Israel as a word or term is associated with many different entities or persons. This one fact has led to some of the confusion among the denominations. Let us look at this list.
First, it is the new name given to Jacob. Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus still refers to him as Jacob.
Matthew 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
1:15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.
:16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
8:11 "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
22:32 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
It is also used for the nation of Israel. Jehovah describes Himself as the God of Israel. As we just read, He also refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! So it would appear that He uses these names interchangeably.
The tribes of Israel refers to the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel and their extended families.
Genesis 32:28 He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."
While we read that God changed his name on his way from the house of Laban, He still uses Jacob as well.
Genesis 46:1 So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
46:2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."
46:3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
46:4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."
46:5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
This seems rather confusing and contradictory. Is his name Jacob or Israel? Both are used in these 5 verses. This certainly has added to the differences in opinions on this important matter. God spoke to Israel by calling out Jacob. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob.
Genesis 48:1 Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is sick." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.
48:2 When it was told to Jacob, "Behold, your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.
This is the passage where Jacob/Israel blesses his sons and the sons of Joseph. Again we read of this dichotomy of references, Jacob and Israel in the same passages and verses.
We will continue on our study of this important division within Protestantism by adding to this confusion before God’s Word begins to reveal what is really meant. We can understand how godly men could have disagreed, but God is not a God of confusion.
More next Saturday.
There is a separation between two interpretations of who or what is Israel. I call this denominational disunity. It is just one of Satan’s schemes. Paul stated that we know the devil’s schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
2:10 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Twice Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to warn us of Satan’s schemes against us.
A few quick comments;
Paul uses the plural.
Paul stated that these schemes are known.
Paul tells us we need the full armor of Jehovah to resist and stand firm.
It is my belief that the ‘church’ is woefully ignorant of his schemes and therefore vulnerable to being deceived. So in the example of who is Israel we find two polar opposite belief positions.
First, the Presbyterian Denominations believe that the ‘church’ has totally replaced Israel. There are many variations of this within the ‘churches’ who basically believe this.
Second, the Baptist Denominations believe exactly the opposite. Of course there are many variations within the Baptists as well.
They both can’t be right, although they both could be wrong. Godly men have not come to any agreement on this even though it divides the body of Christ. I don’t want to be deceived or be a deceiver. So we will continue to go exclusively to the Word of God and let His words lead us into truth.
I will end with a few verses for your prayerful consideration until next week.
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
We will continue next Saturday.
We have studied both Rahab the harlot and Ruth, both from Moab and in the lineage of David and Jesus Christ. So King David had Moabite blood in him when he became King of Israel. How can we see if ethnicity is the sole identifier of what is become known as an Isrealite? Let us go to the New or Second Testament to continue. We will start with John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
John was born to introduce the Messiah to the nation of Israel. Even though the nation now only included Judah and Benjamin. Technically, it was only the nation of Judah, hence the origin of the name as Jew which only refers to those of Judah.
3:4 Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
3:6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
John was reminding all that they all had to repent. They were all sinful as are all today. Bearing fruit that glorifies Jehovah is still one of the evidences of true repentance and salvation.
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8 "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;
3:9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
What is he saying? They may have been related to Abraham in a physical way, but how could stones be children of Abraham?
3:10 "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Clearly, distant blood relatives of Abraham were not true sons if they were not repentant and totally submissive to Jesus. So eternal children of Abraham must be saved to truly be within Abraham’s family.
But, being in Abraham’s family is not the end goal. Becoming a child of Jehovah is the only family that truly has any eternal value. The Jews had too long believed that a family connection to Abraham was all that they needed. What did Jesus say?
John 8:39 They (the Jews) answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus *said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham.
8:40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.
Jesus immediately questions their reliance on being Abraham’s children. He told them they were not children of Abraham because they don’t act in a manner consistent with Abraham.
8:41 "You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God."
They now claim they are also children of the Father. They slander Jesus by implying that His birth was illegitimate.
8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
Jesus once again tells them God is not their Father either. Ethnicity has no bearing on being a child of God. It is not your physical family, no matter how godly, that matters in your quest for eternal life.
8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Now Jesus tells them that they are in a very serious situation. Their father is not Abraham (blood ethnicity) or God (religious traditions), but their father was Satan, the devil. God’s family of His chosen people is not limited nor restricted by any physical means.
How this is further amplified will be discussed next Saturday.
We left off with Rahab the harlot and her being in the lineage of Jesus Christ. So a moabite is in the lineage of Jesus. As we have already studied, from the mixed multitude to Rahab, we know that the nation of Israel is not purely ethnic in nature, as there are a large variety of mixed ethnicities in Jehovah’s chosen people. Now we continue on our search thru the Bible to ascertain the true Israel by studying the story or Ruth. We begin by getting to know Ruth.
Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
1:3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
1:4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
Ruth was also from Moab, just as was Rahab. She was married to one of Naomi’s sons, but now all three women had become widows. What would happen next? What choices are there for widows at this time in Moab or Israel?
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 1:7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 1:9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
It would appear that both daughters-in-law loved Naomi and did not want to leave her. The custom in both countries would be for the family to provide for the widows in their family. Today, that sense of responsibility or even love is lost to most in the U.S. They are often left to depend on themselves or the government. Ruth, however, refused to go back to her family in Moab, but would return to Israel with Naomi.
1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
1:17 "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." 1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Ruth’s testimony confirms her new faith in the God of Naomi and her desire to make a home in Israel. Jehovah had reached out to her, just as He reached out to Rahab. While the whole story of Ruth has many truths for us today, we will continue to focus on Israel.
2:19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."
2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives."
Ruth had to glean in the fields to provide food for her and Naomi. Boaz was a relative and actually qualified to be her kinsman redeemer.
4:1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
4:2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.
4:3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4:4 "So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."
4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."
4:6 The closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.
There is an order of redeeming land that must be followed and in this case included acquiring Ruth as a wife to continue the man’s name. Boaz was second in line, but the first did not want to have another wife.
4:9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
4:10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."
So a widow from Moab marries a wealthy land owner in Israel. Where does this lead?
4:21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, 4:22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.
As we studied last week, Rahab married Salmon. Boaz was her son. Boaz was half Moabite and now marries another woman from Moab. So Rahab was Ruth’s mother-in-law.
All of these marriages lead to David and eventually to Jesus. Obed, Jesse, and David all had Moab blood in their veins. They were both godly women who Jehovah chose out of Moab to be in the lineage of Jesus.
More next Saturday.
I am sorry to be late, yesterday just got away with my time. Let us finish the story or Rahab the harlot as we continue to study the very Word of Jehovah. We now read the story of the fall and complete destruction of Jericho and the death of all within its walls.
Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in.
6:2 The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.
Just as Rahab had told the two spies, the whole city was in fear of them. So the city buttoned up and prepared for some siege, which never came.
6:3 "You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.
6:4 "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
Joshua is now receiving his marching orders directly from Jehovah. While to many these instructions don’t make sense, Jehovah doesn’t need to make any excuses or explanations to require complete obedience.
6:5 "It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."
Walls don’t ever just fall down on their own. Jericho was a heavily walled city built on a hill with an outer wall and an inner wall. Any army trying to break through would be shot at the archers on the massive outer wall.
6:6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."
6:7 Then he said to the people, "Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the LORD."
Joshua had learned from his 40 years of being with Moses and now hearing from Jehovah personally, that he did not doubt one word, but carefully instructed all to obey.
6:15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.
6:16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.
6:17 "The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
With all the instructions, Joshua made sure that Rahab the harlot would be spared and all of her family. He also reminded them that they would take no spoils but only keep the precious metals that would belong to Jehovah, not to them.
6:18 "But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it.
6:19 "But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." Jos 6:20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.
6:21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
This is the terrible cost of sin and abominable idolatry. Everyone and every animal would be destroyed. None would survive.
6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the harlot's house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her."
6:23 So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel.
True to their promise, the original two spies went to Rahab’s house and made sure that she and all her assembled family would be safely escorted out of the city. They would have to be kept out of the camp for 7 days to be considered clean and enter the camp.
6:24 They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
6:25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Now they lived as one of the people of Jehovah, as they had placed their trust in Jehovah.
6:26 Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates."
6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
Two things are presented here, one is the curse upon Jericho. The other is that the whole land now lived in fear of Joshua and the people of Jehovah.
One closing note is that Rahab, a harlot from Moab, would marry Salmon.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
Rahab the harlot would become the great grandmother of David and in the lineage of Jesus Christ. She would always be referred to as Rahab the harlot. Jehovah can take anyone from their past and bring them into His family.
More next Saturday.
Last week we studied the mixed multitude and Jehovah declaring the same Law for everyone. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant, therefore all males who desired to join the family of Jehovah needed to be circumcised. What else has Jehovah given us to help us look at the variety of ethnic backgrounds within His family? Let us now look into the history of Jericho and Rahab.
Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.
All the kings of the land were well aware of the vast people of Israel coming toward their land, which Jehovah had promised to Israel. Often, it was the a harlot’s home that served as an inn for travelers.
