Month: January 2014

Who is the ‘son of perdition’ of 2 Thess. 2? And is there a mystery about Judas’ suicide which links to the meaning of the ‘son of perdition’?

There’s a very, very simple way of knowing that Judas was ‘not’ the ‘son of perdition’ of 2 Thess.2:3. As all Scripture truly is very simple to understand, we must use common sense first, shutting off any ‘outside’ influences which might bring in corruption.

1. Paul taught about the ‘son of perdition’ and the events of his coming in 2 Thess.2 WHEN? Was it before Judas’ betrayal and death of Christ, or afterwards?

     And what Paul was teaching there in 2 Thess.2 about the ‘son of perdition’; was Judas himself alive or dead at that time of Paul’s Message?

ANSWER: Clearly Judas Iscariot, though he was called ‘the son of perdition’ in John 17:12, was already dead when Paul preached the Message of 2 Thess.2 and the ‘son of perdition’. And this whether Judas died by his own hand as written, or ‘with a little help of his friends’ the Pharisees, whom he threw the blood money back at.

2. Paul was speaking of ‘future prophecy’ in 2 Thess.2:3 with the ‘son of perdition’, as it is tied with Christ’s second coming.

     The Apostle Judas who betrayed Christ, was already dead by then. So how could Paul be declaring prophecy in the future, if Judas only, was the ‘son of perdition’? Clearly then, Paul had to be speaking of someone else besides Judas.
(Bear with me; I’m going to show a little ‘anger’, not at you, but at the false teachers who intentionally or unintentionally mislead in this matter. I get a little tired of so-called teachers of God’s Word jumping around in Scripture like a bunch of kids on a trampoline, never following the flow of God’s Word through the Chapter. How they love to take ‘one verse’ from God’s Word and have a ‘party’ with It!)

3. The ‘VERY NEXT VERSE’ OF 2 THESS.2:4 ‘MUST’ be included with Paul’s verse on the ‘son of perdition’.

     Notice that a semi-colon (“;”) is at the end of verse 2 Thess.2:3 just after the word “perdition”? That means the subject of the ‘son of perdition’ continues into the NEXT verse also. What does that ‘next’ verse 4 say?

II Th 2:3-4
3   Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4   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. (KJV)

     Did Judas, the Apostle who betrayed Christ Jesus accomplish the events here in verse 4? Did Judas ‘ever’ “exalt 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”? Did Judas ‘ever’ do ‘any’ of that before he committed suicide? What does your ‘common sense’ say to you?
This Message of one who exalts himself above God, sitting in God’s Temple in Jerusalem, SHOWING himself that he is God, is only about Satan. We were first given this idea of Satan wanting to play God in Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28 through 31. Paul is just reminding us of that event prophesied first in the Old Testament. (see my Isaiah Chapter 14 studies. I cover it in-depth there). And Ezekiel 28 reveals that Satan has already been judged to go into the ‘lake of fire’ (also see Rev.20). That is why he is specifically called the ‘son of perdition’, because he only, has been judged and sentenced to perish.
Even the fallen angels have not been ‘judged’ yet (their’s happens when Christ returns per Rev.11:13).

Jude 1:6
6   And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (This event of their judgment happens in Rev.11:13.)

Doesn’t 1 Thess.4:17 mean that at Christ’s second coming, the flesh from the grave of those who are dead, is rejoined with the spirit?

On the difference between our flesh body, and that glorious body, and dimension of Heaven…

I John 3:2
2   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. (KJV)

     The Apostle John states that though those who accept Christ as Savior, and are now known as ‘sons of God’, we STILL don’t know for sure ‘what we shall be’, but… we know ‘we shall be like Him’ (having a similar body as Christ’s Glorious resurrected Body). If John knew clearly that ‘spiritual body’ which Paul named in I Cor.15:44 was of the ‘flesh’ order, then wouldn’t he have said so? Well, then of what order was Christ’s Glorious Body after His resurrection?

John 20:19-20
19   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.”
20   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.

     What type of Body is talked about in these verses? Even though Christ’s Glorious Body has the marks of His crucifixion, can flesh walk through walls or doors? One who still chooses to believe that spiritual body is flesh, still must explain ‘how’ it can go through dimensions like Christ’s did here, appearing ‘midst’ His disciples without entering the room the way flesh must enter. One may call it flesh if they want, but clearly, it is not the same type of flesh body we all have right now living on this earth. Christ knew they would have a difficult time understanding these things also, so He even ate man’s food in His resurrected Body, to show them It is able to live and function on earth similar to flesh. Weren’t these examples from our Lord for us today also?:

Luke 24:40-43
40   And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet.
41   And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, “Have ye here any meat?”
42   And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43   And He took it, and did eat before them.

     Christ’s Message here about the resurrection body is of ‘strong meat’ (Heb.5). His disciples are to understand it; thus He went to whatever length necessary by example, to make sure they understood. What did the Israelites in the wilderness eat for forty years? Heavenly manna, known as angel’s food. Wow! Man’s flesh can also eat angel’s food, angels can eat earthly food; the bodies must be similar, but of a different order. None have gone to Heaven in the flesh and lived without being transfigured (such as Elijah and Enoch). This is why Isaiah got so scared when he was given a vision. He thought he had died (Isa.6). God’s chosen may be given ‘visions’ of Heaven, as John was given, but to actually ‘be’ there, one must leave this flesh. Even the below example from Paul shows how the ‘spiritual body’ is what was ‘caught up into Paradise’, not the flesh:

2 Cor 12:2-5
2   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.
3   And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4   How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5   Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (KJV)

