tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74292298346577458292024-02-01T23:35:01.697-08:00Prophetic JournalCurrent Christian thoughts and issues by R.S.Neaville.R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-7739952487901770322015-12-17T20:56:00.004-08:002015-12-17T20:56:36.549-08:00Women in the Church<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcTanqku0O0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-80637310814507165672015-10-07T17:08:00.003-07:002015-10-07T17:08:49.422-07:00The nature of the Spirit<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DeDVxrkSx0w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-87196747366626240922015-10-03T22:48:00.003-07:002015-10-03T22:48:48.865-07:00The Rich man and Lazarus<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HAM6Wtcm4-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-24622194991446064962015-10-02T09:53:00.001-07:002015-10-02T10:14:44.494-07:00Not of this world<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xht-0gz16Io" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-62879855870665808142015-09-22T23:16:00.004-07:002015-09-22T23:16:45.153-07:00Why no pretrib rapture
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-73913828758020172092015-09-20T07:43:00.002-07:002015-09-20T07:45:19.487-07:00Meaning of the Coming Antichrist<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/707jLgc2UUg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br /></div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-6612947906091443732015-07-19T19:24:00.003-07:002015-07-19T19:24:49.274-07:00Unity of the Faith<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w14zrKn4H7A" width="459"></iframe>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-9439440006366081132015-02-27T22:14:00.001-08:002015-02-27T22:14:26.187-08:00No Magic in Christianity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is time for Christians to grow up in their thinking. Superstition and banal teaching has resulted in an entire generation of Christians who have no solid foundation in the Scriptures.They listen to people on television, Radio, the internet and books and tapes.They do not read the Scriptures alone for themselves. They have not been taught the true propriety in which God speaks to us. They do not have faith to hear from God and have forgotten they are to be a supernatural people if they ever knew it to begin with.
Our subject falls right into place among these evils of ignorance, bad teaching and superstition. MAGIC. Webster defines magic as:
<i>a power that allows people (such as witches and wizards) to do impossible things by saying special words or performing special actions</i>
Miracles, such as those Jesus performed were not magic. Miracles are different entirely.the Dictionary defines Miracle as
<i>1.an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
2.
such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
3.
a wonder; marvel.</i>
Magic usually a human being exercising his power and desire to manipulate circumstances or natural order. Miracles are not instituted by men or his desires but are soveriegn acts of God.
Though the difference is a clear one Men have ascribed acts of magic to Jesus and prophets of the Bible. They still do. let me give you some examples.
1. TO BE CONTINUED!R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-68803898934916243312015-02-04T15:09:00.000-08:002015-02-04T15:11:40.049-08:00Defining the Last Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In order to understand what the truth of the “last days” we must have a clear
definition as to what they are. The definition is clear from scripture. The concept of the
“last days is made plain in the concept of the “ Last Day”. It was Jesus himself who made
this concept plain. The last day is in fact the millennial reign of Christ Jesus.
Revelation 20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither
had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lXZmwekhurbaANjT_qL5Ibo7vwyXjsZzR7sqiUdLDxlEVw4HMN6lCGItK-V9WNBHTiMcf4JShE5oJF1y_T5VzGObf_oXXBywD-PlZLD5udc4zWCj7gU3mQqAgs2GrPm6P0GF8UeOpPA5/s1600/ds1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lXZmwekhurbaANjT_qL5Ibo7vwyXjsZzR7sqiUdLDxlEVw4HMN6lCGItK-V9WNBHTiMcf4JShE5oJF1y_T5VzGObf_oXXBywD-PlZLD5udc4zWCj7gU3mQqAgs2GrPm6P0GF8UeOpPA5/s320/ds1.jpg" /></a></div>
2Peter 3: 3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking
after their own lusts,
4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of
old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store,
reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The Last Day or “Day of the Lord” Defined
When we speak of the “day of the Lord” it brings to mind images and verses of God’s
wrath upon mankind and the return of Jesus. It is much more than that. It is the rule and
reign of Jesus over the earth for a thousand years. It is the time of his return and our
resurrection as promised in the scriptures.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come
a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
7
This is the Day of the Lord, the day of Christ. It concerns our resurrection and his
coming. But this day also concerns the wrath of God.
2Thessalonians 1: 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power;
10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
The “day of the Lord” concerns both of these things. In the beginning of that day we
who belong to Christ shall be resurrected. At the end of that day is the great white throne
judgment. Where those who reject Christ and disobey his gospel will be punished with
this everlasting punishment. It is an eternal punishment of being put outside his presence
and tossed into the lake of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is that
flaming fire! He comes to be glorified in his holy people (resurrection) and to punish in
the same day! It is just that the day happens to be a thousand years long. Read carefully
the following verses about this punishment.
Revelation 20: 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:
and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of
those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 22: 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every
man according as his work shall be.
13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Matthew 8: 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Thrown into the fiery Lake is the outer darkness. It is forever outside of the Lord’s
presence. It is the true wrath of God. It isn’t just death in the body, but it is the second
death.
Revelation 20: 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Remember what Jesus told us :
Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be
revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that
preach ye upon the housetops.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
For those outside it if full of wrath :So … We can see that the “day of the Lord is bothone of peace for believers and woe for those who are judged. It is a true day of wrath.
Isaiah2: 12. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and
lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
6. Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the
Almighty.
