G-d has intended that his Laws will reveal who the Messiah is.
In Torah, he gave Moses the promise that he was going to a raise up a Jew to replace Moses Deuteronomy 18:15-22.
In Genesis 3:15. G-d uttered a prophecy and promise that he would send a seed from woman to overcome Satan, evil and sin.
In Leviticus 23, he institutes festivals and holy convocations to reveal his solution to man's problems. Day of Atonement he declared would be the time when he would forgive men of their sins. He would not hold men to be guilty for their sins, but shall find a scape goat to impute the sins on.
In Psalm 32:2, the scriptures implies that there is a time when men will be tried, and some will not be considered guilty.
The scriptures however have the purpose of identifying the times and seasons and when the prophecies of G-d will be fulfilled.
According to Apostle Paul, the Gentile missionary, the Law points to the revelation of the Messiah, his work and the (Galations 3:23-25). The Law also has the purpose of showing sin and declaring what wrong is, so that we can identify who is doing the will of G-d, from whom are not doing the will of G-d.
Because we know sin and the will of G-d via revelation through his word, we can identify the Messiah who comes in his name and is obedient to all his commands and fulfills his revealed criteria and requirements for qualification.
Thus the Law has not been done away with, but it reveals the one who will lead us into the new covenant with G-d; the one who will guide us into our destiny. The one that will lead humanity into the promise that G-d gave Abraham, even the rest in the Promised land.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The importance of natural and spiritual laws
In a discussion with my wife, who keep saying that logic cannot be used with the Word of G-d, I felt impressed to write these thoughts and share them.
G-d has created the world to operate under both spiritual and natural laws. These laws govern the way things are in the world. They make life predictable. They make man's existence predictable.
Once we discover the laws, we can count on them to operate on our behalf. For instance, we know that if we plant a seed of peas, according to natural law, when it sprouts and grows, at harvest time we should see and reap peas.
G-d has also made to operate in spiritual laws, for which there are consequences for the violation thereof. However he has also made provision for those who have violated those laws to get deliverance from the consequences thereof. For example, if someone murders another person for the first time, then their spirit is restless and they cannot have peace. However if that person calls on G-d (or the Messiah, Jesus) for forgiveness, then he may permit the person to receive peace.
Just like the queen or the governor in the British constitutional system and her commonwealth, G-d reserves the power under law to pardon those who breaks the law.
G-d therefore uses the Laws to reveal that he is predictable and change not (Malachi 3:6).
He uses the Law to teach that he is the same G-d yesterday, today and forever ( Hebrews 13:8).
He indicates that he is Present continuous - existing out of time, hence he does not change with time and is not limited by time (Exodus 3:14).
Thus, G-d wants us to base our faith on his predictable words, promises and provisions. He wants what he has revealed unto us to shape our expectations, aspirations or hope - especially our faith. Because of G-d's promises, we can expect certain outcomes. Becuase of G-d's revelation, we can expect certain outcomes.
Yet G-d reserve the right to change the outcomes based on conditions which he reveals. It is based on these conditions that G-d is able to suspend natural and even spiritual law.
G-d has created the world to operate under both spiritual and natural laws. These laws govern the way things are in the world. They make life predictable. They make man's existence predictable.
Once we discover the laws, we can count on them to operate on our behalf. For instance, we know that if we plant a seed of peas, according to natural law, when it sprouts and grows, at harvest time we should see and reap peas.
G-d has also made to operate in spiritual laws, for which there are consequences for the violation thereof. However he has also made provision for those who have violated those laws to get deliverance from the consequences thereof. For example, if someone murders another person for the first time, then their spirit is restless and they cannot have peace. However if that person calls on G-d (or the Messiah, Jesus) for forgiveness, then he may permit the person to receive peace.
Just like the queen or the governor in the British constitutional system and her commonwealth, G-d reserves the power under law to pardon those who breaks the law.
