Revelation

I had the pleasure of speaking with someone recently that instructed me that the Bible from Genesis to Revelation was the “Whole council of God”. I enjoy hearing from people even if I disagree with them. Many times it will lead me into further study or cause me to ask questions of myself to be sure that I can defend my own position. I seldom reply back to the person because it leads to argument and strife and I don’t want to engage in that. Someone once told me a little saying “a person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still”. I believe that was a wise little rhyme and it has stuck with me. Very often, especially on the internet people will get into long back and forth arguments that only serve to cause anger. Rarely is there any light shed on the question at hand. Also in my estimation intentionally causing offense to a brother or sister in the Lord is a sin. Arguments tend to get passionate and the tongue is an unruly member. So, I prefer not to engage in online debate. Yes, I am aware of the passages that say we should correct each other in love but that hardly works in a face to face situation, much less in an on line one. So, I mostly give a brief word or two but then I move on or I completely ignore the comment. Occasionally though I am spurred by something someone says and I feel the need to write about it. This is one of those times.

I will not try to impress you with my theological credentials or how learned, spiritual or well read I am. The world is full of people better educated, smarter and more well read that I am. I do not denigrate education or practical experience by those that have devoted their lives to the study of scripture. I greatly admire those that pursue understanding. I admire greater still those that through a life lived in service to YHVH, through his Son our Messiah Yeshua, have been granted a spirit of love. Much can be learned from these people. I can only offer you the things that I believe YHVH’s Holy Spirit has revealed to me, in the hope that they will bring you closer to Him. It is my greatest desire that my words help and bless you. If they offend you in any way I ask your forgiveness. 

The subject of the Bible is one of those subjects that is polarizing amongst Christians. I am acquainted with folks that have a range of opinions. Some people only accept the Torah (Books of Moses) as infallible, others accept the Torah and the prophets, others accept the Torah, the prophets and the Gospels, Others only the “new Testament”. I know others that believe some books were left out like the book of Enoch and The Shepherd of Hermas. The Roman Catholic Church has several more books in their Bible (The Apocrypha) than the protestants. Did you know those same books (The Apocrypha) that the protestant churches removed from the Bible were included in the King James Bible from 1611 until approximately 1885 when they were removed? Scholarship and archeology in the last couple hundred years has brought to light older manuscripts and the Dead Sea Scrolls gave us even more information. I will not belabor the point that the book we call the Bible did not drop down from heaven fully intact, written by the hand of God. Please feel free to do your own research and verify what I have told you here. I am not trying to convince you to accept any one of these views. 

Before you get too upset with me I do believe that The Holy Spirit inspired certain persons to write and record things that we need to hear and obey. Here is the point that I would like to Make. Far too many Christians believe that the Bible as it now is, is God’s final revelation to mankind. As a consequence of that belief they have made an idol out of a collection of writings. The truth is that YHVH did not send us a book as his final revelation to mankind. The Moslems believe that about the Quran. They believe that the Quran was given to Mohammad by the angel Gabriel as it was dictated to him by Allah . So, it is their belief that Allah is the author of the Quran and it is of far more importance than their prophet Mohammad.  The Quran is considered perfect and it is God’s final revelation to mankind. YHVH did a far greater thing and True Christianity is unique in this respect. He gave us Yeshua (Jesus). He alone is God’s final revelation to mankind. 

In Deuteronomy 18:15-19  It says, 

15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; (Moses) unto him ye shall hearken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

The Jewish people knew of this prophecy They inquired of John the Baptist if he was “The Prophet”.

John 1:19-21, And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

Yeshua (Jesus) was “That Prophet”. He was the anointed Messiah. No one else in the history of the world had the authority of God in the same capacity. YHVH himself said that he would put his own words into “That Prophet’s” mouth and that whosoever would not obey those words which he spoke in God’s name would have to answer directly to God. This is why John called Jesus “The Word”. This is why at Jesus, baptism God speaks directly and says “hear Him”. 

Many Christians today relegate Jesus’ words to an older “dispensation” and pay his words little attention. I believe Satan has deceived the church into a false worship of Jesus as a Mere figurehead and have taken the power out of his teachings by so doing. The Gospel of the kingdom as taught by Jesus was a Gospel of “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. “Make straight the way of the Lord” and “Obey the commandments”.  He taught wide is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that enter therein but narrow is the way that leads to eternal life.  In three places in the Gospels Jesus was asked what must I do to be saved? Three times he answered obey the commandments. The Christianity taught in most churches today is not based on the teachings of Jesus. The words of Paul have completely made them unimportant. Did you know that Paul never once quotes a single parable or teaching of Jesus other than twice when he speaks about the last supper and when he says”My grace is sufficient for you” when Paul’s Jesus declines to heal him? That is his only quotes. Try to find one more. The Christianity taught in most churches is solely based on Paul’s teachings. They have made him “That Prophet” and his words God’s final revelation to mankind. Yes I hear you now claiming that they both taught the same thing so, I will humbly offer you one example.

 Paul in 1st. Corinthians 8:4, As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

Jesus speaking in the book of Revelations Judging the Churches, Says.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Simply put here is Jesus condemning a church in the judgement for doing what Paul said it was Okay to do.

Please Place Jesus back as the Head of the Church, put him back on the throne. He said in Matthew 28:8-10, 

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have ONE instructor, the Christ. 

YHVH gave us Yeshua as His final revelation to mankind and he still still teaches those that obey and will not be lead astray by another. He does this through the agency of his Holy Spirit. Do not give his authority to another neither man nor book.

“Hear Him”.