Joel 1:15. Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from
the Almighty shall it come.
Joel 2: 11. And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great:
for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
and who can abide it?
But for those of us who belong to him it is our hope:
1Corinthians 5:1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and
such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his
father’s wife.
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed
might be taken away from among you.
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I
were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with
the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2Corinthians 1:12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in
simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have
had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust
ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are
ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Now this is not to say that the “day of the Lord” will not bring about physical
destruction..it will! Great destruction! In that day the earth and all that is in it will be
destroyed. But that is not all! You must understand though the true wrath of God
reflected in that physical destruction is the second death.!
Two Resurrections
There are two resurrection in the “day of the Lord” one at its beginning, and the other
at the end. Both however occur in the “day of the Lord.”
Revelation 20: 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither
had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.
5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is
the first resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with
him a thousand years.
7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth,
Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of
the sea.
9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured
them.
10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where
the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:
and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of
those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Daniel makes this plain as he speaks of these two resurrections as if they were on
event. He speaks this way because both happen in the “day of the Lord”.
Daniel 12
1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there
was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every
one that shall be found written in the book.
2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Compare this to what Paul says again to the Thessalonians:
2Thessalonians 1: 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power;
10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Jesus himself spoke of the “last day concerning our resurrection. It is also witnessed
in scripture that his followers believed and understood this:
John 6: 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6: 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11: 23. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last
day.
25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
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Now it becomes plain. The day of the Lord is a day of darkness for some and a day of
rejoicing for others. It is a day of punishment and a day of rest. It is revealed in these two
resurrections in clarity.As Peter tells us this Day of the Lord starts with Jesus’s coming
and ends with the great white throne Judgement. This thousand year day will bring about
the destruction of the heavens and the earth. It is a day set aside for God to be glorified
in his people and to punish the wicked with destruction and the second death.
2Peter 3: 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in
store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be
found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
This thousand year period is clearly the :day of the Lord” . The questions then can be
posed..If the “day of the Lord” is a thousand years..How are the “last days“ defined?.
Last Days Defined
If in fact the “day of the Lord” a thousand years long does this hold true for the Last
days? Absolutely. The following will detail the truth of the Last days as the final three
thousand years of earth’s history before it is destroyed. These three thousand years, or
three days, or “last days” are defined by Jesus himself and started at his first coming.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up.
We know that Jesus said this in reference to his body being the temple. And after three
days he did rise from the grave as he foretold on the morning of the third day.
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:
The three days are symbolic of what was left of the seven thousand years of creation,
or seven days according to Peter. Jesus came at the end of the first four thousand years, or
the fourth day.
Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did
rest the seventh day from all his works.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord
as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
With this understanding we can see that Jesus also had a larger context for “his
Body”…his temple being raised on the morning of the third day. For we are his temple,
His body. We will be raised from the dead on the morning of the third day, the last
day..the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the
temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the
temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ephesians 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord:
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and
believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Remember that the last day is the millennium, the “day of the Lord” . It is the seventh
thousand year period of our history. In this fashion it is the last day. We are at the end of
the sixth thousand year period now. Coincidence? So we see seven days over all, but the
final three are called “the last days”
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is
the first resurrection.
The three last days become clear in this context of the last three thousand years as
three days. This concept is expressed in detail through out scripture. So we see Jesus
himself defined the “last days”.
Peter and Joel
Another set of witnesses in scripture that this is indeed the true understanding of what
the “Last Days’ are can be found in the testimony of Peter in Acts two and the prophet
Joel whom peter quotes:
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto
them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and
hearken to my words:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the
third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I
will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew
wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of
smoke::20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the
great and notable day of the Lord come:
Pay careful attention to Peter’s words. First he says that this sign of Pentecost is
fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. And Joel said this would happen in the last days! So the
“Last days” began with Christ and the day of Pentecost proves it as a sign! And Joel also
spoke of the “Last Day” in which the Sun would be darkened and the Moon not give her
light. According to Jesus in Matthew 24 and John in Revelation 6 these are the events
that immediately precede the “Day of the Lord which starts the millennial reign of Christ
at his second coming.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and
the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son
of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send
his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a
scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief
captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in
the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall
on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of
the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Now look at Joel’s Testimony again:
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on
my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire,
and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Notice how according to Joel and Peter the sign that the “Last Days” had began was
Pentecost where the Holy Spirit was poured out and the “Last Day” is preceded by events
and signs that do not occur until after the great tribulation! This shows that the last days
are each a thousand years long! It has been two thousand years approx. since Pentecost
and we are on the verge of the third day or better known as the “Day of the Lord”. The last days and their biblical contest are now made clear.
