Month: October 2019
Desarrollándonos en el espíritu.
Por el Rev. Jay Werman
Colosenses 1:9-11.
“Por lo cual también nosotros, desde el día que lo oímos, no cesamos de orar por vosotros, y de pedir que seáis llenos del conocimiento de su voluntad en toda sabiduría e inteligencia espiritual, para que andéis como es digno del Señor, agradándole en todo, llevando fruto en toda buena obra, y creciendo en el conocimiento de Dios; fortalecidos con todo poder, conforme a la potencia de su gloria, para toda paciencia y longanimidad”
12 cosas sobre las cuales Pablo oró para que los Colosenses fuesen llenos:
- Llenos del Conocimiento de su Voluntad, llenos de toda Sabiduría, Inteligencia espiritual. Verso 9
- Andéis como es digno del Señor, Agradando al Señor en todo, llevando frutos en toda buena obra, Creciendo en el conocimiento de Dios. verso 10
- Fortalecidos con todo poder, conforme a la potencia de su gloria, Tener mucha paciencia, Tener longanimidad, con Gozo. Versos 11,12.
Dentro del contexto bíblico “Conocimiento” Implica algo mas que tener una simple información, incluye que ese conocimiento produzca una formación. El conocimiento que adquirimos a través de los 5 sentidos físicos son almacenados en el intelecto, el cual es simplemente parte de nuestra alma. La información que acumulamos a través de los años y que obviamente esta almacenada en el alma, es usada muchas veces por la misma razón para argumental todo. Dicho sea de paso, el alma esta dividida o compuesta en 5 divisiones mayores: La razón, la Voluntad, el Intelecto, la Mente y las emociones. Una vez convertidos al Señor debemos de renovar nuestras mentes a través de la palabra. Efesios 4:23 dice: “Y renovaos en el espíritu de vuestra mente”, en otras palabras que “Tengas una actitud espiritual en tu mente”.
La formación de nuestro vida espiritual depende que la “Revelación de la verdad de Dios a nuestro espíritu”. Conocimiento de Dios implica “Conocer el propósito y plan de Dios para nuestra vida”, eso quiere decir que mientras mas nos empapemos o saturemos nuestras vidas con la Palabra Revelada por el Espíritu de Dios, mas conoceremos que Dios hizo, hace y hará por nosotros.
En Oseas 4:6 dice: “Mi Pueblo fue destruido, por faltó de conocimiento..”. Implicando que el no conocer la voluntad y planes de Dios conduce a la destrucción. La razón por la cual Jesús enseñó mas que predicar, es por que El estaba comunicando “la voluntad y plan de Dios” para con el hombre. De igual manera, Pablo dirige el 99% de sus cartas hacia la enseñanza, tanto así que en efesios 4:11 dice: “El mismo constituyó a unos Apóstoles, evangelistas, profetas, pastores y Maestros”. La conjunción copulativa “Y” indica “Unidad de Ministerios”, o sea, nadie puede ser llamado al ministerio pastoral sino tiene un vocación para enseñar.
Santiago 1:21 dice: “…Recibid con Mansedumbre la palabra Implantada, la cual puede salvar (Gr. Soteria que implica Cambiar) vuestras almas”. La palabra del Texto griego para “Implantada” es “emphutos” que indica “Que la palabra tiene la habilidad en ella misma de transformar, siempre y cuando ella eche raíces”. Ese es el poder transformador de la palabra de Dios cuando cae en buena tierra. Mateo 12:3:30. La palabra es llamada “Semilla” (1 pedro 1:23; 1 juan 3:9) y cuando esa semilla crece tiene el poder de cambiar y transformar nuestras almas. A esa misma transformación hace Pablo referencia en Romanos 12:2; “Transformaos a través de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento”. Es la palabra revelada por el Espíritu que va a hacer crecer nuestro espíritu y de esa manera nuestra alma (mente, voluntad, intelecto, razón, emociones, etc.) experimentará una transformación.
Gálatas 4:19 dice: “Hijitos míos, por quienes vuelvo a sufrir dolores de parto, hasta que Cristo sea formado en vosotros”. Cristo va a ser “formado” en nosotros cuando la palabra de Dios sea revelada a nuestro espíritu. En Isaías 11:2 habla de los 7 ministerios activos del Espíritu santo, los cuales son para revelar la palabra de Dios a nuestro espíritu, entre otras cosas. 1 Corintios 2:9-11 dice: “…Pero Dios nos las reveló a nosotros por el Espíritu;…”. Compare también Juan 14:26; 1 juan 2:27.
Muchos mal interpretan 2 Corintios 3:6 diciendo que el estudio mata, sacando de contexto el texto donde Pablo dice “por que la Letra mata”, haciendo referencia en los mismo pasajes acerca de la “Letra de la Ley”, no el estudiar y prepararse.
Proverbios 2:6 dice; “Porque Jehová da la sabiduría, y de su boca viene el conocimiento y la sabiduría”. Compare con Santiago 1:5.
En Efesios 4:12-16 muestra 9 razones por las cuales los ministerios fueron dados, entre una de esas razones esta “hasta que todos lleguemos a la unidad de la fe y del Conocimiento del hijo de Dios..”. (v. 13). El ministerio que hallamos recibido debe tener como objetivo esas 9 razones, de otra manera tenemos nuestras prioridades invertidas.
Mientras mas desarrollemos nuestro espíritu con la palabra de Dios, menos efectos tendrán los problemas, ataques, y los mismos apetitos de la carne sobre nosotros. En gálatas 5:16 dice; “Digo, pues: Andad en el espíritu (a través de desarrollarnos espiritualmente) y no satisfagáis los deseos de la carne”. En otras palabras, mientras mas nuestro espíritu se desarrolle a través de la palabra de Dios, mas control tendremos sobre nuestra alma (donde esta la voluntad) y la carne y sus deseos se someterán. Por esta razón es imprescindible e importante nuestro desarrollo espiritual.
1 Pedro 2:2; “desead, como niños recién nacidos, la leche espiritual no adulterada (Sin opiniones y imposiciones de hombres), para que por ella crezcáis para salvación”.
2 Pedro 3:18 dice: “Antes bien, Creced en la gracia y el Conocimiento de nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo…”.
“The Kingdom of Heaven and The Kingdom of God” Explained
In this section we will explain the differences between expressions “The Kingdom of Heaven” and “The kingdom of God”. Often, we read of writers expressing their own opinion about these Scriptural expressions but not under the context when these expressions were original written. Religions like “The Jehovah witlessness” had given a used to these Scriptural terms that are not supported by the Scriptures itself. I felt the need for explaining both expressions exactly under the context where both expressions were written. So, here are both expressions explained:
Before we define each expression, we must understand one thing: “The context of any text, word or expression, must be define before we make any attend to use it and it must be in complete harmony with itself. If by any reason there some discrepancy in the context of the text, we must review it again until the context finds his own rhythm. The reason why we have so many doctrines, fallacies and theories, is because we force the text to express something that isn’t there, but we do this to support our own ideas and beliefs, which are outside of what the Scriptures possess.
Let’s define the meaning of the word “Kingdom”.
The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament is “malkûth”, which mean: “royalty, empire, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power, dominion and realm”. The word kingdom has the same meaning in the New Testament as well. The use of the word “kingdom” must be use according to the subject matter express in the context of the text in question. In the Old Testament is used 90 times and in the New Testament is used 164 times the Greek word “basileia”.
Definition of the expression “The Kingdom of Heaven”:
This is an expression connected with “The ruling on earth of the Messiah”, which is the introduction of “The kingdom of God”. In other words, the kingdom of heaven will be the beginning of “God’s ruling the complete universe as it was before Lucifer and Adam rebelled. Allow me to expand both scenes under the Scriptural text:
According to Isaiah 14:12-15 Lucifer plotted an invasion of God’s Heaven. Please observe “the language” expressed on the passages and “the timing” expressed in them:
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ASCEND into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ASCEND above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
In verse 12 Lucifer already executed verses 13-14, in which he conspired an invasion to remove God from His throne. But God was waiting for him and the angels that followed him, which according to Rev. 12:4 were one third of the angels of God, who were in a “probationary period”, which will determine their eternal future and responsibilities. As we well know, they failed this period and were condemned with their leader, Lucifer. The “timing” expressed in Isa. 14:13-14 is future, when Lucifer plotted the invasion of the Heaven of God, in which God has His own throne. Psalm 2:4; 11:4; Mat. 18:12-14, 19; Luke 11:2; etc.
Another passages that expanded Lucifer’s creation, probationary period or state and fall, is Ezequiel 28:11-19. Lucifer was the first ruler of planet earth and not Adam as many had suggested.
Adam allowed Satan to regained control of planet by disobeyed God’s command of not eating of the tree, which was in the midst of the garden. Gen. 2:16-17; 3:3.
God is the ruler of the universe and always will be, but God’s eternal purpose and plan was interrupted by the rebellion of Lucifer and Adam. What exactly does this mean? It means that God will resume his eternal plan once these two events are corrected. God didn’t destroy immediately Lucifer and the angels that rebelled with him. Why? Because God needed to remove the angelic rebellion according to his justice. Psalm 92:15. In Gen. 3:15 we find the prophecy that will resume God’s ruling on all the creation as it was in Gen. 1:1. This prophecy expressed the redemption of mankind and the defeat of Satan.
The kingdom of Heaven is an expression that covers “a thousand years period”, in which God The Father will crush all his enemies through the ruling of the Messiah. This is expressed in 1 Cor. 15:24-28:
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he (The Father) hath put all things under his (Christ) feet. But when he (The Father) saith all things are put under him (Christ), it is manifest that he (The Father) is excepted, which did put all things under him (Christ). And when all things shall be subdued unto him (Christ), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (The Father) that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
These passages expressed the general purpose of the Kingdom of heaven, in which Christ will rule the earth. Once the kingdom of heaven is established on earth, it will be follow by the kingdom of God, which is the eternal kingdom of God. The context of 1 Cor. 15:24-28 is found in Psalm 2
Definition of the expression “The Kingdom of God”:
It’s an expression that expressed the ruling of God over every creature and His creation. The kingdom of God declares the “Absolute” control of God and where His will is obey voluntarily. Satan, the fallen angels and demons does not obey God willingly but they obey the boundaries and laws established by God, which are different in each creation. The same principles apply to men, where the limitations are restricted by the purpose of their creation.
Had the kingdom of heaven already being established on earth? No, it will be establish on earth at the second literal advent of Christ, which will take place at the end of the great tribulation period, also known as “Daniel’s 70th week”. Daniel 9:27; Mat. 24:29-30; Luke 21:25-28; Rev. 19:11-21; Zech. 14. Any doctrine or teaching that express that the either kingdom is in effect is just a fallacy. By the way, Daniel’s 70th week have no connection with the church as many are teaching but instead, all the events relate to such period are connected with the nation of Israel and not with the church.
Is the church supposed to announce the kingdom of heaven? No, but rather the church is supposed to preach the “Gospel”, which involved the grace of God to save anyone through Jesus sacrifice. When Jesus spoke of either kingdom in his teachings, he spoke to “Jews”, which according to God’s purpose, were offered a kingdom. The church is not expressed in the language expressed by Jesus teachings relate to the kingdom that God will establish on earth. Why the church is not included at the moment when Jesus spoke to the Jews? Because the church isn’t reveal in God’s plan until many years later after Jesus resurrection. The church as the body of Christ was a mystery hidden in God’s heart and revealed to us through the writings of Paul. All the literal promises of God were made to the nation of Israel and not to the gentiles. But through God’s grace the gentile’s nations can find salvation and have place in God’s purpose. Many people have corrupted the biblical concept of the kingdom of God, as many only focus their teachings to financial and material possessions, which are deviated from the truth. In fact, these teachings are very dangerous, since their purpose reach the material and not the spiritual essence expressed in the Scriptures. God had promised to provide and blessed our possession, as long as we don’t become slaves of them as many had fallen into. Here are some warnings expressed in the Scriptures:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:6-10
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” Mat. 6:19
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” Luke 6:22-24
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:13
“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” James 1:9-11
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:1-3
“Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Psalm 62:10
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mat. 6:33
Compare also Dt. 6:10-17; Psalm 52:1-7; 73:1-22; Prov. 23:4-5; 28:20-22; 30:8-9; Jer. 9:23; Ezeq. 28:5.
What about the line of teaching that promotes “The gospel of the kingdom”? For a moment, please allow me to proof what the Scriptures say about this subject and what Jesus meant when He mentioned it in Mat. 24:1.
This line of teaching is based on “The financial possession” through what they called “Living according to the kingdom” and their goal is to accumulate as much money as is possible. This line of thought is not based on the Scriptures but instead its foundation is pagan in essence. The passage of Mat. 24:14 says:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
First, what is the context in which Jesus spoke of “The gospel of the kingdom”? The context of Mat. 24-25 speaks of literal events involving “The nation of Israel”, NOT the church; for the church was already rapture by the time this event take place. So, when and who will preach the “Gospel”? It will be preach in the great tribulation period by different groups: 1) – An angel will preach the gospel, which will warn the people about the consequences of being seal with the mark of the beast. Rev. 14:6-7. 2) – The two witness will bring a divine message to Israel, who fled previously from Judea when the antichrist invade Jerusalem at the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. Mat. 24:16-20; Rev. 11:7.
Second, one of the purposes involved in the announcement of the gospel of the kingdom is to bring Israel back to God and to return to Jerusalem. We must not forget that one the purpose of Daniel’s 70th week is to purge Israel from the Jews rebels, which is detailed in Isa. 66:3-6, 15-17; Ezeq. 20:38; Zach. 13:8-9.
Third, the preaching of the gospel will bring salvation to many in the great tribulation period, as it is stated in Acts 2:16-21
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come (second literal advent of Christ): And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Noticed: The expression “And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood” Acts 2:19-20 is a reference to the events of Mat. 24, which involved the judgements of God upon the earth, Rev. 6:1-19:21
Many people will be saved in the great tribulation period, thanks to the message of salvation expressed in the gospel.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:9-11
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20:4
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21
By the way, this passage of acts 2:21 is under the context of acts 2:16-20. Some are teaching that salvation will end with the rapture, which is NOT supported by the Scriptures. The rapture DOES NOT changes the salvation program.