G-d therefore uses the Laws to reveal that he is predictable and change not (Malachi 3:6).
He uses the Law to teach that he is the same G-d yesterday, today and forever ( Hebrews 13:8).
He indicates that he is Present continuous - existing out of time, hence he does not change with time and is not limited by time (Exodus 3:14).
Thus, G-d wants us to base our faith on his predictable words, promises and provisions. He wants what he has revealed unto us to shape our expectations, aspirations or hope - especially our faith. Because of G-d's promises, we can expect certain outcomes. Becuase of G-d's revelation, we can expect certain outcomes.
Yet G-d reserve the right to change the outcomes based on conditions which he reveals. It is based on these conditions that G-d is able to suspend natural and even spiritual law.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Truth about Truth
Messenger: Lorenzo King
Date: February 21, 2009
Venue: Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church
I attended the Adventist Fellowship on Sabbath. There I heard free uplifting music and heard the lady welcoming everyone to their "community of G-d's children".
Church for me now is a place to:
While I did not receive much from the day's worship services, I did benefit and value the flier handed out to me, with some thoughts of the pastor, Lorenzo King.
I think he wrote some brilliant ideas, worthy to be shared here. (His wife is a Librarian, so I was not at all surprised that sufficient bibliographic data was provided on the flier for me to prepare a citation). The citation is as follows:
Lorenzo R. King. "The Truth About Truth" The Write of A King Vol. 2, No. 25 (February 21, 2009).
King in his commentary indicates that there are three truths about the "truth". First, he argues that the Devil tells truth with an agenda of furthering his cause (Mark 5:7-8; Acts 16:16-17; Genesis 3:5,22).
I would add that the Devil also tells the truth to condemn and accuse the brethren (Zechariah 3:1-2; Jude 9; Revelation 12:10).
The second point about truth raised by King is that truth must be shared responsibly. He argues that there is no truth or Biblical support to the adage: "speak the truth and speak it ever cause it what it will." He said not all truths must be revealed, as sometimes the revelation of truth can be harmful to persons whom the truths have been revealed to. He shows in the scripture that there are a number of times, when G-d held back truth from humanity knowing that they were either not ready for such truth or are unable to "endure the impact" thereof (John 16:12; Revelation 10:4).
I would also add that Jesus admonishes us that we must not give truth and wisdom to those unworthy of it (Matthew 7:6).
Finally, Pastor King goes on to admonish us that possessing truth can be "dangerous, as such possession of truth can lead to "intolerance and bigotry". He suggests that it hard to remain humble when we have truth that others do not have. People with truth have a responsibility to guard against feelings of "superiority" and "intolerance", while recognizing that possessing truth makes one a servant to those who do not have truth. As one who possess truth we will have to be apostles to those who lack it.
King argues that we who possess truth must not be "arrogant" or practice the "piety of intolerance". According to King, "Enlightened bigotry is worse than ignorant but peaceful coexistence. He cites the example of how Jesus rebuked his disciples for a display of intolerance (Luke 9:51-56).
Date: February 21, 2009
Venue: Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church
I attended the Adventist Fellowship on Sabbath. There I heard free uplifting music and heard the lady welcoming everyone to their "community of G-d's children".
Church for me now is a place to:
- hear free uplifting music
- hear inspirational and motivational speaking
- meet and fellowship with persons who want to improve morally
While I did not receive much from the day's worship services, I did benefit and value the flier handed out to me, with some thoughts of the pastor, Lorenzo King.
I think he wrote some brilliant ideas, worthy to be shared here. (His wife is a Librarian, so I was not at all surprised that sufficient bibliographic data was provided on the flier for me to prepare a citation). The citation is as follows:
Lorenzo R. King. "The Truth About Truth" The Write of A King Vol. 2, No. 25 (February 21, 2009).
King in his commentary indicates that there are three truths about the "truth". First, he argues that the Devil tells truth with an agenda of furthering his cause (Mark 5:7-8; Acts 16:16-17; Genesis 3:5,22).