2:2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
2:3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."
As large as Jericho was and how many travelers must have come and gone each day, still these two men were noticed. They knew these men had entered her home and were spies. Her life was on the line.
2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 2:5 "It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."
Rahab created a lie and sent these men in the opposite direction. Why?
2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 2:7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
2:8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,
2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.
Rahab had a plan and a desire for the safety of her family. The crossing of the Red Sea was 40 years earlier. Yet, the peoples of the land had not forgotten it and lived in fear because of it.
2:10 "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
2:11 "When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Here we read that Rahab believed in Jehovah and declared to them that He alone is God. No one read the Torah to her. No one came to witness to her. Jehovah alone called her out of the terrible sin of Jericho into His family.
2:12 "Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth,
2:13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
2:14 So the men said to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.
She set forth an agreement that would benefit both of them
2:16 She said to them, "Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way."
She gave them their escape route and provided the means to leave Jericho.
2:17 The men said to her, "We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 2:18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household.
2:19 "It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
The men gave her their requirements. Her obedience was on her shoulders.
2:20 "But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear."
2:21 She said, "According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
She agreed to all their terms and immediately tied the cord to her window.
2:22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them.
2:23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them.
They returned safely and gave Joshua all the details, including the details of Rahab’s help.
2:24 They said to Joshua, "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us."
Joshua now had personal confirmation of how Jehovah had gone ahead to them to prepare the way into the Promised Land.
The rest of the story of Rahab the harlot next Saturday.
We left with Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph in Egypt. Let us now continue to discern the mixed multitude and their role in the soon to be nation of Israel. How did Jehovah set forth the conditions of being brought into fellowship and were there any examples? We can find valuable information in the Exodus story and the first Passover.
Exodus 12:43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it; 12:44 but every man's slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.
First no stranger or foreigner can just come into the camp or later into Jerusalem and participate in the Passover. But, a slave or permanent member of someone’s household, can participate only if they have been circumcised. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant Jehovah made with Abraham. Who by the way, was not Jewish.
12:45 "A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. Again, those just passing thru, if not circumcised, could not participate.
12:46 "It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.
12:47 "All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this.
The whole congregation was to celebrate this memorial celebration. It was a shadow of the coming of the One who would forever save or redeem His people.
12:48 "But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Again, the emphasis is on circumcision. This event of circumcision was not simple or easy. It was painful and permanent. You would most likely only go through with this if you truly believed in Jehovah. Of course, we may think that evil, unscrupulous men might do this just to gain access to the people and their money.
12:49 "The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you."
The same law means no preferential treatment or viewing others as less important than yourself. Most believe that this was instituted by Jesus, but it has always been part of the plan of Jehovah.
12:50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
12:51 And on that same day the LORD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
So here is the confirmation of the timing of this revelation, the same day they left Egypt.
As there were most likely a sizable number in the mixed multitude, Jehovah wanted everyone to know that He does not treat others solely on ethnicity.
More next Saturday.
Just the name of Israel brings up many confusing and contradicting beliefs. This confusion really began with the advent of the theory of study known as Dispensationalism. This framework for interpreting Bible history and Jehovah’s grand outline of history was created by John Nelson Darby in the late 1800’s and then popularized by C.I. Scofield with the Scofield Study Bible. With this relatively new belief came the Pre-millenial Rapture. Rather than help clear up the issue of Israel, it seemed to add to the confusion. Let us try and outline the major elements of our ongoing study.
First, how can we group or categorize our study? I have tried to divide all the issues to discuss into three categories of the issue.
Ethnic Israel
Spiritual Israel
National Israel
Let us begin by trying to understand the purity of Israel from a purely ethnic perspective.
Is Israel comprised solely of descendants of Jacob/Israel? We should first remind ourselves of the great redemption out of Egypt.
Exodus 12:33 The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We will all be dead."
12:34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.
12:35 Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 12:36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
12:37 Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.
The 12 sons of Jacob had grown substantially during their time in Egypt.
Genesis 46:26 All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob's sons, were sixty-six persons in all, 46:27 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy. So from these 70 could all of these people have grown to over a million men, women, and children?
12:38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.
How many of this great group where from this mixed multitude is not known, but it is important to account for the fact that there were many from Egypt and other nationalities that had taken up residency within Egypt. There is also an important consideration when the family of Joseph is added to this group.
Genesis 41:39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.
41:40 "You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you."
41:41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."
41:42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck.
41:43 He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt.
41:44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
41:45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt. 41:46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.
Not only was Joseph given great honors and responsibilities, he was also given a wife. Not just any wife, but the daughter of the priest of On.
