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THREE BOOKS THAT ARE STUMBLING STONES TO MANY CHRISTIANS.

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THREE BOOKS THAT ARE STUMBLING STONES TO MANY CHRISTIANS.

“  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  AND A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE, EVEN TO THEM WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING DISOBEDIENT: whereunto also they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:7-8.

  1. MATTHEW-
  2. ACTS-
  3. HEBREWS-

THESE THREE BOOKS, MATTHEW, ACTS, AND HEBREWS, DEAL WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL, THEIR KING, AND THE KINGDOM. THESE MAY BE THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BOOKS IN THE BIBLE. THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACEMENT CAUSE MANY TO MISUNDERSTAND WHY GOD PLACED THEM WHERE THEY ARE. EACH BOOK IS A TRANSITION FROM A MAJOR SECTION TO ANOTHER. THAT IS THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THESE THREE.

MATTHEW- GIVES DETAILS OF THE OFFER OF THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM, AND ISRAEL’S REJECTION OF BOTH, WHILE HE WAS ON EARTH. DURING THIS TRANSITION, NOTHING IS SAID OR KNOWN OF THE CHURCH, WHICH WAS A MYSTERY OR SECRET.  “NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO STABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL, AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,” ROMANS 16:25. THUS, ISRAEL IS WITHOUT EXCUSE. THEY COULD HAVE, AND SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE SCRIPTURES AND WORKS OF JESUS THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS AT HAND. MATTHEW MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ISRAEL WAS MOVING FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE OFFER OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BY JOHN THE BAPTIST, JESUS, AND HIS DISCIPLES, TO THE TIME OF REPENTANCE AND RECEPTION OF THEIR LONG AWAITED KINGDOM. 

ACTS- GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF OUR LORD’S REJECTION BY ISRAEL, AND HIS REJECTION OF THEM. IT DESCRIBES THE CONVERSION AND COMMISSION OF PAUL TO THE GENTILES. THIS PERIOD DOCUMENTS PAUL’S TRAVELS, HIS PREACHING, THE REVEALED GOSPEL WHICH WAS A MYSTERY, AND THE WRITING OF THE CHURCH EPISTLES. JERUSALEM IS NO LONGER THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY.  PETER IS SET ASIDE, AND THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN FALLS ON DEAF AND DYING EARS OF A FALLEN AND REJECTED NATION. THE BOOK IS NOT AN ACCOUNT OF THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. RATHER, IT IS A RECORD OF HOW AND WHY ISRAEL WAS REJECTED, A NEW APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES WAS CHOSEN, AND A NEW GOSPEL MESSAGE WAS GIVEN TO ALL THE WORLD WITHOUT THE CONVERSION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL.

HEBREWS-THE BOOK OF HEBREWS TROUGHS A “MONKEY RANCH” IN THE WHOLE MATTER OF RIGHT DIVISION. IT IS HERE THE AVERAGE CHRISTION GOES HAYWIRE. HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND   THAT THE BOOK OF HEBREWS THROUGH REVELATION IS WRITTEN TO THE JEWS AND MUST BE SEEN AS A DIVIDING POINT FROM THE CHURCH, WHICH IS CHRIST’S BODY, TO THE DAY OF THE LORD.  RIGHT DIVISION TAKES ISRAEL THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND INTO THEIR ETERNAL KINGDOM. THEREFOR, THE BODY OF CHRIST IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THESE JEWISH EPISTLES. RIGHT DIVISION WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF RECONCILING HEBREWS WITH THE PAULINE EPISTLES. IT IS A TRANSITION BOOK.

IT IS FUTILE TO ATTEMPT RECONCILIATION OF THE MANY DIVISIONS AND DISPENSATIONS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD, UNLESS WE “STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:15. WE CONCLUDE THAT IF THERE IS RIGHT DIVISIONS OF SCRIPTURE, ONE MAY FAIL, AND WRONGLY DIVIDE THEM. NOWHERE IS THAT MORE EVIDENT THAN THE THREE EXAMPLES WE GIVE OF MATTHEW, ACTS, AND HEBREWS. THEY MUST BE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

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WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

By Ken Blue

 

 

  1. CHRIST IS THE FIRST FRUITS TO BE RESURRECTED IN A GLORIFIED BODY-
  2. CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS RESURRECTED ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER-
  3. CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO GOD AT THE END OF THE THOUSAND YEAR KINGDOM-
  4. CHRIST WILL SUBDUE ALL POWERS DURING HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  5. CHRIST WILL DESTROY THE LAST ENEMY, DEATH-
  6. CHRIST WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO GOD AT THE END OF HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  7. GOD WILL RULE OVER ALL THINGS AS HE DID IN THE ORIGINAL CREATION-

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

“GIVE NONE OFFENCE, NEITHER TO THE JEWS, THE GENTILES, THE CHURCH OF GOD:” 

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“GIVE NONE OFFENCE, NEITHER TO THE JEWS NOR TO THE GENTILES, NOR TO THE CHURCH OF GOD:”  (1 Corinthians 10:32).