What Jesus meant in Mat. 6:33 when He said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The expression “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”, involves a priority order, which is above the material things that is expressed in verses 25-32. Also the expression is related to seek “God’s purpose and plan for us”. The passage IS VERY CLEAR.
What is the purpose and motivation that strive us today? If we using the gospel as a way to gain personal recognition or financial gain, we have certainly lost our purpose of servants of God. Sadly, many have lost their way by following “Positions, possessions and Power” inside the body of Christ. Because the world are getting more corrupted as times pass by, that corruption have sucked in many Christians, which had compromised their own values. The increase of these false teachings will reach a point, where only those who really had believed from the heart in Christ will remain.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:16-17
Any teaching that promotes and encourage material gain above spiritual gain are NOT based in the Scriptures.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2
I pray that our God will guide us to follow His path until His return for the church. Amen!
The United States is not mentioned in Prophecy
The leading role of The United States in the world stage has been changing throughout the years, especially under Donald Trump presidency. In fact, the credibility of The United States has been tarnished by lies and conspiracy theories.
The bible doesn’t address the role The United States in the time when the antichrist is ruling. The divisions within the same union will eventually break it into pieces and a new form of alliances will take place. Just like it happened to the Roman Empire and many other superpowers throughout the history.
"The present state of the republic is perfect example of is its to come; more divisions among the same country. Hatred is raising between fellows citizens. The present state of this country is just the beginning of the end. The nation who used to stand against tyranny now is slowly submerging itself into one. By no mean this nation is perfect but it used to be a beacon of light in a dark world. Every single country throughout history that has had power to rule, has cave-in because of the same elements that are destroying today's nations, which includes The United States"
The levels of corruption creeping into the government has corroded the foundation in which this country was founded. Was is the number one motivation in The U.S. today? Money, Greed, Control, Power. We had forgotten about compassion toward those who are in need. Even christian leaders and churches are driven by money and greed, which has weaken our spiritual foundation. Evangelicals in the U.S. had being corrupted like never before, which is the reason for this country’s promiscuity. But lets concentrate in the future prophetical rule of this nation.
There is no mention of the future role of The United States in the bible. Why is that? There is no explanation for that either. Some writers and preachers have twisted the Scriptures to try to connect the future role of The United States, but at the end, these arguments are just fallacies and baseless claims. When we force a passage of the bible to try to find a meaning that isn’t there, we are no better than the people that use the bible to support their religions. We MUST remain silence on those subjects where God didn’t express any answer. One passage in the Old Testament provided to us with such silence:
“The secret (not revealed to us yet) things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed (God’s word) belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Deut. 29:29
There are many things that we are not yet able to comprehend, perhaps because of our human limitations but once we receive a glorified body at the rapture of the church, we will be able to grasp the things that now we can’t.
If you are familiar with the prophecy of Daniel 2, in which a pagan king dreamed of a great image that according to the interpretation given in the same chapter represent the future gentile empires on the earth. In the description of the dream each Empire was represent with a different type of material.
“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of FINE GOLD, his breast and his arms of SILVER, his belly and his thighs of BRASS, His legs of iron, his feet part of IRON and part of CLAY. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”
Daniel 2:31-35
Notice how the quality of the material that represents each Empire weaken or decreased from the head to the toes. As one empire replace the next one the lowest the material decreased and the brutality and violence increased. The principles and humans values of each government had decreased as time passed by and the foundation in which such government was established becomes deteriorated. Perhaps the shifting of the principles and humans values, in which The United States was established by the founding fathers of this great nation, might be one the reason for the future role of the country. After the 2016 election results we are seeing a glimpse of the future of this nation, which might shift in a direction toward the scenario where the dominance and power will decrease. The changing of the laws that allows the promiscuity and perdition of those who are blinded by their own sinful lives will eventually doom our own principles. The silence of God in the future role of The United States isn’t a coincidence but rather a silence warning to all nations that The God of Heaven can’t be replaced. The United States had blessed many people by being a shelter in times of trouble but salvation is not based on works but in faith in the sacrifice of God’s son. Only the future will tell what direction this country will go and how each president will keep the principles of this nation, which are expressed in the Constitution. From 2007 to 2014 has been a increased in a non-Christian among Americans, especially among those called “Millennial”. Each generation is pulling away from that foundation and becoming more “Materialist” than “Spiritual”. This cold wind that are dragging many into the wrong path had even affected many Christians, which are spending more time in away from the heavenly Matters. I pray today that our God have mercy upon us!
The expression “America Great Again” is based on “material” point of view and NOT on the elements in which this nation was founded. America without God WON’T be the same again. This past presidential election left nothing but a divided nation, filled with the raising of hate against those who can’t defend themselves. God’s presence is slowly fading over a nation in which once a upon a time was the center of it. The shifting of the moral values and the pursuing of temporary pleasures are in the raising, which also had affected the body of Christ. The church is NO LONGER preaching about the rapture but instead we have replaced God’s message with “modern messages”, which are more “Intellectual” and connected with what people wants to hear and not spiritual in essence. How many preachers that we see on TV are preparing the church for the rapture? How many pastors are preaching the return of The Lord for the his church? I’ll let you to answer these questions. Some are calling the preaching of the rapture, “Too old fashion message”, which will is affecting the spiritual lives of many. The fact of the matter is that “the message of salvation, repentance, forgiveness and holiness” is no longer the heart of the message that once made this nation great. These principles are replaced by corruption, blasphemy, promiscuity, hates, waxed hearts, etc. What destroyed The Roman Empire? The same elements we had mentioned. At the time when The Romans reached its greatest expansion, no one would have conceived the idea of the banishment of such vast Empire. It doesn’t matter how big and powerful a country might be, if such greatness is use only to bring destruction, poverty and tyranny to those how are defenseless, which history has proven. At the end of the day God’s word will be fulfill as it was written, whether you believe it or not. God has never failed and He never will. Every prophecy related to God’s eternal purpose will be fulfilled and everyone who followed His word will be rewarded.
Here are some speculations of the future role of The United States:
− “The beast of Rev. 13:11-18 symbolized The United States”. Those who claimed such fallacy use Rev. 13:1-10 to refer to “The pope of Rome” as the first beast and Rev. 13:11-18 to refer to the future role of The United States. But this theory is completely wrong and the supporters of this false teaching had taken the passages mentioned out of their context. Rev. 13 IS NOT referring neither to “The Pope” nor “The future role of The United States”. Rev. 13:1-10 refers to “The rise of the antichrist over the Old Roman Empire territory” and verses 11-18 refers to “The false prophet”, which is another MAN (Human being same as the antichrist) that will use his satanic powers to “Influence and control” people in the antichrist’s favor. Both of them are destroy in the second literal advent of Christ to the earth. Rev. 19:11-21. Observe what Rev. 19:20 says:
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
It mentioned, “The beast” not “the pope” and “The false Prophet” not “The United States”: These are two “Individuals” not two “Nations”. Also, The beast or antichrist will rise from “Syria” and not from Italy, which made a fallacy any reference to the pope and the roman church. The devil will cast into the lake of fire where the antichrist and the false prophet were cast down previously by Christ personally after they were defeated in the battle of Armageddon.
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20:10
Others are referring Isaiah 18:1 as a reference of The United States in the bible, which says:
“Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.”
But there is no reference in this passage of The United States but to “The land of Ethiopia”. Some writers connect “wings” with the symbol that represent The United States, which is “The eagle”, but in the language of the prophecy there is not such connection. In the contrary, the passage refers to “the rivers of Ethiopia”, which are “The white Nile and The blue Nile rivers”. Also, The Ethiopians used to be part of The Egyptian ruling. The results of these fallacies are poor use and comprehension of the context in which the passage was written. The Hebrew word used for “Ethiopia” is “Kush”, which is translated “cush” in some passages. One more note on this point: According to Daniel 11:43 Ethiopia will be conquer by the antichrist “and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”. Back in WWII some biblical writers said that the prophecy of Daniel 11:43 was fulfilled when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in Oct. 3, 1935 in a Italo-Ethiopian war, which turn out just to be another fallacy. We can’t just take a biblical passage out of context and apply to some random event and say that the prophecy is fulfilled. We MUST preserve the originality of the biblical text as God has expressed in His own word.
Another fallacy related to the future role of The United States is found in Rev. 12:14-16, where it is used the expression “the woman were given two wings of a great eagle”. We can’t assume that this eagle is referring to the future role of The United States just because the eagle is used in the emblem of The United States. This interpretation is the result of speculation e imagination without biblical support. If we READ in the book of Exodus 19:4-5 what God meant with the expression “eagles’ wings”, which is related to the liberation of slavery from Egypt:
“And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on EAGLE’S WING, and brought you unto myself.”
As you can see, it refers to God’s deliverance from the Egyptians and NOT to The United States as many had suggested. Therefore the application of Rev. 12:14 in connection with the future role of The United States is a fallacy. So, what is exactly the meaning of Rev. 12:14?
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time (1 year), and times (2 Years), and half a time (half of year), from the face of the serpent.”
It’s basically describing “the Flee of the Jews people out of Judea” into the Mountains, which was prophesied by Jesus in Mat. 24:16-20:
“Then (at that point) let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.”
This prophecy will take place at the end of the first three and a half years of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27. The remain three and a half years is refer in Rev. 12:14-16. One more note on this point: In Rev. 12:6 is the prophetic context in which Rev. 12:14 was written.
Another fallacy related to the future role of The United States is found in the application of Ezekiel 38:13, which says:
“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”
Some have used “Tarshish” as a symbol of “The British” and “the young lions” as all the nations that speak English, which made this theory so ridicules. The promoters of this fallacy claimed “The British and all the nations with British roots will speak against on invasion to Israel from Russia. This point is without biblical foundation since Ezekiel 38 and 39 DOES NOT refers to Russia invading Israel, but instead refers to “The invasion of Israel by the antichrist at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. The antichrist and his armies are the only ones to invade and defeat Israel according to the Ezekiel 38-39. They will come “from the north” after the antichrist conquered the nations that will raise against him, after he invaded Israel at the end of the first three and a half years, which is stated in Daniel 9:27. Once the antichrist had invaded Israel and had broken the covenant and he is about to wipe out Israel, the nations EAST and NORTH will raise against him, as it is stated in Daniel 11:44 that says:
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
These nations “East and North” refer to “all the countries that are NOT part of the Old Roman Empire territory, from which the antichrist will rule”. Who are these countries? England, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, South and North Korea, etc. The antichrist will raise from the 10 kingdoms prophesied by Daniel 7:24
“And the ten horns OUT OF THIS kingdom (The Old Roman Empire Territory) are ten kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER shall rise AFTER THEM; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
The antichrist will be reveal himself AFTER the 10 kingdoms are formed and NOT before them. These 10 kingdoms or governments will be formed in the near future and will be formed “The Old Roman Empire”, which is divided in 10 kingdoms. Russia was NOT nor even be part of The Old Roman Empire territory, neither is Germany. All the nations East and North will be defeated by the antichrist, which will take him the remain three and a half years of Daniel’s 70th week. The war between the antichrist and the nations east and north of the 10 kingdoms will serve a way for God to protect Israel from extermination in the hands of the antichrist. This period of time was prophesied by Jesus in Mat. 24:22
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Ezekiel 38-39 will be fulfilled after the antichrist conquer the nations EAST and North of Daniel 11:44, after this event the antichrist will return to Israel to finished what he couldn’t because of “the tidings out of the east and out of the north”. So, the antichrist will come from the north only in the sense of “conquering” and not in the sense of “originating” in there. By the way, Russia is not mentioned directly the bible but Russia is mixed with the nations EAST and North of the 10 kingdoms. The power of The United Stated, Russia and other nations will diminish as the fulfillment of these prophecies are getting close, giving weight to the formation of the Old Roman Empire territory.
Ezekiel contains two prophecies describing Israel’s trading relations with Tarshish. The first is retrospective in 27:12 “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.” and 27:25 “The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas.” The second in Ezekiel 38:13 is forward looking where “Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’”
There NO mention of The United States in the bible, neither is Russian is mentioned in the King James Version. The whole Russian mix up is the result of using word out of their prophetic context and chronological order. The same issue had happen with the antichrist role in the great tribulation period, he won’t be a world wide ruler as many teach, but rather his ruling will be limited to the Old Roman Empire territory. After he conquered the nations that will rise against him from the East and North of the 10 kingdoms, he will increase his territory but just for a short time, because once he defeat these nations, he will return to Jerusalem with THEM and the battle of Armageddon will be set up, as it is stated in Zach. 14
One more note on this point: The recent events in Europe and in the Middle east are shaping the prophetic landscape and setting the stage for the upcoming prophetical events, which will end “The human governments” and start “The Divine ruling upon the earth”.
Another fallacy that claimed about the future role of The United States is found in the word “Jerusalem”. This line of teaching is totally delusional and have absolutely no biblical based. This is what they claimed:
-“The United States is the New Jerusalem on earth at this present moment”. This conclusion came as the result of the word USA in the midst of the word Jerusalem. So, their argument is based on the word “JerUSAlem”, which is absurd and delusional in every sense of the word.
– They also believe that “The United States will be the ONLY remain nation on earth” and it will be “The New Jerusalem” on earth. This none sense idea have no place in the Scriptures. The United States is a country that had blessed many people and will do so until their power will diminish. How will that happen? No explanation is given in the Scriptures. One more point on the teaching of the word “JerUSAlem”, the Hebrew word used for “Jerusalem” is “ירוּשׁלם” or “yerûshâlaim”, which in the structure of the Hebrew language no USA is found. One of the most dangerous and scary things to do is to find HIDDEN CODE or MESSAGES in the bible, which had lead many into errors and confusion. There are neither secret codes nor hidden messages in the bible as many are teaching today but instead the bible is full of “Divine principles and laws”, which is totally different from “secret codes or hidden messages”. Some are using these pagan techniques in the church to deceive the believers and to rich themselves. These is one of many reason why we MUST study the Word of God and DISCERN every teaching as it is stated in 1 John 4:1, Eph. 4:12-16
From the prophetic point of view the power and dominance of The United States will decrease as the scenario for the antichrist will take shape. Why the antichrist rules The United States? No, the bible limits the antichrist ruling to the Old Roman Empire territory and after he rose as the leader of these 10 kingdoms, which will take him the first three and a half years of Daniel’s 70th week, he will expand his dominion when he will conquer the nations east and north of the 10 kingdoms. But the antichrist won’t rule The United States, neither South nor Central America. How can the superiority of most powerful nation in the world today will decrease? The details are not revealed but it will happen just how it had happen with all dominates nations in the past. Remember the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, The Grecian Empire and the Roman Empire? Who would have thought back then that these Empires would vanish? No one, but the future prophecies will be fulfilled and God’s word will establish.