Gen 48:1 Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is sick." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 48:2 When it was told to Jacob, "Behold, your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.
48:8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?" 48:9 Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." So he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." 48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
48:11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well." 48:12 Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground.
48:13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him.
48:14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
48:15 He blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 48:16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
48:17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 48:18 Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head." 48:19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
48:20 He blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'" Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
This is so much like with Jacob and Esau, the older will serve the younger. Notice how there will be a multitude of nations from his descendants. Remember these two sons were half Egyptian and half from Joseph, yet they will be important ‘tribes’ of Israel from this day forward.
We will continue our study of the ‘ethnic’ nature of Israel next Saturday.
Israel as a person and a nation begins through a family. This family actually began with Noah through his only ‘good’ son, Shem. We must remember that theses three sons were the fathers of the entire world, divided into three parts. We will review the lineage Jehovah provides us as they will play an important part in the end of this study.
The world and the ‘church’ has had conflicting and confusing ideas of both the people of Israel and the nation of Israel. Hopefully, we can eventually clear up some of this historical confusion. I grew up in churches that had widely differing views on Israel. Therefore, I have undertaken a two-year study on this issue to provide answers to my many questions.
What is your understanding of who or what is Israel?
What does your ‘church’ teach on this subject?
Has the ‘church’ replaced Israel and therefore will receive all the promises to Israel?
Let us review the genealogy of Noah’s sons. Some names are more familiar and important to our study than others.
Genesis 10:1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
10:2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.
10:3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.
10:4 The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.
10:5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
The names and sons that will prove to be important are Gomer, Magog,and Ashkenaz,
10:6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
10:7 The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
10:8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.
10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD."
10:10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
10:11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,
10:12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Gen 10:13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim
0:14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.
10:15 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth
10:16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite Gen 10:17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite
10:18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad.
10:19 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
10:20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.
In this list from Ham, we find many of the very nations Jehovah instructed Joshua to drive out of the land, which were never really accomplished. Therefore, we find these nations continually attacking Israel. Names to remember include:
Canaan, Nimrod, Babel, Nineveh, Jebusite, Amarite, Sodom, and Gomorrah. These are some of the most evil names in the lineage and they all came through Ham, whom Noah cursed.
0:21 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born. 10:22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram.
10:23 The sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash.
10:24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber.
10:25 Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
10:26 Joktan became the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and
Gen 10:27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah Gen 10:28 and Obal and Abimael and Sheba Gen 10:29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.
10:30 Now their settlement extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east.
10:31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations.
10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.
From Shem Jehovah clearly shows us His plan for Abram and even Jacob. As was mentioned last week, Shem lived for 50 years after the birth of Abram. If Ham and Japeth lived as long, their flood stories would have continued for over 500 years to their descendants.
Eye witnesses to the flood would account for the worldwide histories of a worldwide flood. All the major areas and cultures of the world contain a flood history. Now we may have a more biblical understanding of this historical fact.
More next Saturday.
I started off too soon, as I failed to begin at the beginning. What beginning? The beginning of the plans of Jehovah for His people actually began before creation, but in time were first seen in the sons of Noah. As we remember, while all the families of the earth up to Genesis 6 came exclusively through Adam, Noah in reality was a new Adam of sorts. Not the second Adam, who is Jesus Christ, but a new beginning of mankind.
Genesis 6:9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
This is a very important fact and leads to some important truths. Jehovah was going to start over, not with a perfect man or sinless man, as He did with Adam, but with a righteous man. A blameless man who walked with Jehovah not with the god of this world.
6:10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
These three names will take on more significance as our study progresses.
6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Noah was the only righteous man on the face of the earth. Noah and his small family were a true remnant, although all of his sons were not righteous.
Genesis 9:18 Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan.
9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
9:20 Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard.
Their new beginning started well, as they now had the ‘new’ garden to plant and enjoy the blessings of Jehovah. Could there be any doubt about the power of Jehovah or His holy righteousness?
9:21 He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
This is confusing, but it is part of the story we need to know. What did he see, what did he do, what did he say?
9:23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father's nakedness.
9:24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Whatever Ham saw or did, was evil and repulsive to Noah. Some theologians and scholars believe that this pertains to a sexual encounter with a man’s wife. To uncover someone’s nakedness can be linked to such behavior, but that seems to evil to imagine here. So we just have to listen to what Noah thought of it.
9:25 So he said, "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers."
9:26 He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
9:27 "May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant."
So Noah cursed Ham and blessed Shem and Japheth. He made Ham the servant of his brothers. How that is shown comes much later.