     That ‘man’ was probably Paul, even as he was stoned once and left for dead (Acts 14:19-20). Might this event Paul is speaking about here have anything to do with a ‘near death experience’? Sure does, as he even stated he didn’t know whether he was in the body (flesh body), or out of the body. This has nothing to do with how the New Age groups teach how to have ‘out of body’ experiences. I personally know at least two Christians who were involved in accidents, and experienced this near death event, and have heard their testimony of angels speaking to them.
Did you notice the term ‘caught up’? Might this have something to do with ‘how’ those alive in the flesh when Christ returns are ‘changed’ to their ‘spiritual body’? Again, yes. Isn’t this phrase ‘caught up’ even used there in I Thess. 4:17? Both occurrences of ‘caught up’ is the Greek word ‘harpazo’, meaning ‘to carry off by force’. I Thess.4:17 is the same event which Paul experienced being ‘caught up’ to the ‘third heaven’ age, the Holy City which exists right now, in that spiritual dimension, where Heaven is. The DIFFERENCE being, Paul did not die, and thus his spiritual body returned back into his flesh body; the ‘silver cord’, which attaches our ‘spiritual body’ to the flesh, was not ‘loosed’ (Eccl. 12:6). At I Thess.4:17, when Christ returns, everyone alive in the flesh, will have their ‘silver cord’ loosed from the flesh body. The spiritual dimension will be fully revealed, and it will be most wonderful.
Note that Paul said he was ‘caught up’ into Paradise? The Greek Septuagint Bible, which is older than our KJV, renders the word ‘Eden’ as ‘Paradise’. Also, remember what Christ said to the malefactor crucified with our Lord, who believed on Him.

Luke 23:43
43   And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, “To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.”

     When would that malefactor be with Jesus in Paradise? “To day”, meaning as soon they got done with their old flesh bodies dying on the cross, giving up the spirit trapped in those flesh bodies (ghost; also see Eccl. 12). Those ‘in Christ’ who die TODAY, put off this flesh body also, the ‘silver cord’ being loosed from the flesh, and they go into Paradise, where Christ and our Father are, along with His saints. Those not ‘in Christ’ go to a different place, but still in Heaven, a place of separation.

Luke 16:22
22   And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

     Both, Lazarus, and the ‘rich man’ died, and their flesh bodies were buried. That’s the meaning of ‘also’ died, and was buried. The ‘angels’ carried Lazarus to one side in Heaven, where Abraham is, but the ‘rich man’ was carried to the ‘pit’, where Satan and his are. This is not a ‘parable’, or an analogy Christ is teaching within these verses. It is an ‘explanation’ for that Heavenly state, even now as I write this.

Luke 16:23-26
23   And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24   And he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
25   But Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26   And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

1 Cor 15:50
50   Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

     Paul stated this about our ‘flesh and blood’ in a manner which is ‘solid’ Truth. He didn’t leave any maybes, or we don’t really know in-roads to add. It’s important as Christians, to realize who the ‘author’ is, of the doctrine of wanting to keep these old flesh bodies forever. That includes the false doctrine that the dead flesh body is somehow put back together with the spirit when Christ returns. (Christ’s miracles of raising the dead was for His Mission as Savior). Of what order are those who push the following false idea today, that through mapping genetics, man can cure ‘all’ flesh disease, and thus bring ‘immortality’ of the flesh? That type of flesh order thinking is from Satan, not our Father and His Son Christ Jesus. And Satan wishes to keep your thinking in the flesh, a ‘carnal mind’, and not in the spiritual Mind of Christ (1 Cor.2:16; 1 Pet.4:1; Rom.8).

Even though the man Adam in the Garden of Eden was not guilty of Eve’s particular method of sin, then just how did Adam transgress?

This question is a normal ‘wondering’ after having understood that Eve didn’t eat an apple in God’s Garden.
Any answer to this on Adam’s actual part in the sin, is just speculation. So with that, we might look at the word ‘touch’ which Eve added to God’s command, as given in Gen.3:3. That word ‘touch’ in the Hebrew is ‘naga’, meaning ‘to lay the hand upon; (euphemism, to lie with a woman)’ (Strong’s no.5060). That particular ‘euphemism’ is a nicer way to say, ‘they had sex’. This might show that Eve was given a ‘particular’ command by GOD concerning her relation to that ‘tree of knowledge of good and evil’, i.e. Satan. The word ‘touch’ (naga) is not associated with Adam’s part in the sin, but with Eve’s. Note also:

1 Tim 2:13-14
13   For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14   And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (KJV)