The delusion and twisted imagination of those who separates passages, words or expressions out of their own context in the bible to confuse and deceive will increase into the manifestation of the antichrist. As sad as this sound, no one can stopped it, because the influence of satanic powers through these fallacies are going to continue until all the enemies of God are destroyed, as it is stated in 1 Cor. 15:24-28. Any person that doesn’t spend time to search the Scriptures and find the truth in it, is a easy prey for these type of fallacies and delusions, which purposes is to deceive and cause confusion. We MUST rely on God’s word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Tim. 4:1-2
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, raitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.”
2 Timothy 3:1-14
The above passages expressed the demonic spirits that are influencing people today, which are allow and operating under “The time of the Gentiles”. Luke 21:24
Final Note: The bible DOES NOT predict an invasion of Israel by Russia as many have suggested or any other nation. Ezekiel 38-39 IS NOT a reference of Russia invading Israel but rather predict the invasion of Israel by the antichrist, who is returning to Palestine at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, after he defeated the nations “east and north” of the ten kingdoms. These nations include “Russia, Germany, China, Japan, India, and other nations who weren’t under the Old Roman Empire territory. Daniel 11:44. The antichrist will become “the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (Ezek. 38:2) after he conquered these nations east and north of the ten kingdoms, and He also becomes “The prince of the north”. After these events, he will return to Israel with all these nations he conquered to finish the Jews, which give place to Zach. 14 and Rev. 19:11-21
There can not be 2 superpowers by the time the antichrist takes control of The Old Roman Empire territory. Europe will form “alliances of countries”, after the fall of the european union. According to Daniel 7:24-25 the ruling of the antichrist will be form on the Old Roman Empire territory.
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
Daniel 7:24
Observe what the passage says; “..the TEN HORNS….are TEN KINGS..”. These ten kings, or kingdoms will be formed in the same territory where the Old Roman Empire used to be. Throughout all the scriptures, no other ruler is found, with the exception of the prophecy given in Daniel 11:44.
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
These nations are Russia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, China, Japan, India, etc. Even Germany, which was not conquered by The Romans. I must clarify that the expression “East and North” refers to the nations that are located geographically “east and north of the 10 future kingdoms”. The fact that these nations are not under the control of the antichrist, shows the limitation of his ruling. He will rule over all the nations that are located where the Old Roman Empire used to be. The prophecy of Daniel 11:44 will take place when the antichrist is on his way to eradicate Israel. Jesus spoke of this event in Matthew 24
One thing is for sure, there is no record in the entire bible where the U.S have a dominance power by the time when the antichrist will rise. With all the turbulence, or conflict that is taking place here in the U.S. where the country is divided more than ever; perhans democracy will come to an end, and the union will succumb, and split the nation into “small alliances of states”. These alliances of states will help each other, and other states, might remain alone. The true is that democracy here in America was tested, and stretched to certain point, but for how long it will remain? Only God knows!
May our God have mercy upon us everyday of our lives while we are here on earth!
“666” THE MARK OF THE BEAST FALLACY
THE LIVING WORD CENTER, INC.
Rev. Jay Werman, Director
What the scriptures really says about it? Read below and learn the truth! and stop wasting your time believing fallacies that only bring forth confusion.
“666” The Mark of The Beast Fallacy
I had always heard of preachers saying that the mark of the beast is “666”, which have no biblical support, if you read what it is stated in the book of Revelation. We have mislead not only by people taking the passages that refers to this event out of the prophetic context but also by movies like “666, The beast”, “The Omen”, “666 Damien”, etc. These fallacies had twisted the real meaning of the biblical context. What is even sadder about this is that Christians had fallen in the same hole as those that are in spiritual blindness, who should know better.
But let’s put aside what books, movies and people had said about this subject and see what exactly the Scriptures says about it. Because ate the end of the day what I preach, teach or believe is not based on the Scripture, then it is become just like any other fallacy, fable or fiction. Which by the way, the purpose of these movies and books, besides obtaining financial benefit, is to inject fear upon those who watch or read them. Here is an interesting question, How can a person rate (assign a standard or value to) about any specific subject of the Scriptures, when such person is completely ignorant of what the Scriptures says? Just because I had read a few books about medicine, does that made me a Doctor? The obvious answer is no! You see today hundreds of people writing about biblical subjects, in which at they have no clue or knowledge of them. Even famous Christians preachers, who should know better had fallen the same way. I always laugh when someone well known in the “Christian community”, writes a book and such book becomes “#1 seller” by the NY Times. No disrespect to any of these editors, whose had expend years in this field but again, when it come to the biblical arena it takes more than just reading a book and rated it. Such books are cause of many people been confused and sometimes deviated to a different path. At the end, the responsible isn’t the publisher but the writer. The bottom line is don’t waste your money buying a books because of the famous name of the writer but because of the spiritual essences of the book, which can only be measure in the spiritual realm and not by the reasons of the mind. I’m speaking concerning the Christian spiritual essences of what these books are supposed to express. I can’t speak for fiction because the bible doesn’t deals with it. Even the movie “Left Behind”, which is supposed to be about the rapture of the church is being categorized as “fiction”, but one day it will happen! The question is….. Are you ready?
Let’s analyze in details what really the book of Revelation says about “666” as the mark of the beast:
Biblical reference:
“And he (The Antichrist) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive A MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had THE MARK, or THE NAME OF THE BEAST, or THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST (It doesn’t say THE MARK OF THE BEAST): for it is the number of a man; and his (The Antichrist’s numeric name) number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
Revelation 13:16-18
Nowhere in these passages said that “666” is the mark of the beast, if you read the passages in their proper order:
- “And he causeth all”: Two things here: 1)- The person mentioned here as “he” is the false prophet of verse 11. 2)- “all” is related to “the subjects of the antichrist kingdom”, which will cover the Old Roman Empire territory and not to “all” the inhabitants of the earth at the time of his ruling. I can’t get into details now but the antichrist won’t be a worldwide ruler as many had written in books. The Scriptures says the contrary, the antichrist won’t ruler The United States, South and Central America and other places. His kingdom is limited by the 7 years of tribulation, which is divided in 2 sections. The popular idea is the total ruling of the antichrist over the earth but this is not supported by the bible. The only one that will be ruling “All the earth” is the ruling of Christ when he returned to kill the antichrist and establish his Millennial kingdom. Rev. 19:11-21. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” v. 20
- “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads”: Here is specified who will branded and the location of such brand upon the subjects of the territory of the ruling of the antichrist.
- “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”: Three brands are stated here and not just one; The mark, the number or the number of his name. What will be the use of these three brands is not stated in the bible. Many had speculated about these brands use according to the social status of the subjects of the antichrist’s kingdom but there no direct reference of it. If we can’t find any passage that support what we believe, we must refrain from twisting passages out of their own context to trying to prove us argument. It will become just that, an argument, fallacy, error or theory, and not a doctrine based on the Scripture. We must keep silence where God had kept silence, meaning; where God didn’t details an event, we must not search for any!
- “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six”: What is stated here? the mark of the beast? No, for it says “the number of the beast” and not “the mark of the beast”. so, what is 666 then? According to the order given here in book of Revelation, 666 is the number of the beast. There is not reference in the bible that the antichrist will have the number 666 in the top of his head or spiritual meaning of the number 666. These are just speculations and fallacies. Deut. 29:29 says “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed (the Scriptures) belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Let’s review another passages in the book of Revelation that refers to the 666:
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Rev. 14:9-11
- “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark (which is not stated in the bible) in his forehead, or in his hand”: These are warnings to those under the ruling the antichrist. This warnings were given after an angel preached the Gospel; “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6-7
- The same (man) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” These are the consequences for those that disobey the warnings.
Another passage that refers to the same subject:
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled (Gr. “mignumi”, which mean “to mix”) with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”
Rev. 15:2
The passage refers to the great tribulation saints “And I SAW…and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over HIS MARK, and over THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME.” Also, this passage states their location in heaven; “stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God”. Thousands of people will be refuse to be branded by the beast.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
Rev. 6:9-11
These three brands are literal brands and not spiritual or mystical as many had suggested. Two are not identified, which the mark and the name of the beast but the numeric number of his name id given. Many had tried to name the antichrist, which had been proving wrong. Why? Because the antichrist won’t be in action until two things happens:
- The rapture of the church: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of the Lord, not the rapture) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Th. 2:3-12. Two events precede the Second coming of The Lord: “a great falling away” and “the man of sin be revealed”. Noticed v. 6 “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” The Greek work used for “withholdeth” is “katechō”, which mean “to hold back, detain, retain, that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance.” and v. 7 says “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (retain-holding back) will let, until he be taken out of the way.” The body of Christ here on earth is holding or hindering the manifestation of the antichrist. This passage is a direct reference to the rapture of the church.
- The formation of the 10 kingdoms prophesied in Daniel 7:23-24: “Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
- The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth: The Old Roman Empire, which did as it was written here “which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
- And the ten horns (ten kingdoms) out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise”: The 10 horns or kings are coming OUT OF THIS KINGDOM, which basically means that the ten kingdoms from which the antichrist will arise are the formation of ten kingdoms from where the Old Roman Empire stood. So, These ten kingdoms will be form from within the boundaries of the Old Roman Empire territory.
- and another shall rise after them: This is rising of the antichrist. but when he will arise? this passage said “AFTER THEM”. Why is THEM? the ten kingdoms. The antichrist can NOT be reveal until the ten kingdoms are formed inside the Old Roman Empire territory.
All these so called antichrist today are just a fallacy. Here are some names of people being called “antichrist”:
- The pope of Rome
- Hitler
- Napoleon
- Theodore Roosevelt
- JFK
- Judas Iscariot (resurrected)
- Ronald Reagan
- Henry Kissinger
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Antiochus IV Epiphanes
- Google (which is so ridiculous)
Among other foolish beliefs.
No one will know the identity of the antichrist until the rapture of the church or the 10 kingdoms are formed in the Old Roman Empire Territory.
24 And THE TEN HORNS OUT (From within) OF THIS KINGDOM (What kingdom is refer here? The fourth beast. read verse 23) are ten kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER SHALL RISE AFTER THEM (First the ten kingdoms and after them the antichrist will take over them); and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he (The little horn or future antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (These are the last three and a half years of Daniel 9:27).
The scriptures are very clear about all these details.
Praise to be to The Most High God!
Diferentes Tipos de Raptos en la Biblia
Rev. Jay Werman, Pastor
“Raptos enseñados en la Biblia”
Expliquemos las palabra claves en estos pasajes:
“Tampoco queremos, hermanos, que ignoréis acerca de los que duermen, para que no os entristezcáis como los otros que no tienen esperanza. Porque si creemos que Jesús murió y resucitó, así también traerá Dios con Jesús a los que durmieron en él. Por lo cual os decimos esto en palabra del Señor: que nosotros que vivimos, que habremos quedado hasta la venida del Señor, no precederemos a los que durmieron. Porque el Señor mismo con voz de mando, con voz de arcángel, y con trompeta de Dios, descenderá del cielo; y los muertos en Cristo resucitarán primero. Luego nosotros los que vivimos, los que hayamos quedado, seremos arrebatados juntamente con ellos en las nubes para recibir al Señor en el aire, y así estaremos siempre con el Señor. Por tanto, alentaos los unos a los otros con estas palabras”
1 Tesalonicenses 4:13-18
¿Cuántos “raptos” se enseñan en las Escrituras?
Existen diez diferentes arrebatamientos enseñados en todas las escrituras. Especificaremos cada uno de ellos con sus respectivas escrituras. Para los cristianos nacidos de nuevo, el rapto más importante es el rapto de la Iglesia; ya que este termina nuestro “período probatorio” aquí en la tierra. Esto es para todos los que estemos vivos en el momento que Cristo regrese por su iglesia. Para todos aquellos que han partido antes de ese evento, ese período probatorio término en el momento en que ellos murieron fisicamente.
- Primer rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
“Y caminó Enoc con Dios, después que engendró a Matusalén, trescientos años, y engendró hijos e hijas. Y fueron todos los días de Enoc trescientos sesenta y cinco años. Caminó, pues, Enoc con Dios, y desapareció, porque le llevó Dios.”
Génesis 5:22-24
La palabra hebrea usada para ” llevó” es “lâqach”, que significa lo siguiente “tomar, conseguir, traer, echar mano, apoderarse, recibir, adquirir, comprar, traer, casarse, tomar mujer, arrebatar, llevar”. La palabra griega utilizada en el pasaje siguiente amplía el significado de Génesis 5:24. En otras palabras, ambos pasajes se complementan para expresar el acontecimiento que tuvo lugar. La palabra hebrea se utiliza 975 veces en el Antiguo Testamento.
“Por la fe Enoc fue traspuesto para no ver muerte, y no fue hallado, porque lo traspuso Dios; y antes que fuese traspuesto, tuvo testimonio de haber agradado a Dios”
Hebreos 11:5
La palabra griega utilizada para “Traspuso” es “metatithēmi”, que significa “transferir, es decir, (literalmente) de transporte, (por implicación) de cambio, (reflexivamente) cambian de lado, o (en sentido figurado) pervertido: – trasladar, cambiar, eliminar, traducir, a su vez.” Enoch fue literalmente trasladado al tercer cielo.
- El segundo rapto es enseñado en la Escritura:
Elías fue trasladado al tercer cielo. 2 Reyes 2:11-12.
“Y saliendo a Eliseo los hijos de los profetas que estaban en Bet-El, le dijeron: ¿Sabes que Jehová te quitará hoy a tu señor de sobre ti? Y él dijo: Sí, yo lo sé; callad.” 2 Reyes 2:3
La palabra hebrea “laqach”, que es traducida aquí como “quitará” es usa en el mismo sentido que Génesis 5:24. Se repite de nuevo en el verso 5. Las Escrituras dan detalles de cómo Elías fue rapto al tercer cielo.