9:28 Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood.
9:29 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.
This is important as well, as Noah was alive to see Terah, the father of Abram, born. No only that but all the descendants, 7 generations from Noah, all were still alive at the birth of Abram. The life of righteous Noah was evident and exampled for a long time in preparation for Jehovah’s plans for Abram.
More next Saturday.
There is no more confusion within the ‘church’ than the arguments surrounding the nation of Israel and the ‘lost’ tribes of Israel. It has been debated and argued by many; but there are still many unanswered questions that need to be addressed and settled. We will attempt to outline the issues and concerns, as we once again turn in context to the very words of Jehovah.
To do this we must begin with the formation of the people of Israel, the tribes of Israel, and the very nation of Israel. This will take us back to Genesis and the descendants of Abraham.
Genesis 11:27 Now these are the records of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot.
11:28 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
11:29 Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.
11:30 Sarai was barren; she had no child.
11:31 Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.
11:32 The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.
We read that Terah had three sons, one of which was Abram. Haran, Lot’s father died. Nahor took one of Haran’s daughters as his wife. We have no family lineage for Sarai. After Terah died in Haran, Abram took Lot under his care and protection, as he was without a father.
This relationship is continually mentioned throughout Genesis, often revealing the shallow sinfulness of all involved. However, Abram was personally chosen by Jehovah to be the foundation of His plans for a nation solely devoted and dedicated to Himself. Of course, He knew that the nation soon to be known as Israel, would fail miserably as being His shining light on a hill to all nations.
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
12:2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
Jehovah’s calling to Abram required him to leave the land within which he and his father had made their home. It is very typical of Jehovah to require us to leave our prior life in order to live a righteous, holy life devoted to obedience to Him.
12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
This is the first of many passages that is falsely interpreted to refer to the nation of Israel. In fact, the leaders of that nation still today claim it as their promise from Jehovah.
This promise was to Abram before there even was an Israel. Also, in Abram all the families or tribes of the entire world would be blessed. This promise goes far beyond just on family, tribe, or nation.
12:4 So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
If you think that once you reach an older age, you can or should retire and enjoy all the fruit of ‘your’ hands. Clearly, Jehovah has plans for you for your entire life.
What other plans has HE made for Abram?
What will become of Lot?
Where does this simple beginning all lead?
More next Saturday.
The problems with false teachers are many and diverse. They should be identified, silenced, kept out of the assembly, but also confronted in a manner that may bring them into the truth that they have maligned.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
Wickedness is being evil, unrighteous, and unholy which is the opposite of what Jehovah has called all of us to become. This is not a simple matter of being confused or slightly in error. Compromising the truth is in itself a sin. What has truth to do with lies?
2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
So here we read some of the good news, that is we can be cleansed from wickedness. There is hope for everyone, even false teachers. But there first has to be the truthful recognition of our problem and then a resolve to repent and be cleansed. How is this to be done?
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
The very words of Jehovah are by themselves cleansing to those who desire to obey them. The Holy Spirit is, of course, also required in this endeavor to pursue holiness.
2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
The first step is to forsake or flee from those things that have trapped us in our sinfulness. In order to be a clean vessel for Jehovah, we must first empty ourselves.
2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
Here is just one of the many passages describing what type of behavior is fitting for a true teachers.
2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
While Paul confronted many who were not true teachers, he still admonished Timothy to gently correct all false doctrines and misinterpretations. You will rarely win any argument by increasing the volume of your rebuttals.
These false teachers are being held captive by their father, the devil. Therefore, having pity on them is important as a first step in guiding them to the truth of the very words of Jehovah.
More next Saturday.
How can anyone know who is a false teacher vs. a true teacher of the words of Jehovah? The only true way is to know what is in the Bible, as false teachers will use just enough Bible to gain support. Also, how false teachers defend themselves is also important.
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
False teachers often resort to confusion, arguing over small differences in understanding, and using sound bites from the Bible out of context. The biblically illiterate will get confused and often side with the smoothest talker.
2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Accurately handling implies accurately understanding and defending. No out of context, no doctrines from a single verse, no doctrines from silence or between the lines, and a true desire to study and ask Jehovah for wisdom.
2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Many false teachers use verses out of context to condemn all critics. They claim that no one can speak ill of them as they are Jehovah’s servant. Here Paul clearly refutes this as he calls out these two false teachers. As a reminder, Paul also confronted Peter to his face over his hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
2:12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
2:13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy
2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
There is really no defense for hypocrisy in regards to living according to the very words you are proclaiming. The party of circumcision, the majority party in Jerusalem, coerced both Peter and Barnabas to fall back to the traditions of men! Peter and Barnabas were not new ‘Christians’, but elders in the assembly of believers in Jerusalem. Even they could be backed into a traditional corner. We are responsible to defend the flock. Whenever we are afraid of offending men, we should reconsider if by that we are offending Jehovah.
