FINALLY THE TRINITY UNDERSTOOD!!!!

Well, let me qualify that statement. I understand the Trinity and I will teach it to you so you can also understand it when God changes physics to allow iron to sharpen iron, in the mean time I will attempt to explain my understanding with the hope that you will consider it.

Suppose I am on a journey and I happen on a pond. In the middle of the pond is a large rock and on that rock is a Bible. It is resting on it’s tail and tailcap. I can not get to the Book to examine it closely, so I do the next best thing. I begin to walk around the pond and examine it from all angles. First it looks about 8×10 and it is red with the words The Holy Bible written on it. As I walk to my right my view changes and it looks slightly less than 2 inches wide, though it still seems as tall. The color has changed to white with two vertical red lines on each side. Then as I progress to a view opposite my first the view has changed again. Now the Book looks as though it is similar to my first view and yet there is nothing printed on it. So I continue and then the Book seems to change and it looks like the second time I viewed it, however it is all red with The Holy Bible printed on it vertically!

You see all of the views were correct and many arguments have resulted between Christians about their own views. The trick, if you want to call it that, to understanding the Bible is to view it from all angles, because even though your view may be absolutely correct you may lean more by viewing it from a different angle. I have viewed the Bible from many angles and this is how I see it now. If you see it differently then how is it different and can our two views eventually harmonize and result in a better understanding?

Christianities concept of God has led to many problems with understanding God. We are told that there is only one God and yet we are also told that Melchizedek was without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life and that can only mean that he is God. Then we are told about the Holy Spirit which also seems as though He is God and there are verses that seem to say Jesus is God!

When we are baptized properly, we are buried with what seems to be three Gods: Father, son, and Holy Spirit. But if there is only one God and there is, because Scripture can neither be wronged nor changed, then there is a problem with saying that, “The Trinity is the union of three divine persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one God.” That is the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of “Trinity” and what those who do not understand believe. We should be ashamed of ourselves when we teach something that even demons know is not true (James 2:19).

Now I do not have to tell you there is a problem, because you already know there is. Those who believe the Trinity to be three persons are quick to say that we as humans can not understand everything about God to defend their position, but actually the Bible does not make either claim. It does not say there are three persons of God, nor does it say that we can not know everything about God. We really can know and understand everything about God. Look what the Bible says about this (John 14:26 NIV)  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Rom 8:32 NIV)  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  (1 Cor 2:10-12 NIV) “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” You see we can know and understand even the thoughts of God. (I didn’t say it. I only pointed out that the Bible said it.)

When God says that we are given the Holy Spirit to teach us all things I believe He means all things Spiritual. Not all things about this world. Things about this world are interesting, but they will all pass away, so things of this world are not really important in the grand scheme of God’s plan.

I search Scripture in order to understand it completely and exactly. Not too long ago I wrote a post that said Melchizedek was the Holy Spirit. Well that was only partially correct. Something that is only partially correct can lead to confusion rather than clarity.

So because I see clearer now let me explain just how I understand at this time. Perhaps I will understand better in the future and if I do, and it is God’s will, I will attempt to explain again.

Suppose you met me some time ago and we have walked and talked together many times. You have become accustomed to the sound of my voice and of course you would immediately know me if you met me face to face, but even if you just heard me speak you would know it was me.

Now suppose that one day that you were standing close to your front door and I opened it just far enough to slide my hand around it. Though it is me, you do not know who it is until you hear my voice. You saw my hand clearly and yet you did not understand that it was my hand, or said a slightly different way you saw me and because you did not yet understand everything, you did not know it was me.

(Rom 12:4 NIV)  “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function.” My hand is one of my members and because it is part of my physical body and you can see that it is, you know it to be true. We are all made in the image of God and if we have many members then doesn’t it stand to reason that God also has many members? God is Spirit and because Spirit is different than flesh then doesn’t it make sense that God’s members are different than our own?

If God would stand in Heaven and slide one of His Members around to earth so that we could see it and it looked like a man, would we understand that it was a Member of God? We would if He told us, because we know His voice: and He did tell us! (Heb 7:1-3 NIV)   “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.” This could only be God. Yet not all of God, because Moses was told by God, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” and Moses did not die. Well, he didn’t die right then.

