Can We Prove the Trinity in the Bible?

 

T

he word Trinity is a compound word supposedly created by the church father Tertullian (160-225 AD). He invented the word to combat a man named Praxeus who promoted the Monarchian heresy. The prefix Tri means three. The suffix nity is shorthand for the word unity meaning one. In regard to God, He is one God manifested in three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Many argue that Christians worship three gods[1] thus making Christianity a polytheistic religion. Polytheism is a religious system where one worships multiple deities. Christianity is monotheistic; we worship one God only.

In Deuteronomy 6:4 it says, “Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord He is One!” The Hebrew word Elohim in Genesis 1:1 tell us that our God is plural in person and one in essence. The word Elohim is a compound word. El means God. The im suffix indicates a plural. An example would be a cherub is one angel, but cherubim indicate two or more angels. The name Elohim is the most common name used for God. It is used over 2500 times in the OT.[2] The primary meaning of the name Elohim is one of strength or power of effect. Elohim is the all powerful God. The Creator and sustainer of the universe and supreme judge of the earth.

When we try to rationalize the Triune God, we cannot. It is a mystery. There are no human comparisons one can make to explain the Lord’s Triune nature. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-powerful. They always work together in harmony.

All three persons of the Godhead were involved in creation

Genesis 1:1 tells us in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Verse three tells us the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. But where does the Son come in? John 1:3 tells us by the Word (Logos /Christ) was everything made. And without Him was not anything made that was made. Colossians 1:16 says that by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. In Revelation 4:11 John witnesses heavenly worship by angels and the twenty-four elders saying, “You are worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”

The Godhead was present at Jesus’ baptism

In Matthew 3:16, When He (Christ) had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Clearly, the Trinity is present. Our God is one Lord manifested in three persons.

Jesus mentions the Godhead after His resurrection 

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Again, the Triune God from the lips of Jesus is mentioned, emphasizing the importance the unity, necessity, and power of the entire Godhead.

What is Modalism?

Modalism which was originally called Sabellianism is a heresy that teaches that God is not Triune; He is not three persons. Rather He appears in three modes. Sometimes He appears as the Father, then the Son, and at other times the Holy Spirit. This makes God a quick-change artist – a chameleon.  He has to enter into the closet and change His clothes. This breeds all types of confusion. In modalism, the Father is the Son, and vice versa. The Son is the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the Father and the Son. Modalism makes God a schizophrenic because He is talking to Himself. How can Jesus say My God My God why have you forsaken Me if He is also the Father? That would mean the forsaken and the forsaker are the same person. How can Jesus send the Holy Spirit to believers if He is the Father and the Spirit too? This is the scenario if you draw it out to its illogical conclusion. The best definition of the mystery and beauty of our God is He is one Lord in essence, but three in person. This is not a contradiction. It would be a contradiction if Christians said God is one in person and three in person. Or if we said He is one in essence and three in essence. The finite mind can never fully understand the transcendent truth of the Trinity. Modalism and all its forms were denounced as heresy at the council of Nicea in 325 A.D. The Trinity was accepted as Church doctrine at that same council.

Modalism is still alive in the Oneness (Jesus Only) Pentecostal denomination. Modalism is very dangerous because it attacks the very nature of God Himself.

 Cleary our God is Triune. Christians are not polytheists or tritheits. Although the word Trinity does not appear in scripture, it does not negate its reality in it.

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[1] The worship of three gods is called tritheism.

[2] https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=19005

The Book of Jonah

                                                                The Reluctant and Angry Prophet

The name Jonah means dove. The Bible says Jonah was from a town named Gath-Hepher near Nazareth. This town according to Joshua 19:13 was in the tribal land of Zebulun in the north country. Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II king of Israel (793-753 B.C.) according to 2 Kings 14:25. This would make him an eighth century prophet. God commanded Jonah to go east to Nineveh the capital city in Assyria and prophesy against it. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament told to travel to a foreign nation to prophesy. Jonah refused and decided to travel far west to Tarshish which scholars claimed was in the region of Spain. Jonah simply wanted to get as far away from Nineveh as he could.

