the unclean are “without the camp” (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:3). The condemned are executed “without the camp” (Numbers 15:35). Jesus suffered for our sake “without the camp” and we are to join Him there.
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
One test you can make of a Christian celebrities truthfulness or not is how he is viewed by the world. Those that are highly praised by the world or find some approval we must view with suspicion, for we;
1Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
So, be wary of the Billy Grahams, the Joel Osteens, the Hagees, the Falwells, the Robertsons, and the Parsley’s of the world. They have a hearing and an approval that J. Frank Norris, Beauchamp Vick, R.G. Lee, and Bob Jones, Sr. did not. Why? Because, they sought the favor and patronage of wealthy and powerful men, they disdained not any religion of man and backed down when confronted by an anti-Catholic or anti-Muslim statement that would have denied their access to the media and the halls of power, and some are approved by the Vatican and even receive honors from the Harlot of Revelation. Now, this is not true of all of them at all times but of all of them at some times and in various ways.
I’m not saying that Benny Hinn isn’t saved. I don’t know. I’m not saying that Billy Graham isn’t saved. I can’t know. I’m saying, be careful, who among the famous Christians you follow. Are they “without the camp” with Christ? If the world, which is evil, approves of you, then you can’t possibly be right with God.
1Johns 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Romans 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Jude 15 ¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
1 John 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Just be careful of the preachers that are given the most publicity. Just recently, Franklin Graham said not to witness for the gospel of Christ at the Olympics because it was illegal in China.
How did Peter handle that issue when he was told not to preach in Christ’s name?
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Speaking of Peter, when you warm your hands over the Devil’s fire long enough you will be forced to either deny Christ or remain silent.
Have we stepped out of the camp to join Christ or are American Christians just part of the world system influencing politics, calling for boycotts, picketing and marching for causes: all things you don’t read about in Acts or the Church Age letters?
13 ¶ And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
This simple rule could have saved the nation of Israel, the Jews, 2000 years of agony.
Note how God viewed turning over the Lord Jesus Christ to the Romans to be crucified.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
We’ll get to the ruler’s sin through ignorance in a few verses here. If the rulers had listened to Stephen in Acts 7 and performed these sacrifices, acknowledging the authority of Jesus Christ, there would have been no Second Great Diaspora and the last 2000 years of history would have been reduced to a rapture of the believing Jews and a period of the Great Tribulation with perhaps a Roman Emperor being the “antichrist” rather than a future Roman Pope (who in actuality is the emperor by the Catholic Church’s own statements). We Gentiles can be thankful for the Jews’ rejection.
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:
17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.

The number seven is the number of God’s completion which is perfection.

18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.
20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
22 ¶ When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

Here is the connection with the people’s sins and the rulers’ in the verse in Acts, from ignorance.

23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
Here is an interesting thought about being responsible for a sin once you realize it or rather being expected to deal with your sin as soon as it comes to your knowledge.
We have hidden sins of which we are not aware but of which we are held accountable by our very descendance from Adam. We also sin presumptuously, assuming we are doing God’s will, when we are actually rebelling in our hearts.
Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
In any event such offerings are no longer applicable.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.
25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
27 ¶ And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
Hebrews 9: 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Mark, Chapter Eleven

1 ¶ And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

He is going to fulfill Scripture here.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This represents the first Advent of Christ. Now in the next verse comes the second Advent;

Zechariah 9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

This creature represents mankind.

Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

He is now going to make a public statement by His actions. He is in the last week of His life on earth before the crucifixion.

3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

Here is a lost man in type, tied up outside at a place where two ways meet, a crossroads. Either he will be saved or Christ will ride him to heaven.

Luke gives you another perspective on this;

Luke 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

You, unsaved man, are a jackass that needs to be loosed and rode by Christ. No one has ever ruled over you as you are your own god, serving Satan by your actions and thoughts, but all the while thinking of yourself as a god.

Other men loose you, giving you the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Christ takes possession. Otherwise, you are bound for Hell.

5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Jesus Christ is being publicly hailed as a king by the Jews. Of course, later, they also will cry out to crucify Him. But, here they fulfill Scripture mentioned earlier.

Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

If the people didn’t shout as it calls for in Zechariah 9:9 then the stones would shout. The Scripture cannot be broken.

11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

I would suspect that Jesus is seeing Titus and the Romans destroying the temple years later.

Luke 19:41 ¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Christ knows what could have been had the Jews received Him.

This would be Sunday night. We are going to count backwards from the first day of the week, our Sunday, when He rises from the dead.