     According to the Hebrew Manuscripts, Eve was in the ‘particular’ transgression, being of a sexual nature producing the offspring Cain. To say that Adam also had sex with the ‘nachash’ (the serpent, i.e. Satan) would be supposition, with no Scripture support. But we know that Adam did sin along with Eve, as he did eat of what she gave to him, as written in Gen.3:6, and is another euphemism.
I must refrain from Adam’s part as being likewise sexual, based on 1 Tim.2:14, even though they both wore fig leaves on their privates. As an opinion, I myself choose to believe that Adam’s part in the sin was ‘allowing’ Eve to partake, instead of rebuking her to follow God’s Commandment. That would be sin enough during his day.
In military bootcamp, the whole squad is punished at times when just one individual messes up. It is done to work cohesiveness within the group. Individualism doesn’t work too well on the battlefield. Thus, many times we are held responsible for allowing others to commit evils, such as the parent and their young offspring who commits a crime. That’s how I see Adam’s part in the sin, as 1 Tim.2:14 shows Adam was not ‘in the transgression’, meaning his sin was associated with Eve’s act, but different.
See also Rom. 5, as death reigned from Adam to Moses, even though others did not sin ‘after the similitude of Adam’s transgression’. That means ‘others’, such as the sixth day races, and even those born after Adam, have different sins. The main Message is that since flesh came into existence, sin has been, and will always be part of the ‘flesh nature’. The ‘flesh’ of man is not part of God’s original Plan, nor will it be in His Eternity (I Cor.15). Flesh=sin=Death. All three of those will go into the lake of fire, gone forever. So that God could show us that He Only is without sin, He brought His Son in the flesh to conquer Death for us (devil; see Heb.2:14). So if Adam and Eve didn’t begin the first sin and transgression of The Law, a state imparted to all mankind born flesh, then Christ’s Perfect Way He showed us while He was here in the flesh, would not have defeated Satan (devil). And sin is still with us today, and will be until flesh is done away with.
So we could say that God allowed the right conditions to be setup in His Garden, knowing the weakness of the flesh (sin), all in order to begin His Plan for this flesh age. That there was an evil seed spawned of Lucifer is important knowledge for understanding God’s Plan. If it hadn’t happened in such a way, I’m sure our Father would have allowed the sin in another manner. That first sin was necessary for His overall Plan, to show us that we need Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
The ‘fig leaves’ have other links throughout God’s Word, as they refer to the ‘parable of the fig tree’ our Lord gave in Matt.24 and Mark 13. The ‘bad figs’ or ‘evil figs’ of Jer.24, link back to Satan’s ‘thy seed’ of Gen.3:15.

How do those who still yet sin in this flesh, reconcile their faith in Christ for Salvation? Do we just quit sinning after receiving Christ, as some are taught?

Turn to Ephesians 2:13:

Eph 2:13-18
13   But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14   For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15   Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16   And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17   And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18   For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (KJV)

     If we ‘study’ each subject in the verses above, it says this:

1. Verse 13 – Both Jew and Gentile are offered Salvation through Christ’s Blood. The subject is sacrifice of Christ on the cross for us.
2. Verse 14 – the ‘middle wall of partition between us’ means the Holy of Holies (first veil which was ‘rent’). We no longer need a Levitical priest as mediator; each believer on Christ has ‘direct’ access to The Father through Christ Jesus. Those priest and animal sacrifices were ‘dogma’ ritual. This means we may pass through the ‘first veil’ to Christ Jesus, our Mediator to The Father. None but Christ may pass through the ‘second veil’. See Hebrews 9; 1 Timothy 2:5.
3. Verse 15 – Christ ‘abolished’ Death, that is, defeating the devil, and the flesh (also see Heb.2). That’s how He can offer us Salvation, as He Himself was born through woman’s womb as us, but He was Perfect without sin. The word ‘ordinances’ in the Greek is ‘dogma’. That was the ‘old way’ of atonement, and is ‘fulfilled’ on the cross. Notice I said ‘fulfilled’ and not done away with. There’s a difference. Christ Jesus became those ‘ordinances’, alleviating man of playing religion. The ‘ordinances’ included the Temple worship and animal sacrifices, and all ‘blood’ ordinances, such as circumcision, etc. God’s Commandments (Ten Commandments), Statutes, and Judgments still stand. Our U.S. Constitution and Justice system ‘was’ based upon God’s Law. I say ‘was’ because the Kenites have crept in so much and changed It. England, I believe, still holds execution by hanging, which came from God’s Law (Deut.21:22-23).
4. Verse 16 – Slain the ‘enmity’ means defeating Satan, and his ‘flesh order’. We are reconciled to God by The Spirit of Christ, not by the flesh.
5. Verse 17 – Salvation through Christ is to Jew and Gentile.
6. Verse 18 – Jesus Christ is our access to Jehovah. Ritual sacrifice is no longer needed. Christ became our Passover Lamb sacrificed for us (I Cor.5:7). Christ also is our Sabbath (Rest; Heb.4).

Col 2:12-17
12   Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead.
13   And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14   Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15   And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16   Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17   Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (KJV)

     There are some Christian denominations today who teach to hold to the original Sabbath day for going to Church. That’s an example of still trying to hold to ‘ordinances’ (religious dogma) for Salvation. Paul discusses fully in Romans and Galatians many differences of God’s Law, and how It still applies today. Romans is also the foundation of Christian Doctrine based on God’s Law. The Law cannot save anyone, only Christ can. But does that mean God’s Law is bad? No. For as written, if we didn’t have God’s Law, we wouldn’t know when we sin (Romans 7:7). And sin is the transgression of The Law:

I John 3:4
4   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)

      Notice all these verses are New Testament? If one does not transgress God’s Law, then they have no sin, and are ‘dead’ to sin. Likewise, our ‘inner man’ in Christ, which is the ‘real’ person, being in Christ, is not guilty of sin. But the flesh will always sin (see all of Rom.7). If this was not so, then Christ would not be a Perfect Sacrifice for us.
Romans Chapter 1 given by Paul, should be an eye-opener that much of God’s Law ‘is not’ merely done away with. Paul even states those who do such things covered there are ‘worthy of death’. He’s basing it on God’s Law.
The reference to Acts 11, about God telling Peter what He hath cleansed, don’t call common, is spiritual, not literal. Some teach and think it means we can now just eat anything and stay healthy. If we live on buzzards and pork, what can we expect? We ain’t gonna be healthy. Isn’t it futile to think God will somehow physically ‘cleanse’ those unclean meats, which He put here as scavengers to clean the earth? God expects us to use common sense. The vision of those unclean animals to Peter was a ‘spiritual Message’ concerning the Gentiles receiving the gift of Salvation also. That’s what studying the whole Chapter of Acts 11 will show. We simply are not to be judged, nor judge others, if and when we do eat unclean meats. We really don’t have to judge, because our flesh body is the judge; we’ll get sick. God’s health Law which is setup in the flesh nature can’t be fooled. It’s as simple as that.
If our Salvation through Christ depended on not eating such things, where would we be? That’s the Heart of the Message Paul teaches concerning sin and The Law. None are justified in Christ by following God’s Law, as we cannot be perfect in It. We are justified by faith in Christ. But that doesn’t mean God just threw out His Law which governs everything He setup in creation? God forbid. Did Christ do away with His Commandments against murder and stealing, on the cross? Of course not.