R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-83309649297027289662015-01-07T20:34:00.000-08:002015-01-12T19:27:58.266-08:00To Dream the End<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I want to tell you about my most vivid dream as of two nights ago. It is epic and frightening and any other adjective you can throw in that speaks of intense emotion and terror. Add to this the sense of realism that pervaded this nocturnal journey and you would have something akin to living out a Stephen King novel. I am still shaking. No hyperbole needed. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1XxUyNDT9cqYYQWcP9tnmRf9NdjMctGB7Y6UwwQ0YrecNNtRmgZIbDms2fN7mekqgvXyr90kN1YqkXS9ZF7UTpQD5qkT709ddPzrcbvK1nHS11iKtMLRrNuO8QyARg-4iBoLvn15tUYB/s1600/dream.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1XxUyNDT9cqYYQWcP9tnmRf9NdjMctGB7Y6UwwQ0YrecNNtRmgZIbDms2fN7mekqgvXyr90kN1YqkXS9ZF7UTpQD5qkT709ddPzrcbvK1nHS11iKtMLRrNuO8QyARg-4iBoLvn15tUYB/s320/dream.png" /></a></div>
It all started with myself walking down a country back road near twilight. I was apparently scouting ahead a large crowd some distance behind me. The crowd looked to be hundreds or maybe thousands. I knew they were Christians like me. I was attempting to find us all a safe haven along the pasture and tree lined road ahead. I heard the sound of thunder in the distance and turned to look to my left and in the distance of the grassland I could see the silouettes of giants as they strode the grass in the distance. A shock of fear mixed with uncertainty filled my heart in that moment. I had never seen such a sight. I knew they were coming for us. Ahead of me I could see another flowing crowd of hundreds of people out in the pastures on the left side. I wondered to myself who they were and if they might help my people. As I grew closer I found a small camper trailer near the pasture fence and I saw a young woman enter it. I went and knocked on the camper door in a panic. No one answered. By that time a few people of the crowd from the pasture began to approach me. I ventured forth to greet them and they were all smiling. A group of them were holding a large leathery skinned creature above their heads. They seemed to be helping it in some way. It had a ghastly inhuman smile and deep set bright greenish eyes. Its skin was a uneven rust color. As I wondered what it could be one of the men, an older man. stepped forward. I asked him what the beings were in the distance and he declared that he did not know but they had help him and healed his wife. The old man said he was Catholic but somehow this new thing was different. He pointed to an older woman with a long gray silver pony tail that reached her ankles. It was tied with a ribbon at the back of her head. His comment had something to do with her hair. The rest of the people smiled but brushed me aside as if I were unimportant. No one else would answer my pleas for help or acknowledge me. As The larger crowd approached me I began to fear as there were creatures mixed in among the crowd. Creatures of every shape and description. short squat ones, tall thin ones. some with oblong heads and many different colors. Some looked like reptiles and others like aliens from some sci-fi movie. Some were transparent and others were as tall as trees or larger. As the creatures came closer I walked on to the other side of the road but they did not seem to notice me. In the air were flying beasts and others that resembled men but were not. A large host of them suddenly appeared in a cluster above the road and just floated there without the flutter of wings. Their eyes glowed as the looked past me to the throng of my people coming down the road. I knew they were waiting for them and I was fearful as to what would happen when my people arrived. Suddenly I awoke. I immediately went to the window to peer outside, expecting to see what I saw in my dream. I was shaking as if cold. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0txigzLG7Zr6pZOynY-ji4mhhRCIS7KpHugMeqJrfXJ-Mx6iX5FpBdKlJzKhu9aOZVSH2qR-nu3Wu4_8z5UjPRpSYapqxmwVynnTR_kO75sVU9Wicae6hauV3TGltSM04nYRYfjqQgToV/s1600/dream1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0txigzLG7Zr6pZOynY-ji4mhhRCIS7KpHugMeqJrfXJ-Mx6iX5FpBdKlJzKhu9aOZVSH2qR-nu3Wu4_8z5UjPRpSYapqxmwVynnTR_kO75sVU9Wicae6hauV3TGltSM04nYRYfjqQgToV/s320/dream1.png" /></a></div>
I do not know what it all means exactly except maybe in general. I feel in the dream and in life I have been sent ahead to scout out the future for my people, my brothers and sisters. In my journey I meet many who are deceived and have become friendly with demons and sin. I see the translucent creatures as spirits who are sent to deceive men. I see the flying and floating creatures as the powers and authorities, high and lofty, rulers of darkness as they seek to enslave all men to sin and their rule. In this dream I see the forces arrayed against Christians and how they seek to block our way. I know very soon we must face them.
<i>Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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R.S. NeavilleR.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-87923834214891511442014-12-30T21:56:00.001-08:002015-01-04T09:28:10.596-08:00Praying in Babylon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We can learn alot from Daniels prayer in the book of Daniel (chapter 9) because it speaks to the situation of Christianity today. We too have been in a captivity to Babylon and the time is now for us to come out of her and build God's House...But how? Daniel's prayer gives us clues.
Revelation 18
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1. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues
Haggai 1:2. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.
3. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5. Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
Daniel faced the situation of his time when he was very old. He read in books about how he and the others had come to be in captivity to Babylon (Jeremiah). it was for seventy years and this was near the time for it to end. Seven is a time set aside as a complete work, and this work of God was about to be concluded. In this we have our first clue. We need as Christians (God's people) to realise where we are and why . I believe the Holy Spirit is showing us that very thing. we have been in captivity for our own 70 years . Not literal years , but a time set aside by God for him to purify us. We too can see as Daniel did that we are near the completion of that time. The spirit revealed it to Daniel in the scriptures , and so too with us.
Daniel 9: 2. In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
So when we as a body start to see this truth..what then? We do what daniel did from the heart.