12 ¶ And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

This is our Monday.

Here is Jesus, the man, hungry.

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

The fig tree is a type of the nation of Israel at that time;

Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Matthew 24:32 ¶ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

I read that the fig tree produces fruit before it produces leaves so that if leaves appear the time of fruit is past. Israel has not borne the fruit that was required of it. Jesus Christ has condemned that Israel, that it will produce no fruit forever. But, now God has put Jewish people into the land and has made a new Israel. This Israel will bear fruit in the end time.

Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Jeremiah 24:1 ¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. 4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. 8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: 9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. 10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

See how fruit will be produced at the last times;

Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Continue to read beyond this verse to see where these servants come from. They are NOT Jehovah’s Witnesses)

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

This is the second time that Jesus has run opportunists out of the temple. He performed this feat at the beginning of His ministry, as well, reported in John 2.

17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Psalm 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Jeremiah 7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

This is our Monday night.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

This is our Tuesday morning.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

The Israel of that day had been given chance after chance to be a light to the world and had refused.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

As this section is linked together it is clear that he is talking about Israel and this dispensational truth is given to the Jewish Apostles. This is not a statement that can be claimed by a Catholic priest or some Pentecostal. It is so clearly embedded in the doctrinal application apparent here to the Jewish apostles who are sent forth into all the world then and in the Tribulation to come which would have come then had the Jewish leaders accepted Christ but we’ll save that for Acts. It is real simple. You must learn how to separate doctrinal truth from spiritual or practical truth. The Bible is written mostly to the Jews doctrinally. The Old Testament under the Law and before, the Gospels still under the Old but in transition, as is Acts a transitional book. Then, the church age begins with Romans and ends in slavery with Philemon, with Hebrews being a transition to the Tribulation, then the Tribulation letters, or General or Catholic Epistles as they are called, and then finally Revelation.

You can apply any verse to the Christian doctrinally from the Church Age letters and any verse from any book doctrinally to you that doesn’t contradict the doctrine in those letters. Any verse anywhere can be applied to you practically or spiritually and it is important to find out how a verse may apply to you today. It’s important to read the entire Bible over and over to see this clear division. It’s not rocket science but quite simple.

Doctrinally, specifically, the Church Age letters apply to me. Doctrinally, specifically, any other verses may apply that don’t contradict the doctrine in the Church Age letters. Every verse in the Bible applies to me in some way, usually in a practical way that helps me draw close to God if I can pray to the Holy Spirit to teach me. However, I am not called to kill Canaanites and just because I forgive someone doesn’t mean that they are right with God and I am never going to make Mount Rainier slide into the Pacific Ocean with prayer.

Literally, and doctrinally, the Mount of Olives will move when Jesus comes back.

Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Literally, and doctrinally, a mountain falls into the sea during the end time struggle.

Revelation 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

You can make all kinds of spiritual applications to a Christian, making the mountain an obstacle in your life, but doctrinally you need to face facts and quit this accusing sick people of not having enough faith to be healed. This is nonsense and wickedness.

Look at verse 24 and dispensationally and doctrinally link it with another verse written for the same dispensation.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Here’s another doctrinal “Tribulation” verse that qualifies this verse.

1Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

And another.

1 John 5:14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

And another.

1John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And another.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

False preachers and false “Christian” denominations who wrench these verses out of the Tribulation doctrinally and apply them now destroy the faith of many. The spiritual application for a Christian in the church age is you must live in obedience to the truth that Christ has given you to have that sweet communion with God and to have any consistent answer to prayer. However, you will not physically move any physical mountains of dirt and stone with your faith.

Verse 25 and 26 are more verses that are misused. This is doctrinally applicable to the people in the Tribulation who are waiting for Christ’s immediate return to take over the world. They are now true if you want that fellowship with Christ that fills you with His glory. However, you are already forgiven as a Christian.

You are forgiven and are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians through very carefully. Even if you don’t do one single work because you are a lazy, useless Christian.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

If, after being saved, you get conned out of your faith by a charismatic individual or the education your parents have sacrificed you to and/or you become confused about what you believe. Remember, Christ’s Spirit is in you and you are sealed, as you saw in Ephesians.

2Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Many young Christians have been sacrificed through the fire to Molech in a figurative sense by being sent to government schools for brainwashing and propaganda and grow up and out of their faith. Their parents will answer for that at the judgment seat of Christ if they themselves are indeed saved.

One of the greatest sins of modern Christian pastors and teachers and the reason why the greatest impediment to real revival in our churches is usually the pastor himself is their forcing the Bible to contradict itself because they are unable or rather unwilling to rightly divide the word.