A brief history of the Assyrians

The nation Assyria gets its name from Asshur the son of Shem (Gen 10:22). Assyria was located on the west bank of the Tigris River which today is northern Iraq.[1] The original name of the region given by the Greeks was Mesopotamia which means land between two rivers. The Bible says Nimrod built Nineveh (Gen 10:11) which was the capital city of Assyria. The Assyrians were brutal warriors. They not only defeated their enemies, but they also mercilessly tortured their victims by dismembering them, impaling their naked bodies on stakes through the ribs, and beheading them and stacking their heads on stakes like totem poles as way of humiliation. They would also flay their enemies’ bodies and put their skins on walls. They bragged about burning their victims’ small children.

They wrote inscriptions and created countless reliefs displaying images of their military victories and barbarities. These brutalities served as murals on Assyrian palaces. The time of Jonah was during the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The first Assyrian king to deal with Israel was Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C.) He received tribute from wicked King Ahab (874-853 B.C.) the husband of Jezebel, and King Jehu (841-814 B.C.) Assyrian King Pul aka Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.) demanded and received tribute from Menahem King of Israel (752-742 B.C.) -1000 silver talents[2] which translates to 37.5 tons or 75,000 lbs. (2 Kings 15:19-20). The tribute money provided peace and protection of Menahem’s brief reign. Assyrian King Sargon II (722-705 B.C.) defeated the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. He displaced the northern tribes and exiled them to eastern territories (2 Kings 17:5-33). According to Assyrian records, they exiled 27,290 Hebrews. Sargon replaced the northern territory called Samaria with foreigners. They intermarried with Hebrews which produced a mixed group of people called Samaritans. The Hebrews / Jews of Jesus’ day hated Samaritans (Matt 10:5; Luke 10:29-37; John 4:9). It was during the end of the seventh century after the ministry of Jonah that Assyria began to decline in power. Assyrian King Sinsarruiskun (627-612 B.C.) and the city of Nineveh were eventually defeated in 612 B.C. by King Nabopolassar of Babylon (625-605 B.C.), the father of Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C.) The prophet Nahum predicts Nineveh’s destruction.

Now one can understand why Jonah did not want to travel to Nineveh and pronounce a message of doom against the city. He hated the city. They were bitter enemies of Israel. He knew of the brutalities of the Assyrians and wanted nothing to do with them.

Assyrians Kings that mostly likely reigned during the prophetic ministry of Jonah

 

 

             

 

Chapter 1 – Jonah’s disobedience and attempt to run from God

The Lord commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to that great city. Jonah, as I indicated earlier, refuses and decides to go the seaport of Joppa (modern day Jaffa), pay the fare, and gets on a ship headed to Tarshish. Immediately God causes a tempest on the sea. The men who are expert sailors never seen a storm like this are terrified and began to cry out to their gods to no avail. Jonah who is sleep in the bottom is awakened by the captain who tells him cry out to your God hoping he may calm the storm and save them.

The sailors decide to cast lots. Casting lots was an ancient way to make decisions and perhaps implicate perpetrators. Casting lots is like rolling dice or flipping a coin. One is relying on fate. The Bible never indicates what objects were used. The lot fell on Jonah. In this case God determined the lot would fall on Jonah since he was the cause behind the sailors’ fear. Jonah was running from the Lord in disobedience. The sailors asked Jonah where he was from, what nation he belonged to and what his occupation was. Once Jonah revealed who he was why they were in trouble was because of him.

In terror they cried to the Lord begging Him not to punish them for Jonah’s sin. Jonah told them to throw him overboard so the sea would be calm. First, they attempted to sail back to the land. But when the storm continued to rage, they threw Jonah overboard and the sea was calm. The sailors offered a sacrifice and took vows. A huge fish swallows Jonah where he dwells in its belly for 3 days and nights.

Commentary

When we do not obey God, we may put innocent people at risk of harm like our family and friends. Always be mindful of your actions so that others do not become collateral damage because of your sins. Because Jonah was initially selfish, he risked the lives of pagan sailors who proved to be more righteous than him. What Jonah also learned, as we will discover as we follow his journey is that no one can run away from God. If things are going wrong in your life, it may be you are in disobedience to what God has commanded you to do. Repent and be restored to God.

 

Chapter 2 – Jonah prays while in the belly of the fish

Jonah thanks God for his deliverance. Without God causing the fish to swallow him, he would have drowned. Jonah does say, “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried” (vs 2). Sheol is the Hebrew word for hell or the grave. Jonah knew God rescued him from sure death. He didn’t realize God had a prepared a fish to swallow him he expected to drown. Once he was miraculously preserved in the belly of the fish, he thanked God and said he would pay what he vowed (vs 9).