Daniel 9:3. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
6. Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
8. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
10. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
13. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
14. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
15. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
17. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
18. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
20. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;
1. Daniel dropped down to pray and seek God's face for his people. First and formost. he did it clothed in sackcloth and ashes; this shows us we must approach God with humilty
2. Then he owned up to the sin of him and his people. Daniel was a dedicated man of God, and we do not see him as one of the bible's great sinners, but he realised the knowledge and the gifts he was given were not so he could have a blessed life alone. He did what all men of God are called to do; He layed down his life for the body and stood in the gap, numbering himself among the sinners. Even as we see Jesus did by becomeing a man and suffering as we do.Jesus came to be a sacrifice for sinners and was numbered among us. Even as Moses chose to suffer with the people of God and not live as a prince of Egypt.
3. Daniel confessed for the people and acknowledged all the ways they had departed from him and his precepts.
4. Daniel brought out the truth that God had delivered the people with a mighty hand from Egypt, acknowledging to God he was our savior and that we cannot save ourselves. We too as Christians were brought up out of Egypt ( the world) through that passover (the Lamb of God , Jesus) and as Daniel confessed it , we all had done wickedly even after that. We must go back to that first love..we must remember our savior!
5. Daniel reminded God that we are saved not be cause of our selves, but for his names sake, his righteousnees sake, He pleaded that God not leave his people in captivity for his glory's sake, for we are the people of his name and created to glorify him. This is a zealousness for God's reputation that the Church to day lacks as demonstrated in the scandel and reproach we have brought to the name of Christ in the world's eyes. Daniel did not remind God of this just to manipulate God to act..but rather he was sincerely concerned with God's glory from the heart..as we need to be. We should all realize this as those whom God has bought with a precious price...Jesus.
The above five points are clearly demonstrated in Daniel chapter nine. It was then , after Daniel set his heart in humility toward God that there was an immediate answer. Gabriel was sent swiftly with an answer, and told Daniel when he first started to pray an answer was given. Do you want the answer for our generation? Can you do from the heart what Daniel and so many others have done? Can you fall on your face and seek God for the people? Can we as Christians finally do this...together? look around...this is the time. Come out of her my people!
more to come...
By R.S. Neaville
R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-65538297058016856532014-12-30T20:49:00.003-08:002014-12-30T21:32:49.065-08:00The Ragged Edge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We as Christians are about to step into a time long in coming. God has put the question before many of our hearts; "Is their truly purpose in what we are doing?" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbczfizq2p4bbvsdtb_sY2Cnq81MJcsDESsyUVzffSzuGToWivFcjkB5zWk_z0OoOyNAGfqijZnTT8CLywx0jGw3Ta_VNK64hyiwbJIi7XlEy6zzZSAPmniRDhdsXxEVUrqle8GQ7EvO4/s1600/ragged+edge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbczfizq2p4bbvsdtb_sY2Cnq81MJcsDESsyUVzffSzuGToWivFcjkB5zWk_z0OoOyNAGfqijZnTT8CLywx0jGw3Ta_VNK64hyiwbJIi7XlEy6zzZSAPmniRDhdsXxEVUrqle8GQ7EvO4/s320/ragged+edge.png" /></a></div>
If you have not asked this question about your Church or congregation now would be a good time to do so. You must take an honest moment for introspection and question your place in your Church and its place in this time. Ask questions like "Do I know what my goal/role as a servant of God is or could be? Am I effective and productive in Christ and to my fellows in any way? "Can I answer these same questions for my Church?" If these questions fall in to the void and leave you lost then you will understand why I refer to this as the <i>Ragged Edge</i>.
Many Christians are awakening as from a trance and questioning what this "Christianity" thing is truly about. Why are there 38,000 flavors of Christianity? Why do they not agree as to our goals and purpose? Which one does God Favor? Am I in this congregation just because I like the people or because I was raised in it? Can I be sure where I am is of God? If you have never had any of these questions occur to you than there is not much I can do for you. You are programmed and the truth does not matter to you at all. As for the rest of you, please read on.
<i>The Ragged Edge</i> is a place for those who are seeking the truth. They are no longer willing to settle for pat answers from stooges who sell the religion of institutional consumerism and complacency. <i>The Ragged Edge</i> is a steep cliff from which below lies an undiscovered country, a place where meaning and purpose meet. It is a fearful and uncomfortable place to be as the wind blows and you are beckoned to step off into what you cannot see or fully understand. All you know is that there has to be something more and and you are following God's invisible hand to see what life could be outside the known safety of the box you have found yourself trapped in. You are not alone. You are not crazy. You are not simply restless or rebellious. Their is a reality to find and Jesus will lead you there. Such are those of faith. They let this life go to trust Jesus for a better one. This is just the first step and it is a scary one but also necessary. As one who has scouted ahead there is a great deal of wonder, purpose, and meaning waiting in the valley below beyond the Jordan. Beyond the known. Across that barrier of mundane flesh is a unity of the faith and a pure Gospel message. There is healing and love and acceptance and most of all a future and it is eternal. Come study with me and we shall walk the road together with Jesus and together we will find all he promised.
<a href="http://www.propheticjournal .net"></a>
R.S. Neaville, Your Tour Guide.
R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-43678048494313830142014-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:002014-12-30T20:02:54.677-08:00Art Katz on Apostlicity and Authentic Christianity- You got to hear this!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/N45suRurKyA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><a href="http://artkatzministries.org/online_bookstore/"></a>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-85660258337450488982014-12-17T15:55:00.001-08:002014-12-18T15:26:10.920-08:00The two great false witnesses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Militant Atheism and Militant Homosexuality.
