Miscellaneous
Bible Question: can you please explain deuteronomy chater 18 verse 9-12 where it says causes his sons or daughters to dance through the fire?
Answer: A better translation of " dance through the fire" from Deut. 18:10 is " PASS THROUGH THE FIRE." It appears that all
the standard translations (KJV, NAS, NIV, RSV, ASV, ROTH, etc.) have " pass through the fire." The Hebrew for " pass through"
is verified by Strong's Concordance, #5674, as abar (aw-bar' ); a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any
transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
CHILDREN BURNT IN FIRE TO THE GODS. But what was being warned against as the children of Israel
came into Canaan is that they should not worship the local gods, such as Molech, by passing their children (their " seed"
through the fire). Some have postulated that it merely meant a simple rite of consecration to the idol, passing between two
large fires as a kind of purification. This rite may have first occurred. But the scriptures are clear that it was an "
abomination" what the people of the land were doing in burning their children in worship to their gods. Deut 12:31 " Thou
shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for
even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods."
GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE ABOMINATIONS OF
THE LAND OF CANAAN. Because of these abominations in the land of Canaan, God exercised His judgment on these people through
His people Israel. Israel was commanded under the leadership of Joshua to conquer the Land by destroying and dispossessing the
people. Deut 18:12 " For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD
thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Under the leadership of Joshua they were to conquer the Land. Josh 3:10 " And
Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you
the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the
Jebusites."
CANAANITES AND SODOMITES DESTROYED FOR THEIR " GOOD." Unfortunately, the Israelites compromised and were
consequently influenced from time to time by the abominable idolatry of the inhabitants of the Land who were not destroyed.
But God used the Israelites to conquer Canaan as He saw good— just as God Himself destroyed the Sodomites " as I saw
good" (Ezek. 16:50). How was it for their " good" ? Both the Sodomites and the Canaanites actually will come back as "
daughters" to Israel under an " everlasting covenant" of life and blessing. Ezek 16:61 " . . .and I will give them [Sodom
and her daughters," vs. 46] unto thee [Samaria, Israel] for daughters, but not by thy [old Law] covenant. The Sodomites and
Canaanites were mercifully interrupted in their downward spiral into abominable sins so that they will have better opportunity
to be recovered in Christ Jesus' Kingdom on earth.
MODERN DATE CANAANITES OFFERING THEIR CHILDREN. Unfortunately
today we have modern-day " Canaanites" who offer their children to their god Allah. (They are not lineal descendants of the
Canaanites, but only perhaps culturally related with a similar mentality.) Moslems prepare their children from a very young
age to become " suicide bombers" and take great satisfaction (and also some monetary payment) when their children commit
suicide— and kill some Jews with them. Hopefully, the children programmed from earliest childhood to hate the Jews will
still be able to come up to Jerusalem in Christ's Kingdom to learn about the " God of Jacob" and submit to the program of
restoration and peace.
Isa 2:2-4 " The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the
mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 3 And many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning
His ways, And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into
plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn
war. NAS
ABOMINABLE TEACHING ASCRIBED TO OUR GOD. What is even more abominable through the centuries is how most
Christians have ascribed to our loving and just God an eternity of burning hell for unbelievers! (Most of earth's billions
are unbelievers.) Is Satan to be believed and not God? The " father of lies" Satan told Adam, " Ye shall not surely die"
(Gen. 3:4)— after God said, " In the day that thou eatest there thou shall surely die" (Gen. 2:17). Ezek 18:4 " The soul
that sinneth, it shall die.." Is the penalty death— or life somewhere else? 1 Cor 15:22 " For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive." Whether of the " first fruits" (James 1:18) or the world of mankind— our
eternity depends on the resurrection! Our God of love would never burn or torture anyone for eternity.
Bible Question: In the " transfiguration" were there three people physically taken into heaven by God? Did Enoch, and Elija really appear?
Answer: We are not sure who else the pastor was referring to, but the following information may give you a different
perspective on what really happened to Enoch an Elijah.
"On account of faith Enoch was translated that he should not
see death. He "walked with God, and... God took him." The story of Enoch's translation is vouched for more than once; and by
faith we may accept it. There is no record as to where he was taken, except that he was not taken to Heaven. (John 3:13.) For
aught we know to the contrary, God may have protected his life through all these centuries as an illustration of how human
life could have been prolonged by Divine Power, if God had not placed the curse of death upon the race. Indeed, Enoch could be
no exception to that curse. He is under the death sentence and could come to full perfection and Divine justification to life only through the merit of the Redeemer, even as others."