Commentary

It was as if Jonah was dead in the belly of the fish. He was cut off from the world and dwelt in darkness for three days and nights. Jonah did the only thing he could do and that was cry out to the Lord. The only help he had was from the Lord. The Lord is the only help any of us have. Once Jonah acknowledged this, God caused the fish to belch Jonah out on dry land.

 

Chapter 3 – Jonah preaches to Nineveh and the whole city repents

The Lord commands Jonah a second time to travel to Nineveh. Jonah obeys. It is a three-day journey and Jonah travels on foot. When he arrives, he utters eight words, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed” (vs 4). All the people believed God’s word. The King proclaimed a fast, took off his royal clothes, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes to express his grief for the nation’s sins. The king commanded everyone to fast, put on sackcloth, sit in ashes and afflict their souls. From the greatest to the least of them. This even included the animals (vv 5-9). King commanded all to cry out to God and confess their sins. God saw their contrition and did not harm them because they were sorry for their sins and begged for mercy.

Commentary

The eight words above are the only recorded prophetic words we have of him speaking. It is not in the length of the message or the style and personality or charm of the messenger, but only in the power of God (Romans 1:16). The most powerful city on earth at that time repented at the preaching of Jonah who at first refused to go. What God needed Jonah to see was that he loved all people – event the vilest of sinners. And the Ninevites definitely fit that category.

 

Chapter 4 – Jonah is angry with God because He forgave his enemies

Jonah is angry at the Lord because He showed mercy to the Ninevites. Jonah reveals the reason why he never wanted to go to Nineveh, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was in my country? Therefore, I fled to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”  God asks Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry” (vv 1-5)?

Jonah left and sat outside the city, prepared a shady place to sit to see if perhaps God may change his mind and destroy the Ninevites anyway. His insatiable desire for their destruction was deep seeded. God caused a plant to grow to cover Jonah’s head which he was happy for. In the morning God caused a worm to destroy the plant. God also sent a strong east wind to blow which exposed the sun which beat on Jonah’s head. This made him so tired that he began to complain and asked to die. God asked him a second time, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah said yes, I should be angry even to death!

God told Jonah you cared more about a plant that you had nothing to do with that grew and died in one night. Here is the moral of the whole story, “And should I not have pity on Nineveh that great city in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand children who do not know between their left and right hand along with much livestock?”

I could imagine God saying to Jonah, “Are you serious right now my son? You love the fact I am merciful to you, but you hate the fact that I am merciful to your enemies who repented?”

Commentary

The book ends on that cliff hanger question.

So, all along Jonah did not want to travel to Nineveh because he knew there was a chance God would spare his enemies whom he hated with a passion. Jonah would have been content to have them destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. Jonah is like any other ungrateful sinner; they want mercy for themselves, but not for others. They want God to forgive them of their sins, but not forgive those they hate. Jonah learned the hard way that God is not a respecter of persons. As the apostle Peter learned at Cornelius the Roman Centurion’s house, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35).

Jonah allowed his sinful anger to cloud his judgment. He hated the Ninevites for their wickedness and desired for them to repent (while others may argue he only desired their destruction). When they did repent, he is even more enraged and desires to die. Here is another reality Jonah had to face: Nineveh repented with just eight words from Jonah's lips. God through his prophets had been preaching to the nations of Israel and Judah for centuries yet they refused to repent. An unchosen pagan nation received forgiveness and his own people were apostate. This made Jonah burn with jealousy. He did want God to spare Nineveh.

Nineveh believed and feared God and worked righteousness when they heard the words of Jonah. It is a shame that Jonah despised his prophetic office and preferred to die than live because he hated his enemies so much. Let me be clear, the Ninevites deserved to be wiped out for their wickedness and would have been had they not repented. As I mentioned above, the next generation of Ninevites were destroyed due to their unrepentance. Nahum was the prophetic voice during that later generation.

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[1] Iraq may it gets its name from the Sumerian name Uruk (Biblical Erech)

[2] In the Bible one silver talent was equal to 75 pounds. As of this writing (11.23.23)

an ounce of silver on the market is worth $24.07. The amount Tiglath-Pileser

collected would be nearly 29 million dollars today.

If there is no hell...