I would add that the Devil also tells the truth to condemn and accuse the brethren (Zechariah 3:1-2; Jude 9; Revelation 12:10).
The second point about truth raised by King is that truth must be shared responsibly. He argues that there is no truth or Biblical support to the adage: "speak the truth and speak it ever cause it what it will." He said not all truths must be revealed, as sometimes the revelation of truth can be harmful to persons whom the truths have been revealed to. He shows in the scripture that there are a number of times, when G-d held back truth from humanity knowing that they were either not ready for such truth or are unable to "endure the impact" thereof (John 16:12; Revelation 10:4).
I would also add that Jesus admonishes us that we must not give truth and wisdom to those unworthy of it (Matthew 7:6).
Finally, Pastor King goes on to admonish us that possessing truth can be "dangerous, as such possession of truth can lead to "intolerance and bigotry". He suggests that it hard to remain humble when we have truth that others do not have. People with truth have a responsibility to guard against feelings of "superiority" and "intolerance", while recognizing that possessing truth makes one a servant to those who do not have truth. As one who possess truth we will have to be apostles to those who lack it.
King argues that we who possess truth must not be "arrogant" or practice the "piety of intolerance". According to King, "Enlightened bigotry is worse than ignorant but peaceful coexistence. He cites the example of how Jesus rebuked his disciples for a display of intolerance (Luke 9:51-56).
Monday, February 2, 2009
What Ellen G. White missed?
One Sabbath I was reasoning with a brother from United Church of G-d about Seventh Day Adventism. He pointed out to me that Seventh Day Founders arrived at errors in their prophetic interpretation due to the fact that in the time that the Church was started, Israel did not exist.
For those of you who are familiar with SDA history and also are aware of Israel's history, you can see some truth to that. The SDA Church was established in the 1800's, (1844 was not the actual date in which the church was "nominated"). The state of Israel on the other hand was once again established in 1948, after World War II.
Interestingly, Israel that now exists is not the full Israel that the Bible speaks about. In fact, what we call the state of Israel today is actually the kingdom of Judah - consisting of two tribes of Israel, Judah (from which we get the Jews) and Benjamin, with Levites interspersed., as Levites in the Bible do not have any land.
This is how many arrive at the phrase the "Ten lost tribes of Israel"! For more information, I point you to two encyclopaedia articles for reference "Ten Lost Tribes" Wikipedia and "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel" Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
However, Seventh Day Adventist founders, mistakenly adopt a theology that the Church has replaced physical Israel as the Spiritual Israel.
Consequently, all theology about the coming of Christ in 1844 and prophesies concerning Revelation are falsified on that premise.
The woman in Revelation 12 is not the Church, for why would the church give birth to Christ (Rev. 12:5)?
The current leaders of the Church will need to re-examine doctrines based on Miller's claims and prophetic interpretations regarding Revelation in light of what their founders did not see - the physical return of the original kingdom of Israel to the land of Palestine. I will write more on this in a future blog entry.
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/history/index.html.en
"History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church
"Ten Lost Tribes" Wikipeda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ten_lost_tribes.
"Ten Lost Tribes of Israel." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587080/Ten-Lost-Tribes-of-Israel>.
For those of you who are familiar with SDA history and also are aware of Israel's history, you can see some truth to that. The SDA Church was established in the 1800's, (1844 was not the actual date in which the church was "nominated"). The state of Israel on the other hand was once again established in 1948, after World War II.
Interestingly, Israel that now exists is not the full Israel that the Bible speaks about. In fact, what we call the state of Israel today is actually the kingdom of Judah - consisting of two tribes of Israel, Judah (from which we get the Jews) and Benjamin, with Levites interspersed., as Levites in the Bible do not have any land.