These are the two loudest and most hateful voices who actively preach against Christian values and beliefs. These do not ask for equal time rather they demand the censure of Christianity altogether and have proven that they will go to any length to win their own converts. They use the media, entertainment, music, institutions of higher learning (so called), and any other means they can usurp to spread their hateful propaganda. It is an unholy war for the mind and they are winning. Why? because they are more vocal and persistant than Christians and they employ strategies and methods that Christians would not. They lie and they spread hate in the guise of free speech and love. They publish books and make movies and TV programs that are nothing more than hateful propaganda in the guise of science and social change. They hate God and make no apologies for it. They do their best to make Christians look stupid or corrupt or even crazy. They teach men's theories as if they were fact (like evolution) and they try to reduce the credibility of the Bible by comparing it with religions that have passed away or proven to be nothing more than myth. Many homosexuals have invaded Christian churchs and have fought from within to subvert the truth. They claim to be Christian while claiming perversion is not sin. They sway our young people to partake in what they term "progressive thinking" claiming that those who hold to the truths of Scripture are out of step with the times. I am here as a witness however that God does not change with the times. Fornication, adultry,homosexual perversion are all still sins and to be shunned by God's people. God has not changed his mind.
<i> James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.</i>
A person cannot turn on a TV without being exposed to homosexual relatonships. Programs that are carefully designed to make people accept this perverted behavior as "Normal". Homosexual groups are fanaticly demanding special rights and entrance into organizations that have classicly stood against their aganda. They do not care to be boyscouts or ministers, they only care about infiltrating every vestige of Christian life so that no one can speak against them.
Athiests attack Christianity with such vigor you would thing they not only truly believe in God but hate him. They attack no other belief system the way they express their hatred for all things Christian. Have you noticed that most well know comedians are hateful athiests? People Like Patton Oswald, Roseanne Barr, Louis C.K., the late George Carlin and so many others too numerous to mention here.The point of this rather terse diatribe is simply this. Beware of who it is you are listening to. They have an agenda. These entertainers do not just want to make you laugh anymore than the scientists want you to learn. They seek to program you to reject God, Jesus, and truth. The spirits that posess them seek your very soul and would steal it from you if you let them. Make no mistake you are in the midst of a war. The dark is spreading. Reject the testimony of these false witnesses and come back to the light. The time is short and the end does come soon.
R.S. Neaville
R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-73918280565516572332011-03-09T22:58:00.000-08:002011-03-09T22:58:54.280-08:00The Truth about TithingThe Truth about Tithing<br />
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By R.S. Neaville<br />
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As we mature as Christians we come to find out that many of our practices are based more on tradition than biblical requirements. The thinking and concerns of men have long since ferreted their way into the practices and doctrines of Christian experience. The concept of tithing is one of these. In the following article this truth will be exposed in three basic points of biblical inquiry.<br />
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1. Tithing is of the Mosaic law.<br />
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2. The early Church did not practice tithing.<br />
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3. Tithing is bondage for the Christian<br />
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First it must be clarified at the beginning what it is we are not saying so that we will have no misunderstandings. Not every church that still practices tithing is aware of these truths. They aren’t trying to deceive or manipulate. They sincerely believe that what was passed on to them is true and right. The purpose of this article is to help Christians understand the true biblical understanding of giving and bring correction from the scriptures to this subject.<br />
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Tithing is of the Mosaic law.<br />
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The Old Testament is where the concept of tithing originated. It is based on the concept of the first fruits of a man’s increase. The word in Hebrew is ma’aser; literally meaning “a tenth”. In Hebrew culture a man always acknowledged God as his provider by the giving back of this tenth. It was to be the first and best of his increase. Later you will see what is spiritually demonstrated in this physical practice. The first recorded instance of a tithe in scripture is where Abraham offered a tithe to God through the High priest of God Melchizedek when he won the battle on the plains of Shinar and took spoil. This is a constant through out scripture. There can be no tithe without a priest of God to accept it. <br />
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Genesis14: 18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.<br />
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19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth<br />
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20. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.<br />
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In the later Levitical priesthood we see this truth again.<br />
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Numbers 18:20. And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.<br />
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21. And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.<br />
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22. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.<br />
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23. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.<br />
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24. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.<br />
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The Mosaic Law is referred to in the New Testament in many different ways. It is called the law, the law of sin and death, the Law of Moses, etc. This is the law given to Moses by god to lead the Israelites. It consists of the 10 commandments and 613 ordinances that regulated the everyday lives of the Israelites. It is a law that we as new testament Christians are not under. We are under grace.<br />
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In the discussion of this Biblical fact it becomes necessary to demonstrate this truth with a number of Biblical examples from the New Testament. There are two distinct facts that readily present themselves in this examination of scripture. The first is that in general gentiles were not under the law to begin with. It is only when we learn of its righteous requirement that we come under it.<br />
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Romans 2: 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds:<br />
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7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:<br />
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8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,<br />
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9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;<br />
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10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:<br />
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11. For there is no respect of persons with God.<br />
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12. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;<br />
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13. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.<br />
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14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:<br />
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15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)<br />
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When we were ignorant of the law we were free from it. We were not free from death however. Sin is only identified by the law. With out the law sin is not seen for what it is. The law labeled our evil acts as transgeressions and so we could see the corruption of sin through those actions. The penalty of death was added to show us sin ends in death. But even without the Law sin was as a corrupt nature working death in us. Hence the Apostle Paul says :<br />
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The second fact concerns Jesus paying the law for us with his life. This goes right to the heart of the matter. The penalty of the Law was death:<br />
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Romans5: 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:<br />
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13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.<br />
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14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.<br />
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15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.<br />
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16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.<br />
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17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)<br />
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18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.<br />
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19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.<br />
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20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:<br />