2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

27 ¶ And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

This is the essential problem of mankind. Modern man does things justified by his own authority. Those worshippers at the feet of humanism, scientism, and naturalism have their final authority as themselves. Jesus is my final authority through His Book, the King James Authorized Version of the Bible. To the fundamentalist who upholds the originals, the Textus Receptus (which one?) and the Second Great Rabbinic Bible aka the Masoretic Text, which he nor anyone he knows has ever seen, he is still his only authority because he would have to translate the Greek or Hebrew original and his translation would have to be the authority.

You can’t get around it. The fumbling fundamentalist comes to I Corinthians 15:55 and;

1Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Now, when the modern fundamentalist comes to this verse he sees that grave is translated from the word, Hades, which he refuses to translate but rather transliterates. In doing that he renders the verse meaningless. What is Hades in context? What about this verse?

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Once again, our brave scholar will refuse to translate Hades as hell or anything else. He will simply transliterate Hades. Hades, as a word, means nothing unless it is translated. Now, you can’t have it both ways. Either, God had His hand in the AV’s translation and it is His word and you can trust it as your final authority or any one of the other 200 or so versions based on Egyptian manuscripts are equal in authority in which case you have no authority but your own choice “du jour”.

I know the AV is true and the word of God if for no other reason than that reading it over 46 times has changed my heart and even removed specific desires for and enjoyment of specific sins in my heart and mind. If you say to me that the NKJV, the NIV, or the NASB are equal to the KJV in power then I ask you, how many times have you felt compelled to read one of them? In fact, I don’t know anyone who has been drawn into a book so intensely, outside of the KJV, that they have felt a hunger for it like this. But, I know many people who claim that they have read the KJV dozens of times and continue to read it and will read it until they die and that doing so has changed them dramatically. In fact, I know of one old preacher who insists he has read it 175 times + in his many years.

Okay, Christian, you say you believe in the “fundamentals” of the faith? By what authority do you believe these things? By your own heart? By your own reasoning? By some unseen force you think came into you while you prayed? Without the word of God you have no authority other than your own imagination to believe anything. Do you have the word of God? The actual words of God? If you don’t have the actual words of God that He wants you to have, then what do you have? A reliable translation? No, you have your own presumption and self-worship, and worship of someone’s intellect, perhaps other than your own.

You are not a Sudanese Christian who has never seen a Bible and can only stand firm on his faith in Christ and die for it or be enslaved. We are a literate culture with literally hundreds of millions if not billions of Bibles in print. Do you say that none of them are the actual words of God and that God’s actual word is something that is unavailable to us? Then, how do you know anything by faith? By what authority, Christian? By what authority do you believe these things?

29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

He has put them in a quandary. They realize that either way they answer the question will be politically unacceptable. So, I ask you, where does my faith and trust in the Authorized Version come from? If from Satan, then does Satan call us to cease from drinking “spirits” so we can drink of one Spirit? Does Satan call us to renounce pornography in all of its forms and chasten us when we stumble and sin? Does Satan have us read a Bible, any Bible 46 times? Does Satan remove our wicked lusts and desires and replace them with a hunger for God’s words as we feel physically ill at our sins? Does Satan impress upon us a strong “No!” when we think of wanting to sin? Would Satan want us to memorize dozens and dozens of verses and recite them every morning on our knees? Does Satan give us a heart for the lost and dying? Do you who believe in any Bible as being valid do these things? If not, where does your authority NOT to do them come from? Who is telling you it’s not important to memorize Bible verses or to read the Bible over and over or to trust its promises or to delight in its words? Who is your final authority? If you say it is Jesus Christ, would He say that His words weren’t important for you to be filled with? Are you sure you are serving the Risen Saviour? Or are you serving your own imagination and reasoning? Your desire to be spiritual? Your longing for transcendence? Is Christianity merely another self help philosophy with the added benefit to you that you’ll “go to a better place” when you die?

33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Leviticus, The Third Book of Moses, Chapter Three

1 ¶ And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
We are saved by the blood of Christ which covers the altar now for us. Note these verses in Hebrews, a transition book between the Church Age “dispensation of the grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2) and the “wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 6:17), the “Great Tribulation” (Revelation 2:22; 7:14) aka the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Hebrews 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
The martyrs of the early church and in the medieval period and the Reformation period often were offerings made by fire unto the Lord
4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
5 And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
6 ¶ And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.
Jesus was the perfect, blemish less lamb offered to the Lord for us.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Keep this prophetic verse in Genesis in mind.
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.
12 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.
13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD’S.
17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
It is forbidden to eat blood BEFORE THE LAW;
Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
In verse 17, DURING THE LAW and in this verse AFTER THE LAW;
Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Apparently drinking or eating blood is something God doesn’t want us to do, wouldn’t you say?