On November 18, 2023, I saw a YouTube clip of two men, E. Dewey Smith, and Tim Rogers. Two men I never heard of before discussing the matter of hell. They concluded that hell is not a literal place, but rather hell is  based on bad choices in your life. In other words, you create your own hell here on earth. They believe this is what the Bible teaches. If that is true, then Jesus who described hell more than anyone is a liar. I want to attempt to exposit as well as I can why their and so many others view of hell is tragic. There are several implications that must be examined if hell is not a real place, but just allegory.

 

Implication #1 – If there is no hell, where did the countless souls go who died in their sins when they rejected Christ?

Implication #2 – If there is no hell, why should we believe there is a literal heaven.

Implication #3 – If there is no hell, where will the devil, the beast and false prophet, the demons and wicked angels end up at the end of time?

Implication #4 – If there is no hell, what is the purpose of the Great White Throne Judgment?

Implication #5 – If there is no hell, why believe any of the Bible is real?

Implication #6 – If there is no hell, there can be no doctrine of sin.

I only listed six. There are so many more questions I could have added.

Preachers who do not teach on the doctrine of hell are unfaithful cowards. If one does not teach all the counsel of God, especially the uncomfortable parts, you should step down from the pulpit immediately! You’re not fit to lead God’s people. We cannot teach on a curve. That person has proven that they are unfaithful shepherds. They do not love the truth or the people of God. They also do not love the unsaved.

The problem with most people is that we do not understand the Holiness of God verses the wickedness of man. These two truths we must internalize or else we will continue to minimize the realization of both at best, or totally ignore the two realities (which most of the world does now) at worst.

If we learn how depraved we are against how perfect, holy, and righteous God is, we will begin to loathe[1] ourselves and fear God in a way that is reverent. Sadly, the world reveres itself and hates God.

The following passages clearly explain the current heart condition of the unregenerate man.

Genesis 6:5, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim each his own (italics added for emphasis) goodness, but who can find a faithful man.”

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?”

Romans 3:10-12 says, “As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no not one.”

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags.”

John 3:19 Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Men loved darkness rather than light because his deeds are evil.”

Matthew 23:33 Jesus talking to the religious leaders because of their evil said, “Serpents! Brood of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of hell?”

I believe God’s report on the disposition of man. Whose report will you believe my friend?

The above references clearly reveal that mankind from a divine perspective is not good but purely evil and deserving of hell. It astounds me that men who claim to be preachers of the gospel will not teach the doctrine of hell. We do not get to twist the Bible to our whim because certain texts of scripture offend us. Teaching about the reality of hell is most loving when combined with the good news that one can repent of their sins, trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ and receive eternal life and avoid hell forever; that is the best news of all time.

I will submit to the reader that if you are attending a Church that does not teach on the horrors of hell and the need for repentance because the Pastor does not want to offend anyone, you are dealing with a false teacher. A wolf and sheep’s clothing. Get far away from that place! Your eternal life depends on it.

These false teachers do not trust God or His Word to perform the conviction in a spiritually dead person’s soul. A person that is unsaved does not need to feel good about themselves; they need to feel terrible about themselves. Why? Because their lifestyle is an affront to God and the Lord’s wrath abides on them (John 3:36). Teaching the admittedly uncomfortable doctrine of hell is needed in order to incite godly fear in the sinner so that they are aware of their rebellious lifestyle against their Maker. Then the faithful preacher can soften his tone and language by sharing the good news - that God desires their repentance so that He can forgive their sins and received them into His glorious kingdom. All sinners MUST come to God on His terms. Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

The Pastor never does his congregants or the unsaved justice by sanitizing the message of hell by lying about it. We must share it with all its razor-sharp edges so that it cuts deep and bleeds the soul. It is designed to hurt, upset, and terrify us. It should make a person feel sick to their stomach. Once the sinner is an utter despair and they see their sin for what it really is – exceedingly and disgustingly sinful against a Holy and righteous God; if he or she has any common sense, they will cry out to God and beg for His forgiveness for their wretched lives. The wonderful thing is God is waiting with His arms open wide to receive whoever believes in Christ.

Jesus said this on Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me all who are labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and humble at heart, and you find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

“Who is a God like You, pardoning Iniquity, and passing over transgression of the remnant of His heritage. He does not retain anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).

“I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

You see by not preaching about the horrors and reality of hell, a person is not given the opportunity to experience true contrition the way God desires for them to. Their sin is not exposed because the charlatan will not teach sin since he denies the reality of hell. Sin and hell are mother and daughter; their daddy is the devil. Sin and hell are mankind’s enemies and must be stopped by the Gospel of grace or sin will abound because the preacher decided to keep silent and sleep with the enemy (hell) [Romans 5:20-21].