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21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />
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We see from the above scripture that death was the penalty of the law for sin. And that Jesus laid his life down for us. We are there fore considered dead to the law through him.<br />
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Romans 6<br />
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1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?<br />
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2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?<br />
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3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?<br />
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4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.<br />
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5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:<br />
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6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.<br />
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7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.<br />
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The scriptures also tell us that for us who are dead with Christ, the law with its commandments and ordinances are effectively removed, even abolished where those of faith in Christ’s sacrifice are concerned. If we are dead with Christ then the Law is fulfilled in us through Christ. For the penalty of the law was death and it has been met. What can the law require of a dead man? Nothing. A dead man has passed beyond the scope of the law’s hold or judgment and through the hope of the resurrection even death has lost its dominion over us by the law.<br />
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Romans 6: 9. death hath no more dominion over him. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more;<br />
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10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.<br />
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11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />
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12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.<br />
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13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.<br />
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14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.<br />
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Ephesians 2: 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.<br />
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14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;<br />
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15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;<br />
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16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:<br />
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17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.<br />
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18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.<br />
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Colossians 2: 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;<br />
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14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;<br />
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15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.<br />
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16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:<br />
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17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.<br />
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The bottom line of all of this is that we are dead to sin with Christ, and therefore dead to the law with its ordinances and commandments. This does not give us license to sin. Now it is all about the root of sin which is a corrupt nature;not a commandment or ordinance. We are not free from the law, but not righteousness. It is now all about what nature we sow to: Either the nature of Christ or the nature of Adam.<br />
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Romans 6: 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />
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12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.<br />
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13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.<br />
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14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.<br />
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15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.<br />
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16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?<br />
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17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.<br />
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18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.<br />
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19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.<br />
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20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<br />
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21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.<br />
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22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.<br />
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23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br />
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Romans 8<br />
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1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.<br />
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2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.<br />
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3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:<br />
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4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.<br />
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5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.<br />
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6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.<br />
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7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.<br />
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8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.<br />
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9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.<br />
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10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.<br />
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11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.<br />
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12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.<br />
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13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live<br />
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So it is clear. It is not about Laws and ordinances for the believer. It is about sowing to the new nature we have through the sacrifice of Christ. We are dead to the law and Alive to God through faith in Jesus.<br />
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Romans 3:19 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.<br />
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20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.<br />
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21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;<br />
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22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:<br />
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23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<br />
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24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:<br />
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25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;<br />
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26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.<br />
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27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.<br />
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28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.<br />
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29. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:<br />
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30. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.<br />
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31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.<br />
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The early Church did not practice tithing.<br />
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Now that we have established that tithing is of the law, and that we are not under the law as Christians , but rather under grace, now we can go onto to examine how the early Church acted in this matter through a number of biblical references and examples.<br />
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1. The Christian viewed himself as one who was owned by God, bought with a price. (Jesus’ blood.) and there fore everything he owned already belonged to God. We are stewards over his possessions.<br />
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1 Corinthians 6: 19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?<br />
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20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.<br />
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1 Corinthians 7: 29. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;<br />
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30. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;<br />
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31. And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.<br />
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1 Timothy 6: 3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;<br />