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Leviticus, The Third Book of Moses, Chapter Two

1 ¶ And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
Fine flour might represent Jesus’ perfect human body. Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit often and frankincense is one of the gifts brought to the child Jesus by the wise men. It represents, according to Easton’s Bible Commentary, God’s name and burned as incense represents prayer. So, this meat offering is a type of Christ.
2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
Christ’s sacrifice would then be a sweet savour to the Lord. How sweet do we think of it? Or do we take it for granted?
2Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
The priests of God get to partake in this offering.
1Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Holding to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, I would think that this represents the power that God has given to us to become His sons.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
Leaven is a type of pollution. Think of the leaven in bread or the yeast byproducts in fermented alcohol. There are many, many verses about leaven and the use of unleavened bread but, for my purpose here, let us look at some New Testament verses about leaven.
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Here, a woman, which I am going to say is the goddess, Ishtar, the feminine representation of Satan, is putting corruption into the three main branches of Christianity.
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Matthew 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Here, Jesus warns of the corruption of the Pharisee’s (most modern fundamentalists who add to the word of God, twisting the Scriptures to justify their own convictions and self-righteousness) and the Sadducee’s (most modern liberal Christians who take away from God’s word, twisting the Scriptures to justify their own sin) doctrine.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Herod is brought in here as the Heriodians are like today’s political Christian of both Pharisee and Sadducee stripe who want the government of Satan (the only kind of human government there is unless it keeps its hands completely off religion and doesn’t try to take God’s place) to enforce religious dogma, usually their own, in the world. They are always trying to bring in the kingdom of heaven without the King. You’d be surprised how much American Christians think they are accomplishing without Christ.
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
The leaven of the Pharisees is indeed hypocrisy. How foolish is it to harp continually on holiness as in being pure and righteous, never missing a church service, being patriotic, abstaining from alcohol and drugs and sexual sins, and then to tell your congregation to break the law even in some minor way like cheating on your car inspection or avoiding paying taxes which Christ paid supernaturally to an occupying, Satanic army. How hypocritical to tell women to wear long dresses and to be modest, usually dressing as dowdy and unattractive as possible while you strut around like a peacock in your fine suits. How hypocritical is it to sing “God Bless America” and march the American flag around and talk about supporting the troops when with the same mouth you curse the government for forcing you to do and accept things the government is unable to force you to do and to accept.
How hypocritical is it to insist that a Christian can only vote for the fascist party and that it is the communist party that is unchristian and unpatriotic when both parties are socialist and are intent on destroying America. How hypocritical is it for a fundamentalist church to honor serving the current Constitution breaking fool in the White House of either party and going to war more than the young person who is willing to give his or her life on the mission field.
Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
1Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: :8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
A little false doctrine goes a long way to destroying the body. If believers read their Bibles faithfully each day, memorized as much as they could, and studied it to the exclusion of all else if necessary they would not be able to be fooled by the imposters in the pulpits.

5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.
7 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
8 And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.
9 And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
10 And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
11 ¶ No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
Here is the mention of a ban on honey for this meat offering. I don’t know why honey was banned in this as honey doesn’t get a bad rap in the Bible.
12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.
13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
The only thing about salt that I could find is that salt is a type of the Christian’s testimony in the world.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Doctrinally, I would think he was referring to the testimony of the nation of Israel before the world. I have made spiritual application to us today, linking the church age verse of Colossians to the dispensation of the Law in Matthew.
14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
Corn can be any of the various cereal plants or grains such as wheat or oats, going by the British definition. Don’t get bent out of shape thinking that they couldn’t have known of New World corn. Since tobacco was found in one of the Ramses’ mummies stomachs it is clear that the Egyptians knew of a few things that we wouldn’t have suspected them of knowing from the New World. However, the factual statement would be found in the British definition.
15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.
16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
I would go further with a spiritual application of this by saying that as our Lord’s Supper is a memorial of what has happened before, Christ’s crucifixion and His blood poured out for us and His body broken, then this would be a memorial looking forward as Christ is the Bread of Life from heaven.
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
He was beaten.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. The frankincense is the offering of incense, the prayers of the saints, to God, and Christ descended into the fires of Hell for three days for us.
Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
I am sure the more spiritually minded of your reading this could come up with better applications.