"The testimony respecting Enoch was that his was a life of faith; that he walked with God and not with the world; that he
sought to walk righteously, in harmony with the Divine will. The record respecting Enoch is very meager, but we do know that
he was a prophet and that through him the message came that Messiah would come eventually with ten thousand of his holy ones
to execute righteousness, judgment, in the earth—to overthrow sin and set up Divine standards amongst men. "Behold, the
Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all."— Jude 14,15. Enoch not only prophesied this
but he believed it and it stamped his entire character and made him separate from the world and drew him nearer to the
Lord."
Another interesting excerpt addresses the question if Enoch and Elijah were dead or living. Both Enoch and
Elijah had miraculous endings to their earthly life. "Of Enoch very little is told us, except that he walked with God (Gen.
5:24), and that God revealed to him some things relative to the kingdom of God, will be seen by reference to Jude 14:15. Gen.
5:24 tells us that "he was not [found], for God took him;" and Heb. 11:5 . How, or where, God took him, or for what purpose,
is not revealed, but it does not prove that he did not die. This seems to be one of the secret things which Moses says belong unto God. Deut. 29:29.
Elijah, we are told, went up by a whirlwind into heaven. The word here translated heaven is shamayim, meaning "heaved up," or
"high things." It is sometimes applied to the firmament or region of the air (Gen. 1:8), and sometimes to the throne of God.
When the latter is referred to, the term "heaven of heavens" is frequently used. (1 Kings 8:27.) We must judge of its meaning
in this case by its harmony with other Scriptures. Jesus, after his resurrection, went to heaven, the throne of God; but John
says (chap. 3:13), "No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man." Hence we must
conclude that the atmospheric heavens were the heavens into which Elijah ascended.
It is nowhere stated that Elijah
did not die; and that he ascended into the air until lost to sight does not prove that [R620 : page 8] he did die. Neither
does the vision on the mount of transfiguration prove that he is, or was then alive, since that was only a vision—as
Jesus said, "See thou tell the vision to no man." As Elijah was a type of the Church, his ascension was also typical of the
ascending bride, soon to meet her Lord in the air—not the literal air: air is symbolic of the universal kingdom.
Heretofore Satan has been the prince of the power of the air; now Christ has come to reign, and Satan will shortly be
dethroned. Soon the overcoming Church, being changed from human to spiritual conditions, will meet her Lord in the kingdom.
What became of Elijah's body we do not know, neither do we know what became of the body of Moses. Things not revealed belong to God."
Bible Question: 40 years wandering chronology?
After the forty years of wandering God told Moses to turn over
the leadership to Joshua who was approximately 80 years old at that time. Joshua then lead the Israelites in battle for the
promise land for approximately 40 years. In Chapter 13 of Joshua it reads that Joshua was around 120 years old and stricken in
years. In Chapter 14 it says that Caleb was around 85 years old.Joshua is approximately 120 years old in chapter 13.
Joshua was approximately 80 when he took over for Moses.
Joshua was approximately 40 when the 40 years of
wondering started.Now if Joshua was 120 years old and Caleb was 85 years old, then that made Caleb 5 years old when he went
into the promise land as a spy. Help me understand.
Answer: Greetings in the name
of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thank you for your question.
Joshua 14:10 about the 80 years cannot be
correct if we are to believe the Apostles. Bible scholars think that something was not transcribed correctly, because the
Apostles (Acts, and Hebrews — see below) corrected the chronology to set straight any confusion over this.
It is
our understanding from the scriptures that Caleb was 40 yrs. old when he was sent to spy the land & 85 when he received his
portion of the promise land (45 years later).
According to the scriptural account the spies were sent from
Kadesh-barnea in the wilderness of Paran (Num. 13:3-26; 32:8-13). One of these spies was Caleb; see (Joshua 11:23; 10:42).