Paul when he was speaking to the elders of Ephesus upon his departure to Jerusalem said, “For that reason I testify to you on this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and the plan of God” (Acts 20:26-27). Paul held nothing back. That is the way all ministers of the gospel must be.

The hell the faithless preacher said does not exist will be the hell he will experience lest he repents.

Below are older articles I wrote on hell:

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2015/05/is-hell-real-place.html?view=sidebar

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-necessity-of-hell.html?view=sidebar

Here Is the link regarding the discussion between E. Dewey Smith and Tim Rogers who were talking about hell. You will want to start at the 15:40 mark of the video if you do not want to watch the entire thing which is slightly over 42 minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HKwRdS9ks

Great article and video on hell from www.gotquestions.org

https://www.gotquestions.org/loving-God-send-someone-hell.html  

Singer Tim Rogers said that Hell is an Imaginary place and a fairy tale. Check this clip out around the 33:25 mark of the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrzBJTyd6hg

 

 

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[1] To read about loathing reference Ezekiel 36:24-33

Are We Experiencing the Fulfilling of Joel 2:28-31?

                                              Has God Poured Out His Spirit On All Flesh?

Joel 2:28-31 says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions; and also, upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord.”

Part of these verses have been partially fulfilled, that is verse twenty-eight. Peter quoted the above verses in Acts 2:16-20 on the Day of Pentecost when about 120 believers were gathered waiting for the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit. Now, when it says your sons and daughters shall prophesy, what does that mean? Many people believe it to mean that we will be able to “decree and declare.”[1] That is a very popular phrase in the Church today. In other words, many people claim they have a new word from the Lord in addition to what God has already declared in His Word. In order to know what the scripture is saying, we must always define our terms. The word prophesy here is the Hebrew word nābu. Prophesy here simply means to speak God’s word. It does not have to include a predictive element. So, whenever someone is speaking God’s revealed Word (italics added for emphasis), they are prophesying. This can only happen by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the text says your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions, this could be making reference to dreams and visions that the apostles saw like Peter had in Acts 10; where while he was praying, he was put into a trance, and he saw a sheet come down from heaven with animals that were unclean (Acts 10:9-16). There is also the apostle John who saw numerous visions in the book of Revelation of currents events of his time in chapters 1-3 regarding the seven Churches, and future events in chapters 4-22. In other words, the dreams had significance (e.g., Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams in Daniel chapters 2 & 4).

God’s Spirt in Old Testament times was not in or on many people. The Spirit of God could leave a person; like He did with King Saul due to his disobedience and rejection as king. (1 Sam 16:14). God’s Spirit left Samson when his hair was shaved for, he was Nazarite (Judges 16:17-20). When David sinned with Bathsheba, he in the fifty first Psalm pleaded with the Lord that God would not take His Holy Spirit away from him (Psalm 51:11). The Holy Spirit’s presence was sovereignly bestowed upon a person by God and was contingent upon that person’s obedience in order for the Holy Spirit to remain.

In these last days, God has done something new. Jesus promised to the apostles directly and all believers by extension to the present time, He would send us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit that would dwell with us, forever (John 14:16-17). Part of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost, God’s Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. It’s not just on Kings and the nobility that have the Holy Spirit, it’s all who have placed their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

Ephesians 1:13-14 says when we believed we were sealed by the Holy Spirit. This means Jesus told the truth when He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit once He returned to heaven (John 14:16-17).

The last part of Joel that Peter discusses is, “I will show wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, blood, fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord.”

These supernatural phenomena will happen during the time of the Tribulation leading in to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 6:12-17 – John sees a vision of the end times. He records, “And I saw when (an angel) opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood; and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casts, her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?”’

These six verses fulfill verses thirty and thirty-one of Joel 2 which are for the future. Verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine were fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and are continuing to be fulfilled today.

As an aside, the reason the world is not as bad now as it will get in the future is because God’s Holy Spirit is here through His Church. God’s Spirit dwells in every true believer. When the rapture comes and the Church is removed from the earth, Satan himself will rule this earth and God’s just wrath will fall like it never has in human history.

Where do you want to end up? None of us have much time left.

WAKE UP CHURCH!

