Wednesday, January 29, 2014

What Did God Promise Man?

Earl Gillespie
What Is The Promise of God?


Reminiscing on the testimony of the church lady, she spoke of the many things she had placed before God, and how she was waiting for God to fulfill his promise.  A mental picture was painted of a young lady standing with faith and conviction, waiting on God.  As her health began to deteriorate  it still could be said that she never wavered in her faith. When the hands of death seem to reach out and caress her, it was that mental picture that caused some to stumble.   There can be no question as to whether God keeps his promise, because to think otherwise would be destructive to the faith.   Yet, when we hear the masses interfacing their prayers with, "Lord, you said you would, or Lord, I know you will," and it seems as if God is silent, it is important that we ask and re-ask, "What is the promise of God?"

When the children of Israel were enslaved in the land of Egypt, they prayed fro the promise of deliverance, but God was silent.  Between the Old and the New Testament God was silent for at least four hundred because of the sins of his people.  Today we cannot accept or even consider  the implications of a silent God.  A miracle once was considered to be something that stood apart and could not be explained in-according to the natural laws put in place by God.   Even the Devil was forced to acknowledge the power of God.    In todays society we have to dumb-down the meaning of blessing and miracles to show that God is doing great things for us.  

According to modern day prophets, we are standing on the threshold of massive blessing being poured out.  On any given day there  is a cloud of witnesses testifying of the blessings they have received, from waking up in the morning to buying new cars. There seems to be a great need to study and understand what is a blessing.  Everything that God allows or provide is not a blessing. 

In the Bible, a blessing was something special.  When a blessing was given it gave the receiver the power to act in the name of the giver.  Isaac had two sons, one he blessed and the other he did not offer the blessing, yet they both were his sons and enjoyed the wealth of their father's household. They both enjoyed the fruit of the land and became prosperous.  One received 'the' blessing from his father and the other did not.

The recreation of God has allowed us to form God in our own image, as a good God who is standing ready to give us all of the good stuff.  A sellable attribute of Christianity is, "For 35.98,  I can show you how to get what you want from God'.   Now, I am forced to ask, Is this scripture or is this a gimmick?   Why is it hard to hear a message from God without the request for money?  Did God say if you give me some money I will give you a blessing?  A better question is, can we buy God's blessings?

The evolution of modern day religion into an entertainment platform has allowed Christianity to morph into a come and get your blessing platform.  One cannot help but wonder whether or not this expectation was shared by John the Baptist, Peter, Paul or even Jesus Christ.    It seems that the ancient promulgators of Christian lore were content to live a life lack and persecution with the hope of reigning with Christ in the Kingdom to come.   Oops, now ain't that what salvation is all about, been saved from the destruction that is coming upon this earth, and ruling with Christ when his new kingdom is established?   The evolution of Christianity   is fueled by the lack of knowledge as to what Heaven is like.

God promised the Children of Israel, he would fight for them.  Deuteronomy 1:30  The LORD your God, which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;  When their enemies  came up against the supernatural power of God, they were left with one expression, the God of Israel is a powerful God and he struck fear in their hearts.  Exodus 14:18  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  It seems that there was a greater purpose here rather than providing a way across the Red Sea.  In the vernacular of the church lady, "God can do anything he want to",  seems to indicate that God could have delivered the Children of Israel without the parting of the Red Sea.  It seems that he was trying to establish that He was God and there was none other.  

The works of God and the promises of God are divided and separated by ages and dispensations.  The legal dispensation that ended when Jesus said, "it's finished", ushered in the dispensation of grace.  In this dispensation it is the works of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, that is supposed to serve as our guide.   The Bible clearly states that there was a time when the Father enacted with his creation, they became so unruly that he left and went into a far country, then he sent his son.  They killed his son. 

 Proper prospective is important in understanding the Word of God,  We can claim the blessing of Abraham like a little kid who want all of the toys and we can even promote living by a Jewish Law.  We can mix the Word of God into a polluted mess, one group saying this and another group saying this.  We can even claim that prayer is the solution  to the problems of the world and charge money to open the doorway to Heaven.  This world has already been condemned to a day of judgement, praying for world peace is a wasted effort.   According to the Book of Revelation the promise is salvation and it is extended on an individual base. 

The lady sitting in the Wal-mart parking lot praying for God to start her car was in no way deterred by the strange looks given her by shoppers as they passed by.   It was obvious from the smell of the exhaust that the engine was flooded, but her prayers were for God to work a miracle and this miracle was to be preformed in the parking lot of the local Walmart store.  She would even later testify of how God worked that miracle and started her car.  Once this type of testimony become in vogue many began to testify of incidents where God repaired cars and performed other irreverent acts.  When Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, why God did not allow him to use a full fighting force.   When the Children of Israel cried out for water, why didn't God send Moses out into the wilderness to find a rock that was already gushing water?   These are examples that we ought to live by.