Matt 5:18-20
18   For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19   Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20   For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

     Those in Christ who break God’s Law, and teach others to do so, will be ashamed, and visa versa. The false righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was that they continually broke God’s Law, and sorely condemned the people for doing the same things they themselves were guilty of. That’s a holier than thou hypocrite. Is that happening in many Church systems of men today? How can those in Christ rebuke others in a sin they themselves are guilty of? Kind of humbling isn’t it?
Stay in Christ and His Word, and always try to improve on controlling the flesh thinking and its desires, even though we all fall short.

This is an important question, since too many take for granted that God’s Israel and Christ’s Church are somehow separate.
     Since Dr. Bullinger was mentioned in the last question, let’s cover another doctrine from his work How To Enjoy The Bible, about the difference between The Church and Israel.
     On pages 149-155 of that same work, Bullinger separated Christ’s believers into two subgroups, The Church as compared with Israel. He goes into an essay that Christ’s Body of members cannot be separated, with one group experiencing the tribulation, and another group of members being taken out. Yet, he does just that with contrasting Israel against Christ’s Body of The Church. He obviously didn’t understand how most of the ‘house of Israel’ migrated out from the Assyrian captivity to form the Western Christian Nations of today. Bullinger then goes on to do a type of ‘re-unite’ of The Church with Israel in Christ’s Kingdom later, under the Eternal Israel.² (see the Lost Tribes study to really understand all this).
     This doctrine of creating a separation between God’s True Israel vs. The Church, has caused many to believe they are apart, when it is the non-believing sons of Israel who have parted from True Spiritual Israel, i.e. God’s Israel, which is His Body, and not any particular geographical area. The Church, or Christ’s Body, represents those believers on Christ of both Jew and Gentile, per Romans 2. To receive Christ Jesus as Savior today, is to inherit the Salvation Promise God gave through Abraham, to Isaac, then to Jacob, who was named Israel by our Heavenly Father. All believers on Christ Jesus thus become children of Abraham through ‘faith’, from both Jew and Gentile, and become inheritors of that Salvation Promise in Christ Jesus (Gal.3; 4; Romans 9; Rom.4; Gen.12; 17).
     Moreover, that new Name God gave to Jacob, that Name ‘Israel‘, became the Name of The Salvation Promise through Christ Jesus as Savior. For that word ‘Israel‘, ‘Yisra’el’ in the Hebrew means “God prevails”, or “to prevail with God” (Strong’s nos. 8280; 410; 3478). That’s exactly what Jacob did; he ‘prevailed’ with God’s help (Gen.32). And that word ‘Israel’ represents the Salvation Promise, first given to Abraham by ‘faith’, believing on The Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (John 8:56). Thusly, True Israel IS The Body of Christ’s believers, of all nations, of all peoples. They cannot be separate, and are not.
     One view of the “secret rapture” doctrine by some, is that the endtime tribulation is upon ‘Israel’, but not ‘The Church’. Thus they believe, and teach, that Israel will be left behind, while The Church is raptured out. But in God’s Word, The Church (Body of Christ), is ‘Israel’. That word ‘church’ means ‘a congregation’, in the ‘gathering’ sense. The word ‘church’ (ekklesia in the Greek), merely means “a popular meeting, a religious assembly”. It’s just a word applied to the Body of Christ’s believers. But the word ‘Israel’ is applied to God’s Kingdom under Christ (Rev.21; 7; Hebrews 8; Gal.6:15-16; Rom.9:6-8; John 12:13; John 1:49; Luke 22:29-30; Luke 1:68; Matt.19:28).
     Many “secret rapture” folks truly think God’s ‘Israel’ of today, are all non-believing Jews. They haven’t understood who, or where, God’s True Israel is today. The Lost Tribes studies help reveal that wherever The Birthright blessings God gave to Abraham, then to Isaac, then to Jacob (named ‘Israel’), and then to Joseph, and finally to Joseph’s two sons of Ephraim and Manasseh, then that’s where God’s True Israel is today. What? Never heard that before? Then you haven’t been properly taught God’s Word, for It is all written.
     Those ignorant of God’s True Israel today, cause their deception to become greater, as they do not apply endtime prophecy upon today’s True Israel as Christ’s Body, but to non-believing Jews and the middleast nation ‘called’ Israel only. “Well, all that latter day stuff is meant to happen upon Jerusalem and Israel,” they might say. “Well, I’m not part of Israel; I’m part of The Church, so I’m not going to be here for Satan’s tribulation,” they would utter. The matter of importance from God’s Word is, that the Western Christian Nations of today are descended from the ‘house of Israel’, and are most definitely True Israel. The ‘house of Judah’ are mistook for being True Israel today, and most of those in the Holy Land nation called ‘Israel’ in name only, do not even accept Jesus of Nazareth as Christ Messiah, our Savior. They haven’t understood that ‘Israel’ is The NAME of The Salvation Promise of ‘faith’, which God gave through Abraham, and was fulfilled by Christ Jesus upon the cross. So to our Heavenly Father, ‘True Israel’ is where the majority are who accept His Promise of Salvation, being in Christ Jesus. So just ‘where’ would that majority be located today? Where are the “ten thousands” of Ephraim, and the “thousands” of Manasseh? (Deut.33:17).