When applying for his portion at the division of the land he said,
"Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of
the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land, and I brought him word again....And now, behold, the Lord hath kept
me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word...while Israel wandered in the
wilderness; and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old." (Joshua 14:7,10)
Thus it will be seen that it
was forty-five years from the spying of the land to its division among the tribes, as affirmed by Joshua, and a little over a
year from the exodus to the sending of the spies, making forty-six full years and a fraction from the exodus to the division
of the land. As the first forty years of this period were passed in the wilderness, as shown by many scriptures, notably Acts
7:36 and Heb. 3:9, the remaining six (not 40 yrs.) were spent conquering & dividing the land of Canaan.
This battle
against the Canaanites to conquered the land is a picture of the battle of the true Christian against his enemies; the flesh,
the world & the adversary. If you would like to study this battle and the topic of true Christianity in more depth, go to:
Whyareyouachristian_01.cfm
Bible Question: How old was Isaac when Abraham was asked to sacrifice him? What did this represent?
Answer: It is estimated that Abraham at this time was 125 years old, and Isaac would have been 25. Isaac displayed great
faith in submitting to Abraham, as he could have easily resisted being offered as a sacrifice.
Abraham represents God, and Isaac represents Jesus and his Church (Christ head and body). As Abraham was willing to offer his
only son, in whom centered the promises, so the Heavenly Father freely offered up His only begotten Son for the sins of the
whole world. "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." "God
gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life"—that in Him all the families of the earth might be blessed in due time.
Although Abraham was stopped from carrying out the sacrifice, nevertheless, the incident illustrates that "without the
shedding of blood there is no remission..." (Heb. 9:22) of the world's sins — that unless Jesus should die for man's
redemption, the promises could never be fulfilled. And this was shown by the fact that God provided a representative of Isaac to be offered — the ram.
But there is more to this picture. Jesus is the "Head" to the Church, which is His Body. The sufferings of Jesus were only a
part of the sufferings of the picture of Isaac. Galatians 4:28 states, "We, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of
promise." And Galatians 3:29, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." The
Church, the faithful followers of Jesus, whom God has been calling out of the world since the day of Pentecost, is required to
prove her faithfulness by also laying down their lives in sacrifice. "If we suffer with Him"—as His members—"we shall also reign with Him"—as His members. (2 Tim. 2:12)
Bible Question: WHO WAS THE FIRST TO FIND EGYPT AND SETTLE THERE?
Answer: The Apostle Peter tells
us that after the flood, the inhabitants of the earth were eight souls. The only historic record of the events that
immediately followed the flood are those found in the Bible. No other nation on earth has history that goes back this far; so
all we know about these things are what is written in the Word of God.
The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Gen. 6:10. With their wives, they went in different directions, as the names of their children are synonymous with the names
of ancient peoples and locations.
In the Volume of Studies in the Scriptures entitled, The Battle of Armageddon, on
page 556 is this interesting statement: In Ezekiel's prophecy (38:1-13) the Lord names the chief actors in the struggle in
Palestine; but we may not be too positive in our identifications. Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomar, Togomar, Javan and Tarshish
were names of children of Noah's son Japheth—supposed to be the original settlers of Europe. Sheba and Dedan were
descendants of Noah's son Ham—supposed to be the original settlers of Northern Africa. Abraham and his posterity
(Israel) were descendants of Noah's son Shem, and are supposed to have settled Armenia—Western Asia.
From the
other Biblical references, it would appear that Ham, Noah's son, and his sons, were indeed those who settled in Egypt.
In Psalm 105, the psalmist is telling about how Israel came to be in Egypt, and speaking of Israel's son, Joseph, he
said, "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in
iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the
people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his
pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And he increased
his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies. Psalm 105:17-24
"He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron
whom he had chosen. They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham." Psalm 105:26,27
In Psalm 78,
the psalmist is recalling the events of the Exodus from Egypt when he writes, "He made a way to his anger; he spared not their
soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength
in the tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock."
Psalm 78:50-52
Quickly forgetting their great deliverance in the Exodus from Egypt, and turning to idolatry, the
account was written, "Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They forgat God their
saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. Psalm 106:20-22
Bible Question: Explain balm in Gilead.
Answer: We read this statement from the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 20: 20-22) " The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we
are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there
no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"
So what is the thought behind - No balm in Gilead — We might understand the prophet to be saying that there is no
consolation for the wounded spirits on the battlefield of life. That is there are no human remedies that will cure the malady
of human depravity & the pain and sorrow that is part of the death process (the curse upon mankind).