Do this, knowing this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep (of spiritual complacency); for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed (in Christ). The night (this present evil age) is almost gone, and the day (of Christ’s return) is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the full armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves and honorably as in the (light of) day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision (nor even think about gratifying) the flesh regarding its improper desires.

-Romans 13:11-14 (Amplified version).

Think about it, if Paul believed Christ’s return was near 1900 years ago, how much more should we be on high alert? It is time to check ourselves, Amen?!

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[1] Decree and declare is another way of desiring to speak things into existence. Many

believe our words have creative manifesting power which they do not.

Only God has the power to create with His words.

 

Can You Teach Someone To Speak In Tongues?

 

Whether one believes tongues is for today, or if you believe the gift has ceased, no one can teach another how to speak in Biblical tongues. One can claim to teach someone to speak in the “tongues” of today because it is gibberish masquerading as authentic tongues. The word for tongues is the Greek word glossa where we get the English word glossary which means language or speech. For some bizarre illogical reason those that engage in this practice believe they are praying to God in their “heavenly or private prayer language” (1 Cor 13:1). There is no support for that in scripture.

What about 1 Corinthians 14:2?

The above verse says that those that speak in a tongue speak not unto men but unto God. Many cite this verse to prove that we can speak to God in tongues privately. There are a couple of views regarding what this verse could mean:

1.      Some scholars say the tongues spoken in verse two is a pagan Corinthian ecstatic utterance and not the genuine gift of tongues. The reason may be because of the verse that says, “those that speak in a tongue do not speak to men, but to God. (Some say that it should be translated a god instead of God). That is the opposite of Acts 2 – the speakers on the Day of Pentecost spoke in tongues so the Jews travelling to Jerusalem from different parts of the world could hear them speak the wonderful works of God. Why would the gift change from public to private use?

2.  Some believe this tongue is separate from the gift in Acts 2. All Christians can exercise this gift described in 1 Corinthians 14:2 as a private prayer language.  I disagree. Tongues have no benefit to those who hear it if it is not interpreted. That is why the gift cannot be used for private use to edify oneself. When tongues are interpreted or translated all can be edified (1 Cor 14:13).

1 Corinthians 12:30 says all do not have the gift of tongues. It does not make sense to believe someone can teach others to speak in tongues when 1 Corinthians 12:11 says it is the Spirit that distributes the gifts to all as He chooses (italics added for emphasis).

1 Corinthians 13:8 says that tongues will cease to operate. Those that are Cessationists[1] believe tongues ceased after the apostolic age. The following quotes are from men in Church history that declared the gift of tongues has ceased with the death of the apostles. I will cite the source of these quotes.

1.      Augustine (354-430) – In the earliest times, The Holy Spirit fell upon them that believe and they spoke with tongues, which they had not learned, as the Spirit gave them utterance. These were signs adapted to the time. For there was this betokening of the Holy Spirit in all tongues to show that the gospel of God was to run through all tongues over the whole earth. That thing that was done for a sign, and it passed away.[2]

2.      Martin Luther (1483-1546) – In the early Church the Holy Spirit was sent forth in visible form. He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (Matt 3:16), and in the likeness of fire upon the apostles and other believers (Acts 2:3). This visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit was necessary to the establishment of the early Church, as were also the miracles that accompanied the gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul explained the purpose of these miraculous gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 14:22, Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. Once the Church had been established and properly advertised by these miracles, the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost ceased.

Whenever you hear anyone boast that has something by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and it has no basis in God’s Word, no matter what it may be, tell them that this work is of the devil. Whatever is not from the scripture is from the devil himself.[3]

3.      Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952) – As there were offices extraordinary (apostles and prophets) at the beginning of our dispensation. So, there were gifts extraordinary; and as successors were not appointed for the former, so as continuance was never intended for the latter. The gifts were dependent upon the officers: see Acts 8:14-21; 10:44; 19:6; Rom 1:11; Gal 3:5; 2 Tim 1:6. We no longer have the apostles[4] (italics mine) with us and therefore the supernatural gifts (the communication of which was an essential part of the sign gifts of an apostle: 2 Cor 12:12) are absent.

[5]

There are many other men of faith that agree with the above, fyi.

Now because these men from the past are well respected and venerated, does not mean they are right, but I added their quotes for your consideration.