“ Y aconteció que yendo ellos y hablando, he aquí un carro de fuego con caballos de fuego apartó a los dos; y Elías subió al cielo en un torbellino.” 2 Reyes 2:11
“Subió” la palabra Hebrea indica “subir, ascender, ir hacia arriba”. Elías fue arrebatado en un “torbellino” de la palabra hebrea “se’ârâh”, que significa “tempestad, tormenta, y torbellino”. Dios permitió que Eliseo pudiera ver este evento a través del uso del “don de discernimiento de espíritus”; este don espiritual es parte del grupo de dones espirituales que deben manifestarse en cualquiera que se llame a sí mismo “profeta”. Si este don espiritual no esta presente, entonces tal persona simplemente no tiene el llamado al don ministerial de ser profeta. Tal vez este creyente esta manifestando algunos de los dones de inspiracion oral, que son: “el don de profecia, o el don de hablar en lenguas, y el don de interpretar lenguas”. El hecho de que una persona se manifiesta uno de estos dones espirituales no significa que tal creyente es un profeta, como se ha asumido por muchos a ser el caso.
- Tercer rapto se enseña en las Escrituras:
Jesús ascendió al cielo para ofreció su sangre y para sellar el pacto y regresó el mismo día.
“Cuando había dicho esto, se volvió, y vio a Jesús que estaba allí; mas no sabía que era Jesús. Jesús le dijo: Mujer, ¿por qué lloras? ¿A quién buscas? Ella, pensando que era el hortelano, le dijo: Señor, si tú lo has llevado, dime dónde lo has puesto, y yo lo llevaré. Jesús le dijo: !!María! Volviéndose ella, le dijo: !!Raboni! (que quiere decir, Maestro). Jesús le dijo: No me toques, porque aún no he subido a mi Padre; mas ve a mis hermanos, y diles: Subo a mi Padre y a vuestro Padre, a mi Dios y a vuestro Dios. Fue entonces María Magdalena para dar a los discípulos las nuevas de que había visto al Señor, y que él le había dicho estas cosas. Cuando llegó la noche de aquel mismo día, el primero de la semana, estando las puertas cerradas en el lugar donde los discípulos estaban reunidos por miedo de los judíos, vino Jesús, y puesto en medio, les dijo: Paz a vosotros. Y cuando les hubo dicho esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Y los discípulos se regocijaron viendo al Señor”.
Juan 20: 14-20
En el verso 17 expresa que Jesús después de que fue resucitado de los muertos, él fue trasladado al tercer cielo para ofrecer su propia sangre por nuestros pecados el mismo día que el se le apareció a los discípulos el primer día de la semana.
“Jesús le dijo: No me toques, porque aún no he subido a mi Padre.”
Verso 17
¿Por qué María Magdalena no podía tocar a Jesús? Cuando Jesús resucitó de la muerte, Él se levantó como nuestro “Sumo Sacerdote” [Hebreos 3:1], el cual no podría ser tocado por ninguna persona antes de ofrecer la sangre. De hecho, los rituales de consagración y purificación de los sumos sacerdotes se extendían durante toda la semana anterior al día de la expiación [Éxodo 28, 29; Levítico 8].
El lugar santísimo estaba separado por un velo (el velo del templo se rasgó en dos, de arriba abajo. Mateo 27:51), y nadie le era permitió entrar, excepto el Sumo Sacerdote una vez al año en Yom Kipur (el día de la expiación), para ofrecer la sangre del sacrificio y el incienso en la sección llamada” silla de misericordia”. Jesús es mencionado como nuestro sumo sacerdote en Hebreos 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:5-10; 6:20; 7:26-28; 8:1; 9:11, 25; 10:21; 13:11.
“Pero estando ya presente Cristo, sumo sacerdote de los bienes venideros, por el más amplio y más perfecto tabernáculo, no hecho de manos, es decir, no de esta creación, y no por sangre de machos cabríos ni de becerros, sino por su propia sangre, entró una vez para siempre en el Lugar Santísimo, habiendo obtenido eterna redención.
Hebreos 9:11-12
Después de que Jesús habló a María Magdalena, Jesús como nuestro sumo sacerdote fue al Lugar Santísimo en el templo en el cielo y regresó el mismo día como se afirma en el pasaje anterior y en el siguiente pasaje:
“Cuando llegó la noche de aquel mismo día, el primero de la semana, estando las puertas cerradas en el lugar donde los discípulos estaban reunidos por miedo de los judíos, vino Jesús, y puesto en medio, les dijo: Paz a vosotros.”
Juan 20:19
- Cuarto rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
El traslado de la “cautividad”, donde los santos o justos fueron después de morir; también conocido como ” el seno de Abraham” en la historia contada por Jesús en Lucas 16: 19-31. Después de la resurrección de Jesús y su ascensión al tercer cielo, Jesús se llevo la cautividad con él y todos los santos que estaban allí fueron movidos al “Paraíso”, que ahora esta ubicado en el tercer cielo. Observe lo que Pablo dijo en los siguientes pasajes:
“Conozco a un hombre en Cristo, que hace catorce años (si en el cuerpo, no lo sé; si fuera del cuerpo, no lo sé; Dios lo sabe) fue arrebatado hasta el tercer cielo.”
2 Corintios 12:2
Note el lenguaje usado en el próximo pasaje;
“que fue arrebatado al paraíso, donde oyó palabras inefables que no le es dado al hombre expresar.” 2 Cor. 12:4. El lugar donde la cautividad estaba quedo vacío.
Todos los santos del Antiguo Testamento fueron raptados o trasladados al tercer cielo cuando Jesús se los llevó.
“Por lo cual dice: Subiendo a lo alto, llevó cautiva la cautividad, Y dio dones a los hombres.”
Efesios 4:8
El seno de Abraham es ahora un espacio vacío en el centro de la tierra y es un recordatorio para los que están en el infierno que el justo está en un lugar mejor. Es una separación entre los malvados y los justos por la eternidad.
“Los malos serán trasladados al Seol [ Apocalipsis 20:11-15], Todas las gentes que se olvidan de Dios..”
Salmo 9:17
“Pues de aquí a poco no existirá el malo; Observarás su lugar, y no estará allí.”
Salmo 37:10
“Y el mundo pasa, y sus deseos; pero el que hace la voluntad de Dios permanece para siempre.”
1 Juan 2:17
“El Espíritu de Jehová el Señor está sobre mí, porque me ungió Jehová; me ha enviado a predicar buenas nuevas a los abatidos, a vendar a los quebrantados de corazón, a publicar libertad a los cautivos, y a los presos apertura de la cárcel.”
Isaías 61:1
Jesús vino no solo a libertar del pecado pero también de la cautividad donde los santos iba después de partir de este mundo como profetizó Isaías en el pasaje anteriormente mencionado. Esto es confirmado por el escritor del libro a los Hebreos en el capítulo 2 versos 14-15:
“Así que, por cuanto los hijos participaron de carne y sangre, él también participó de lo mismo, para destruir por medio de la muerte al que tenía el imperio de la muerte, esto es, al diablo, y librar (libertar) a todos los que por el temor de la muerte estaban durante toda la vida sujetos a servidumbre.”
- Quinto rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
La ascensión de Jesús al cielo en una nube literal después de los cuarenta días que permaneció en la tierra después de su resurrección.
“a quienes también, después de haber padecido, se presentó vivo con muchas pruebas indubitables, apareciéndoseles durante cuarenta días y hablándoles acerca del reino de Dios.”
Hechos 1:3
Observe la misma declaración en los siguientes pasajes:
“Y habiendo dicho estas cosas, viéndolo ellos, fue alzado, y le recibió una nube que le ocultó de sus ojos.”
Hechos 1:9
“Y el Señor, después que les habló, fue recibido arriba en el cielo, y se sentó a la diestra de Dios.”
Marcos 16:19
“Y aconteció que bendiciéndolos, se separó de ellos, y fue llevado arriba al cielo.”
Lucas 24:51
- Sexto rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
Pablo fue arrebatado al tercer cielo.
“Conozco a un hombre en Cristo, que hace catorce años (si en el cuerpo, no lo sé; si fuera del cuerpo, no lo sé; Dios lo sabe) fue arrebatado hasta el tercer cielo.”
2 Corintios 12:2
El verso usa la palabra “arrebatado”, la cual es traducida del griego “harpazo” y que significa “arrebatar”, “asir repentino y donde hay el uso de fuerza”. La misma palabra se usa en 1 Tesalonicenses 4:17 relacionada con el rapto de la iglesia y en Hechos 8:39;
“Cuando subieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató a Felipe; y el eunuco no le vio más, y siguió gozoso su camino.”
- Séptimo rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
El rapto de la iglesia, el cual es el arrebatamiento general que todos estamos esperando. 1 Tesalonicenses 4: 13-18
“Luego nosotros los que vivimos, los que hayamos quedado, seremos arrebatados juntamente con ellos en las nubes para recibir al Señor en el aire, y así estaremos siempre con el Señor.”
1 Tesalonicenses 4:17
“Pero cada uno en su debido orden: Cristo, las primicias; luego los que son de Cristo, en su venida.”
1 Corintios 15:23
“He aquí, os digo un misterio: No todos dormiremos; pero todos seremos transformados, en un momento, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, a la final trompeta; porque se tocará la trompeta, y los muertos serán resucitados incorruptibles, y nosotros seremos transformados. Porque es necesario que esto corruptible se vista de incorrupción, y esto mortal se vista de inmortalidad. Y cuando esto corruptible se haya vestido de incorrupción, y esto mortal se haya vestido de inmortalidad, entonces se cumplirá la palabra que está escrita: Sorbida es la muerte en victoria.”
1 Corintios 15:51-54
Todos los santos del Antiguo Testamento están envueltos en la resurrección de sus cuerpos.
- Octavo rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
Los dos testigos de Apocalipsis 11 serán raptados al tercer cielo después de la resurrección de sus cuerpos como está descrito en Apocalipsis 11:3-12
“Y oyeron una gran voz del cielo, que les decía: Subid acá. Y subieron al cielo en una nube; y sus enemigos los vieron. Verso 12
Los dos testigos de Apocalipsis 11:3-12 son Enoc y Elías , quienes no han muerto físicamente ya que están viviendo en el tercer cielo desde que fueron raptados.
“Y daré a mis dos testigos que profeticen por mil doscientos sesenta días, vestidos de cilicio. Estos testigos son los dos olivos, y los dos candeleros que están en pie delante del Dios de la tierra. Si alguno quiere dañarlos, sale fuego de la boca de ellos, y devora a sus enemigos; y si alguno quiere hacerles daño, debe morir él de la misma manera. Estos tienen poder para cerrar el cielo, a fin de que no llueva en los días de su profecía; y tienen poder sobre las aguas para convertirlas en sangre, y para herir la tierra con toda plaga, cuantas veces quieran. Cuando hayan acabado su testimonio, la bestia que sube del abismo hará guerra contra ellos, y los vencerá y los matará. Y sus cadáveres estarán en la plaza de la grande ciudad que en sentido espiritual se llama Sodoma y Egipto, donde también nuestro Señor fue crucificado. Y los de los pueblos, tribus, lenguas y naciones verán sus cadáveres por tres días y medio, y no permitirán que sean sepultados. Y los moradores de la tierra se regocijarán sobre ellos y se alegrarán, y se enviarán regalos unos a otros; porque estos dos profetas habían atormentado a los moradores de la tierra. Pero después de tres días y medio entró en ellos el espíritu de vida enviado por Dios, y se levantaron sobre sus pies, y cayó gran temor sobre los que los vieron. Y oyeron una gran voz del cielo, que les decía: Subid acá. Y subieron al cielo en una nube; y sus enemigos los vieron.”
Apocalipsis 11:3-12
Estos pasajes son el contexto de la identidad de los dos testigos de Apocalipsis 11.
“Hablé más, y le dije: ¿Qué significan estos dos olivos a la derecha del candelabro y a su izquierda? Hablé aún de nuevo, y le dije: ¿Qué significan las dos ramas de olivo que por medio de dos tubos de oro vierten de sí aceite como oro? Y me respondió diciendo: ¿No sabes qué es esto? Y dije: Señor mío, no. Y él dijo: Estos son los dos ungidos que están delante del Señor de toda la tierra.”
Zacarías 4:11-14
“He aquí, yo os envío el profeta Elías, antes que venga el día de Jehová, grande y terrible. El hará volver el corazón de los padres hacia los hijos, y el corazón de los hijos hacia los padres, no sea que yo venga y hiera la tierra con maldición.”
Malaquias 4:5-6
Enoc y Elías fueron raptados anteriormente hasta el tercer cielo (Génesis 5:24; Hebreos 11:5; 2 Reyes 2:11) volverán a experimentar otro rapto (Apoc. 11:12), pero la diferencia es que en el último rapto de ellos sus cuerpo serán glorificados. Observe la ley establecida en el siguiente pasaje;
“Y de la manera que está establecido para los hombres que mueran una sola vez, y después de esto el juicio.”
Hebreos 9:27
Ambos están viviendo en el tercer cielo con sus cuerpos naturales y retornaran a la tierra con el propósito de reconciliar a Israel nuevamente con Dios, después que Israel huya de Judea, cumpliendo así la palabra profética anunciada por Jesús en Mateo 24:15-16;
“Por tanto, cuando veáis en el lugar santo la abominación desoladora de que habló el profeta Daniel (el que lee, entienda), entonces los que estén en Judea, huyan a los montes.”
- Noveno rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
Los 144,000 Judíos que fueron sellados por un ángel (Apocalipsis 7:2) en los primeros tres años y medio de la profecía del profeta Daniel. Daniel 9:27. Estos 144,000 no son la religión “los testigos de Jehová” como ellos dicen. Esta enseñanza es una falacia. Estos 144,000 son JUDÍOS y No GENTILES o paganos como lo expresa directamente el mismo contexto del pasaje;
“Y oí el número de los sellados: ciento cuarenta y cuatro mil sellados DE TODAS LAS TRIBUS DE ISRAEL.”
Apocalipsis 7:4
A los ángeles que derramaban los juicios se le dijo;
“Vi también a otro ángel que subía de donde sale el sol, y tenía EL SELLO DEL DIOS VIVO; y clamó a gran voz a los cuatro ángeles, a quienes se les había dado el poder de hacer daño a la tierra y al mar, diciendo: No hagáis daño a la tierra, ni al mar, ni a los árboles, hasta que hayamos sellado en sus frentes a los siervos de nuestro Dios.”