But for the Christian it is different, he must not be disappointed and allow his faith to falter when his outward peace and
quietness which he craves tarries long. Our Father has not forgotten us when the answer to our prayers seems to be delayed.
Outward peace and calm are not always the conditions
best suited to our needs as New Creatures; and we would not
desire conditions in which the precious fruits of the Spirit would not grow and develop in us.
Therefore, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which shall try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you, but rejoice." (1 Peter 4:12,13.) He who numbers the very hairs of our heads is never indifferent to the sufferings and
needs of His weakest and humblest child. Oh, how sweet is the realization of such loving, abiding care! "When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?"
In every sorrow and grief the saints have a blessed consolation of which the world is wholly in ignorance. What is this
consolation? It is the precious balm of Gilead for wounded spirits on the battle-field of life; it is the stimulating,
refreshing drink for fainting souls, hard pressed by the relentless foe. It is the gentle whisper of hope and love and courage
when heart and flesh are almost failing. This is Divine consolation, the only consolation that has in it any virtue of healing
or refreshment. It is reserved alone for those noble souls who are faithfully bearing the burden and heat of the day in the
service of the King of kings; while those who listlessly drift with the current of the world and the downward tendencies of
the carnal nature can never have an intimation of its sweetness. How loving and tender is our God, and how wise and strong! His promises have never failed those who have put their trust in Him.
Bible Question:
I am trying to understand the meaning or underlying meaning behind each of the plagues. What
is the significance of each as it relates to levels of pain, order of occurrence, and conditions surrounding judgment on the Egyptians.
Answer: First we'll start with an overview purpose of the plagues, then focus on your specific questions— and then
possible important prophetic implications that are relevant to us as Christians at the end of the Age.
PLAGUES
HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART. When Moses announced to Pharaoh that God intended to deliver his " firstborn" Israel (Ex. 4:22)
from slavery and bring them to the Land He had promised to their forefathers (Ex. 6:8)— God also knew Pharaoh's heart
would be hardened against letting them go (Ex. 4:21). Even though God planned to gradually " strike Egypt with all My
miracles" — also called " wonders" and " signs" (Ex. 7:3; Psalm 105:27) — the increasing severity of the
plagues and the intervals of mercy in between would only have the effect of making Pharaoh more resistant. Human nature can be
like that! Eccl. 8:11 " Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of
men among them are given fully to do evil."
THE PLAGUES, A JUDGMENT AGAINST EGYPT. The first three plagues were on all
of Egypt, but the last seven did not affect the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. As the plagues progressed in
severity, they were specific judgments against Egypt: A judgment against the sacred Nile River; the various false " gods of
Egypt" (Ex. 12:12), such as frogs; the worship of the elements (which failed with the downpour of hail); the murrain on the
cattle directed against their Apis-worship by sacrificing cattle; the reversing of the Egyptian omen of throwing ashes into
the air; the plague of darkness against the sun-god— and finally the death of the firstborn showing that in the hand of
Jehovah alone was the life of all His creatures.
Ten Plagues on Egypt
ON ALL EGYPT (1 — 3)
1.
BLOOD
(Ex. 7:13-25) This plague was doubly humiliating to the religion of the country, as the Nile was held sacred, as
well as some kinds of its fish, not to speak of the crocodiles, which probably were destroyed. It may have been a marked
reproof for the cruel edict that the Israelitish children should be drowned, and could scarcely have failed to strike guilty
consciences as such, though Pharaoh does not seem to have been alarmed by it.
2. FROGS
(7:25; 8:1-15) This
must have been an especially trying judgment to the Egyptians, as frogs were included among the sacred animals, probably not
among those which were reverenced throughout Egypt, like the cat, but in the second class of local objects of worship, like
the crocodile. The frog was sacred to the goddess Hekt, who is represented with the head of this reptile
3. LICE
(GNATS)
(Ex 8:16-19) The superstitious practice Egyptians throwing dust in the air for prosperity and
benefit— became a mockery as Moses was instructed to strike the dust in the land which became lice (gnats): "Say to
Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.' "
And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on
man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. And the magicians tried with their secret
arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast."