Would God be his own priest? Well, who else is more qualified? If a priest is someone that represents God then isn’t God the ultimate Priest? Did God appear early in His plan to claim His tithe? Or did He appear to declare He would Give 90% of what He owned to man? The better I know Him the more I understand how wonderful He is!!!

When I first thought about the members of my body I only considered my appendages, but my mind is real and a member of myself. If you have read my post on the Trinity you know that I view the Holy Spirit as the mind of God and Jesus as His arm. That is not something that I made up, but it comes from my understanding of God thru His Word. “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11). (1 Cor 2:16 NIV)  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

(Psa 98:1 NIV) “A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” We know that it was Jesus through which salvation came, but Jesus was a man. So how can both be true? I view Jesus as God’s own hand with a glove over it. Jesus, the man, was that glove. (John 14:10 NIV) “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” When we look at Jesus from a man’s perspective we see a glove, but we do not understand it is God inside the glove. This only comes after much study. I take nothing away from my savior because Jesus did not have to allow himself to be sacrificed, but did so out of his own free will.

To conclude it seems to me that we do great damage to the plan of God by preaching the Trinity as three persons of God when they are three parts, or Members of God. It alienates both Jews and Muslims and even those that try to teach it claim we can not understand it. At least that is right: either God is one person or He is three persons and He, who is the authority, says that He is one. (Rom 3:30, 1 Cor 8:6, Eph 4:6, 1 Tim 2:5, & James 2:19)

WISDOM – INTELLIGENCE – AND RICHARD DAWKINS

 

The American Heritage Dictionary. 

Wisdom 1.Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting; insight. 2. Common sense; good judgment. 3. The sum of scholarly learning through the ages; knowledge.

Intelligence 1.The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. 2. The faculty of thought and reason. 3. Superior powers of mind.

I am afraid that I have been confusing wisdom and intelligence most of my life. I always lumped them together. I assumed that if one were intelligent then one would be wise, but lately I have thought about it and I realize that one can be intelligent and yet lack wisdom.

Atheists like Mr. Dawkins are prime examples of those who are intelligent and yet lack wisdom. Most atheists that I have met are intelligent, but they do not use their intelligence to gain wisdom. Both atheists and believers, if being honest, would have to agree that in order to determine if God exists one has to examine the universe and everything in it.

The Bible says the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork and I use to think that was because it was so immense. But now I understand it means the universe is wasting away to its end. The light of the stars originates from matter being destroyed and matter is not being restored. If the universe has an end then logically speaking it must have had a beginning! Something has to have existed and will exist forever: either God or the universe. Its not rocket science.

Those who do not want to believe there is a God lump all religions together, but there are major differences and though all religions believe in some type of god the differences are too great to allow them to be grouped together.

The Christian religion commands followers to treat others as they want to be treated. No other religion has such a command. If all men obeyed such a command there would be world peace, because there would be no more transgressions between men. Even the leaders of the world would not war against other nations!

Atheists, if they had wisdom, would understand that world peace could result if everyone obeyed that royal law and they would encourage everyone to be a Christian. If there truly is no God then what does it matter what one believes? If I want to believe, even in Santa Clause, what is that to others?

Well it does seem to matter. Christians want all to believe, because they want all to be saved (you know ‘do unto others’), and the atheists want all not to believe because it makes the atheists look intelligent (and they are intelligent).

The problem between Christians and atheists, as I understand it, originates because atheists seem to lack confidence in their intelligence. They seem to believe that to make others seem stupid they will appear even more intelligent. They draw the less intelligent into discussions about science and other subjects, about which they have more knowledge than most Christians, and never mention that the universe is slowly coming to an end. It seems that it is not truth they desire, but admiration.

Then there is money as a reward for not seeking truth. One can receive royalties from books that are written to make their intelligent brothers feel good. And they feel good because it makes them seem more intelligent than the masses. There is also opportunities for advancement by agreeing with the other intelligent people as those who are intelligent usually have more power and influence than those who are not as gifted.