This is how many arrive at the phrase the "Ten lost tribes of Israel"! For more information, I point you to two encyclopaedia articles for reference "Ten Lost Tribes" Wikipedia and "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel" Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
However, Seventh Day Adventist founders, mistakenly adopt a theology that the Church has replaced physical Israel as the Spiritual Israel.
Consequently, all theology about the coming of Christ in 1844 and prophesies concerning Revelation are falsified on that premise.
The woman in Revelation 12 is not the Church, for why would the church give birth to Christ (Rev. 12:5)?
The current leaders of the Church will need to re-examine doctrines based on Miller's claims and prophetic interpretations regarding Revelation in light of what their founders did not see - the physical return of the original kingdom of Israel to the land of Palestine. I will write more on this in a future blog entry.
Works Cited
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/history/index.html.en
"History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church
"Ten Lost Tribes" Wikipeda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ten_lost_tribes.
"Ten Lost Tribes of Israel." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587080/Ten-Lost-Tribes-of-Israel>.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Why I support the Jewish State - Israel?
In January 4, 2009, I joined the Facebook group I Support the Israel Defense Forces In Preventing Terror Attacks From Gaza Discussions. I wanted to post what I said via the group about why I took my stand with Israel:
Taking my stand with the physical children of Abraham, and remembering Psalm 122:6. All who support the cause of Jerusalem shall prosper.
G-d will punish all those who when UNPROVOKED seek to hurt this physical nation. Hamas has no just cause for attacking Israel!
From JERUSALEM - the Messiah shall rule the earth and PEACE shall flow out to the entire world!
Let G-d judge and punish Israel, if they have in any way acted in abuse of their powers.
Yet G-d always affirms that a nation has the right to defend itself. It is unfortunate that Hamas has continuously provoked Israel to wrath, that Israel has to shelve all hopes of peace to enter into territory ceded to a Palestinian state in order to secure its borders.
The rulers of nation-state - is given the G-d-given responsibility to secure its citizens. That is the number 1 - responsibility of any government.
Israel and portions of Palestine rightfully belongs to the Jews. G-d sometimes permit others to occupy Israel and portions of Palestine, because the Jews were not faithful to the covenant made with their fathers.
But essentially, G-d has promised Israel (and portions of Palestine) to Jacob's seed, and not to any other family of the earth. His promises will come to pass, for he is not man that he should lie.
Deuteronomy 32:8
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
OR
Numbers 34:12
Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. " 'This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side."
OR
Numbers 34:2
"Command the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries:"
Israel not only has a legal right to exist, but there is a divine intent behind its borders.
The original Christianity were supporters of Israel and Jerusalem.
I am a Christian because a Jew and a sect of Jews explained to Gentiles the will of G-d for the entire world was, including the relevance of Torah and the prophets to non-Jews.
It is ironic that today, some in Christianity had divorced itself from the roots of Judaism.
However in the last days, Jews and Bible believing Christians will unite. We have one book - that the 3 major religions agree on the Torah, the Psalms and the Prophets. We may dispute the others, but even Islam, agree on the promises given to Avraham (Abraham) and his descendants.
In your search for the meaning of life and the questioning of religion, begin where all of us agree. Then ask yourself is the Torah just a religious book or a book for humanity? Is it a book for you?
In Israel and Palestine, humanity can not bring about the peace. It will take the direct intervention of G-d, the Almighty and the promised Messiah. Of course, the Almighty G-d is the land owner. He will settle the dispute of the land.
But he has promised Israel and the entire nations of the earth, that he will give us a ruler that will be JUDGE and settle all disputes, and end all wars.
This is the prophesied Messiah and Messianic Age - revealed in both the Christian and Jewish Scriptures.
Fairness and a change of men's hearts will be a prerequisite for PEACE, from which only he who created all men can bring about.
http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn79/kingdom-of-god.htm
Taking my stand with the physical children of Abraham, and remembering Psalm 122:6. All who support the cause of Jerusalem shall prosper.