The gift of tongues in the Bible were actual languages supernaturally spoken. The speaker did not know the language. It was a miraculous sign gift – meaning since tongues were for a sign, what did it signify in the first century Church?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:22 said tongues were for a sign to unbelievers (Especially Hebrews). Why did he say that? When an unbeliever or the uniformed entered their assembly and they heard someone speak in their native language praising God and speaking of His wonders, the uninformed or the unbeliever would realize that something miraculous was going on and declare that God was truly among them. For those that did not believe, tongues signified judgment (1 Cor 14:21).

There is this idea that those who speak, sing, or pray in tongues are more spiritual than those who do not. They believe they have reached another dimension in the Spirit higher than those of us who do not speak in tongues. If a linguist were to record what they hear at a Charismatic Church service where everyone is speaking in “tongues” at the same time which violates scripture (1 Cor 14:26-28), because they are caught up and feel they can’t speak in their native tongue anymore, how much of those “tongues” would the linguist be able to translate into an actual language? I would say the chances are slim and none. Why? The majority of what we hear is gibberish, non-intelligible speech. It’s a learned behavior that is not beneficial at best and could be very dangerous at worst as some people may be unwittingly speaking incantations or unknown curses that certainly are not from the Holy Spirit, but a demonic spirit.

Please be careful!

Remember, Paul had to write to the Church of Corinth regarding tongues and the other sign gifts because they were abusing the gifts and not exercising love to one another (1 Cor 13:1; 14:1). The gifts of the Spirit are not to be flaunted as if you acquired them on your own, but rather use them for the benefit of His body since God sovereignly granted them to the Church.

The YouTube clips below are examples of what people are doing today and saying it is the gift of tongues.

https://www.youtu2be.com/watch?v=HEvOXCMvA5E&t=15s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paXSB1g7XkM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHECI-ZHP6A&t=13s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XAK0K0z-hA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLisL4DPXCs&t=50s

 

Older blog posts I have written on tongues:

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2011/10/speaking-in-tongues-part-i.html?view=sidebar

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2011/10/speaking-in-tongues-part-ii.html?view=sidebar

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2013/07/has-gift-of-tongues-ceased-second-look.html?view=sidebar

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2017/11/is-there-such-thing-as-heavenly-language.html?view=sidebar

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2014/12/continuationism-vs-cessationsim.html?view=sidebar

 

 

 

Articles on tongues from www.gotquestions.org   

https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=21448

https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=60454

https://www.gotquestions.org/gift-of-tongues.html

Here are blog posts regarding who qualified as an apostle and prophet:

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2015/02/apostles-and-prophets-part-i.html

https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2015/02/apostles-and-prophets-part-ii.html

 

 

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[1] A Cessationist is one that believes the sign gifts such as tongues, healings, miracles, revelatory prophecy and

Knowledge have ceased.

[2] From the book Strange Fire, John Macarthur (Thomas Nelson 2013), pg 252-253

[3] Ibid, pg 253-254

[4] The original apostles were the foundation of the church so there are no modern day apostles (Eph 2:20)

[5] Ibid, pg 260-261

Does Anyone Die Before Their Time?

 

The Bible makes it clear that everyone has an appointment with death. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we are appointed once to die and after this the judgment. Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us there is a time to be born and a time to die. David in Psalm 139:16 said that all the days ordained for me are written in your book before one of them came to be. Job 14:5 says that man days are determined, the number of his months is with you. And you have appointed his bounds that He cannot pass. What are these verses revealing to us? Our life and times were pre-ordained and determined by God.

Our days are interwoven with the providence of God and every decision we will ever make our entire lives. God knew our lives before our conception. This is what God said to Jeremiah when He commissioned him to be a prophet, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God mapped out Jeremiah’s life before he was conceived by his mother. Once Jeremiah’s service to God and nation of Israel was complete, he died. His days and times were predetermined by the Lord.

God through the prophet Isaiah said this, “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient time the things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will do all that please Me, and fulfills my purpose’’’ (Isaiah 46:10, AMP).

Admittedly it is difficult to believe and accept that many people die early. There is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There are babies that die in utero (still born). Millions of people die of disease and starvation while they are very young. Many very healthy people die every day. Thousand die in car accidents and deadly shootings. Didn’t they die before their time?

We from a human point of view we would say yes, but the Bible is clear that no one dies before their time. No one enters heaven or hell early.

Wait a minute! Please explain Ecclesiastes 7:17

Wise King Solomon is giving practical common sense counsel to his readers in Ecclesiastes 7:17. He says, “Do not be overly wicked, and do not be a fool – why die before your time?”  While it is true God has determined when we are born and when we die, it does not negate the human responsibility to live wisely – to not be bent on being evil and foolish.