2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
We can be assured that false teachers and false believers are within every house of worship. Double agents either knowingly or ignorantly, ply their trade from the inside. Jehovah knows them by name. We can know them by their fruit.
2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
True teachers are commanded to live, react, and respond in a manner that allows everyone to listen to the truth rather than quickly take sides. How we live must agree with how we teach. We should always strive to bring false teachers into the kingdom rather than just drive them away.
It is far easier to teach the truth than live by the truth. We should all understand that and strive to overcome our ‘sin nature’ that remains with us.
Only with the indwelling power of the very Spirit of Jehovah will we be able to resist sinning.
More next Saturday.
It should be no great secret to any bible student that Satan’s got many ‘double’ agents leading ‘churches’ around the world today. So what is a ‘double’ agent in spiritual terms? He is someone who infiltrates the ‘church’ by posing as a reformed teacher/preacher of the Bible. He gains entry by slyly acting like everyone else. He quickly becomes accepted and respected.
What can we learn about this devious scheme of Satan?
First, he or she comes secretly and slyly.
Jude 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
2 Ptere 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2:2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 2:3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths
Galatians 2:4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
So what should we learn from these 4 passages?
First, they gain entry and support by degrees. They enter secretly, hiding their true motives. They creep in unnoticed. No one is at they door keeping the enemy out.
Second, the ‘church’ falls for the easy stories, non-condemning passages, and the overriding ‘love’ of Jehovah.
Third, they appeal to the biblically illiterate by not condemning and even promoting worldly behaviors.
Fourth, they will never mention sin, hell, condemnation, Jehovah’s holiness, or true sanctification.
Fifth, they will cleverly mix Jehovah’s truth with lies.
Last, they will introduce their rules for living, which may be implied to represent how to get into heaven.
More next Saturday.
What can we expect? What are the signs of the multitude of false teachers flooding the airwaves? Why does it seem that there are so few true teachers of the Word of Jehovah?
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is one of the signs of the coming Day of Jehovah and the second coming of Jesus. There doesn’t seem to be any constraints on evil anymore? Have you ever imagined the depravity you are now witnessing in every part of the world?
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 12:8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
In the final days, false teachers will increase and the world will enter into chaos as it blames true Christians for a whole host of problems, that they created.
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
In the final days our accuser will engage in his last efforts to defeat Jehovah and all of His people.
12:12 "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
Generally, most believe that the total time of the great Tribulation will be 7 years, with the most fearful part being the last half.
In light of the total time of history, 7 years is a short time.
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
12:15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
12:16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
Here we see that the dragon/Satan would first try and destroy the seed mentioned in Genesis, but fail. Herod tried to kill Him and failed. Satan thought he could get rid of Him by crucifying Him. That did not fail as Satan was used to fulfill Jehovah’s plan.
12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
So the false teachers are part of Satan’s army, first to deceive and then to persecute unto death.
Yes, churches will join forces with government and all of society to imprison, persecute, and destroy all true believers.
More next Saturday.
We left off with Jude’s warnings about how we are deceived from those within the body. These are the most dangerous types of deceivers. Corrupt government officials, self-righteous professional athletes, and media darlings who live immoral life styles are somewhat easier to see as unholy, unrighteous, and in the ‘dark’. The ones, who are actually one of us, are far more dangerous and harder to discern.
Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
A real warning to all. A whole generation of the nation of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years until all who had rebelled against Jehovah died. This was probably nearly one million adults! The startling facts were that after 10 plagues in Egypt, a miraculous crossing at the Red Sea, the total annihilation of Egypt’s entire army, and Jehovah descending onto Mount Sinai in fire, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, and an ever increasing sound of a trumpet, they still disobeyed Him!
A lesson for all of us would be that it is much harder than we think to leave Egypt and all of its attractions than we imagine. So just substitute your city, state, cultural preferences, family practices, etc. for Egypt and ask Jehovah to reveal your heart to you.
1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
This is as alarming as it is revealing. Angels, created by Jehovah, are His divine messengers and dwell in His presence. Yet, they also disobeyed Him and also will eternally suffer His wrath as a result.