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Footnotes:

¹  How To Enjoy The Bible, by E. W. Bullinger. (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI.), Reprint of 1916 4th ed., 1990, pp. 190-191.

²  Ibid., pp. 149-155.

It is written in 1 Peter 3:18-19 that our Lord Jesus went and ‘preached’ to the ‘spirits in prison’ after He resurrected. One questioner also says, “When I read Dr. Bullinger’s slant on this chapter and verse, he states Christ preached His glorious Salvation to the captive, disobedient angels from the time of Noah. Not to save, but to proclaim His victory……..kind-of-a rub it in your face thing, I guess (All this from How to Enjoy the Bible, page 190-191).¹  Bullinger goes on to says if this is translated any other way it would mean a ‘second chance’ theory.”
     So what was that event in 1 Peter 3:18-19 of Christ preaching to the spirits in prison?

That word ‘preached‘ in 1 Peter 3:19 is the same Greek word ‘kerusso‘ translated as to ‘preach‘ The Gospel all throughout the New Testament. Question: when The Gospel is preached, does It ONLY proclaim Christ’s Victory over Satan, and that’s all there is to It? Of course not.
     When Christ’s Gospel is ‘preached’, Salvation is offered along with it. Bullinger, though he was an excellent Christian scholar, was on the pre-tribulational “secret rapture” boat ‘theory’, and even held the ‘tradition’ that those ‘asleep’ in Christ are waiting it out in the ground somewhere (see Bullinger’s work How To Enjoy The Bible). To think the flesh will be re-united with the spirit is an insult to Christ’s resurrection, and a doctrine of the false one, as Paul even stated, “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor.15:50). So even an excellent scholar of The Word cannot also be deceived? Yes. Paul, before he was directly converted by Christ was one such example also. He was one of the best Hebrew Bible scholars of his day, but he lacked The Holy Spirit as Guide to properly understand The Word.
     Bullinger, with all his learning, just got ‘sucked’ into a false doctrine which is countered in many areas of The Word, Eccl.12 for one; Luke 16 for another, and Rev.19 & 21 with what the angel said to John, about being of his brethren the prophets. Bullinger also thought the ‘resurrection’ is postponed until Christ returns. Nope. Those who die today, resurrect, going to either side in Heaven, as Luke 16 is our example by Christ’s teaching. Many think the story about Lazarus and the rich man of Luke 16 is a parable. It is not. The same also have a problem understanding Christ’s simple explanation to His disciples of the ‘parable of the tares of the field’ in Matthew 13.
     The following Scriptures are about Christ Jesus’ first Advent as Messiah Savior, offering us The New Covenant:

Isa 42:5   Thus saith GOD the LORD, He That created the heavens, and stretched them out; He That spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He That giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6    “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the People, for a light of the Gentiles;
7    To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

     Question: Which people have evangelized a ‘light‘ unto the Gentiles, preaching Christ’s Gospel to all who would receive It? Has it been the non-believing Jews? No. The Apostles of Christ and then the Western Christian Nations have been the heraldic proclaimers of Christ Jesus, The ‘Light’ also offered to the Gentiles. So even back in Isaiah, God spoke of His Salvation Gospel to be offered as a Covenant to His People, i.e. the scattered remnants of all twelve tribes of Israel, and then The Gospel would be preached by them…to the Gentiles.
     So the next verse 7, is when Christ preached to the spirits in prison. And not all those in prison were of the fallen angels in chains.

Isa 61:1   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

     To proclaim ‘liberty‘ is to declare The Gospel of Salvation, not just a ‘Victory’ over Satan. The ‘prison‘ was opened for some, meaning those who accepted Christ’s Victory when He proclaimed It. Why would the prison (pit) be opened if some were not to be led out? Not all in Satan’s prison were bound in the same manner as the fallen angels. The false tradition of man, that none born flesh who have died go to Heaven just yet, causes the error of thinking that these ‘spirits in prison’ were all ‘fallen angels’ of Jude 1. They were not all fallen angels, but those similar to the ‘rich man’ of Luke 16, who either didn’t have the ‘chance’ to hear The Gospel before they died, or refused Him before our Lord fulfilled His Mission upon the cross.
     (Hint about Lazarus being in Abraham’s bosom in the story of Luke 16: Abraham represents the ‘flesh’ father of The Salvation Promise through Christ Jesus. That Lazarus was carried into Abraham’s bosom in Heaven by the angels, it showed Lazarus ‘believed’ in That Promise given by God through Abraham (Gen.12;17; John 8:56-58). And that, even though Christ hadn’t been born flesh yet. Thus, as Paul would teach in Galatians 3, all believers on Christ Jesus The Promised Savior, are children of Abraham, regardless of nationality or race.)

Isa 49:8   Thus saith the LORD, “In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the People, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
9    That Thou mayest say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth;’ to them that are in darkness, ‘Shew yourselves.’ They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

     Not only was the ‘prison’ of hell opened for those who believed on Christ when He preached to them during His resurrection, but our Lord told those to “Go forth”! That means leave it. But to the fallen angels, who are still reserved in chains, our Lord said to them, “Shew yourselves.” Bullinger’s idea of Christ showing them His Victory only, might apply with that “Shew yourselves.” But not with “Go forth” (Hebrew ‘yatsah‘, meaning ‘to go (causatively, bring) out’, Strong’s no. 3318).