After saying all of this it is clear that I am still confused about wisdom and intelligence. How could someone be intelligent and yet not be wise? It is not wise to oppose a religion that would assure world peace and yet the intelligent do! At the very least it is a selfish and self-centered attitude.

DOES GOD LOVE EVERYONE?

First let us define what we are saying when we use the word love. The definition that we all use for love is “An intense emotional attachment”, but the Greeks had more than one word that we translate as love and they have different meanings.

God does not break His own laws and He tells us to love our enemies, so He also must love His enemies. But does He mean that we must have an intense emotional attachment for them as we think of love?

The answer that seems right to me as I study the Bible is “No He does not mean love as we understand love”.

The Greek word used when we are told to love our enemies is “agapao” which means to love in a social or moral sense. In other words, or my words, it means to “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. That is the basis of the God’s law for dealing with other humans. It is not the same as an intense emotional attachment.

Again I ask “Does God love everyone?” and the Bible answers that question very clearly. (Mal 1:2-3 NIV)  “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” the LORD says. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” In other words God did not, or does not have an intense emotional attachment to Esau.

God honored the second royal law when He blessed Esau with earthly things when Esau was physically alive on this earth. And God will only grant the wish of those who did not want to live with Him when He judges them at the end of this age.

I would say “Do not make the statement ‘Love the sinner, but hate the sin’, because in our language it does not convey the correct meaning. Just stick with what the Bible says and say “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. That is the formula for world peace and it is found in no other place, but the Word of God.

LIES THAT WE ACCEPT AS TRUTH!!!!!!

It amazes me when I realize that I have been accepting a lie as the truth and didn’t see it.

It happens because I do not stop to reason out whether it is true or not. I see this in others as well as myself, and I, as well as others, have built complicated understandings on very simple lies: which, of course are very flawed understandings.

Here is one of the best lies Satan has perpetrated on Americans, “This Country was founded on Christian principles”!

The truth is this Country was founded in rebellion to God by those who would not pay taxes!

Romans 13:1&2 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

The Colonies had a governing authority and they rebelled against it. The motto was “Taxation with out representation”, but Romans 13:6 says Christians should pay taxes.

The colonist would not pay taxes and they rebelled against England. These are the reasons the colonist formed this government and these are not Christian principles!

This leads me to realize the second greatest lie about this government and that is “We are free!” Free from what? We certainly are not free from unjust rule. And that leads us to the third greatest lie, “Those who hold office are servants to the people”!

You can throw rocks at me later, but right now stop and reason out what I am saying. When you vote for a candidate you are in effect saying that you want that man to rule over you. I know that Satan has you believing that you are choosing that person to serve you and your fellow man, but in reality you are giving him or her power to govern you. You are not choosing a servant you are choosing a master! It is true that the people have the power to choose another later, but for the term of that office that person is your master.

What ever those who hold office do to the people are not undone when they leave office. Taxes that are imposed stay imposed. The abortion that was legalized stays legalized. Jobs that were given to Mexico and China are not taken back. You may get rid of the master that you have chosen, but only by choosing another: who will tack on even more abuse for and to you.

Imagine how God feels when we choose a man to rule us when it is apparent that God should and even wants to be our master. The dangerous thing about God is that He will usually give us what we want. I believe that He has allowed this government to be established and exist as long as it has to demonstrate, or prove to mankind that it will not work.

Those who hold office know that it is not the people that elected them. They were put in office by money. It was money that enabled them to sway the people and that makes the people only pawns to be used. Why would a politician really have any respect for the people when they can be swayed with money? Doesn’t their loyalty really lie with the party that supplied the money to sway the people? If they do not toe the party line will they receive finances to run in the next election?

I always hear others say ‘Well I didn’t vote for him’, but if they participate in the system aren’t they guilty of what the system does? If someone drives the getaway car aren’t they guilty of the robbery? And if someone is murdered because of the robbery then aren’t they guilty of murder?

If you believe in this system or any system of government where a man governs another man then stop and reason it out and maybe you will reach the same conclusion that I have. Maybe you will not, but if a man must lie to get elected and he surly must, then why do we believe he will stop when he begins the work of that office?

