WHO DECIDES WHAT IS SCRIPTURE?
Has anyone noticed the tv commercials that are sponsored by the Catholic Church claiming that by holy spirit they are the ones that compiled the bible?
Should we put our trust in the men of 364 A.D. of the Council of Laodicea Phygia.
Was holy spirit guiding them when they wrote the 60 cannons?
Should it be up to a few prominent religious leaders as to what we consider scripture?
Of course these are rhetorical questions - as most serious students of God's word realize that we are not to put trust in men.
We look to Holy Spirit to help us to discern what is truth.
It seems logical to me that if one of the generally accepted Bible authors quotes from another writer of scripture that we should at least give this writer consideration.
As an example:
There is a man whom scripture shows to be a real person - His name is Enoch.
Genesis 5:
18 And Ja′red lived on for a hundred and sixty-two years. Then he became father to E′noch. 19 And after his fathering E′noch Ja′red continued to live eight hundred years. Meanwhile he became father to sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Ja′red amounted to nine hundred and sixty-two years and he died.
21 And E′noch lived on for sixty-five years. Then he became father to Me·thu′se·lah. 22 And after his fathering Me·thu′se·lah E′noch went on walking with the [true] God three hundred years. Meanwhile he became father to sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of E′noch amounted to three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And E′noch kept walking with the [true] God. Then he was no more, for God took him.
Hebrews 11:
5 By faith E′noch was transferred so as not to see death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him; for before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well. 6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please [him] well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him."
Jude
14 Yes, the seventh one [in line] from Adam, E′noch, prophesied also regarding them, when he said: “Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads, 15 to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.”
There is information in this Book of Enoch that answers questions about the pre-flood earth.
He speaks of more than one archangel - which puts to rest the thought that some have that Jesus and Michael the archangel are one and the same.
Leviticus the 16th chapter speaks of someone called Azazel. No other mention of him in the Bible.
The Book of Enoch shows who he is and what he did to cause Jehovah to throw him in the abyss. This then causes you to understand what the goat for Azazel is about - he is blamed for being the teacher to mankind of many wicked things.
And of course there are many other things mentioned in this book.
Is the Book of Enoch legitamate scripture?
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The True Temple
The True Tent / Temple/ Tabernacle
Rev. 7
15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Rev. 21
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
What is the tent of God?
Hebrews
8 Now as to the things being discussed this is the main point: We have such a high priest as this, and he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a public servant of the holy place and of the true tent, which Jehovah put up, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If, now, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest, there being [men] who offer the gifts according to the Law, 5 but which [men] are rendering sacred service in a typical representation and a shadow of the heavenly things; just as Moses, when about to make the tent in completion, was given the divine command: For says he: “See that you make all things after [their] pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.” 6 But now [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent public service, so that he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established upon better promises.
Not made by men.
Acts 7
44 “Our forefathers had the tent of the witness in the wilderness, just as he gave orders when speaking to Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. 45 And our forefathers who succeeded to it also brought it in with Joshua into the land possessed by the nations, whom God thrust out from before our forefathers. Here it remained until the days of David. 46 He found favor in the sight of God and asked for [the privilege of] providing a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47 However, Sol′o·mon built a house for him. 48 Nevertheless, the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; just as the prophet says, 49 ‘The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What sort of house will YOU build for me? Jehovah says. Or what is the place for my resting? 50 My hand made all these things, did it not?’
Man made physical things are only a pattern of the True spiritual Tent / Temple.
So since this Tent/Temple is spiritual what is it Made of ?
1Cor. 3
16 Do YOU not know that YOU people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in YOU? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] YOU people are.
1Cor, 6
19 What! Do YOU not know that the body of YOU people is [the] temple of the holy spirit within YOU, which YOU have from God? Also, YOU do not belong to yourselves, 20 for YOU were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of YOU people.
Not just one Individual but a group.
2Cor. 6
16 And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take YOU in.’” 18 “‘And I shall be a father to YOU, and YOU will be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”
They separate themselves from what is unclean. If the teachings of a group or organization is false and has gone beyond the things written these ones will first try to readjust what is wrong but if they are not listened to or persecuted because they wish to adhere to Gods word then they will separate from them. So that God will take them in.
Eph. 2
19 Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers and alien residents, but YOU are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God, 20 and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. 21 In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. 22 In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.
Made up of natural Israelites and Gentiles who both are the new creation - the
Israel of God.
Gal. 6
15 For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation [is something]. 16 And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.
This temple arangement was a sacred secret that Paul revealed.