NOT ON GOSHEN (4 — 10)
4. FLIES
(SCARABS)
(Ex. 8:23-24) In the hot season the flies not only cover the food and drink,
but they torment the people by settling on their faces, and especially
round their eyes, thus promoting
ophthalmia. Those who suppose it to have been a beetle (scarab) might draw attention to the great reverence in which that
insect was held among the sacred animals, and the consequent distress that the Egyptians would have felt at destroying it,
even if they did so unintentionally.
5. MURRAIN
(Ex. 9:1-7) This plague would have been a heavy punishment to
the Egyptians as falling upon their sacred animals of two of the kinds specified— the oxen and the sheep— but it
would have also been most felt in the destruction of their most useful beasts.
6. BOILS
(Ex. 9:8-12) One
species of boils which seized upon the legs and knees, and was regarded as incurable, was peculiar to Egypt, and was hence
called " the botch of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35). This eruption had a tendency to break out into larger swellings and
became probably the disease called elephantiasis, a disease said to be peculiar to Egypt, or the black leprosy, a disease
which also affects cattle.
7. HAIL
(Ex. 9:13-35) The character of this and the following plagues must be
carefully examined, as the warning seems to indicate an important turning-point. The ruin caused by the hail was evidently far
greater than that effected by any of the earlier plagues. It destroyed men which those others seem not to have done, and not
only men, but beasts and the produce of the earth. Pharaoh for the first time acknowledged his wickedness.
8.
LOCUSTS
(Ex 10:1-20) This plague has not the unusual nature of the one that preceded it,
but it even exceeds
it in severity, and so occupies its place in the
gradation of the more terrible judgments that form the later part of
the
series. it is impossible to imagine any more complete destruction
than that always caused by a swarm of
locusts. Where they
alight they devour every green thing, even stripping the trees of their
leaves.
9.
DARKNESS
(Ex 10:21-29) The impossibility of moving about with the natural fear of darkness which affects beasts and
birds as well as men (as in a total eclipse), this plague would have caused great suffering and distress. As worshippers of
the Sun, this god was proven effete. The darkness was a terrible foreshadowing of the next great calamity of the death of the
firstborns.
10.
DEATH OF FIRSTBORN The first-born of the Egyptians were smitten at midnight, as Moses had
forewarned Pharaoh. " And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great
cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead." The clearly miraculous nature of this plague, in
its severity, its falling upon man and beast, and the selective singling out of the firstborn, puts it wholly beyond
comparison with any natural pestilence. The preeminence of the God of Israel in control ultimately of all life was certainly
validated while the gods of were Egypt condemned.
ISRAEL, GOD'S FIRSTBORN CALLED OUT OF EGYPT. What happened to
Israel was a lesson for us as Christians. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NAS) " Now these things happened to them [Israel] as an
example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." Exodus 4:22-23 " Thus says the
LORD," Israel is My son, My first-born. So I said to you, ' Let My son go, that he may serve Me.'" As a babe Jesus
providentially was taken to Egypt to fulfill the prophecy about being called out of Egypt. Matthew 2:15 " And was there until
the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called
my son." While Jesus is " the firstborn of all creation" (Col. 1:12-15), faithful Christians are the " Church of the
firstborn enrolled in heaven" (Heb. 12:23-25). They also are called out of " Egypt"— the world. John 15:19 " If ye were
of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you." Just as Pharaoh was judged and finally destroyed— so Satan, " the god of this world"
(2 Cor. 4:4), is judged and will be finally destroyed. " Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world
be cast out" (John 12:31). This is the big picture!
FIRSTBORN PASSED OVER DURING TENTH PLAGUE. Within Israel was
another picture— a picture within a picture! In all the households of Israel during the tenth plague, of course, the "
firstborn" were in particular jeopardy of the death angel. But since there was " the [lamb's] blood upon the lintel" (Ex.
12:22-23; 13:2), they were passed over and not destroyed. Just so, the " firstborns" of Christians are now saved under the
blood of Jesus Christ and passed over. Rom 5:9 " . . .being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him." But the deliverance of the firstborn during the night was also a harbinger of the entire nation of Israel passing
through the Red Sea in the morning under the cloud. 1 Cor 10:1 " Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through
the sea. . ." What a wonderful picture of salvation not only now during the night of sin, but the deliverance of the whole
world during he morning of God's Kingdom under the leadership of Someone so much greater than Moses— Jesus Christ!