Apocalipsis 7:2-3
¿Qué es lo que mantiene a estos 144.000 judíos de ser dañados por los juicios? ¿Es acaso guardar el sábado como dicen los testigos de Jehová? Esta idea es totalmente falsa y es simplemente una falacia más. Lo que mantener a estos 144.000 judíos de ser dañados es el hecho de que ellos están “Sellados” como dice el pasaje bíblico; “sellados a los siervos de nuestro Dios en sus frentes.” Apocalipsis 7: 3. Así de sencillo es la respuesta.
Estos 144,00 judíos serán arrebatados (raptados) como “el hijo varón” como está expresado en el siguiente texto:
“Y ella (la nación de Israel) dio a luz un hijo varón, que regirá con vara de hierro a todas las naciones; y su hijo fue arrebatado para Dios y para su trono.”
Apocalipsis 12:5
¿Cómo llegamos a la conclusión de que los 144,000 judíos son representados por el “hijo varón”? De acuerdo a 1 Corintios 10:32 existen 3 grupos étnicos con los cuales Dios trata:
“No seáis tropiezo ni a judíos, ni a gentiles, ni a la iglesia de Dios”
La iglesia fue raptada para el momento cuando el periodo de gran tribulación comience, dejando solamente dos grupos étnicos; Los Judíos y Los Gentiles. Los gentiles son los que perseguirán a los judíos, por esa razón ellos no pueden ser “el hijo varón” de Apocalipsis 12:5. Los únicos que restan son los judíos, cuya identidad es confirmada en el contexto del pasaje en Apocalipsis 12:1;
“Apareció en el cielo una gran señal: una mujer vestida del sol, con la luna debajo de sus pies, y sobre su cabeza una corona de doce estrellas.”
Esta mujer representa la nación de Israel. Note lo que el siguiente verso dice:
“Y estando encinta (la nación de Israel), clamaba con dolores de parto, en la angustia del alumbramiento.” Verso 2
Repitiendo el verso de Apocalipsis 12:5:
“Y ella (Israel) dio a luz un hijo varón, que regirá con vara de hierro a todas las naciones; y su hijo fue arrebatado para Dios y para su trono. “
- Décimo rapto enseñado en las Escrituras:
La gran multitud de santos que serán salvos en la gran tribulación después del rapto de la iglesia.
“Cuando abrió el quinto sello, vi bajo el altar las almas de los que habían sido muertos por causa de la palabra de Dios y por el testimonio que tenían. Y clamaban a gran voz, diciendo: ¿Hasta cuándo, Señor, santo y verdadero, no juzgas y vengas nuestra sangre en los que moran en la tierra? Y se les dieron vestiduras blancas, y se les dijo que descansasen todavía un poco de tiempo, hasta que se completara el número de sus consiervos y sus hermanos, que también habían de ser muertos como ellos.”
Apocalipsis 6:9-11
“Después de esto miré, y he aquí una gran multitud, la cual nadie podía contar, de todas naciones y tribus y pueblos y lenguas, que estaban delante del trono y en la presencia del Cordero, vestidos de ropas blancas, y con palmas en las manos; y clamaban a gran voz, diciendo: La salvación pertenece a nuestro Dios que está sentado en el trono, y al Cordero. Y todos los ángeles estaban en pie alrededor del trono, y de los ancianos y de los cuatro seres vivientes; y se postraron sobre sus rostros delante del trono, y adoraron a Dios, diciendo: Amén. La bendición y la gloria y la sabiduría y la acción de gracias y la honra y el poder y la fortaleza, sean a nuestro Dios por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. Entonces uno de los ancianos habló, diciéndome: Estos que están vestidos de ropas blancas, ¿quiénes son, y de dónde han venido? Yo le dije: Señor, tú lo sabes. Y él me dijo: Estos son los que han salido de la gran tribulación, y han lavado sus ropas, y las han emblanquecido en la sangre del Cordero. Por esto están delante del trono de Dios, y le sirven día y noche en su templo; y el que está sentado sobre el trono extenderá su tabernáculo sobre ellos. Ya no tendrán hambre ni sed, y el sol no caerá más sobre ellos, ni calor alguno; porque el Cordero que está en medio del trono los pastoreará, y los guiará a fuentes de aguas de vida; y Dios enjugará toda lágrima de los ojos de ellos.”
Apocalipsis 7:9-17
“Vi también como un mar de vidrio mezclado con fuego; y a los que habían alcanzado la victoria sobre la bestia y su imagen, y su marca y el número de su nombre, en pie sobre el mar de vidrio, con las arpas de Dios. Y cantan el cántico de Moisés siervo de Dios, y el cántico del Cordero, diciendo: Grandes y maravillosas son tus obras, Señor Dios Todopoderoso; justos y verdaderos son tus caminos, Rey de los santos. ¿Quién no te temerá, oh Señor, y glorificará tu nombre? pues sólo tú eres santo; por lo cual todas las naciones vendrán y te adorarán, porque tus juicios se han manifestado.”
Apocalipsis 15:2-4
“Y vi tronos, y se sentaron sobre ellos los que recibieron facultad de juzgar; y vi las almas de los decapitados por causa del testimonio de Jesús y por la palabra de Dios, los que no habían adorado a la bestia ni a su imagen, y que no recibieron la marca en sus frentes ni en sus manos; y vivieron y reinaron con Cristo mil años. Pero los otros muertos no volvieron a vivir hasta que se cumplieron mil años. Esta es la primera resurrección. Bienaventurado y santo el que tiene parte en la primera resurrección; la segunda muerte no tiene potestad sobre éstos, sino que serán sacerdotes de Dios y de Cristo, y reinarán con él mil años.”
Apocalipsis 20:4-6
Que nuestro Dios imparta Fortaleza a ti y a los tuyos!
Raptures Taught Throughout the Scripture
This is a very fascinating subject in the scriptures that will be explained in the context of each passage. It’s an essential knowledge to have today as we live in a chaotic and corrupt world.
Rev. Jay Werman, Director
Text based: 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
How many “raptures” are taught in the Scriptures?
There are ten different raptures taught throughout Scripture. We will identify each of them with their respective scriptures. For born-again Christians, the most important rapture is the rapture of the Church, which will end our probationary period.
First rapture taught in Scripture:
“And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:22-24
The Hebrew word used for “God took him” is “lâqach,” which means the following “to take, to get, to fetch, to lay hold of, to seize, to receive, to acquire, to buy, to bring, to marry, to take a wife, to snatch, to carry away”. The Greek word used in the passage below expands the meaning in Genesis 5:24. In other words, both passages complement each other to express the event that took place. The Hebrew word is used 975 times in the Old Testament.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5
The Greek word used for “translated” is “metatithēmi,” which means “to transfer, that is, (literally) to transport, (by implication) to exchange, (reflexively) to change, or (figuratively) to pervert: – to carry over, to change, to remove, to translate, to turn. Enoch was literally transported to the third heaven.
The second rapture is taught in the Scripture:
Elijah was translated to the third heaven. 2 Kings 2:11-12.
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” 2 Kings 2:3
The Hebrew word “lâqach,” translated here as “take away,” is used in the same sense as in Genesis 5:24. It’s repeated in verse 5. The Scriptures give details of how Elijah was caught up to the third heaven. God allowed Elisha to be able to see this event through the use of the “gift of discernment of spirits”; this spiritual gift is part of the group of spiritual gifts that must be manifested in anyone who calls himself a “prophet”. If this spiritual gift is not present, then such a person simply does not have the call to the ministerial gift of being a prophet. Perhaps this believer is manifesting some of the gifts of oral inspiration, which is “the gift of prophecy, or the gift of speaking in tongues, and the gift of interpreting tongues”. The fact that a person has manifested one of these spiritual gifts does not mean that such a believer is a prophet, as has been assumed by many to be the case.
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11
“Went up” from the Hebrew means “to go up, to ascend, to climb. Elijah was taken up in a “whirlwind” from the Hebrew word “se‛ârâh” which means “tempest, storm, whirlwind. God allowed Elisha to see this event through the use of “spiritual discernment”.
The third rapture taught in Scripture:
Jesus ascended to heaven to shed His blood and seal the covenant, and returned the same day.
“And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:14-20
In verse 17, after Jesus rose from the dead, He was taken up into the third heaven to offer His own blood for us on the day He would appear to the disciples.
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father”. Verse 17
Why couldn’t Mary Magdalene touch Jesus? When Jesus rose from the dead, He rose as our “high priest” who couldn’t be touched by anyone before the blood offering. In fact, the consecration and purification rituals performed by the High Priest were extended to the entire week before the Day of Atonement. Exodus 28, 29; Leviticus 8. The Holy of Holies was divided by a veil [the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Matthew 27:51], and no one could enter except the High Priest, and even he could enter only once a year on Yom Kippur [the Day of Atonement] to offer the blood of sacrifices and incense before the Mercy Seat. Jesus is mentioned as our High Priest in Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:5-10; 6:20; 7:26-28; 8:1; 9:11, 25; 10:21; 13:11.
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 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.” Hebrews 9:11-12
After Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, Jesus, as our High Priest, went into the most holy place in the temple in heaven and returned the same day, as stated in the above passage and in the following passage::
“Then THE SAME DAY at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19
The fourth rapture taught in Scripture:
The translation of “captivity” where the saints or the righteous went after they died; also known as “Abraham’s bosom” in the story told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the third heaven, Jesus took this place and all the saints were transferred with Him to “Paradise,” which is located in the third heaven. Notice what Paul said in the following passages:
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 12:2
Notice the language used in the next passage;
“How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Verse 4
The captivity or Abraham’s bosom under the earth is emptied. All the saints of the Old Testament were raptured or translated to the third heaven when Jesus took them.
“Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8
Abraham’s bosom is now an empty space in the center of the earth, and it’s a reminder to those in hell that the righteous are in a better place. It’s a separation between the wicked and the righteous for eternity.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17
“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Psalm 37:10
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17
The fifth rapture taught in Scripture:
Jesus’ ascension into the third heaven in a literal cloud after His resurrection from the dead.
“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3
Notice that the same statements are made in the following passages:
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19
“And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:51
The sixth rapture taught in Scripture:
Paul was translated to the third heaven.
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 12:2
This passage uses the word “caught up”, which in Greek is “harpazō”, which means “to snatch out or take away,” “to seize, to carry away by force. The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in reference to the rapture of the church and in Acts 8:39:
“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
The seventh rapture taught in Scripture:
The rapture of the church, which is the universal rapture for which we are all waiting, as prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:23
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
All of the saints of the Old Testament are involved in the resurrection of their bodies. bodies.
The eighth rapture taught in the Scripture:
The 2 witnesses of Revelation 11 will be caught up to the third heaven after their resurrection, as recorded in Revelation 11:3-12.
“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Revelation 11:12
The two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah, who have not died because they live in the third heaven since they were raptured.
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Revelation 11:3-12
Here is the context of the identity of these two witnesses:
“Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6
Enoch and Elijah, who were previously translated to the third heaven (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11), will again experience a rapture, but the difference in is that they will ascend to the third heaven with a glorified body. Notice the law established in Hebrews 9:27, which states:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Both men are living in the third heaven with a natural body, and they will come back to bring Israel back to God after they flee from Judea, fulfilling the prophetic word given by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-16. After that, they will both die and be resurrected with glorified bodies.
The ninth rapture taught in the Scripture:
The 144,000 Jews sealed by an angel [Revelation 7:2] in the first three and a half years of Daniel’s prophecy [Daniel 9:27; Revelation 7:1-8]. These are not “the Jehovah Witnesses” as their religion teaches. That’s just a fallacy. These are JEWS, NOT GENTILES, as expressed in the following passage;
“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.” Revelation 7:4
The judgment’s angels were told:
“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants (144,000 Jews) of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:2-3
What keeps these 144,000 from being harmed? is it keeping the Sabbath, as Jehovah’s Witnesses say? This is false and just another error. What keeps these 144,000 Jews from being harmed by the judgments is that they have “sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:3
They will be raptured as the man child, as expressed in the following passage:
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Revelation 12:5
How did we identify these 144,000 Jews as the man child? Well, according to 1 Corinthians 10:32, there are 3 ethnic groups:
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”
The Church is already gone when the Great Tribulation period begins, and the
The two remaining ethnic groups are the Jews and the Gentiles. The Gentiles are the ones who persecute the Jews, so they cannot be identified as “the man-child. The only ones left are the Jews, whose identity is confirmed in Revelation 12:1.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.”
This woman represents the people of Israel. Notice what the following passages say:
“And she [Israel] being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Verse 2
Repeating the passage from Revelation 12:5 (Compare Isaiah 66:7-8)
“And she (Israel) brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up [rapture] unto God, and to his throne.”
The Tenth Rapture taught in Scripture:
The great multitude of tribulation saints saved after the rapture of the church.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 6:9-11
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-17
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15:2-4
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
May our Lord give you strength according to His Holy Word!
© Academia Ministerial Inc. 1999 – 2024
3 Stages of Spiritual Growth
By: Rev. Jay Werman
Here are some of the topics we’re covering throughout the subject.
a) We will explain about stages of spiritual growth and how to identify myself in any of those levels.
b) How to grow and what are the elements involved in it.
c) How to grow in the inward man using the word of God.
d) What are the evidences of spiritual growth.
e) Principles established by God in his Word that produce changes in the inside and the outside.
f) The main point is to identify why I’m not growing in my inward man and how to correct it using what God had provided.
g) Most of our issues and problems come from the lock of spiritual growth.
In 2 Kings 2:1-14 we will draw a spiritual application based on the places where these two men of God were sent before one of them was taken to heaven. Let me make clear that when we study the scriptures and try to interpret a particular passage, it should be understood that there is only one interpretation, which is what the writer (inspired by God) of that particular book intended to reveal. The interpretation of that particular
passage may be “Literal or Allegorical”, depends on what God wanted to communicate to those whom He addressed. We can use or extract different applications from those verses but keep in mind that the application is limited to the context that surrounds it and you should never distort the biblical language to try to justify actions that compromise all principles and laws established by God.
Let’s apply what we had already mentioned and establish a parallel between the place where Elijah and Elisha went and the levels of spiritual growth.
There are 3 different locations in 2 Kings 2:2-7: “Bethel, Jericho and Jordan”. These 3 locations can be used (in a limited sense) as a reference to represent believer’s spiritual levels but it has to be within the biblical context of the passage.