Belief is an odd thing. We believe what we want to believe and if someone says something that doesn’t coincide with what we want to believe we will not accept it. We will usually refuse to consider an opposing view. Facts and common sense are oppressed in our minds and the opposing points are only targets to be destroyed. If that is how you view what I have said and you believe that the Bible is the Word of God then where does it say that man should rule himself? Remember the motto of this country is ‘Of the people, by the people, and for the people’.

AS CHRISTIANS WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT?

If you have read anything I have said about this country you know I have little respect for the system of government that we have. In case you haven’t just let me say this, “This Country was formed in rebellion to God”.

I didn’t always have this view, but I read Romans 13:1&2 and applied it to the formation of this Government and it changed my understanding of democracy. I have since repented and no longer believe in this Democracy. It came down to who do I really put my trust in and I realized that first my loyalty must rest in God and anything and everything else must agree with that loyalty. You can see that anything else would be a sin.

As I said, I have repented. Since I understand that this Nation was formed in rebellion to God I have not participated in politics at all. I am no longer a registered voter and do not endorse any candidate or political party. I believe God when He says He appoints the authorities and I believe that is the only way it should be.

The problem stems from our sin. God does not stop sin and when our forefathers decided the people could do a better job of appointing authorities He did not stop them. Nor does He stop us as we try to elect a man.

I know that if every Christian does as I have that there is no hope for our country. I do not want this as it can only result in Satan winning this part of the battle. So I have devoted some thought to the problem, or I should say I have wrestled with God over an answer to our plight. As you know I am only a student and I don’t always understand what the Spirit is trying to teach me so I am going to post what seems right to me and maybe someone who understands more clearly can straighten me out and maybe we can begin to work toward a real solution to our problem.

First even though the system is basically flawed we must work within it. We can not rebel. Even though it was not God’s idea that we should choose authorities He has appointed the authorities that we wanted. To rebel against those authorities is to rebel against God as Romans 13:1&2 make clear.

The first thing that we must do is we must all repent. (2 Chr 7:14 NIV) “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We must humble ourselves and admit it is wrong to attempt to choose our own authorities. We must ask God to honor His word and again choose authorities for us. That is the way it should be, because we do not know what is in another man’s heart and we do not know what someone will do in the future, but God knows both.

Perhaps we should form another political party: the Christian political party. The other two parties have already determined which candidates will do as they want and if they do not then the next time they will not receive money for their campaign. This action would result in every church that participated losing its tax exempt status, but we can really serve only one master and money is not the one we should be serving.

You may say that this is only my idea, but Scripture clearly states the way we can extract ourselves from this mess (2 Chr 7:14). It should be clear that we can not govern ourselves. We need God for that task and only God. We have sinned by not accepting God’s word that He will choose our authorities and attempting to do it ourselves. We need to heed our own words and really put our trust in God.

Will this come about? No! I don’t believe most of my brothers and sisters have the faith that is required for the cure!

I FEEL LIKE AN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET.

Many times many prophets in the Old Testament would tell God’s people their Country was corrupt to the core and the people would say, “This is God’s country. We have nothing to fear: God will protect us.”

It is the same today! This Country is corrupt to the core and you say, “This is a Christian Country and we have nothing to fear: God will protect us.”   Really?!!!!

Does no one understand that every time we vote we are rebelling against God? God says that He appoints the authorities, but we are saying that we do! By our actions every time we vote we are saying “God is incompetent and a liar!” We claim to know more than God and we should choose who will rule over us. You may think that you do not say “God is incompetent and a liar” but your actions speak louder than your words.

Is God too weak to choose the authorities? Is that why He needs our help? We either put our trust in God to do as He said, or we put our trust in ourselves to choose our own leaders.

We have swallowed the lies of Satan and put our trust in ourselves! We say ask God who we should vote for, but it is like asking God which bank to rob! The action is wrong and there can be no answer from God, because there is no answer to which sin should I commit. The only proper answer is “Commit no sin”.

Wake up Christians! Stop celebrating the Fourth of July. Don’t you understand that you are celebrating rebellion against God? Put your trust in the one that is qualified to choose leaders. He has already appointed a King to rule us! Obey the real authority and let the world do as it pleases. Recognize the power of God, not the power of the people.