Zech 9:9   Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10    And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
11    As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

     If you’ll remember Luke 16 about the ‘rich man’, he asked Abraham across a “great gulf fixed”, to allow Lazarus to come over and drip water on his tongue, to cool his torment. So make no mistake, this ‘pit‘ is the abode across the ‘great gulf fixed’ in Heaven, opposite of God’s side called Paradise (Greek for ‘Eden’).

Luke 4:18   “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19   To preach the acceptable year of the LORD.”

     How did an excellent Christian scholar, such as Dr. Bullinger miss all these examples for Christ’s preaching to the spirits in prison, with some (i.e., believers) being delivered out? Well, if one wants to cling to this old flesh, refusing to believe the full Truth of what the ‘resurrection’ into the spiritual body is, then they will not understand the spiritual dimension of Heaven; a Heaven of ‘now’, not just later at Christ’s second coming. Even as our Lord Jesus said of our Heavenly Father in Mark 12:27, “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living:…”
     Paul also explained in 1 Thess.4:15 that we which are alive in the flesh at Christ’s coming shall not ‘prevent‘ (‘precede’ in the Greek with ‘phthano‘) those who are already ‘asleep’. Since the start of this flesh age, all who have left this earth, putting off their flesh body at death, have gone to Heaven. Do you want to go to Heaven? You do? But to which side is the question I ask? For even Satan and his angels are cast out of Heaven to the earth per Revelation 12:

Rev 12:7   And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8    And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

At the time of year which we as Christians remember our Lord’s days of deliverance and crucifixion, a teaching about the Passover feast is at times presented with the act by our Lord Jesus giving His disciples the Holy Sacraments of Communion (Luke 22). The ‘Cup’ our Lord offered is His Body and our Communion with Him, remembering His sacrifice upon the cross for the redemption of our sins, His Blood shed for us.
     The Israelite Passover feast was that time of our Lord’s Last Supper He held with His disciples. So the old ‘ritual’ dogma of the Passover feast is sometimes taught in relation to how Christ Jesus gave us The New Covenant of His Blood, with the Bread and the Wine.
     The following paragraph was presented as Christian Doctrine by certain ones, and represents a ‘false doctrine’, alluding that our Lord Jesus drank from the same ‘cup’ as what He gave to His disciples, to ‘seal’ The New Covenant. Read it ‘very’ carefully:

“Wine was used at several points in The Passover meal. It is believed that Jesus chose the third cup of wine…known as the cup of redemption. He did not drink the fourth cup of consummation, but pledged that redemption would be consummated at that future messianic banquet when He drinks it anew in the kingdom of God.”

     That paragraph, with the remark, “It is believed that Jesus chose the third cup of wine…known as the cup of redemption. He did not drink the fourth cup…”, is a bit tricky, but it assumes Jesus did drink of the ‘third cup of wine’ of redemption. And we know what ‘redemption’ means don’t we? It means The New Covenant of His Blood; Christ’s Blood shed for us. That’s what the cup our Lord offered to His disciples at the last supper represents (Luke 22:20). For our Lord to also partake of it would be to admit He was not worthy to take our sins away, that He needed it also. That’s false doctrine of devils friend, anyway you look at it!
     I will not reveal the author of that paragraph, they know who they are. I also heard this false doctrine presented on a Christian radio broadcast preparing for Easter holidays. Let’s read our Lord’s Words from Luke 22 and compare It with that paragraph:

Luke 22:16    For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17    And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18    For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.‘
19    And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.’
20    Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.”