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4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,<br />
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5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.<br />
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6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.<br />
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7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.<br />
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8. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.<br />
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9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.<br />
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10. 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.<br />
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1 Peter4: 7. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.<br />
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8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.<br />
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9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.<br />
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10. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.<br />
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11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.<br />
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2. Giving is decided in our hearts with the holy Spirit. We Give of his stores in which we are stewards<br />
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Philippians 4: . Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.<br />
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16. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.<br />
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17. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.<br />
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18. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.<br />
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18. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.<br />
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1 Corinthians 16<br />
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1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.<br />
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2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.<br />
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3. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.<br />
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And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.<br />
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Acts 5<br />
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1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,<br />
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2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.<br />
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3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?<br />
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4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.<br />
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5. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.<br />
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6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.<br />
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7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.<br />
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8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.<br />
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9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.<br />
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10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.<br />
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11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.<br />
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2 Corinthians 9<br />
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1. For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:<br />
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2. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.<br />
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3. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:<br />
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4. Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.<br />
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5. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.<br />
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6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.<br />
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7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.<br />
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8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:<br />
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9. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.<br />
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10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)<br />
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11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.<br />
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12. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;<br />
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13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;<br />
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14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.<br />
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15. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.<br />
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The above verses are all that is recorded of giving and notice none of them speak of a tithe but rather a giving from the heart. . No. there is no tithe in the new testament Church. Giving is according to grace in the Spirit like everything else in Christianity. Not a tithe of the law.<br />
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Tithing is bondage for the Christian<br />
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We are givers by nature! We not need a levite priest, a Levitical storehouse or an ordinance to make us give!. As Christians and stewards over the things of God we naturally give beyond anything the law would or could require. The following verse has been used repeatedly by Churches and ministers who proclaim they teach grace to extort money from God’s people because they have no faith that God will work in peoples hearts to give.<br />
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Malachi 3: 8. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.<br />
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9. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.<br />
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10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.<br />
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11. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.<br />
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This is from the law! It is written to the physical nation of Israel who was under Law! Where is this storehouse now? Why do man made organizations masquerade as this levitical store house to extort money from you? Think about it! Who made them the store house? It is true that you must not rob God of what belongs to him..and that first and foremost is your heart! If God has your heart he has your money too! Only He can tell you where he wants it put. Thes men are usurping God in your life! Why do you let them put you under the law and therefore bondage?<br />
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The following is a perfect example of this type of manipulation and extortion. Read the following flyer carefully in light of all we have studied here. This was sent to me by a Dear brother from his Church!<br />
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Count the Number of Lies and Manipulations!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGF7jnhhEfS8Wq4jGAvhv-2KDhn8CS-ZYLD8nWocH7_28O8dGnz2T83bevFcaJoaz6geJpogmrBqr0OEEC08t-cit6DYcQYlYJ8Jy6-6NTVgnZCzipp7QycdwrqynC5B-Ml0nG0QPsVf6/s1600/flyer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGF7jnhhEfS8Wq4jGAvhv-2KDhn8CS-ZYLD8nWocH7_28O8dGnz2T83bevFcaJoaz6geJpogmrBqr0OEEC08t-cit6DYcQYlYJ8Jy6-6NTVgnZCzipp7QycdwrqynC5B-Ml0nG0QPsVf6/s400/flyer2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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1. Tithing is not an issue of trust…It is an issue of money for them. It is also an issue of Bondage, Law and Extortion.<br />
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2. The flyer says our most difficult area of trust is our finances…That is a lie. Our most difficult area is trusting God period…with anything! Their focus is money!<br />
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3. Notice how if you don’t tithe to THEM then you don’t trust God! They harp on this.<br />
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4. Notice how they work hard to manipulate a commitment out of you.<br />
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5. Notice how the response is not yours as they claim...but theirs for you! They wont allow you the benefit of making your own decision.<br />
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6. Notice the two boxes….No third one for you to decide you don’t want to tithe to them. It is designed to make you feel bad if you don’t.<br />
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7. Notice how all that personal info they request ...phone, address, email…etc. It is all designed to make you feel the commitment…like a contract.<br />
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8. Notice how they lay claim to be God’s storehouse…who made them that?<br />
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This is a sad commentary. Wake up brothers and sisters. Do not give in to this bondage and extortion. There is no tithe. There is nothing but Cheerful givers in the Lord. Good and faithful stewards!<br />