AFTER THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. The " Seven Last Plagues" in the prophetic Book of Revelation (15:1; 16:1-21; 21:9) are "
last" because they were preceded by three previous ones (9:1-21). They are symbolically poured out not on a literal Egypt,
but on symbolic " Babylon." Ancient literal Babylon, of course, is long ago destroyed, but " Babylon" is symbolic of the
worldly nominal Church. God's judgments will be poured out soon, and the system of error and hypocrisy will be destroyed. But
the people who supported the " MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev 17:5)
will have an opportunity to accept Christ in his Kingdom on earth for which we pray. " Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Bible Question: Why was the offering of Cain rejected and Abel's offering accepted?
Answer: It seems that one of the most important themes in the Bible is the ransom which Jesus gave and the blessings that
will come to all because of it. In the Old Testament God often directed His people as to what kinds of sacrifices He was
pleased with. God was pleased with sacrifices that would point to His Son, Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the fact that Jesus
would die and give His flesh for the life of the world. Abel's sacrifice of a lamb was a very apt picture of this.
We are told in 1 Peter 1:18-20 that, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, . . but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." In John 1:29, John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God which taketh away
the sin of the world." How would Jesus take away the sin of the world would be a logical question to Jesus' early followers.
Jesus partially answered this by telling them, "I will give . . . my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
(John 6:51) In other words, He laid down His life—His perfect human life. Why was this necessary? The Apostle Paul in
Romans 5:12 tells us that we were all condemned in Adam—we inherited an imperfect, "dying" life from our father, Adam.
That was all Adam could pass on to his progeny because once he sinned, he was condemned, and as an imperfect, dying man he
only had imperfect life to pass on to his children. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." In 1 Corinthians 15:22, we are told "In Adam all die." But we are also assured
"Even so in Christ shall all be made alive." And the verse before that says: "For since by man [Adam] came death, by man
[Jesus] came also the resurrection of the dead." The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:5 and 6 tells us that "the man Christ Jesus .
. . gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified [or made manifest] in due time." The word ransom in this verse is
translated from the Greek word "antilutron" which means a "corresponding price." By becoming a perfect man, Jesus could give
His perfect human life as a ransom for the perfect human life which Adam had forfeited through sin. Thus Jesus took Adam's
place in death. We all are dying because of Adam, but because Jesus took Adam's punishment, Adam and all of his progeny will
get to have life!
The ransom which Jesus gave guarantees a raising from death during God's thousand-year kingdom on
earth for which we all pray: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) That kingdom
will be the time when so many promises of God will be fulfilled here on earth! That will be when the nations "shall beat their
swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4) There will be "peace on earth, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14) "The earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:9) It will be when the billions of people who have
never known of Jesus will be raised to life on earth and learn of Him who loved them so much that He gave His life as a ransom
for them! All that Adam lost for the human race—life, health, a perfect earthly home, fellowship with God—will then
be restored to all mankind. That kingdom will be a time of restitution to what Adam once had. We are told in Acts 3:20 and 21,
that God, "Shall send Jesus Christ, . . Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God
hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." It will be a time of learning and becoming more and
more perfect in heart, mind, and body. They will be taught about God's will and ways. In Isaiah 29:24, 18-20 (NAS) we learn
that whether they finally obtain eternal life will depend upon their heeding the instruction of that day. "Those who err in
mind will know the truth, And those who criticize will accept instruction. On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And
out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the Lord,
And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be
finished. Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off."
What about those who are Christians now? What
about those who in this age "follow the Lamb [Jesus] whithersoever He goeth" and who "were redeemed from among men [now during
this Gospel age] being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."? (Revelation 14:4) As Christians we have an almost
unbelievable opportunity during this age to follow Jesus! We as Christians believe on Jesus now, and by faith in Christ our
sins are covered. We are justified and "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1) We are invited to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:1 and 2) What a wonderful invitation to become God's children now! 1 John 3:1 and 2 says
"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is!" We will be resurrected in heaven as
part of Christ's church. Revelation 5:10 says of those Christians who are faithful in this life that we shall become "kings
and priests: and we shall reign on the earth!" Who will we reign over? The resurrected billions of mankind to whom we will
have the joy of teaching God's ways. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him [Jesus]." We will "live and reign with
Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:6
In Genesis we are told how Adam sinned and plunged the world into sin and
death. In much of the rest of the Bible God gives us promises and pictures of His wonderful plan to bless all mankind through
His Son, Jesus. When God first told Adam and Eve they had forfeited everlasting life and were going to die, He gave them a
little glimmer of hope—a little hint of His plan to eventually cover their sins. He covered them with coats of skins.