     There were three separate suppers our Lord partook of during the Passover days (see Companion Bible Appendixes 156 and 157). This supper here in Luke 22; Mark 14; Matt.26, was the ‘last’ supper, before His being delivered up to be crucified. And the last supper event is the only mention of more than one ‘cup’, as noted above.
     Jesus DID NOT drink of it with His disciples there! He gave it to HIS DISCIPLES, commanding THEM to drink of it. This is the ‘main’ point of these verses, for that ‘cup’ and ‘bread’ represent The New Covenant of His BODY. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Especially note Luke 22:18 & 22:16. Regardless of whether our Lord did actually eat and drink anything at the Passover with His disciples, with that New Covenant Commandment of observance, He set forth a remembrance of Him for all Christians to hold still today, called Holy Communion. So let no man tell you He ate and drank of that part, or cup, along with His disciples. He did not.
     That paragraph referenced is about the traditions of Passover meal. That author is ‘speculating’, with the phrase “it is believed that Jesus chose…”. That author is also applying the ‘cups’ to dispensational times of Christ’s Kingdom (see Companion Bible Appendix #140, about the “Gospel of The Kingdom”). Our Lord conquered ‘Death’ for us, but His Kingdom is still ‘expecting‘ until His enemies be made His footstool (Hebrews 10:12-19). That’s when Jesus will actually ‘drink’ with His disciples in His Kingdom, at His Second Advent as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev.11; Rev.20). We as being ‘in Christ’ look forward to that Day of The Lord, His thousand year reign on earth. That’s when we will drink and eat with Him. To ‘consummate’ means to complete a ‘contract’, make due, or make good, in final. With a marriage, it is consummated when the husband goes in the ‘tent’ to his wife, and they become ‘one’. That consummation applies spiritually with Christ The Bridegroom, and His Bride, The Church, i.e. Body of Christ.
     But our Lord didn’t teach about His selecting from among a group of ‘cups’, drinking from some, and not others. That’s bogus. As per Luke 22, He gave His disciples to drink from two cups, one during the Passover meal, and one after, to represent the New Covenant. But our Lord drank of neither. His ‘cup’ which He was to drink of, was a metaphor for the suffering upon the cross to fulfill His Mission for the first Advent as Savior. Our Lord drank from a SPECIAL spiritual cup which was meant for Him only. Two people per Matt.20:20-24 with Zebedee’s children, asked ‘unknowingly’ to suffer like Christ did. They really didn’t know what our Lord’s ‘cup’ was about, otherwise they wouldn’t have agreed with “we are able”, after Jesus had asked them if they were able to drink of HIS ‘cup’ (Matt.20:22). I think we know better than to ask that which the mother of Zebedee did, do we not?
     So our Lord did NOT drink of that author’s so stated “third cup of wine…known as the cup of redemption” either! If He had, wouldn’t that have made the ‘cup’ of The New Covenant void and null if He partook also? It sure would, because the ‘victim’ of Old Testament sacrifice was required to be killed, blood spilled for atonement and the Passover. Our Lord Jesus Christ was in place of the animal ‘victim’ of sacrifice. He became our Passover Lamb sacrificed for us (1 Cor.5:7). Can a ‘victim’ also partake of its own BLOOD in sacrifice? That’s what Christ would be doing IF He had drank of that ‘cup’ along with His disciples.
     The main ‘hinge point’ of being ‘in Christ’ is to never deny Him as God’s Role of Savior, Emmanuel, “God with us.” (Matt.1:23). That also means knowing and understanding Christ’s Role as Savior as given by God from Genesis through Revelation. If ANY doctrine, absolutely ANY, teaches ANYTHING which pulls down Christ Jesus’ Role as Savior, our New Covenant sacrificed for us, or… tries to put ‘man’ on an equal ‘par’ with our Lord Christ Jesus, then they work for the ‘wicked one’, either knowingly, or in ignorance.
     The following verses of 1 John 4:1-3 do not mean, “Well that teacher says they believe Christ is The Son of God, so they must be of God.” Not so fast…. If one believes they can become ‘like’ Christ, or be ‘a Christ’, or claim any ‘role’ our Lord Jesus performed or held, then they are NOT of God. It’s as simple as that. And the false ones will detract from Christ Jesus while building themselves up in His place, and all the while ‘claiming’ to believe on Jesus as The Son of God, just to fool you. So the denying of Jesus of Nazareth as The Christ can come hidden in many forms and fashions. That paragraph quoted is just one of them, with the “fourth cup” thing.

I Jn 4:1    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2    Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3    And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

We are not held to a ‘specific’ amount when doing ‘almsdeeds’ in Christ. This giving is a ‘spiritual matter’ of our ‘heart’, between the giver and our Lord.
     It is true there was a ‘tenth’ (tithe), given unto the Lord, of all their increase dedicated to sacred use (see Gen.14 with Abraham; Gen.28:20-22 with Jacob; Lev.27:30-33; Num.18:21-28, 31; Deut.10; 12; 14; 18, etc.) And that tithing back then included the coverage of government administration, etc. There was no tax system yet; no social security, etc. Our Government provides many of those functions now, and… for most, it’s way over a ‘tenth’. The Church today is left out of that, so it’s up to us to fulfill the sacred reason for ‘tithes’, that of providing for God’s chosen, and His Purposes of Righteousness.
     It is the ‘Spirit’ of God’s Law on tithing which now applies for our New Testament example, not a ‘hard line’ rule or ordinance in the ‘have to’ or ‘how much’ sense. It is set forth in 2 Corinthians Chapters 8 & 9 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-3.
     So what is that Spirit of this Law of alms in Christ now? How does tithing apply now? It is more properly called ‘alms‘ by our Lord (Matt.6). Let’s cover 2 Cor.9 there together:

2 Cor 9:1   For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2    For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3    Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4    Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5    Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about how though the Macedonians being poor, yet they still gave freely for other brethren in need (see previous 2 Corinthians Chap.8). He’s saying he had no need to write them on the importance of “ministering to the saints”, for it should be obvious to those ‘in Christ’. Those brethren had prepared their alms a full year prior to Paul’s visit with those who would carry it back to Jerusalem, to be distributed among the poor brethren there (see Romans 15:25-28).

2 Cor 9:6   But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7    Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

These two verses ‘seal’ exactly how, and ‘how much’ to give. Notice nothing is said here about a ‘tithe’, which means ‘a tenth’. An analogy of agricultural ‘sowing’ is used here by Paul, because it was used in The Old Testament as to God’s blessings on those who seek to do right. Sowing ‘sparingly’ vs. ‘bountifully’ is to let us know that if you ‘feel’ like giving a lot, your ‘heart’ leading you, then give ‘cheerfully’, knowing that it will help serve God’s Purpose, and He will still make sure you have what you need afterwards.
     And this act ‘in the Spirit’ is out of love for our fellow-brethren, and not done out of feelings of ‘necessity’ (“grudgingly” of vs.7), or trying to be within The Law according to a ‘tenth’ or whatever amount. If we feel in our ‘heart’ that we can give more and still be OK with it, then we should do it ‘cheerfully’, understanding the workings of the Grace of God, and not depending on reward. In other words, if a ‘system’ makes one feel that they ‘must’ give a certain amount, as a necessity, and it causes a ‘grudge’, then the ‘heart’ and Spirit of the meaning is taken out of the whole act. This is why God’s teachers, ministers, should not be beggars. A tithing box out in the lobby for people to drop an envelope in is more in accordance with Paul’s teaching than those who send out letters of notice to members, keeping track of how much they give, and bugging them about it. That ‘system’ is setup as a business, not a House of God.
     I know farmers in my area which help each other in times of need, one neighbor helping another when they are sick and can’t plow the fields, etc. There is no payment involved, though it is usually always offered. Most will not take it. And when that other farmer needs help, the one who recovered from sickness will go and take care of work on their farm when in need, and without the feeling of a ‘payback’ or anything of that manner. It’s done because others have a genuine “need”. The help can be in many different matters; money, food, clothing, odd-jobs, etc., depending on one’s skills. When our People see someone in ‘need’, most just act on instinct, with God putting His Laws in their ‘hearts’ (Hebrews 8:8-10). And we should seek to help our brethren ‘in Christ’ especially, for they have a Mission separate from the non-believer. But anyone truly ‘in need’ is not to be shunned.