Eph 3
3 On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of YOU, the people of the nations— 2 if, really, YOU have heard about the stewardship of the undeserved kindness of God that was given me with YOU in view, 3 that by way of a revelation the sacred secret was made known to me, just as I wrote previously in brief. 4 In the face of this YOU, when YOU read this, can realize the comprehension I have in the sacred secret of the Christ. 5 In other generations this [secret] was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by spirit, 6 namely, that people of the nations should be joint heirs and fellow members of the body and partakers with us of the promise in union with Christ Jesus through the good news. 7 I became a minister of this according to the free gift of the undeserved kindness of God that was given me according to the way his power operates.
8 To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ 9 and should make men see how the sacred secret is administered which has from the indefinite past been hidden in God, who created all things. 10 [This was] to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord, 12 by means of whom we have this freeness of speech and an approach with confidence through our faith in him.
They are a part of the household of God.
Hebrews 12
22 But YOU have approached a Mount Zion and a city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s [blood].
The true house of God is in the heavens - as noted above it is has different groups
that have different functions in his house. We should not confuse the houses made
by men with Jehovah's house. For instance the watctower organization is it's own
house with it's own man-made rules and structure. While there may be anointed
one's in this house that does not make it the house of God. It is simple to
understand that as part of God's house they are visiting another household.
These one's are anointed with holy spirit and the anointing is their teacher.
1 John 2
20 And YOU have an anointing from the holy one; all of YOU have knowledge. 21 I write YOU, not because YOU do not know the truth, but because YOU know it, and because no lie originates with the truth.
26 These things I write YOU about those who are trying to mislead YOU. 27 And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU; but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union with him.
As mentioned before - if the anointing that is teaching them causes to know
the group they are with has become unclean with idolatrous false teachings
then they will try to readjust these teachings in a spirit of mildness. If they
won't listen or begin persecuting the anointed one then they need to
separate from that house so that they can be clean before the Almighty.
These ones will grow to a certain size or number before the temple is complete.
Romans 11
25 For I do not want YOU, brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred secret, in order for YOU not to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities has happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in,
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of [the] living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.”
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed;
out of the tribe of Reu′ben twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;
6 out of the tribe of Ash′er twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Naph′ta·li twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Ma·nas′seh twelve thousand;
7 out of the tribe of Sim′e·on twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Le′vi twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Is′sa·char twelve thousand;
8 out of the tribe of Zeb′u·lun twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.
I realize that there is controversy among some as to whether this number is literal
or figurative. That the next group mentioned (the great crowd) no man can number
gives strong motive to believe that the number 144,000 is a literal number. So this
sealed group of the Israel of God are the ones who make up the temple of God.
When will the temple be completed?
Rev 10
“There will be no delay any longer; 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.”
Rev 11
15 And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.”
19 And the temple [sanctuary] of God that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple [sanctuary]. And there occurred lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail.
The temple is complete and there is a Grand Opening in the heavens. This temple
that is made up of Jehovah, Jesus and the sealed ones is more like a tent in that it is
portable and can go wherever the lamb leads them. That is why the great crowd are
before the throne (on the earth which is God's footstool) rendering sacred service in the
temple (which is the tent that is spread over them) and by these means are sheperded
and led to fountains of waters of life.
Rev 7
13 And in response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” 14 So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one that knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Rev 21
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
This then is the true Tent/ Temple / Tabernacle of The Almighty God Jehovah!
Rev. 7
15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Rev. 21
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
What is the tent of God?
Hebrews
8 Now as to the things being discussed this is the main point: We have such a high priest as this, and he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a public servant of the holy place and of the true tent, which Jehovah put up, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If, now, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest, there being [men] who offer the gifts according to the Law, 5 but which [men] are rendering sacred service in a typical representation and a shadow of the heavenly things; just as Moses, when about to make the tent in completion, was given the divine command: For says he: “See that you make all things after [their] pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.” 6 But now [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent public service, so that he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established upon better promises.
Not made by men.
Acts 7
44 “Our forefathers had the tent of the witness in the wilderness, just as he gave orders when speaking to Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. 45 And our forefathers who succeeded to it also brought it in with Joshua into the land possessed by the nations, whom God thrust out from before our forefathers. Here it remained until the days of David. 46 He found favor in the sight of God and asked for [the privilege of] providing a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47 However, Sol′o·mon built a house for him. 48 Nevertheless, the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; just as the prophet says, 49 ‘The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What sort of house will YOU build for me? Jehovah says. Or what is the place for my resting? 50 My hand made all these things, did it not?’