(Genesis 3:21) "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Perhaps Abel realized
from this that God would be more pleased with the sacrifice of an animal, or perhaps he had asked God. We are told in Hebrews
11:4, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts." We can see why a slain lamb pictures Jesus' sacrifice better than Cain's offering
of fruit. Paraphrasing part of Genesis 4:6 and 7 we see that basically God told Cain, "Why are you angry? If you do the right
thing, you will still be accepted." Cain could have learned what was more acceptable to God and exchanged some of his produce
for a lamb from Abel's flock. He could have then offered a sacrifice to God that would have been very pleasing to God. But,
Cain let jealousy take over. In 1 John 3:12 we read, "Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore
slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
As Christians we appreciate "the Lamb of
God which taketh away the sins of the world." We appreciate God's loving plan which will eventually include all who have ever lived.
Bible Question: Since Adam was created perfect, it seems he was justly sentenced to "eternal" death for his act of rebellion. He had no excuse for what he did. If he is to return to be "judged" a 2nd time wherein is justice served?
Answer: We agree that Adam was created perfect, and when he sinned, his penalty was death. But the Scriptures tell us that
Christ gave his life a ransom for Adam; that is, a corresponding price of a perfect man to take the place of a perfect man who
sinned, and because of this ransom, Adam and all his children will be released from the death penalty. Adam's transgression
was predictable because of Adam's lack of knowledge and experience with good and evil. Based on this, God did not intend
Adam's punishment to be eternal, but only to be used as a lesson to mankind. God, in his wisdom and mercy, planned a way of
escape from this sentence of death.
I Tim 2:4-6, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of
the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for
all, to be testified in due time."
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans
6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
We are specifically told that Satan's punishment would be destruction. We are never told that Adam would be destroyed.
Instead, it is strongly inferred that Adam will be raised to life, since that was the purpose of Jesus' death. He died to
ransom ALL MEN. Certainly, if he sacrificed his perfect human life to take the place of the perfect human life of Adam, we
would not expect Adam to die and his children to live. We would expect Jesus' ransom merit to provide for the restitution of all that was lost in Adam — including Adam's life.
You raise an excellent question concerning the difference between Satan's judgment and Adam's. We aren't given all the
details of how God has dealt with his heavenly realm. But, obviously, we know God is just, so He must have determined that
Satan's sin was greater than Adam's. We can assume that Satan may have been given a period of time to repent, but it is just
not stated. We know that the angels who fell into sin have been given time to repent, and their final judgment will be in the
future. So it may be that Satan was not judged immediately upon his rebellion, but he had some time to repent, which he did not do.
There was also some difference between Satan's sin and Adam's sin in that Satan was an angel, not a human. As a spirit
being, he probably had greater insights and closer fellowship with God, having lived a very long time in heaven. Therefore,
having greater light, he would have been held more responsible for the light he possessed. Satan not only committed a sin, but
he sinned against God in a rebellion because he wanted to be like God (Isa. 14). Evidently, Satan knew good from evil even
though he had never before experienced evil. Maybe this is what is implied in Gen. 3:5, "For God doth know that in the day ye
eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
By contrast, Adam was the first human being ever to live on the earth. Obviously, he was totally inexperienced, having only
been alive a very short time. He was tempted by Satan. (Whereas, Satan was not tempted by anyone; he went astray because of
his own ambition.) Adam's sin of disobedience was willful, but it also was due in part to his lack of experience. Adam had
not spent many years with God (as Satan had) to have more confidence that God would take care of him without Eve.
After Adam is raised to life, he will have a wonderful demonstration of God's love in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. By the
end of Christ's kingdom, God will then expect Adam, as well as the remainder of the world, to fully and perfectly keep His laws in order to live forever.
Bible Question: Do you believe the "Lost ten tribes of Israel" are the British people who have inherited the birth right blessing of Jacob?