Now go back to 2 Cor.8:

2 Cor 8:7   Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8    I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

     “This grace” Paul is speaking of here is this matter of ‘giving’ alms, as shown at the start of this Chapter 8 also. Just as those in Christ ‘abound’ in faith, teaching, knowledge, diligence, and love, so we should ‘abound’ in giving alms also. And notice verse 8 that Paul was not speaking “by commandment“, but we do this grace out of love for others, and love in Christ. This means no man, no Church ‘system’, can with authority set a certain amount on a member to give in tithes. This matter is of ‘the heart‘ now, not of a hard-rule Law, as in the Old Testament. It is now of the ‘Spirit’ of the Law. It is between the giver and God. (See Acts 5 where certain ones sold a property, vowing to give it as alms, yet held back part of the profit. They didn’t sin against the people [church, i.e. ‘gathering’, ekklesia], they sinned against God.)

2 Cor 8:11   Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12    For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13    For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

     This giving is according to what we have, meaning ‘abundance’ which we really could ‘spare’, for others who have a genuine ‘need’. It is not according to what we “hath not”, or don’t have in order to give. God does not want our family or children to starve or do without the basic necessities. Verse 13 is clear that those false teachers who beg for alms, and then buy a great big ol’ fancy car, swimming pool, etc., while the givers even give what they ‘don’t have’, doing without necessities, is against the Spirit.

2 Cor 8:14    But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15    As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

     The whole purpose for giving is a matter of ‘sharing’ our ‘abundance’, with those who have a real need. And in times when we are need, they share their ‘abundance’ with us. Verse 15 is Paul quoting from Exod.16:18 about gathering the Heavenly ‘manna‘. It was written to gather only the amount which was needed. Even those who had gathered much, disobeying God then, still had nothing left over. Some were severely punished. They were not allowed to store that ‘manna‘. So God seeks an equality between us as children in Christ. Well does this ‘equality’ mean if you’ve got a nice home stereo system, and someone else does not, you should go out and buy them one? Not necessarily; use common sense. What if one in genuine ‘need’ doesn’t have a coat for the winter, nor food for the family?

2 Cor 9:8    And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9    (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10    Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11    Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12    For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

SUMMARY:
As according to Paul’s teaching here, give from ‘your heart’, not according to a set amount. But don’t extend yourself where you or your loved ones are in genuine ‘need’, though even that is according to your ‘faith’ in God to re-supply you with your need (Mark 12:41-44). This is an act between YOU and GOD. It ‘ain’t’ nobody else’s business, period.
     Each person has different needs in service to our Father. God will only give you what you can take care of. If one can’t give anything because they or their family is in great ‘need’, then the ministers should come to them to offer help obviously, and the needy shouldn’t be looked upon, or treated as second class citizens in the matter either (how does someone poor sitting in Church feel when the ‘plate’ is passed to them, and they don’t have much to put in?). So ‘almsdeeds’ is a spiritual matter, not one in the ‘keeping of Law’ sense.

Matt 6:1   Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father Which is in heaven.
2    Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3    But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4    That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father Which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.

Yes. Clearly yes.

2 Cor 5:10   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

     Each will ‘receive’ according to their works. For those ‘in Christ’, that means ‘rewards’ of righteousness. So ‘judgment’ for those in good standing with our Lord Christ, is going to be a good thing!

I Jn 2:28   And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

1 Pet 4:17   For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18    And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19    Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We all fall short, as we all are sinners in this flesh, even still. If it were not so, then why would we need the Perfect Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Through repentance, asking Him to forgives us of our sins, having a change of heart and trying to improve, doing better… then we are counted ‘perfect’ in God’s sight, the slate being wiped clean (see Romans 7, where Paul said he constantly found battle between his flesh and his spirit, as we all do.) So by that, if that righteous group scarcely be saved, then what of the ungodly and sinners (habitual sinner) who love to sin against God? Stay in Christ Jesus, on The Rock.

Pass a test to be in God’s service?

1 Cor 10:13    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

There is… a big test coming upon all of during these latter days. It’s been steadily growing for quite some time now. Will our Father test us? Yes:

Judg 2:20   And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, ‘Because that this people hath transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto My voice; 21    I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22    That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
23    Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered He them into the hand of Joshua.

Our Heavenly Father is definitely ‘in control’. Make no mistake about it. Satan only can do what God allows him to do. Our Father has ‘stepped in’ many times with His People to change the results of history. Those events are written all throughout His Word.

II Th 2:10    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11    And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12    That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

What? “God shall send them strong delusion”? Test? You bet! Put on The Gospel Armour; all of It, from both New and Old Testament Books. So what is this “lie” which God shall send? It is The Antichrist. And that “lie” is a ‘specific’ test for the latter days. So I can’t deny in teaching this, for it is well written, especially covered in the Book of Revelation and in Daniel, and in the Books of the prophets. Even our Lord Jesus taught of it in His Gospel of Mark 13; Matthew 24; Luke 21, which give the ‘seven signs’ of the endtime, paralleled with Revelation Chapter 6.