Bethel: For example, represents the place of “the vision” in Genesis 35:1-15. Observe several key words in these verses:
“And God said unto Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel”. v. 1
“And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother”. v.7
El Bethel means “The God of the House of God”. Which was the place where God revealed Himself to Jacob. According to The Brown-Driver-Briggs’s dictionary
The stages of spiritual growth are as follow:
– First stage is Born Again (Beth-El). Here is where everything starts for us. God not only places his divine nature in us, as it is stated in the following passages:
“whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”
2 Peter 1:4
“that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life“
John 3:15
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”
John 5:39
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”
1 John 5:13
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
Romans 6:22-23
but at the same time He placed his vision in our new spirit.
“who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”
2 Timothy 1:9
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men”
Ephesians 4:1-8
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 3:1
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”
Mark 16:15
– The second stage is when we start to obey God’s word (Jericho) and rely our dependency on God more than our old way to deal with problems and issues. After we are born again, we must receive instructions (musar) about the new life we have received aligned with the word of God. Read Proverbs 1:2-8; 6:23; 8:10; 12:1; 13:18; 15:33; 19:27.
“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtilty (prudence) to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; And a man of understanding shall attain (acquire) unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction”
Proverbs 1:2-7
These passages lay out every area where the believer must grow after of being born again. The Hebrew word “mûsâr”, which is used the word “instruction” is used 50 times in the Old Testament and is translated, as it follows: “correction, instruction, chastening, discipline, doctrine”.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs (corrections) of instruction are the way of life”
Proverbs 6:23
“Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it“
Proverbs 8:10-11
If today’s believers will take God’s word as it is written, they would not be chasing materials things, as many are doing nowadays, and that is unfortunate. There is nothing on this corrupted system that can be compared to the benefits of obeying God’s word.
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: But he that hateth reproof is brutish“
Proverbs 12:1
The hebrew word used for “brutish: is “bah’-ar“, which means; “a person who loves stupirity, a foolish person”.
“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation“
Psalm 119:97-99
– The Third stage is when we understand God’s purpose and we had surrendered to it (Jordan). As a born again Christians we are suppose to produce fruits that redounded to God’s glory. Mat 3:10; 7:17-19; 12:33; 13:8, 26; 21:19, 34; Mar 4:7-8, 29; 11:14; 12:2; Luke 1:42; 3:9; 6:43-44; 8:8; 13:6-7; 20:9-10; John 4:36; 12:24; 15:2; 15:4-5, 8, 16; Act 2:30, Romans 15:28, 1 Co 9:7; Eph 5:9, Phi 4:17, Heb 12:11; 13:15; Rev 22:2
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”
Galatians 5:21-22
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door”
James 5:7-9
“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles”
Romans 1:13
“What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life“
Romans 6:21-22
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth😉 proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret”
Ephesians 5:8-12
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”
Philippians 1:21-23
“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace“
James 3:18
3 different places with 3 different meanings in 2 Kings 2:1-14
Explaining “Beth-El” as a Level of Spiritual Growth:
The first stage: Beth-El represents the place where God gives us his vision (plan and purpose for us). At the moment when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he placed a vision (purpose) in our spirit, which it will develop as we grow in the inward man. 1 Samuel 3:1 reveals a clear truth where it says:
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision”.
The manifestation and contact with Jehovah was sporadic at those days, which made it so precious. In this in mind, observe the verse 7 which says:
“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the Word of the LORD yet revealed unto him”.
2 things are exposed in those verses:
- Where the Word scares there’s no vision from God.
- In order to really know God, His Word has to be revealed by the Holy Spirit. Note: “The Word of the Lord was precious in those days” means “because revelation, prophecies, visions, and contact with Jehovah was SCARCE and therefore valuable”. Beth-El implies that we must let God’s Word to take over our lives so that we can comprehend the purpose of God for us. Paul wrote the following to the Corinthians “But we have the mind of Christ”. 1 Cor. 2:16. It basically means that “we know the plans and purposes of God for us”. And Jesus expressed the same line of thought when He said in Mat. 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”. Beth-El is where we received a calling to work on a plan and purpose of God for our lives, which in the language of the biblical text means: we have received a vision from God. This is the first stage of the Christian life. God is expecting His children to grow in the inward man until we reach a maturity life. Ephesians 4:12-16. In 1 Peter 2:1 we found 5 elements that will stop spiritual growth:
“Malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking.”
Also in 1 Peter 2:2 it tells you how to grow in your inward man:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby”.
The passage points out that the only way to grow spiritually is by taking the unadulterated milk of the Word of God, which is “The pure doctrines of the gospel and line up with the new covenant in Christ”. In Mark 4:2 says “And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine”. Only the doctrine of Jesus can “transform and change your life”. Compare James 1:21; Romans 12:2
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves“
James 1:21-22
By allowing and receiving the unadulterated word of God you will grow as follow:
- In knowledge 2 Peter 3:18
- Into Christ in all things. Eph. 4:15
- Into a holy temple. Eph. 2:21
- Like a cedar of the Lebanon Ps. 92:12
- Like calves in the stall. Mal. 4:2
- In grace. 2 Peter 3:18
A “newborn baby” is a direct reference to the experience expressed by Jesus in John 3:1-10 and also in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where it expressed the fact that we are born again.
In Colossians 3:16 says:
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”.
- “Let” implies that you have to “accept voluntarily”. In James 1:21 we see the same line of thoughts “receive with meekness” and in 1 Peter 2:2 says “desire”. Compare with Rev. 3:20 where the reference in there is to Christian churches.
- “Dwell” is used metaphorically to “dwell in one and influence him” (for good).
- “richly” means in the language of the text “metaphorically abounding, abundantly supplied; abounding (rich) in Christian virtues, gifts and eternal possessions. Jesus said in John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”. The Word of God is the “spiritual food” provided by God for which we will grow “unto a perfect man” (mature person) Eph. 4:13. Jesus said in John 4:32: “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”. We are born again and received God’s nature to do God’s will, and to accomplish what we are here for. There is nothing that will bring us more satisfaction than to do God’s purpose with us. This is one of the great principles established by God in His Word.
The second stage: is when we start to be obedient to God’s word (Jericho) and our dependency is on God more than our old way to deal with problems and issues.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds”. (Col 3:8-9)
- But now ye (as well as all other true believers) also put off all these – All these which follow, as being also inconsistent with God’s calling.
- Anger, wrath – Eph 4:26. The two words appear together in Rom 2:8; Eph 4:31; Rev 16:19; Rev 19:15. The word rendered “anger” is rather chronic, that rendered “wrath” rather acute – an outburst.
- Malice – Eph 4:31. The Greek word sometimes bears the sense of evil, ill, in general; e.g. Mat_6:34. But in lists of vices (compare here Rom 1:29, Tit 3:3; 1Pet 2:1) it means what we mean by “malice.”—It is the vice which lies below anger and wrath, as a root or spring.
- Blasphemy – Mat 9:3. The word here seems to mean all injurious and calumnious speaking – whether against God or man.
- Filthy communication (which comes) out of your mouth – Lewd, indecent, and immodest discourse; Eph 4:29. The conversation of the pagan everywhere abounds with this and which, though it is applicable to all speech that is unsavory, unedifying, idle, and useless, and may be properly enough said of flattery, lying, cursing, and swearing; yet chiefly regards obscene language, unchaste words, and filthy talking, which tend to encourage and cherish the sin of uncleanness in any of its branches, flattery, lying, cursing, and swearing; yet chiefly regards obscene language, unchaste words, and filthy talking, which tend to encourage and cherish the sin of uncleanness in any of its branches.
This is the stage of our spiritual lives when “God shapes us to formed Christ in us”. Since we were born again and received a new spiritual nature, God started a “breaking through process” to remove all those things that are an obstacle and are holding you back. One thing you need to be aware of, is that the devil and his demons are your number one enemies and they will get in the way so that you get discourage and not accomplish the purpose of God in you. Paul spoke about the levels of maturity in 1 Corinthians 13:11;
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”.
The Greek word used for a child is “ne pios”, which means “not speaking, that is, an infant (minor); figuratively a simple minded person, an immature Christian”, according to The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionary.
“I thought as a child” Better as margin, I reasoned. The same Greek word is used here as in 1Co 13:5, ‘thinketh no evil.’
“when I became a man, I put away childish things”, Rather, since I have become a man, I have brought to an end the things of the child, referring, not so much to the act which put away these things, as to the fact that they had been put away finally and irrevocably.
We need to put away;
- Speaking like a child.
- Understanding like a child.
- Thought like a child.
Extracting the essence of what the apostle is saying in this passage, we must grow and leave behind all those things we’ve been dragging on before we were born again.
How do I put away those things? Growing in the inward man through the Word of God. The Greek word used for “put away” is “katargeo” and it means that “a superior and more complete stage will take over those that are put down”, in the same sense that adult hood replaced childhood. The whole point is that we must leave behind all the immature stages and move on to what is more excellent. Reading the context of this passage is clear the behavior of this believers.
At Gilgal (v.1-2) at Bethel (v.4) and Jericho (v.6) Elisha frankly told Elijah “I will not leave you”. After that, Elijah did not try to persuade him to stay at any place, indicating that he had merely tested Elisha.
The expression “The Lord hath sent me to” indicates that Elijah was just following in obedience the instructions of The Lord. Obedience has to be learned and it’s part of the process of spiritual growth. In Hebrew 5:8 says;
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered”
The third symbolical stage: is called “Jordan”. The word in Hebrew is “yardên” which means “a descender” or “One that descends”. It represents when we are submerged (figurative) into Christ and all our being (spirit, soul and body) is controlled by God through our spiritual growth (complete understanding of His will for us). This stage is a very slow process and it requires a spiritual understanding of how it works. In our last class I mentioned about how obscured was the definition of “Soul” in the O.T. because of the sinful nature of men. Eph 2:3; Rom. 6:23; Gal. 2:15. In the N.T. it is a totally different matter because now we had received a new nature through the price that our Lord Jesus paid for us. 2 Pet. 1:4. Our will, emotions, intellect, mind and reason are parts that conformed our soul. We must surrender all these areas to God in order to be in harmony with His plan and purpose for us. Observe what Jesus said in Mat. 16:24;
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”.
Let’s explain the key words of this passage:
- “if any man will come after me” – it refers to accept Jesus as the One that had paid the price and because we believe it we are born again. John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23. Using a “Parallel” reference this stage represents “Beth-El”. All the benefits of the new pact in Christ are concentrated on individual decision and following certain conduction. Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17. God will never force or put pressure to obligate a person to do His will but rather He will persuade that person in love and kindness.
- “let him (the born again) deny himself” – the Greek word for “deny” is “aparneomai” which has the following definitions according to Thayer’s Greek dictionary:
to deny
1.1. to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone
1.2. to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests
“Take up his cross, and follow me” This is an expression that had cause confusion not because is confusing but rather because of the misuse and misunderstanding of what the expression meant when the writer wrote it. The context plays a great significance in the extraction of the original meaning taught by Jesus in this case. Wrong doctrines and false teaching had been the result of the wrong use of this expression, which Jesus never meant to be used in such way. Some have even have teach incorrectly that term “cross” in the text means caring a “sickness or affliction”, that such of line of teaching violated God’s plan to redeem humanity from the cursed that came because of Adam’s transgressions. Read Rom 5:12; Gal. 3:13. When we use the term “cross” related to Jesus is means “The reason or purpose He came to accomplished” (read John 4:34; 6:38), in other words “the specific mission He came to do”. The term use related to a believer it has the same meaning but connected to the term “deny himself” which it means, “all your personal ambitions need to be put aside and let God be the first one in your heart”. “Take the cross” within the context of the text implies “to do the commission you have received from God”., which includes “His plan and purpose”. Observe that in Luke 9:23 is even more specific when it says; “and take up his cross daily, and follow me”.
After we are born again (Beth- El) we are instructed by the Word of God to follow Jesus footsteps in obedience (Jericho). Read Luke 9:62; John 14:15. Then we are heading toward our goal, which is “surrendering our will to God” (Jordan). Paul experienced it when he spoke in Galatians 2:20;
“I am crucified (my personal ambitions) with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (to do God’s will): and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”.
That should be the objective of every born again Christian, all our personal agendas, plans, ambitions, aspirations, etc. must be replace by God’s purpose in us. Jesus knew this when he faced a big decision in his earthy life just days before his crucifixion. We read in Luke 22:42;
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”
“Remove” means “to lead aside from the right course or path, to carry away”. Jesus knew that the only way for Him to do His father’s will was by surrendering all to the One He trusted all his earthy life. In a figurative way Jesus needed to cross the “Jordan” and rely on God the Father. Read Heb. 5:7. And also He said in John 12:24;
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit”
If Jesus wouldn’t die at the cross He wouldn’t never die, because he never had experienced sin in his life and according to Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death;” But He came to put his own life to rescue the human race and restore everything. John 15:13. Jesus obtained the Victory not at the cross but rather at the garden of Gethsemane where He literally surrendered His will to the father’s will. The Jordan represents for us those moments when we must surrender to our lord all and rely on his perfect will. Every born again Christian will face with the decision whether to follow his/her own plans or to do God’s purpose. We won’t experience the fullness of God’s presence in us until we won’t let go and bury in the depth of the Jordan our own ambitions.
Only through spiritual growth we can reach a point where we can allow God to take control not only of plans and goals but our entire lives. It’s a process that might take years to accomplish it for some, others are not that privileged, no because they didn’t have the same opportunity but because the chose not to surrender to God’s perfect will.
One thing has to be clear, be belonging to God since the moment we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are just partakers of the life of Christ and the remaining time we are on this earth has be live to reflect His power and glory.
Spiritual growth is the more critical part of our Christian lives and keeping people from growing in the inward man is one of the reasons why the devil had introduced false doctrines, fallacies, humanism, heresies, etc. since the church got corrupted and mixed up with pagans rituals (From the 300s when Constantine the Roman Emperor). We need to be diligent in acquiring the pure spiritual knowledge that comes by the revelation from The Holy Spirit as is described by Paul in Eph. 1:17-18 that says;
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”. Read and compare to John 5:39; 14:26; 15:26.