G-d will punish all those who when UNPROVOKED seek to hurt this physical nation. Hamas has no just cause for attacking Israel!
From JERUSALEM - the Messiah shall rule the earth and PEACE shall flow out to the entire world!
Let G-d judge and punish Israel, if they have in any way acted in abuse of their powers.
Yet G-d always affirms that a nation has the right to defend itself. It is unfortunate that Hamas has continuously provoked Israel to wrath, that Israel has to shelve all hopes of peace to enter into territory ceded to a Palestinian state in order to secure its borders.
The rulers of nation-state - is given the G-d-given responsibility to secure its citizens. That is the number 1 - responsibility of any government.
Israel and portions of Palestine rightfully belongs to the Jews. G-d sometimes permit others to occupy Israel and portions of Palestine, because the Jews were not faithful to the covenant made with their fathers.
But essentially, G-d has promised Israel (and portions of Palestine) to Jacob's seed, and not to any other family of the earth. His promises will come to pass, for he is not man that he should lie.
Deuteronomy 32:8
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
OR
Numbers 34:12
Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. " 'This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side."
OR
Numbers 34:2
"Command the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries:"
Israel not only has a legal right to exist, but there is a divine intent behind its borders.
The original Christianity were supporters of Israel and Jerusalem.
I am a Christian because a Jew and a sect of Jews explained to Gentiles the will of G-d for the entire world was, including the relevance of Torah and the prophets to non-Jews.
It is ironic that today, some in Christianity had divorced itself from the roots of Judaism.
However in the last days, Jews and Bible believing Christians will unite. We have one book - that the 3 major religions agree on the Torah, the Psalms and the Prophets. We may dispute the others, but even Islam, agree on the promises given to Avraham (Abraham) and his descendants.
In your search for the meaning of life and the questioning of religion, begin where all of us agree. Then ask yourself is the Torah just a religious book or a book for humanity? Is it a book for you?
In Israel and Palestine, humanity can not bring about the peace. It will take the direct intervention of G-d, the Almighty and the promised Messiah. Of course, the Almighty G-d is the land owner. He will settle the dispute of the land.
But he has promised Israel and the entire nations of the earth, that he will give us a ruler that will be JUDGE and settle all disputes, and end all wars.
This is the prophesied Messiah and Messianic Age - revealed in both the Christian and Jewish Scriptures.
Fairness and a change of men's hearts will be a prerequisite for PEACE, from which only he who created all men can bring about.
http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn79/kingdom-of-god.htm
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Israel at War - Time is closing down soon
Israel is at War!
http://www.honestreporting.com/a/gaza2008primer.html
2009 has not even began and we are seeing war.
This is now the season to revisit Bible prophecies. You may wish to begin with Matthew 24.
Trust no one, especially the media. Deception is a major trend in these last days. JESUS in his Mount Olives prophecy tells us to be extremely careful about what we hear and what we see.
He says take heed that no man deceive you (Matt. 24:4), for many deceivers will be out there.
However, many will come "in my [JESUS's] name" (Matt. 24:5).
Satan knows that we will not be deceived by people who are not Christians/Jews. He knows that we will listen to people based on what they profess. He knows that we will not listen to people who are not of our same denomination, beliefs or religious persuasion. So he is going to use someone in the Church or synagogue, even an entire Christian or Jewish movement to deceive us.
http://www.honestreporting.com/a/gaza2008primer.html
2009 has not even began and we are seeing war.
This is now the season to revisit Bible prophecies. You may wish to begin with Matthew 24.
Trust no one, especially the media. Deception is a major trend in these last days. JESUS in his Mount Olives prophecy tells us to be extremely careful about what we hear and what we see.
He says take heed that no man deceive you (Matt. 24:4), for many deceivers will be out there.
However, many will come "in my [JESUS's] name" (Matt. 24:5).