Answer: The fact that the ten tribes strayed away from the two is not to their
credit, but otherwise. It is an evidence that they were disposed to reject God's promises; it is a sign of infidelity, of
unbelief; for they well knew that God had predicted that the Lawgiver, the Savior, the Deliverer, the King, in whom and by
whom the promises were to be fulfilled, was to come out of
the only tribe,
therefore, aside from Judah, which, at the time of the revolt, manifested faith in God's promises. But at the time of the
return from the Babylonian captivity, though those who showed their continued faith in God and his promises, by returning to
the land of Canaan, were mostly of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, yet all who came back were not of these two tribes. Among
them were some from the various tribes, who loved the Lord and sought him with repentance, still relying upon his promises.
However, the vast majority of the ten tribes, as well as of the two tribes, did not avail themselves of the opportunity
to return to the land of promise, preferring Babylon and other
lands, many among them having fallen into idolatry and
lost their respect for God's promises. We must remember that but a few of those who returned to their land under the lead of
Ezra and none of those who returned under Nehemiah were of those who had been taken captive, the vast majority having died
years before in Babylon. These were their children, in whose hearts the faith of their fathers still burned, who still hoped
for the blessings and honors promised to Abraham's seed. Thus the returning little band of less than fifty thousand were all
the Israelites then remaining, of all the tribes, who by the act of returning to the land of promise showed that they still
held to the faith of Abraham. It was to the descendents of these fittest ones, sifted out of all the tribes of Israel—
though principally of the two tribes, and all called Jews, after the royal and predominating tribe—that our Lord
presented
himself and the Kingdom at the first advent, as representing the holy nation, Israel entire. Our Lord
referred to them as Israel, and not as a part of Israel, not as Judah merely. He speaks of even those who
had clung to
the promises, and to each other, as the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," in that they had wandered far from the truth,
after the traditions of false shepherds who had led them in their own way and not as God directed. He says: "I am not sent
save [except] to the lost sheep of the
Notice also how the apostles used the word "Israel," and not "Judah," when speaking of those who were living at that time in
Palestine (Acts 2:22; 3:12; 5:35; 13:16; 21:28), and how they apply the words of Isaiah concerning the
(Rom. 9:4,27,29,31-33; 10:1-4; 11:1,7-14,25,26,31), and speak of all
crucifixion of the Lord are the
ones to whom the favor is to return now. At that time, and ever since, Israel has been represented by "the Jew" (Rom. 2:9,10),
and it is the Jew that will now be restored to favor as the
agencies for blessing all the families of the earth. Nor will the coming favor to Israel be exclusive. All
believers in the covenant promises may share those returning favors with the natural seed, just as during the Gospel age any
Jew who accepted Christ was eligible to all the spiritual blessings and advantages offered during the Gospel age. As only a
small remnant believed in and accepted the gospel
favors at the beginning, so, aside from the Jews, only a small
number of mankind will be ready for the new laws and conditions of the Millennial age, under the righteous administration of
the glorified Lord and his glorified Church; and hence, at first, few but Jews will be blessed under it.
Bible Question: In Isaiah 40:27-31, how can Jacob say " My way is hidden from the Lord?" Didn't he know you could not hide anything from the Lord?
Answer: Sometimes it is good to read another translation of the Bible to
get the sense of the passage. The original texts had no punctuation which wasn't developed until much later. Question marks
and quotation marks can greatly clarify the meaning intended by the writer.
Isa. 40:27 in the Tanahk (a Hebrew Bible)
makes the scripture clear, Why do you say,O Jacob, why declare, O Israel, "My way is hid from the Lord My cause is ignored by
my God? The nation of Israel was punished by God and they felt that he was no longer caring for them as he had in the past.
The prophet asks Israel, why do you say your way is hidden from God and that he is ignoring you?
Isaiah 40 is dealing
with Israel's unfaithfulness and their eventual return to favor with God. When Israel (Jacob) was unfaithful they were
punished and God gave them a period of disfavor it was at this time that they felt their way were hidden from God and that God
had ignored the plight and was no longer caring for them as in the past. This is pointed out in Isaiah 40:1,2 Comfort ye,
comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is
accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
Israel received special favor from God from the death of Jacob until the death of Jesus this was period of 1845 years. For the
next 1845 years they suffered a period of disfavor from God. Isaiah is saying that after the 1845 years of disfavor they would
regain God's favor and that would begin in the year 1878. Since that time Israel once again became a nation and a homeland
for the dispersed Jewish people.
Read more at: timetofavorzion_01.cfm