Man made physical things are only a pattern of the True spiritual Tent / Temple.
So since this Tent/Temple is spiritual what is it Made of ?
1Cor. 3
16 Do YOU not know that YOU people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in YOU? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] YOU people are.
1Cor, 6
19 What! Do YOU not know that the body of YOU people is [the] temple of the holy spirit within YOU, which YOU have from God? Also, YOU do not belong to yourselves, 20 for YOU were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of YOU people.
Not just one Individual but a group.
2Cor. 6
16 And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take YOU in.’” 18 “‘And I shall be a father to YOU, and YOU will be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”
They separate themselves from what is unclean. If the teachings of a group or organization is false and has gone beyond the things written these ones will first try to readjust what is wrong but if they are not listened to or persecuted because they wish to adhere to Gods word then they will separate from them. So that God will take them in.
Eph. 2
19 Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers and alien residents, but YOU are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God, 20 and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. 21 In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. 22 In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.
Made up of natural Israelites and Gentiles who both are the new creation - the
Israel of God.
Gal. 6
15 For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation [is something]. 16 And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.
This temple arangement was a sacred secret that Paul revealed.
Eph 3
3 On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of YOU, the people of the nations— 2 if, really, YOU have heard about the stewardship of the undeserved kindness of God that was given me with YOU in view, 3 that by way of a revelation the sacred secret was made known to me, just as I wrote previously in brief. 4 In the face of this YOU, when YOU read this, can realize the comprehension I have in the sacred secret of the Christ. 5 In other generations this [secret] was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by spirit, 6 namely, that people of the nations should be joint heirs and fellow members of the body and partakers with us of the promise in union with Christ Jesus through the good news. 7 I became a minister of this according to the free gift of the undeserved kindness of God that was given me according to the way his power operates.
8 To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ 9 and should make men see how the sacred secret is administered which has from the indefinite past been hidden in God, who created all things. 10 [This was] to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord, 12 by means of whom we have this freeness of speech and an approach with confidence through our faith in him.
They are a part of the household of God.
Hebrews 12
22 But YOU have approached a Mount Zion and a city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s [blood].
The true house of God is in the heavens - as noted above it is has different groups
that have different functions in his house. We should not confuse the houses made
by men with Jehovah's house. For instance the watctower organization is it's own
house with it's own man-made rules and structure. While there may be anointed
one's in this house that does not make it the house of God. It is simple to
understand that as part of God's house they are visiting another household.
These one's are anointed with holy spirit and the anointing is their teacher.
1 John 2
20 And YOU have an anointing from the holy one; all of YOU have knowledge. 21 I write YOU, not because YOU do not know the truth, but because YOU know it, and because no lie originates with the truth.
26 These things I write YOU about those who are trying to mislead YOU. 27 And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU; but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union with him.
As mentioned before - if the anointing that is teaching them causes to know
the group they are with has become unclean with idolatrous false teachings
then they will try to readjust these teachings in a spirit of mildness. If they
won't listen or begin persecuting the anointed one then they need to
separate from that house so that they can be clean before the Almighty.
These ones will grow to a certain size or number before the temple is complete.
Romans 11
25 For I do not want YOU, brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred secret, in order for YOU not to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities has happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in,
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of [the] living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.”
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed;
out of the tribe of Reu′ben twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;
6 out of the tribe of Ash′er twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Naph′ta·li twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Ma·nas′seh twelve thousand;
7 out of the tribe of Sim′e·on twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Le′vi twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Is′sa·char twelve thousand;
8 out of the tribe of Zeb′u·lun twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.
I realize that there is controversy among some as to whether this number is literal
or figurative. That the next group mentioned (the great crowd) no man can number
gives strong motive to believe that the number 144,000 is a literal number. So this
sealed group of the Israel of God are the ones who make up the temple of God.
When will the temple be completed?
Rev 10
“There will be no delay any longer; 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.”
Rev 11
15 And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.”
19 And the temple [sanctuary] of God that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple [sanctuary]. And there occurred lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail.
The temple is complete and there is a Grand Opening in the heavens. This temple
that is made up of Jehovah, Jesus and the sealed ones is more like a tent in that it is
portable and can go wherever the lamb leads them. That is why the great crowd are
before the throne (on the earth which is God's footstool) rendering sacred service in the
temple (which is the tent that is spread over them) and by these means are sheperded
and led to fountains of waters of life.
Rev 7
13 And in response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” 14 So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one that knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Rev 21
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
This then is the true Tent/ Temple / Tabernacle of The Almighty God Jehovah!
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