Summary:
In 2 Kings 2:1-14 we will draw a spiritual application based on the places where these two men of God were sent before one of them was taken to heaven. Let me make clear that when we study the scriptures and try to interpret a particular scripture, it should be clear that there is only one interpretation, which is what the writer (inspired by God) of that particular book intended it. The interpretation of that particular passage may be “Literal or Allegorical”, depends on what God wanted to communicate to those whom He addressed. We can use or extract different applications from those verses but keep in mind that the application is limited to the context that surround it and you should never distort the biblical language to try to justify actions that compromise all principles and laws established by God.
Let’s apply what we had already mentioned and establish a parallel between the place where Elijah and Elisha went and the levels of spiritual growth.
There is 3 different locations in 2 Kings 2:2-7; “Bethel, Jericho and Jordan”. These 3 locations can be used (limited) as a reference to represent believer’s spiritual levels but it have to be within the biblical context of the passage.
Bethel: For example represents the place of “the vision” in Genesis 35:1-15. Observe several key words in these verses:
“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel”. v. 1
“And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother”. v.7
El Bethel = “The God of the House of God”. Which means; the place where God revealed Himself to Jacob. According to The Brown-Driver-Briggs’s dictionary.
The stages of spiritual growth is as follow:
1- Born Again (Beth-El): Here is where everything starts for us. God not only places his divine nature in us (john 3:15; 5:39; 6:54; 10:28; Rom. 6:23; Tit. 1:2; 1 John 5:13) but at the same time He placed his vision in our new spirit.
2- The second stage is when we starting to be obeying to God’s word (Jericho) and our dependency on God more than our old way to deal with problems and issues. After we are born again, we must receive instructions about the new life we have received align with the word of God. Read proverbs 1:2-8; 6:23; 8:10; 12:1; 13:18; 15:33; 19:27
The Hebrew word “musar” is used 50 times in the Old Testament and is translated:
“correction (8), instruction (30), chastening (3), chastisement (3), bond (1), chasteneth (1), check (1), discipline (1), doctrine (1), rebuker (1) according to The Brown-Driver-Brigg’s dictionary.
The Third stage is when we understand God’s purpose and we had surrendered to it (Jordan). As a born again Christians we are suppose to produce fruits that redounded to God’s glory. Mat 3:10; 7:17-19; 12:33; 13:8, 26; 21:19, 34; Mar 4:7-8, 29; 11:14; 12:2; Luke 1:42; 3:9; 6:43-44; 8:8; 13:6-7; 20:9-10; John 4:36; 12:24; 15:2; 15:4-5, 8, 16; Act 2:30, Rom 1:13; 6:21-22; 15:28, 1 Co 9:7; Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9, Phi 1:22; 4:17, Heb 12:11; 13:15, Jam 3:18; 5:7, 18; Rev 22:2
May our God keep blessing you and yours!
“What Happened at The Cross”
Victory Upon The Cross!
Biblical based: Mat. 27:4; MK. 15:28; Lk. 23:34; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 4:4.
God promised to restore humanity back to their original state, through the virginal birth a Jesus and to defeat Satan and his kingdom of darkness.
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14
In the book of Micah 5:1-2 speaks of God’s guarantee for the restoration of men and the Messiah’s first coming…”yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting”. We must understand that God was the only one that could redeem (to buy back) humanity. That’s why He developed a plan of redemption from the very beginning. Gen. 3:15. Before we get in depths about Jesus dead, burial and resurrection, we need to comprehend what the prophecy of Micah said.
– The Messiah was prophesied to come from the tribe of Judah. V. 2; Gen. 49:10. It was fulfilled literally when Jesus was born. Mt. 1:1-18; Lk. 3:23-38; Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5.
– The person who was to be born from the tribe of Judah was to be God – An eternal being whose goings forth have been from old, to everlasting. Micah 5:1-2; Isa. 9:6-7; Jn. 1:1-3, 14; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8; 2:8; 22:13. Jesus as man had a beginning, was begotten, and was brought into being, but as God, He had no beginning, was not begotten, and did not come to being. Read Acts 13:33. He always existed as God. Psalm 90:2; Jn. 1:1; Heb. 1:8. The prophecies relate to the birth of “The Son of God” are directly connected to the Humanity of Jesus, not to His deity. Psalm 2:7-8 refers to the birth and ministry of the Messiah, and it is also used by Paul in Acts 13:33. “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee”. The expression “this day” refers to the day the Jesus was born of a virgin. Isa. 7:6-7. God became a father when Jesus was born of Mary. Mt. 1:20. Even more, in Jn. 1:14 says “the only begotten of the father”. Jesus always will be “the only begotten Son” of God. V. 14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9. No man can ever be “begotten or born” in the same sense as Jesus was. Read Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:34-35. All those who had received Jesus as Lord and Savior, had received a different type of sonship, which is based in “Adoption through Jesus” and not based under the same qualifications as Jesus came. John 10:1-2 expressed that only those who had entered through the door (being born) into the sheepfold (earth) but climberth up some other way (like satan did when he deceived Eve), the same is a “thief and a robber”. As the Son of God, He came to offer His blood in sacrifice for us. Jesus was born of a woman according to Gal. 4:4, which gave Him the right to operate in the earth. The angel told Mary…”and, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
“He shalt be great, and shalt be called The Son of The Highest: and the Lord God shalt give him the throne of his father David”. Lk. 1:31-32.
Let’s explain Philippians 2:6-7, which details Christ humiliation:
- “Who, being in the form of God”: The word for “being” used from the Greek language is “huparcho”, which is translated “being” v. 6. It implies “existing; subsisting”, Christ existed as “God” from all eternity. Compare Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; Jn. 1:1-2; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8-11. “Form of God”; The Greek word is “Morphe”, which is used as “The outward form by which a person or thing strike the vision; the external appearance, or shape”. Is also used in Mk. 16:12 related to Jesus physical appearance. This part of the passage should read “Who, subsisting in the form of God (in which He had revealed to all celestial beings)”.
- “To be equal to God”: This settles the idea that some religions have about Jesus not being divine, or some others thinks that He was an angel. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man, unique in His class.
- “But made Himself of no reputation”: The word from the Greek is “Kenosis”, which is extracted from “Kenoo”. It means the following “to empty out, drain, make empty”. Applied to Christ indicated; He laid aside equality with or form of God. It basically means; “Jesus put aside all His powers, abilities, and attributes as God, when He came was born as man. He was still God but operating same as Adam when God created him. Jesus is the perfect example of how Adam walk before he betrayed God. Gen. 1:26-29. God gave him “dominion” over all the creation. Christ knew that Men were created with enough abilities to overcome satan’s attacks and He came to prove so. Jesus walked in His early ministry under the power of the Holy Spirit to do all the miracles, and never used His divine powers. He said, “…He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. Jn. 14:12. This passage states that Jesus didn’t used His divine abilities and attributes, otherwise how could he said that we can do the same works as he did and even greater? Its possible with the power of the Holy Spirit. Read acts 10:38; 1 Pet. 2:21. His divine nature, powers, abilities and attributes were still in Him but He never used them, especially to defeated satan and his kingdom of darkness. Mt. 12:28; Lk. 4:16-21; Jn. 8:28. The book of Hebrew stated that Jesus even learned obedience by the things he suffered. Heb. 4:14-16; 5:7-9.
In the book of Luke we found a passage that give us light of when Jesus started to get ready to fulfill His mission. We read in chapter 9:51 “ And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem”. Closing one phase of his mission, which is his earthly ministry and focusing in accomplish his real mission for what he came; to taste death for all mankind so that all those who believe in his sacrifice will receive a new life. Read Mt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45; Gal. 1:4; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Rev. 1:5. If we keep reading Lk. 9:51-53 Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. Later in the following passages the disciples wanted to retaliate against the Samaritans. Lk. 9:54-56.
Details related to the spiritual warfare that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane:
Mat. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32; Lk. 22:39; Jn. 18:1.
– The word Gethsemane means “the oil press”, and it was a favorite place of retirement when Christ was at Jerusalem. Lk. 22:39; Jn. 18:2.
– Jesus took these 3 disciples who had witnessed His transfiguration. Mt. 17:1-8; and now they witnessed His agony in the Garden. Lk. 22:44, 53.
– Mt. 26:39 expressed the spiritual warfare that Jesus went through. The idea in these passages is that the devil tried to kill Jesus before he could get to the cross, but God heard His prayer and saved him from death. Read Heb. 5:7; Lk. 22:43-44. If Satan could have succeeded in getting rid of Jesus from the time He was born to the cross, Satan could have defeated God’s plan of redemption. Jesus Needed to get to the cross to fulfill all the prophecies and to spoiled satan’s evil plan by triumphed over them. Col. 2:14-17; 1 Pet. 2:24.
– Mat. 26:42 refers to “the cup of death on the cross”.
– Mat. 26:45 the hour or period of time for Jesus to accomplish the redemption’s plan. Mk. 14:41; Lk. 22:14; Jn. 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1.
In Mat. 26:1 Christ ended his public ministry to the people of Israel and being his period of sufferings. Also, in the same book of Matthew Christ announced his death and in each time a new detail is added. Mat. 16:21; 17:22; 20:17, 28.
God saw in the future Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus in Psalm 109. This Psalm contains 16 sins and 20 characteristics of the wicked man.
Death by crucifixion was one of the most cruel and shameful deaths that could be devised or conceived. It is supposed to have been invented by Semiramis, queen of Nimrod, who founded the Babylonian system of mysteries. Read Rev. 17:5. Crucifixion was a Roman practice inflicted only upon slaves and the worst criminals. The person was nailed to the cross, each hand extended to the utmost stretch. Then, the feet were nailed together, and then the cross was lifted and dropped into a hole with a violence thud (stomp, bang), which disjointed the whole body. The weight of the body hung on the nails through the hands and feet. A victim was left on the cross until physical pain and untold sufferings.
– Prophecies fulfilled at the cross in depth.
In the book of prophet Isaiah we found a chapter that breaks down in details the suffering of the incoming Messiah. God inspired the prophet to give us a glanced of what will happen at the cross. In chapter 53 we found 36 aspects of the suffering of Jesus at the cross.
Lets get into some of the key words in depth in Isaiah 53.
- Response, reaction and reception among his people. V. 1
- “For he shall grow up before him as tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground”. Verse 2. In this passage the prophet speaks about “Jesus childhood before the Lord”, which was foresee by the prophet. Achieved and complete in Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 2:1-51.
- “No form”. V. 2. From the Hebrew refers to “shape, outline, figure, form, appearance’, which in the context of the text implied “that sin had disfigured or deformed his beautiful appearance’.
- “Nor comeliness”. V. 2. From the Hebrew word “hadar”, which means “splendor, honor, majestic, glory, magnificence, excellency”. At the cross there was none of this but suffering for Jesus. After his defeated death, sin and satan, He has now more that anyone else, excluding the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Pet. 3:22. Read Jn. 17:5.
- “He is despised and rejected of men”. V. 3. Fulfilled in Jn. 1:10-11; 8:48; 10:20.
- “Man of sorrow”. V. 3. The word used from the Hebrew refers to physical and mental pain. Used in Exodus 3:7. He carried all our sorrows. V. 3-4.
- “And acquainted with grief “. The word grief should had been translated instead; “sickness, malady, anxiety, diseases, calamity”. Jesus took them all in his own body while hanging at the cross and became our replacement.
- “Surely he hath borne our griefs”. v. 4. The word “borne” from the Hebrew is “nasa” and it ‘s used 659 times in the O.T. the usage depend upon the context where it is used. “nasa” which means; “to lift, bear up, carry away, take, cast away, erase. The idea in here is that of one person taking the burden of another and placing it on himself, in the same sense as “carrying an infant; or as the flood lifted up the ark”. Psalm. 103: 12; Mt. 8:16-17; 1 Jn. 3:5.
- “We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted”. V. 4. “Stricken” from Hebrew “naga”, meaning, “lay the hand upon, strike violently, bring down”, smite with plague. V. 4; Dt. 21:4. It’s used as “touch” with different endings 92 times. “Smitten” from the Hebrew word “nakah” meaning, “to strike, beat, kill, punish, slaughter, slay, smite, wound, and stripe. V. 4. Isa. 10:24; 11: 4; 50:6; Zech. 12:4; Mal. 4:6. For the sin of the people He was stricken. V. 8.
- “And with his stripe we are healed”. V. 5. The word “stripe” is extracted from the Hebrew word “chaburah” which means “black and blue mark, wound, stripe”. A scourge was a Roman implement for severe bodily punishment. The whole idea of scourging was to punish the criminals before execution and not to kill, although many passed out or died when they were tortured .flogging was permitted by the law up to 40 stripes. Dt. 25:3. But was reduced to 39 stripes. 2 Cor. 11:23-25. If the scourge used on Jesus had 12 thongs and he was hit even 39 times this would make 468 stripes in his body.
- “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death”. V. 9. In the Amplified bible version reads as follow; “…and with the rich man in his death”. What rich man the prophet refers to? Most people think is Joseph of Arimathea that provided a tomb for the body of Jesus. But we found a reference in a story that Jesus told in the book of Luke. Let’s analyze and compare details in Luke 16:19-31:
Many believes that Jesus spoke in parables in Lk. 16:19-31, but in a parable you don’t use a real person’s name like Jesus did when he mentioned “Abraham”, which made it a real story. We find details about where the souls and spirits of people go after their body dies. Spiritual suffering, eternal punishment, conscience of the soul, etc. Jesus talked about a real place using 2 real persons in his real story. Besides detailing the state and condition of those that leave the physical state or body, Jesus has something in common with one of them. Not Lazarus since he was comforted in Abraham’s bosom and in the other hand the rich man was being tormented. Where is the connection of Isaiah 53:9 between the rich man and Jesus? That Jesus will go to the place where the rich man went after he died. Jesus went to be tormented because of our sins. 2 Cor. 5:21.
“For he hath MADE HIM to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“
– Physical and Spiritual suffering of Jesus at the cross:
There are no doubts that the physical suffering of Jesus was behind anything we can possibly imagine, but the spiritual suffering is way more intense and deep. Physical pain reaches only the body but the spiritual pain or suffering not only affect the inward person (spirit, mind, emotions, and even sometimes the will) but the body as well. Read Prov. 15:13; 17:22. Acts 2:24 speak about “pains of death” which took over Jesus at the cross when He took all our sins. Mt. 26:28; Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:24.
– Types in the Old Testament of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus:
– The Lamb without blemish. Exodus 12:3-6; Jn. 1:29; Acts. 2:23; Eph. 1:4; Tit. 1:2.