Just like Pilate was given the power to condemn Jesus we have the power to choose leaders because God has granted it. However because God will grant our wish it doesn’t make the wish right. God gave Israel a king to rule them, because they wanted one and God lets us choose our own leaders, because that is what we want, but it is a great sin.

I feel like an Old Testament prophet, because I am treated the same way. I have the same message today as the prophets in the Old Testament and the answer from those who claim to be God’s people is the same: “We don’t want to hear that. You are a false prophet”.

We read what the prophets of the Old Testament said and we say to ourselves, “If I were living in that time I wouldn’t be like them”. Well we don’t live in that time period, but we are just as faithless as them.

REPENT AND BEG FOR FORGIVNESS WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

Don’t you see that God has given us enough rope to hang ourselves and we have already tied it around our own necks and jumped?

IF I WERE A CALVINIST

In some of my posts I have tried to explain why I think man has free will to either accept salvation or reject it and I have been verbally assaulted for my efforts. That doesn’t bother me until it becomes the goal of those who do so. If that is their goal then Bible study is not. No man can honestly defend himself from slander because all men sin. I am somewhat guilty of anything said about me, so if that is your goal I concede.

Those who believe Calvin seem to forget Christ. By that I mean they do not obey the second greatest commandment. (Mat 22:39 NIV)  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Which is accomplished when you (Luke 6:31 NIV) Do to others as you would have them do to you. I am quite sure you do not want to be called the things that I have been called and it would help the study if everyone refrained from name calling.

Perhaps not all Calvinist forget the second commandment, but it seems as though all who have commented on my posts have. I even had to explain to one that he was not welcome on my blog. I don’t know if that bothered him, but it really bothered me and it still does.

If there are any Calvinist out there that would like to present their views without a condescending attitude I have a few questions that if I take a Calvinist view I either have no answer or do not like the answer that I come up with.

First and foremost is that if I believe Calvin then, “How would or could I be sure of my own salvation”?

Perhaps someone that believes in a Calvinist type of doctrine could tell me how.

DID GOD SAY, “YOU MUST DESTROY ALL THE PEOPLE THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES OVER TO YOU”?

Well, no I don’t think that He did! He didn’t say that in Exodus. I would print the verses here, but it would only make this post long, so read Exodus 23:20 to 32.

These are the words of God and He does not say kill anyone. He also does not say destroy the cities. The only thing God said destroy were the gods of the people that lived in the land, His land, which He gave to Israel. If I were to interject my feelings into this command it would be that the gods made by man should be destroyed by man. They are too defiled for me to ask God to destroy.

Anyway, no one had to die! The closest God said about destroying the people was when He said, “I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you”, but even then He did not say slay them, only drive them out. No women or children had to die, they didn’t even have to suffer stings from the hornets, because when the men left they would have gone with them.

Now when we read Deuteronomy 7:16 Moses said, “You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you”, but God did not say that. If Moses had remembered what God had said or if he believed God then he would not have said that.

It seems to me just another case of God being blamed for what man does. If God wanted to destroy men to protect Israel He is quite capable of the deed Himself. He demonstrated that when He destroyed the army of Pharaoh.

Israel, just like the people of today, had to take things into their own hands and defile what God planed for them.

I am purposely not going to study any farther on this subject now. If you see some place in the Bible where God told Israel to destroy the people and or the cities please write a comment. This is supposed to be a Bible study, so if you really want to study I think this is a worthy subject. The more I learn about God the more awesome, fair, and wonderful He is shown!

IS MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?

(1 Tim 6:10 KJV)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

(1 Tim 6:10 NIV)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

There is a slight difference of 1 Tim 6:10 in the King James Version and the New International Version of God’s word. Though there is a difference I view them both as correct however it does make one ask the question, ‘is the love of money the root of “all” evil or only “all kinds” of evil’?

While exchanging comments with me someone said that if the love of money was the root of all evil then David would have committed adultery for money! The claim was slightly off because the verse says money is the “root” not the “cause”, but still it does make one think.