1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Just in case people have been told lies by their false teachers in regard to Jehovah’s holy, righteous wrath and condemnation of all sinners, Jude reminds all of the lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah. This earthly destruction by fire is one important example of Jehovah’s divine, eternal fire in Hell. But, people don’t like Hell anymore and false teachers oblige by eliminating it from discussions. Why lose members over Hell or sin. Just tell them stories that they enjoy and like to hear. Paul warned Timothy of this exact problem.
2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. You can’t preach both.
You either are a true teacher or a false teacher. There is no middle ground. You can’t flip back and forth. But, false teachers do just that as they always use truth to hide their lies. Sadly, most don’t see the difference and don’t really care either.
1:8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
You may have heard or listened to some false teachers who claim to rebuke Satan, tell him to leave, or suggest that they alone can exercise control over Satan. It is not our job to rebuke Satan, the Lord will rebuke Satan. Jehovah knows all about Satan and his evil plans. He stands condemned and he knows it. So what must or should we do?
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Our submission to Jehovah and His Spirit within us will enable us to resist Satan’s deceptions and temptations. Jehovah is all we need.
More next Saturday.
How do false teachers enter into the ‘church’? What are the tactics? What are we to do to keep them from deceiving us? Jude, one of Jesus’ half-brothers, has given us another warning on this important subject.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Here is an important insight into this worldwide problem. Jude had thought he would write a letter of encouragement. He felt that he would remind everyone about our common salvation.
This would be a message stressing unity of the body. It would most likely remind everyone that this salvation was a gift from Jehovah and could not be earned nor was it deserved. He may also express the wonderful truth that are all equal in their relationship to Jesus through His death and resurrection. Finally, he tells us that we need to strive, work out, and persevere for the faith that has been revealed to all the saints in Christ Jesus.
However, Jude put that plus more, aside to issue a warning.
1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Notice how they start to destroy the ‘church’.
First, they destroy from within. I know that we can all see how the world attacks our faith from the outside. During these troubling times, their attacks are coming from all elements of our society. This co-ordinated attack can only be orchestrated by Satan, as it is visible worldwide. But, Jude reminds us that the far more dangerous attacks always come from within.
Secondly, Jehovah has always known these false teachers and has already condemned them. However, they are still actively plying their sinister work from within. They are just out on ‘bail’, but their sentence is final.
Thirdly, they entice the flock to sin without concern or fear. They sell the lie that grace covers all sins and their is no longer any condemnation for sins. So eat, drink, and be merry, you are all going to Heaven! Paul warned of this false teaching as well.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 6:2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
Paul clearly expresses the need to stop sinning. Grace does not cover those who continue to practice sin. Sin is lawlessness and will be punished.
6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
These closing strong admonitions are to be carefully applied to our lives. We struggle with our old body and its physical lusts. We need to look deep into our hearts to see just what are our true desires. We need to ask Jehovah to reveal our hearts to us, as we often just deceive ourselves about our self-righteousness. Grace frees us from the curse or penalty of sin, not to continue in sin.
Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can resist the temptations of sin that lurk within and are broadcasted to us throughout our day. Let us pursue holiness and righteousness.
More next Saturday.
What has Jehovah revealed to us on false teachers? Has this problem gotten worse over time? If Peter can be deceived, could the ‘church’ today be deceived? Remember, this happened right in Jerusalem. It happened while eyewitnesses were still alive. It happened in the very early stages of the development of the ‘church’. Since Satan uses every opportunity to deceive, doesn’t waste any time introducing deceit, we can be certain that it has only gotten worse over the last 2000 years. What has Jehovah revealed to us? What has Peter written for us after this divine encounter with Paul?
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Since both Peter and Barnabas both fell for the lies of tradition, Peter knows from personal experience just how easy it is to be deceived by traditions, especially traditions that go back hundreds or even thousands of years. What has he told us?
First, they come from within the assembly.
Second, they begin by slyly introducing small lies and inserting them into truthful messages. This is the cancer of deceit. Secretly suggests that it is not noticeable at first. It even sounds truthful. It gradually descends into outright apostasy. But, by then no one even sees it as lies.
2:2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 2:3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
They feed on emotions and feelings. They create messages that tug at your ‘heart’ rather than your head. They are in it for the money and praise of men, not for the glory and honor of Jehovah.
Paul adds to this warning.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Doctrine, especially sound doctrine, has fallen out of favor and use in today’s ‘church’. Worship has become defined by music only. Heightened emotions from music/entertainment only deadens everyone to the need or desire for ‘sound doctrine’.
So one verse, out of context, is injected into stories that lull the audience into a comfortable religion, rather than an obedient relationship. They tell them what they want to hear, but deny them what they need to hear.
More on false teachers next Saturday.