Satan knows that we will not be deceived by people who are not Christians/Jews. He knows that we will listen to people based on what they profess. He knows that we will not listen to people who are not of our same denomination, beliefs or religious persuasion. So he is going to use someone in the Church or synagogue, even an entire Christian or Jewish movement to deceive us.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Reasoning on JESUS's birthday
I just had a talk with a Jehovah's Witness (JW). A pleasant discussion at that. She wanted to give me literature, but I declined saying that I had so much to read and so little time. I therefore offered her the opportunity to summarise one of the articles for me.
She asked me which one, and I decided to choose the article on "When was JESUS born?"
I told her that I already know that he was not born on the 25th of December but I would be interested in hearing the exact date if they had it.
She disappointed me by telling me that they did not have the date, but could show that it was not on December 25th.
We then went on into a discussion about the morality of birthday celebrations.
I agreed with her that it was not moral to celebrate JESUS's birth on the 25th, the same day as a pagan god. However, I disagreed with her about the immorality of celebrating a birthday or a life any at all.
I reassured her that while G-d did not command Christians to celebrate the birth of JESUS - the fact is that JESUS birth was celebrated, and by a number of individuals.
The JW went on to ask why was there not a continuous celebration by his disciples and followers until more than 100 years after.
I then went on to share with her that if they were following the Jewish calendar, which was lunar, they could not regularly have a set day to celebrate a birthday. The day would fluctuate too much.
However, since we today are following a pagan calendar named after Greek and Roman gods, our timing is such that a set day and set time can be commemorated each year.
I also suggested to her, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, that if we were following the Jewish calendar, where there is a timing and season for each activity, then there would be no need to celebrate birthdays. (The JW lady conceded that we are no longer under law, hence no need to follow the Jewish calendar. So I told her that if we are not following the Jewish calendar, hence there is no problem or law against celebrating birthdays via the pagan calendar.)
We left on peaceful terms, and I actually felt blessed from the conversation since we spoke about the Almighty G-d together and his Son. I also left with the realisation that if celebrating birthdays on a pagan calendar is immoral, what is more immoral is to not follow G-d's calendar. Further, there was no command to not celebrate birthdays, but there were explicit commands to keep G-d's sabbaths and convocations.
She asked me which one, and I decided to choose the article on "When was JESUS born?"
I told her that I already know that he was not born on the 25th of December but I would be interested in hearing the exact date if they had it.
She disappointed me by telling me that they did not have the date, but could show that it was not on December 25th.
We then went on into a discussion about the morality of birthday celebrations.
I agreed with her that it was not moral to celebrate JESUS's birth on the 25th, the same day as a pagan god. However, I disagreed with her about the immorality of celebrating a birthday or a life any at all.
I reassured her that while G-d did not command Christians to celebrate the birth of JESUS - the fact is that JESUS birth was celebrated, and by a number of individuals.
The JW went on to ask why was there not a continuous celebration by his disciples and followers until more than 100 years after.
I then went on to share with her that if they were following the Jewish calendar, which was lunar, they could not regularly have a set day to celebrate a birthday. The day would fluctuate too much.
However, since we today are following a pagan calendar named after Greek and Roman gods, our timing is such that a set day and set time can be commemorated each year.
I also suggested to her, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, that if we were following the Jewish calendar, where there is a timing and season for each activity, then there would be no need to celebrate birthdays. (The JW lady conceded that we are no longer under law, hence no need to follow the Jewish calendar. So I told her that if we are not following the Jewish calendar, hence there is no problem or law against celebrating birthdays via the pagan calendar.)
We left on peaceful terms, and I actually felt blessed from the conversation since we spoke about the Almighty G-d together and his Son. I also left with the realisation that if celebrating birthdays on a pagan calendar is immoral, what is more immoral is to not follow G-d's calendar. Further, there was no command to not celebrate birthdays, but there were explicit commands to keep G-d's sabbaths and convocations.
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