So, here is a case where many would say the Bible is contradicting itself, again! Not so. The phrase, “Why die before your time is a colloquialism – it means one dies younger than we would expect from a human point of view.  A colloquialism is defined as informal, unfancy, everyday language. You can liken it to the phrase, “When it rains it pours!” When we use that phrase, we are not talking about literal rain. Rather we are talking about problems in our lives that are increasing way more than we would like them to. We are frustrated with all the trials currently in our lives.

So, when we say He or She died before their time, from the human perspective, they died too soon. We’re looking at it strictly from an age and an emotional perspective. That is an understandable and natural reaction for us. But, when we view life from a divine perspective knowing that God has our years in His hands, and knows every decision (which are not predetermined, we make them ourselves), we will ever make, then we understand that NO life no matter how mysterious, tragic and unexplainable its twists and turns is no accident, with God.

God’s ways are indeed higher than ours and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Apostle Paul said it perfectly:

 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord (emphasis added), or who has been His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it would be paid back to Him? For from Him (all things originate), and through Him (all things live and exist) and to Him are all things (directed). To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen (Romans 11:33-36, AMP).

God has never been like us. We need to be more like Him (Psalm 50:21b).

What Is Moralism?

 Moralism is when someone lives by a moral code – whether Biblical or Non-Biblical. Most people in the world are Moralists. Moralists determine for themselves what code of ethics they will live by. For instance, you have many people who do not smoke, drink, or cuss. They give to the hungry, they clothed the naked, they are kind to their neighbors and members in their children’s PTA. I learned from my youngest daughter according to Tik Tok, one cannot use the word suicide for those that take their own lives, or you will get cancelled. One must use the PC phrases and words such as accidental death and un-alive[1]. Saying suicide although true is immoral in Tik Tok-ism. On a human level, moralists are great people. So, when they die will they go to heaven or hell? The non-religious moralist does not believe in a fire and brimstone hell. They have convinced themselves that a loving God would never send anyone to hell; no one is so bad that they deserve to be tortured for eternity right? So, the only conclusion for them is they would go to heaven or a better place after death. The non-religious moralist moral code is based on self-reliance.

Most people in the world’s moralism is described above; give or take a few deeds.

There is also the religious moralist. This person is often a stuck-up prudish snob and legalist. They also have a strict moral code. The problem with them is that they believe everyone has to follow their code of ethics or they can never be truly saved. Women cannot wear pants or make up in Church. If they wear a skirt, it must be below the knees. They have to make sure their pants are not too tight; not caring or realizing people have different body types.  You must speak in tongues, or you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit. If you do not tithe, you’re robbing God, and you will be broke. If you’re not in “divine health” you lack faith and must be in sin. You cannot go to the movies or listen to secular music for that is worldly. The religious moralist may or may not be saved. But because they adhere to their strict moral code of do’s and don’ts, they believe that is what the Christian life is all about.

You see the problem with both views is they focus on the externals, and not on the condition of the heart. The first group ignores God entirely and focuses on their works. Without a change of heart which can only happen when one is born again, they will never please God. The Bible says the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight (Proverbs 15:8). God is disgusted with the deeds of evil people. No matter how benevolent it seems to them, God is repulsed by them because they come from an impure heart. Their “good” deeds are the sacrifice of Cain (Genesis 4:5-7).

The second group, the religious moralist, are guilty of combining genuine faith and tradition. Their theology is a hybrid of faith plus works. This makes for a Good Catholic, but a bad Christian. Paul rebukes the Galatians for this behavior. In Galatians one we read, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel (italics added for emphasis), which is not another; but there are some (the religious moralist) who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you that what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9).

Paul also had to rebuke Peter to his face regarding his hypocrisy; stating that Gentile Christians had to obey the laws of Moses in order to be saved. In verse sixteen of Galatians 2, Paul told Peter that no man is justified by the works of the law.

Faith in Christ alone is what justifies us.

The child of God must be moral and holy for the Lord commands that we are (Lev 11:44; 19:2; 1 Pet 1:16). Morality and holiness is post salvation. Living a sanctified life is a true mark of a genuine believer. It is allowing our light to shine so that men may see our good works and that we glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

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[1] The word un-alive is a euphemism for death.