How dangerous are false teachers? Don’t they teach from the Bible? How can you know the difference? These are all valid questions and concerns. Once again, we must go to the Words of Jehovah to ascertain the only true answers to life’s questions. Let us go back to what the apostle Paul was instructed to deliver to us. First, we should carefully meditate on the power of traditions. Jesus was very direct in His condemnation of the Pharisees on their reliance on their traditions over the Bible.
Mark 7:6 And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7:7 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'
7:8 "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
7:9 He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
You can’t teach both. You can’t maintain they both are true. Only one can be true. Are is the commandments of Jehovah true or the traditions of men? But, traditions have invaded and taken over the ‘church’ ever since the Reformation, which was really just the Revision-ation.
Now back to Paul.
Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
How can Paul confront Peter/Cephas right to his face? Where is unity and christian love? Who is Paul anyway? Peter is right here in Jerusalem and he taught the first sermon here which birthed the ‘church’. If Paul had questions, why didn’t he go to Peter personally?
2:12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
Fear is a very powerful motivator. You can see this today with all the fear of disease that has put the whole world in quarantine. Since Peter is an apostle, shouldn’t everyone obey and even fear him? The problem is that even leaders can make mistakes, be influenced by others, and old habits die hard. Wasn’t this issue put to rest along time ago when Peter visited Cornelius?
Acts 10:24 On the following day he (Peter and some other brothers) entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."
10:27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 10:28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
10:29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."
So Peter went from Joppa to Caesarea to respond to Jehovah’s calling. He clearly reminded all that it is unlawful (that is against the laws of the Pharisees) to meet with, eat with, or show hospitality to Gentiles.
Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 11:2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 1:3 saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
So the party of the circumcision was waiting for him to return to Jerusalem.
Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 1:16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
11:17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
11:18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
This seemed to end well. Peter clearly outlined how Jehovah lead him to Cornelius and how He gave them the same Holy Spirit that He had given all of them. All of this without any requirement to follow man’s traditions. So this closed this discussion forever, or did it?
2:13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
Just like a bad apple can ruin the bushel, too many follow the wrong leaders to the wrong conclusions. See the rest of them were easily led to rejoin the hypocrisy of the few and comfort of their hundreds of years of traditions.
2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
Since this was a very public sin, it had to be dealt with publicly. Even Barnabas joined in with Peter. These two were not novices or babes in the faith. They were leaders of the faith. Yet, they all fell into line and moved back from unity in the faith to disunity and two classes of the redeemed.
Paul was right and Peter was wrong. Both could not be right.
More next Saturday.
If the ‘church’ proclaims, much like Martin Luther some 500 years ago, that they are committed to ‘Sola Scriptura’, then how can they disobey Jehovah’s clear commands? While proclaiming and defending their fidelity to Jehovah’s Word, they simply dance around subjects, traditions of men, and doctrines of demons, as they tell people what they want to hear and deny them the truth they need to hear.
While this may seem too harsh and judgmental, even Paul called out false teachers and false teachings. While I will never claim to have the knowledge or authority of Paul, I strive to live to the standards he set forth to all teachers.
First, what did he instruct others to do?
1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
What is Paul telling Timothy and us? It appears that the false teachers that plagued Paul throughout his ministry and travels are now in the very ‘churches’ he had started. They are teaching strange doctrines!
That is doctrines that are not true, doctrines that have been changed or modified from what Paul taught, and are thereby false. They also add myths, false historical context and details, which give rise to speculation or questions and challenges which divide the ‘church’. It is another gospel.
1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Have you ever listened to someone who spoke eloquently on a subject which you knew was being inaccurately presented? There are people who are enamored with the many words, eloquent statements, and false historical context in which false teachers excel.
1:8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1:9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 1:10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 1:11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Once again Paul brings it all back to God’s Law and the need to truly understand it and obey it. Those who change and challenge His Law, fall under the condemnation and curse of the Law, which is death, eternal death.
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Here we read Paul’s second letter to his beloved son in the faith. Paul tells him what not to do and what to do. There are words, conversations, and disagreements that can be damaging if left to themselves.
It takes perseverance, dedication, diligence, and study to be able to accurately and consistently handle the word of truth. It is a very sacred, holy, divine calling on a few, not on anyone who wants to get back on their ‘natural’ abilities to hold an audience’s attention and devotion.
2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
Here we have Paul calling out and condemning two men. Many would never want to speak ill of anyone self-proclaimed teacher of God’s Word, but is that what God allows or desires? By not offending men, we often don’t even think about how we may be offending God.
These men Paul is referring to are not the last to be singled out. The problem is far worse today than in Paul’s day.
More next Saturday.