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rsneaville@propheticjournal.netR.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-7466294843951075262011-03-03T21:42:00.001-08:002014-12-17T14:26:45.971-08:00Rules for Biblical Prophecyby R. S. Neaville<br />
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In these days the subject of biblical prophecy has become more of an industry that an area of serious study. So-called prophecy teachers and televangelists sell their speculations and musings for big money. Whether we are talking about Hal Lindsey, Grant Jefferies, Tim LaHaye, Jack Van Impe, or any other of a number of prophecy hucksters it all comes out to the same thing: guessing games instead of clear scriptural teaching.<br />
The truth is biblical prophecy is governed by very clear rules according to Scripture. I believe that it is high time that these rules are defined for God's people with clarity so that we are no longer made merchandise of by these cash driven super salesman and their disregard for scriptural integrity. I do not use any of these adjectives lightly. Nor am I trying to be disrespectful or flippant. The men I have mentioned and many others too numerous to mention are guilty of misleading the people of God no matter what their intentions may have started out as. This is a fact that I believe will be made clear with remedy from the holy writ of the word of God. It is high time that all of us who claim to be Christians begin to live in the sober awareness of true biblical prophecy and its purpose as designed by God himself.<br />
Rule number one: God never uses speculation. Never in all of the 66 books of inspired Scripture did a single Bible teacher, prophet of God, or writer of Scripture, ever engage in speculation as to what God would do or would not do were prophecy was concerned. The writers of Scripture spoke only what God gave them to say. Never once did a man of God guess as to how God would fulfill any prophecy. In the relationship between God and prophet interpretation was always in God's purview not in a man's. Never once has a man figured out God's intentions.<br />
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2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.<br />
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.<br />
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God never spoke in terms of maybe this will happen or maybe that. God always speaks in the absolute. Never once did God ever encourage men to speculate on what his will was. Man was always dependent upon what God himself chose to reveal. God can not be figured out with the guessing games of carnal minds.<br />
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Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.<br />
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Rule number two: prophecy was never recognized or understood as to how would be manifested before it began to be fulfilled. In all of Scripture not a single prophecy that was fulfilled was recognized until it began to be fulfilled. No man has ever known before hand exactly how God's will would be manifested. We can use the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ as an example it wasn't until after John the Baptist began preaching and Jesus began to do his work that the prophecies referring to him were recognized in him. The coming of the Messiah the well-documented throughout Scripture in the old covenant and yet the whole of the nation of Israel was caught flat-footed when he arrived on the scene.<br />
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John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.<br />
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This is the true nature of prophecy. You recognize it as it's been fulfilled. So prophecy is not so much focused on giving you knowledge of what will happen before it does but it rather it warns you and pinpoints the hour of God's visitation and confirms dramatically you can place your trust in God. A simple survey of the Scriptures will verify this in very stark terms.<br />
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Rule number three: You cannot place contemporary meanings on ancient symbols and figures in the Bible. If you'll notice many prophecy teachers do this. They try to interpret symbols in a modern context. They try to line up today's newspapers with the metaphor of ancient Scripture. In the process they twist the Scriptures to mean something totally different than what they were meant to. This is reading their own ideas and culture upon the text. The symbology and metaphor of Scripture is ancient. The Bible has already generated its own meanings for the symbology. Let me give you an example: Some prophecy teachers have looked at the bear mentioned in Daniel chapter 7. As being Russia because in modern times bears have become a symbol of Russia. But Daniel chapter 7 and 8 tell us very clearly that the bear is a reference to the ancient kingdom of Medo- Persia. So you see the identity of the bear has already been established and Scripture. They cannot be interpreted with a modern slant. Another example- Hal Lindsey in his books compares the locusts of Revelation Chapter 9 as being cobra helicopters. Now even he acknowledges that this is pure speculation yet this is become the most popular interpretation of the entities described in this verse. Again we see the substitution of contemporary understandings placed upon ancient symbols. Locusts are an ancient understanding of plague and the curse that can fall upon the land. This is the meaning that is applicable in Revelation chapter 9. While I do not want to get in to the full meaning of this chapter I think you begin to see the tone of what I'm trying to relate. These prophecy mongers are adept at inserting their own meanings and coloring the tone of Scripture while doing great damage to the text. Prophecy was never meant to be a guessing game, to be speculated over, or to be sold as merchandise. This is yet another area in which those who claim to be Christian must wake up.<br />
There are more rules than the above mentioned that govern the use of prophecy in Scripture. These are only three that will help you see the need for greater understanding in this realm of study. I hope this is helpful. You can find more on this subject on my website www.propheticjournal.net<br />
in Jesus, R.S.Neaville<br />
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<!-- Begin dbgtepisode.blogspot.com - provided code --><script type="text/javascript" src="http://feedjit.com/serve/?bc=FFFFFF&tc=5F5F5F&brd1=0000FF&lnk=5F5F5F&hc=0000FF&ww=160"></script><noscript><br /><a href="http://feedjit.com/">Feedjit Live Blog Stats</a></noscript><!-- End dballzepisode.blogspot.com - provided code -->R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429229834657745829.post-84256020565712972352011-02-15T18:02:00.000-08:002014-12-17T14:27:19.672-08:00All About The Benjamins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Let's face it folks modern media Christianity is all about the money. How much proof do you need? All one has to do to verify this truth is to turn on your TV any Sunday morning to any of the Christian channels and programs. and I do mean any of them. The majority of all Christian television programming today teaches you that the way to sure blessings is based upon how much money you send them. It is gotten way out of hand. Whether it be Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, (w<i>hy anyone would trust a preacher with the last name of "Dollar" is beyond me) </i>Joyce Meyer, Rod Parsley, or any one of a number of TV hucksters it really doesn't matter. They all have the same theme " send me the money". And as they are begging or prodding you for your money they are telling you that it is so that they may continue to weekly and sometimes daily keep prodding you for your money under the guise of preaching the gospel. While I don't hear a lot of gospel I do hear a lot of solicitations for the green stuff. It is my personal feeling that most of these would not know the Gospel message if it bit them you know where. I've yet to hear one of them preach or teach any clear Christian doctrine.<br />
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And this problem is not restricted to television. It could be one of the Internet prophets seeking to sell you a prophecy, or the local church pastor extorting money out of you from the pulpit to build a new church building which I am sure that is all what we need as Christians; another church building; like we don't have enough buildings empty as it is. I even heard one pastor teach that the largest problem Christianity had is that not enough people tithed. He informed the people in his congregation and on television that God had told him this was the biggest problem Christians had and why they were not blessed. It wasn't a sin, it wasn't adultery it wasn't a hard heart, it wasn't ignorance of what the gospel message is, It all come down to whether or not the church was going to get money from them. Ludicrous!<br />
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The simple fact is most of the works that we are called to do as Christians doesn't cost a whole lot. We simply show the Love of Jesus. Our resources are pooled to feed and clothe people in order that that we may preach the gospel to them. Maybe together we rent a place where we can meet all altogether. And again maybe we pool our resources to help some needy family of the congregation that's a bad predicament financially. And when it comes down to supporting a ministry outside of our congregations it should be one that teaches the truth of the gospel and the people who work in that ministry should make every effort to live modestly so as not to be a burden to the congregation. As the Bible says the man of God is worthy of his hire but it was never God's intention that preachers live better than their congregations or that ministers gain so much fame it out shadows Christ , the one for whom they claim they are slave. The Golden rule still applies even for ministers: It is God first, others second, and us last. Just compare that idea to the current opulence of many so-called Christian ministries. As I said this is gotten way out of hand and if we truly are the people of God it's time the Reformation in this area began. In the coming war of words let mine be the first shot. And Lord let it strike true. Amen.</div>R.S.Neavillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123553465904006748noreply@blogger.com0