Nancy, I have so much to say on the subject of whether or not the current Catholic world-wide ritual empire which has accumulated riches beyond the dreams of Midas and/or the global tax-free protestant organizations of all kinds, and with few exceptions, are indeed the fulfillment of all God had in mind--well, the idea just kind of makes my heart sink that this is what it was all about.
No, I certainly do know there is something a little better down the road, and there the Lord would have me finally shut my mouth on this subject.
There are two realities. Indeed the gentiles kept the spirit of the living God alive. But in very small groups, and usually throughtout history they were horribly eliminated, just exactly like the the first church eventually was, one by one. Perhaps it is true that Nero and the other Caesars could possibly have rounded up every single known believer in 300 years and horribly snuffed them to stop the spread of the Gospel of Jesus CHrist WITHIN the Roman Empire.
Ah, but by that time wandering evangelists had reached Ireland, and there it began again, and on and on the fire went. A true perpetual flame. Amazing, and it is hard to believe still, well into entering my own very sinful, worldly life some 2000 years later. In a manner almost identical to the tales told by the previous 2000 years of believers.
I'm convinced, anyway. So, God Forbid there was not also a New
Covenant for me.
The rest of the personal interpretation is as Charlton Heston mentioned in a narration he did of a documentary of Michael Angelo, whom Charlton Heston apparently loves and admires, and was speaking of a being presented by the homosexual community as totally one of them, I remember Charlton saying very
kindly "That is simply a wish without wings."
I think that is a nice way of disagreeing with things that simple were not and are not true. They are a wish without wings. And if you still want to wish them, it is good to search your heart why, and where the idea first started. All ideas are planted. Ideas are good or bad.
Good ideas mixed with bad ideas bring forth a bad harvest.
God warns us through Jesus that not one jot or tittle of the known scripture of the time should be changed. If so, He would have found the error and railed against it. Apparently, that is even more of a proof that all scripture is God given, period!!!
Then Peter noticed that some strange stuff was going down by those who were reading PAUL's new writings to them, which were simply affectionate letters and encouragements at that time, and certainly I might expect Paul to be amazed and happy that all of his letters are now read daily by millions and millions of people.
Peter warns kindly: Read it, it's great:
II Peter 3:10, where he begins warning of the end time, even then,
the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (why do they keep telling us that--I think there's a warning, period) wherein there is going to be this horrible end to come, and then Peter states:
(3:14) Wherefore, beloved seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (What is SPOT? It means "unblemished" Must be the same word used for the poor animals to be sacrificed)
And account that the long-suffering of our Lod IS salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;
]
(now the warning) As also in ALL his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable .....
(The Greek for both these words is not like the English. In English it means poorly educated and mentally off. The Greek seems to not know exactly what to say, unlearned is also un-understand, if you want to see it, and unstable seems to be "unfixed" "vacillating" and to me clearly is another strict warning to making of the scripture what you would like it to read, rather than you are just dumb to begin with. Personally, I see Peter trying very hard to be polite here to the brethren coming up with new ideas based on what they think they see in Paul.)
..... so, the unfixed, and vacillating "wrest" , as they do also the other scriptures, unto their OWN destruction.
(Wrest, is interesting. Wouldn't you just think it meant "wrestle" as in struggle with, have trouble understanding..... Well, actually it is "strebloo", which means from a derivative of to "wrench", i.e., to "torture" , but also figuratively
to "pervert" - wrest.
(So now Peter warns politely that he say the unfixed and vacillating taking the letters of Paul and wrenching, torturing and perverting new meaning out of plain Greek.)
The warning continues to the others:
You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the ERROR OF THE WICKED, fall from your own steadfastness.
Instead, (But) grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Grace here means: Charis: graciousness...of manner or act (spiritual ESPECIALLY THE DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON THE HEART AND ITS REFLECTION IN THE LIFE, INCLUDING (THE CONCEPT OF) acceptable, benefit, favor gift.)
I see no reason to expound on further explanation of this. It could hardly be clearer.
But the final warning comes from my beloved John, who in the last paragraph warns of changers of God's word: With slight paraphrase lest the concept be lost in the King James:
"For I say unto everyman that reads the words of this book of prophecies (things to come), IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THEM, GOD WILL ADD UNTO THAT MAN THE PLAGUES RELATED IN REVELATIONS.
And if any man shall take away from the words of this book, God shall take away that man's part out of the Book of Life and that man's part from the Holy City, and from the things (promises to the believers) which are written in this book."
I believe that this clear warning-- from the second or third gentlest soul which ever seems to have lived-- does not need further exponential
discussion.
It would be nice to sing some hymns again. Let me eat first and I'll pull one out. Have a nice flat tire, and am going to leave it flat that lets me out of Church and a thing tonight at the Resort for work.
I just really don't want to go. Would rather couch out. |