– The blood of the animals was a symbolism or representation of the blood of Jesus. The divine principle behind the symbolism was to express that without shedding of the blood there was no forgiveness. Compare Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22.
– All that symbols used in the O.T. with reference to the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross pointed to His body and His blood, which needed to be perfect in order for the sacrifice to be perfect. 1 Cor. 11:23-26; whole chapter 9 of the book of Hebrews.
– The O.T. was only a “shadow” of the realities of the benefits in the sacrifice in Christ. Heb. 10:1-4.
– Jonah was a type of Christ: 1)- Jesus approved the story of Jonah and the big whale. Jonah 1:17. 2)- When Jesus said. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three in the heart of the earth”. In order for Jonah to be a type of Christ he needed die in the whale’s belly. In fact, Jonah chapter 2:2 says “And I said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice”. It used a very interesting word from the Hebrew for “Hell”, which is “Sheol” meaning “the unseen world, the place of departed souls, not the grave where the body goes at dead”. Remember Isaiah 53:9? Jesus went to the place where the Rich man went after dead. Jonah was not miraculously kept alive, he died when he was swallowed up and then he became a true type of death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The used of “as and so” of Mt. 12:40 require the death and resurrection of Jonah in the type. Also, The Hebrew word for the expression “three days” can be used in any part of the 3 days, but when the word “nights” is used with it the term can be only mean “3 literals days and 3 nights”. It has the same meaning in here as well as in Mt. 12:40 where Jesus emphasis the time and place where he will go after dying at the cross.
– Serpent lifted up by Moses in the wilderness. Symbolism of Christ at the cross taking our Sins. 2 Cor. 5:21. Jesus to be crucified in order to fulfill the prophecy and to redeem man. Lk. 24:26, 28; Acts 3:18; 17:3. Jn. 3:15 expressed the reason for Jesus died at the cross. Jn. 5:24.
– What happened in “The three days and three nights” prophesied in the O.T. and by Jesus himself?
At the cross Jesus took all our sins, diseases, plagues, sadness, all the cursed the come because of Adam’s transgression. Paul’s said in Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us (all those who had received Him as Lord and savior) from the curse of the law (it’s expressed in Dt. 28: 15-68), being made curse for us: for it is written, Curse is every one that hangeth on a tree”. Dt. 21:23. The same day a criminal was executed he was removed from the earth. Dt. 21:22-23.
Jesus said in Mt. 12:40 that he will go to “the heart of the earth” for three days and three nights”. Jesus was dead for “3 full days and 3 full nights”. He was put in the grave Wednesday just before sunset and was resurrected at the end of Saturday at sunset. There’s no such thing as “Good Friday” which should be changed to “Good Wednesday”. No reference in the scriptures to sustain that Jesus was buried Friday at sunset. That would make Him in the grave only “one day and one night” proving Jesus words untrue. Mt. 12:40. The Sabbath mentioned in Jn. 19:31 was not the regular Sabbath observed by the Jews people, but instead was a special Sabbath of the feast. Lev. 23:6-11. Jesus was arrested Tuesday at sunset and crucified Wednesday before sunset. In Mark 15:25 said “and it was the third hour, and they crucified him”. Third hour meaning “9:00 a.m.” and died at six hours later at 3:00 p.m. at the exact time when the Passover lambs were to be sacrifice. Mt. 27:45; Lk. 23:44-45.
– What really happened at the cross?
Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies that were written by the prophets in the O.T.
Jesus mocked by the roman’s solders:
- The solders stripped Jesus’s clothes. Mt. 27:28.
- They clothed him in purple mocking Jesus kingship. Mk. 15:17.
- Crowned Jesus with thorns mocking his kingship.
- They salute Him in a sarcastic way as “King of the Jews”. What they didn’t realize is that one day every knee will bow down to him. Mk. 15:18-19; Phil 2:9-11.
- Spit upon Him. Mk. 15:19.
- Smote Jesus on the head with a reed (stick) mocking his kingly powers and authorities. Mk. 15:19.
- Bowed their knees mock worship. Mk. 15:19.
- Stripped Jesus again and put on his own clothes. Mk. 15:20
Note: The Crown of thorns was not part of the normal crucifixion ritual. Perhaps one of the roman solder (influenced by satan) brought branches from a wild hawthorn bush with long, sharp, hard thorns. The crown of thorns might have a basket shape like so that it will cover the entire scalp. The thorns penetrated the skin and were driven more and more deeper when Jesus was struck on the head with the reeds.
– Victory of Jesus over “The sin, death and satan’s kingdom of darkness:
- Explanation of Jn. 20:17. Jesus’s first ministry; “High Priest”.
- Explanation of Acts 2:23-32.
- Jesus conquest 2 things in Col. 2:15;
- Abolished and cancelled the law.
- Defeated the executors of the law. Col 2:15 expressed the “Public defeat of satan and his armies”. Acts 3:13-18; 5:28; 1 Jn. 3:8.
- Jesus defeat death. Rev. 1:18 says “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”. “I am” identified the person to be Christ. Acts 2:25-36; 1 Cor. 15:1-23; Col. 2:14-17; Eph. 2:14-15; Jn. 21:14. “Keys” signify “Power and Authority”. Compare. V. 18; 3:7; Mt. 16:19; 18:18; Isa. 22:22.
- Explanation of 1 Tim. 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was MANIFEST in the flesh, JUSTIFIED in the Spirit, SEEN of angels, PREACHED unto the Gentiles, BELIEVED on in the world, RECEIVED UP into glory.“
May our God keep blessing your life!
3 Types of Baptism
THE LIVING WORD CENTER, INC.
Rev. Jay Werman, Director
“Water baptism”; Symbolism of the inner change.
Text base: Acts 8:36-40
Definition: The word used in Greek language for “Baptism” is “baptidzo” and it comes from the root “bapto” which basically means, “to dip” Luke 16:24; Rev. 19:13; Jn. 13:26. “To overwhelm with suffering”, Mt. 20:22-23; Lk. 12:50. “To bury into (Rom. 6:3-7; Col. 2:12) regardless of the element used”.
In the scriptures we found 7 different types of baptism:
- John’s Baptism in water: Mt. 3; Mk. 1; Lk. 3; 7:29-30; Jn. 1:31-33; 3:23-26; 10:40; acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:3.
- Christ’s baptism in water: Jn. 3:22; 4:1-2.
- Baptism in suffering: Lk. 12:50.
- Baptism in the Cloud and in the Sea: 1 Cor. 10:2.
- Christian baptism in water: Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; acts 2:38-41; 8:12-16, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1 Cor. 1:13-17; 1 pet. 3:21.
- Baptism into Christ and his body: Rom. 6:3-7; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Mt. 3:14; 20:22-23; Mk. 1:8; 10:38-39; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 7:37-39; acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:2-3.
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire“
Matthew 3:11
“And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost“
John 1:33
3 Baptisms for believers:
I. Into Christ or His body at repentance and new birth. It’s also called “One baptism” in Eph. 4:5 because it is the only baptism that saves the soul and brings into the body of Christ. Jn. 3:1-13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:27.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
1 Cor. 12:13
II. Water Baptism after one is saved. Acts 8:12-16, 36-38.
III. The Spirit Baptism, which it can be define as “The enduement (ability or quality) of power for service. It can take place before the water baptism (acts 10:44-48) or after it (acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11; 8:12-21; 19:1-7).
Agents used in each baptism:
- The Holy Spirit is the (Divine) agent to baptized “into Christ and into his body”. 1
Cor. 12:13. - Christ is the (Divine) agent to baptize “In the Holy Spirit”. Mt. 3:11; Jn. 1:31-33.
- The Minister is the (Selected by God) agent to baptize “Into the Water”. Mt.
28:19
Infant baptism is not taught in the scriptures and it was not supported by neither of the apostles nor the early Christians. It becomes a practice in the 5th century by the Catholic Church. Jews people never baptized infants, they “dedicated” to the lord. Baptism in Scripture always has the prerequisite of repentance and faith, which are impossible for an infant, and obviously an Infant cannot outwardly express faith. The Lord’s Supper and Baptism are both sacraments and ordinances and are the same sign and seal, since the Lord’s Supper may not be given to unbelievers, neither should baptism. Baptism represents more than just physical washing, but being clean and good standing before God, and therefore regenerate (Romans 6). When the early church become polluted with pagan practices and beliefs, it got married with diabolic doctrines, which gives birth to The Universal church, also known as The Catholic church. Such union is represented in one of the seventh letters written by John in book of revelation; The church of pergamos allowed such tolerance of pagans teachings.
Baptism represents the remission of sins, and infants are not capable of repenting. (Luke 3:3, Mark 1:4, Acts 13:24, Acts 19:4) Baptism has been part of Christianity from the start, as shown by the many mentions in the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline epistles.
1 Peter 3:21 says in reference to that; (Amplified bible)
“And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Water Baptism is a symbol and does not put away the filth of the flesh. Gal. 5:19-21; 2 cor. 7:1; Col. 2:11. The like figure of the baptism in water also saved us. How does it save us? Is it the water that saves or the thing that it is a figure of? It was not the water that saved the 8 persons of verse 20. It was the ark that saved them from drowning in the flood. So baptism in water does not save the soul, but faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that which baptism is a figure of, does save the soul. Read Rom. 6:3-5; 1 cor. 15:1-4; Ephesian 1:14; col. 1:20-22. A mere figure can have no power to save, but the reality of the figure can. What Peter is saying is that “one thing we should have clear and that is that baptism in water does not save one from the filth or moral depravity of the flesh. He shows it to be only the answer of a good conscience toward God, one that has been made clean by faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verse 21. It is clear here that at baptism the conscience is already supposed to be good and clean and baptism merely answer to it. As the waters of the flood could not have saved these 8
persons, had they not made use of the ark, so the water of the baptism does not save the soul of anyone, but testifies figuratively to the salvation that comes by faith.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”
Romans 1:16
“being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”
Romans 3:24-25
“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“
Romans 10:9-10
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord“
Acts 22:16
3 types of baptism in the New Testament:
1)- Water Baptism: which is perform by anyone who has been born again, and not only by ministers. Water baptism doesn’t save anyone, since it is a symbolism of our internal experience. In other words, baptism in water is a way or form to exteriorized the experience of being born again. When we do that in from of witnesses, we are saying by that act that we were once death but in Christ we are resurrected. The believer or minister is the instrument of God to do this act.
Let’s explain Mat. 3:13-17;
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Few things involved in these passages:
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” verse 13. Jesus came to John as a confirmation of a word given to him by God. Observe what John 1:33 says;
“And I knew him not: but he (The Father) that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”
– Jesus baptism was just a symbolic expression of his sacrifice upon the cross and his resurrection.
– The baptism was performed by “immersion in water”, and NOT BY SPRINKLING WATER, as many do today.
Observe what Mat. 3:16 says;
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, WENT UP STRAIGHTAWAY OUT of the water”. The water baptism was done by submersion, or being submerged inside the water.
In Mark 1:10 confirmed the same meaning:
“And SRTRIGHTAWAY COMING UP OUT of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him”
In Acts 8:38-39 expressed the same position:
“And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and THEY WENT DOWN BOTH INTO THE WATER, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when THEY WERE COME UP OUT of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
The Scriptures DOES NOT SUPPORT the water baptism by sprinkling water, or by pouring a cup of water into a person. If we are going to do what the Scriptures says, we should do it right!
You are saved not by what you do or you don’t do, but by the grace of God!
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Ephesians 1:7
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Ephesians 2:7-9
When we get submerged into the water, we are testifying that: “We are dead to the old lifestyle and we have a new life, through the experience of being born again”; “We are identified with Jesus in his death and in his resurrection”.
Water baptism without the experience of being born again is useless. Why is that? Because the act of being baptized into the waters it’s just a “symbolic act”, which is done in obedience to The Word of God. Observe what the scriptures says:
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were BAPTIZED, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
Once more the Scriptures used the sequence and the appropriate or correct orden, which is “Believes” first and then after that “Baptized” also in Acts 8
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” V. 35
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a CERTAIN WATER: and the eunuch said, See, here is WATER; what doth hinder me to be BAPTIZED?” V. 36
“And Philip said, If thou BELIEVEST with all thine HEART, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” V. 37
This eunuch experience what is written in Rom. 10:9-10 and he was saved, not by the water baptism by instead by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.
“And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” V. 38
– Two different baptisms in Acts 8:12-18:
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” V. 12
They BELIEVED before getting BAPTIZED, which is the correct order and lineup with the Scriptures.
“Then Simon himself BELIEVED also: and when he was BAPTIZED, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” V. 13
That’s the order expressed by the Scriptures.
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, they sent unto them Peter and John.” v. 14
Meaning they received the Word and were SAVED.
“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.” V. 15
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) V. 16
Proving that the baptism of water is DIFFERENT from the baptism into the Holy Spirit.
“Then laid they their hands on them, and THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. V. 17
“And when Simon SAW (The visible evident) that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.” V. 18
The Scriptures expressed that there’s a external manifestation through which people can notice the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.
Another passages that expressed the differences between receiving The baptism of the Holy Spirit and baptism into water. Acts 9:17-18.
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. V. 17
“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was BAPTIZED.” V. 18
– Two different experiences; “He was FILLED with The Holy Spirit” and “He was BAPTIZED in water”.
Nowadays many people are struggling to follow the principles and divine directions from God, because they’re relying on the own strength and abilities, instead of relying on God’s power. Why is the reason for it? Because many are teaching that the manifestation of The Holy Spirit is not for this time but it was over in the apostle’s era. Which is something that had caused damage to many. This kind of teaching doesn’t come from the Scriptures but rather from demonic inspiration. The Scriptures are very clear on this subject, that without the help and guidance of The Holy Spirit, we are doomed. These deceiving teachings have been infiltrated into the body of Christ by satan’s agents, which purpose is to diminished the effectiveness of the work of every born again against the works of Satan.
“that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive“
Ephesians 4:14
Jesus spoke about the effectiveness of every believer through the person of The Holy Spirit:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER, that HE may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the WORLD CONNOT RECEIVE, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16-17
Why the World cannot receive the Holy Spirit? Because of their sinful nature, they need to born again and then, they would be able to receive him. Jesus said it very clear:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
No religion can provide you with salvation but Jesus Christ. John 14:6.
May our God keep blessing your life!
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