If David was not rich then he would not have had a palace with a high roof where he could have seen Bathsheba bathing. The love of money was not the cause, but it made the very beginning of adultery possible.

Do not defend the rich by saying some of them only have money, but they do not love money. It is not necessary to totally love money to have some love for money. Anyone can sell everything they have and give the money to the poor and then follow Jesus. No one “has” to be wealthy.

Very few examples are repeated in all four Gospels, but the idea that in order to be perfect one must sell everything and give the money to the poor is repeated in all of the Gospels.

I have to admit that I struggled with this. It is the lack of faith and the fear of a hard life that kept me from it. That is not to say that I have wealth, because I do not, so it should be easer for me to attempt to be perfect than for someone with wealth.

Two of the verses say sell “everything” and as I pondered the act I realized that I own the clothes that I am wearing and I would be guilty of indecent exposure if I sold everything. Well, maybe I was looking for a way out! I am not a salesman and I am sure I could not interest anyone in the clothes that I am wearing anyway.

Well, after thinking about it for a while I have to admit that I do not believe that I could stay perfect. I am only a man and not Jesus. I do believe that God could keep me perfect, but I do not understand why He would. He has already kept one man perfect and that was for His plan of salvation. Anything that I could do would not be as important as that and if God were to make and keep anyone, other than Jesus, perfect it would only distract from His plan.

Anyway I no longer feel as guilty of not trying to be perfect as I once did. It helps when I realized that I do not own anything. Everything belongs to God so I really have nothing to sell, although that does not release me from my obligation to help the poor.

Sorry, I kind of got off the question of “all” or “all kinds”, didn’t I?

As I think about money it becomes clear that money is an idol and therefore against God. It is not like most idols, because it actually has power. The whole world believes in the power of money. Even those who claim there is no God worship money.

Without money there would be no way to convert wealth into satisfying evil desires. It may not be the cause of evil, but it certainly is the vehicle by which it is committed.

So, what do you think? Is money the root of all evil or just all kinds of evil? As for me, I have a propensity towards “all” evil, so if I do not agree with some of your comments please be patient with me. I am only a student and I answer from my understanding and that is not to claim that I am any better student than you. Students sometimes sound like teachers, but this student is no teacher.

Well, I do have a big mouth and I do not know when to keep it shut: well maybe I just don’t keep it shut!

I think the NIV is a good example of the root of all evil. It is copyrighted! Think about that! Man has found a way to copy write the Word of God! You don’t pay, you don’t play! I don’t see anything wrong with covering the cost of making the translation, but I do not understand why the cost continues.

MORE ABOUT THE TWO WITTNESSES.

I have been reading Genesis lately because I have been trying to find a better way of explaining the sin of eating from the tree in the middle of the garden. As I study, the Spirit that God has given me will sometimes point out something that I was not even considering. The teacher chooses the subject not the student.

When I read Gen 2:9 (NIV) “And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I suddenly realized that the two trees were symbols of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! They are the two witnesses and they are identified in the very first part of the first book in the Bible!

Jesus is the tree of life. There is no other way for man to acquire eternal life with God accept through Jesus. (John 14:6 NIV)  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the Holy Spirit.

(John 14:26 NIV)  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

A teacher that is qualified to teach all things would have to know all things. Mankind had to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil before we could even know we are evil.

The two witnesses are symbolized as two olive trees in Zechariah. When God told Zechariah what they were He said, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit”. That is the identity of the two witnesses hidden in the description, not by might nor by power is Jesus, the first witnesses and but by my Spirit is the second witnesses, the Holy Spirit.

(Gen 3:24 NIV)  After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

That sword is the Word of God and it will take the life of anyone who wants to eat from the tree of life. After that person admits that they deserve death for their deeds they are indeed slain, buried with Jesus, and raised a new being that can go in and out, past the sword. And then they can eat from the tree of life! Pity the one who will not plead guilty and admit they deserve death.

I have learned that the entire Bible fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because it would result in their death: not because it was a sin to eat from the tree!

(Gen 2:16 NIV)  And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

If they were free to eat from any tree in the garden then they were free to eat from both trees in the middle of the garden. Though it resulted in the death of all mankind it was not a sin against God to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.