By Ken Blue
CHURCH OF GOD

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES RIGHTLY UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO DIVIDE THEM RIGHTLY. FAILURE OF THIS RULE OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION HAS LED TO ALL KINDS CONFUSION AND MISAPPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD. THE FOLLOWING VERSE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD OR IT IS IGNORED TO THE SHAME OF MANY COMMENTATORS.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:32 REVEALS A DIVISION, NOT OF TIME, OR EVENTS, OR PLACES, BUT OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE. THESE CONSIST OF THE JEWS, THE GENTILES (NON JEWS OR THE CHURCH), OR THE CHURCH OF GOD. EACH OF THESE MUST BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY AND IN THEIR PROPER CONTEXT. THIS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. THE SECOND RULE IS TO TAKE ALL SCRIPTURE LITERAL AS FAR AS THE CONTEXT WILL ALLOW. IN OTHER WORDS, DO NOT MAKE THE FIGURATIVE LITERAL, OR THE LITERAL, A FIGURE OF SPEECH.

 

SHOULD THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH ANOINT WITH OIL?

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SHOULD THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH ANOINT THE SICK WITH OIL?

By Ken Blue
anoint with oil“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:14-16.

Several years ago one of the best-known pastors in fundamentalism preached at our church. I have no memory what the title or purpose of the sermon was. However, in the sermon, he mentioned the above text and stated that many women, who seemed barren, wanted to be anointed with oil in order to heal their bareness. He said he did so, and many of the women later conceived. Several of our ladies lined up and he proceeded to anoint them with oil.

At that time I had little understanding of right divisions of Scripture or the book of James. However, the right division of the Scriptures makes it clear that Hebrews through Revelation are Jewish epistles. Therefore, it must be understood and interpreted accordingly.  The first verse of James makes it clear to whom it is written and for the twelve tribes of Israel. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1. It is written to the twelve tribes of Israel and falls under the ministry to them.

   The book of James was written about A.D. 45 at Jerusalem before the first Christian council in A.D. 51, and is, no doubt, the first epistle written under the Kingdom of Heaven offer to Israel. James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ is the author of the book. James is more Jewish in content than Matthew, the gospel for the Jews; than Jude and Revelation, and even Hebrews. “The book of James could take a place with the Old Testament canon as far as doctrine is concerned.  There is no mention of the gospel, the incarnation, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is no suggestion as to the Messiah has come or of redemption through Him.  There is no trace of early Christian controversies.  However, James adheres to the teachings of Christ…” Dake’s notes. The book of James parallels much of the Sermon on the Mount as found in Matthew 5-7.

We conclude that the anointing with oil is a Jewish practice under the Kingdom of Heaven ministry, and it has no place or application to the church of this grace dispensation. I have witnessed several Baptist preachers attempt to practice the anointing in order to appease a request, but I have never seen anyone follow the scriptural mandate. Nothing is as silly as a Baptist pastor with a dab of oil on his finger dabbing it on some naive Christian. However, I too was once foolish and blind to the understanding of the book of James because I had not learned to rightly divide the Word of God. The internal evidence is overwhelming that James is not to or for the church, the Body of Christ. We must study all Scripture, but we must know to whom and for what purpose they are written. Anointing oil has no place in this age of grace.

 

ISRAEL, MY SERVANT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

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ISRAEL, MY SERVANT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, others are called the servants of God. The context is the key.

The first few verses of Revelation are the key to the book. However, the book of Revelation is Hebrew and Jewish to the end.

“ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:1-3.

There are several factors that need to be noticed in the above verses.

  1. It is written to His SERVANTS. (God’s servants today are Christians, the Body of Christ. After the Rapture, The Jews will be His servants during the span of the book of   Revelation)
  2. The things in the letter were SHORTLY come to pass. (Over 2000 years have passed)
  3. John HAD SEEN the entire Revelation before he put a pen to the scroll.
  4. Blessings are promised to those that read and KEEP the things written to the servants.
  5. John repeats his warning FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. (Over 2000 years have passed)  

 

THE GREAT FALLACY IS THAT THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE WRITTEN TO THE BODY OF CHRIST, THAT THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE IN CHAPTER FOUR. HOWEVER, VERSE ONE TO CHAPTER 22 IS TO ISRAEL. FALSE TEACHERS MUST CREATE A FALSE RAPTURE TO GET RID OF THE FALSE CHURCHES IN CHAPTER 1-3. THERE IS NO RAPTURE OF ANYONE BUT JOHN, AND HE IS CAUGHT AWAY INTO THE DAY OF THE LORD. AS EZEKIEL WAS CAUGHT UP AND TRANSFERRED TO JERUSALEM.  (And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.  Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.  And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, Ezekiel 8:1-3)

Since the book is to Jews the SERVANTS would Jews, as declared in the Old Testament.

 “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Isaiah.” 41:8

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Isaiah 44:1

 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. Isaiah 44:21

 

 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Isaiah 49:3

 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. Isaiah 49:5

 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6

 

 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1