When Jesus was called to raise Lazarus from the dead, he alluded to the fact that he was doing it   so that those standing there might believe.  From that demonstration we can conclude that Jesus is able to raise the dead, but except on special occasions as it was prophesied, we have not seen an influx of people being raised from the dead.  Modern day leaders have perfected the art of selling the blessings of  God.   It is an MLM scheme, a get rich quick scheme, an I want to be a superstar, look at my fancy suit, my big house, my fancy car, I will show you how to get the same thing.   God forbid, what happen to the promise of salvation? There is a massive move to capitalize on the need for hope in this world.  If we are peddling hope in this world, then our message of Christianity is a contradiction.  Many have tried to recreate the miracles of Jesus through trickery and special television effects only to be tried and found wanting.   

When your life revolves around cancer, treatments, death, survival and the bizarre side effects of cancer treatment, acceptance is highly rated on your "bucket list".  Acceptance allows you to spend your days in peace, not screaming out of your belly and begging for a little more time to indulge in the frailties of mortal fantasies.   Acceptance allows you to believe in God without believing that God has preordained that he was going to heal you.  We often want to believe in the healing virtue of God so bad that many go to their death begging for God to heal or deliver them.  

John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was allowed to languish in jail until his head was chopped off.  There is no record of John crying and begging Jesus to come and deliver him.   John accepted the facts that his death was imminent, his only prayer was, "are you the Christ or shall we look for another."

All of Jesus disciples approached death bravely.  Simon Peter had numerous chances to escape, but he chose not to because it would have endangered those that was assigned to guard him.   Paul said he was caught in a dilemma, he wanted to go, yet he wanted to stay for the good he could do.  

Revelation 3:19-22  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.




Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Who Was Adam and Eve?

Earl Gillespie
Who Was Adam and Eve?

Genesis 1:27-28  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.


The question of who was Adam and Eve does not rate high on the scale of biblical research, because we have been introdoctinated  into a firm belief that all human life evolved from Adam and Eve. Yet, there is no biblical statement or verse that truly validates this long running conclusion, it is just something we have been taught based   upon the merging of two seemly unrelated verses.  Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image,"... And Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  There are those who questioned the validity of the merging of these two verses, but few stepped forward to search for a deeper answer.  The acceptance of this conclusion opens the door to a host of questions that continue to plague modern man.  The failure of modern religion to answer rightly certain questions that has arisen has stalled the advancement of Christianity in many arenas because there is this embedded doubt in the heart of man.  The Devil first played on this doubt In his conversation with Eve.  This hidden doubt was also expressed in Thomas acceptance of the risen Christ. The Bible teacher or preacher that cannot fully address the question of the dinosaurs or the different races will have a problem, fostering a true concept of Christianity in a world where young people on the average spend more than twelve years being acclimated to the teaching and benefits of science.  They are forced into a dilemma, I believe what the Bible says or I believe what they teach in school.  

To conclude many discussions, truisms are often inserted to preclude any further discussions. "God can do anything he wants to".  Often we rejoice in the fact that there is nothing impossible with God,  To the un-introdoctrinated these cute catchy cliches are nothing but cop-outs to addressing the real problem and questions that exist.  We can also use these truisms to preclude or conclude any discussion on  the question of who was Adam or Eve.   

Other than basing the answer to this important question upon speculation, that tends to make the speaker look or sound religious, the first and only verse that adds credence to the accepted hypothesis is Geneses 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.  In the King James Version there are only four references to Eve, two in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament.  And interesting postscript to a very important lady.  

Quoting from Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Concordance, we see the following, the name Adam was assigned to the man by God, which signifies red earth, Adam, in further token of dominion, named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve that of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given  Because she was (that is, was to be) the mother of all living. Before this declaration Adam had  called her Ishah--woman, as a wife; here he calls her Evah--life, as a mother. Now, 1. If this was done by divine direction, it was an instance of God's favor, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, and an assurance to them that, notwithstanding their sin and his displeasure against them for it, he had not reversed the blessings wherewith he had blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply. It was likewise a confirmation of the promise now made, that the seed of the woman, of this woman, should break the serpent's head.  2. If Adam did it of himself, it was an instance of his faith in the word of God. Doubtless it was not done, as some have suspected, in contempt or defiance of the curse, but rather in a humble confidence and dependence upon the blessing. (1.) The blessing of a reprieve, admiring the patience of God, that he should spare such sinners to be the parents of all living, and that he did not immediately shut up those fountains of the human life and nature, because they could send forth no other than polluted, poisoned, streams. (2.) The blessing of a Redeemer, the promised seed, to whom Adam had an eye, in calling his wife Eve--life; for he should be the life of all the living, and in him all the families of the earth should be blessed, in hope of which he thus triumphs

This interpretation seems to present a more truthful approach because it refuses to apply a literal interpretation of the scripture, that if it did so, it would create more problems that it would solve.   Here again, I must apply the rule, if my brother who work with cattle asked me to stand in the gate and don't let anything pass, did he just offer me a lifetime job or was it something that need to be done at that moment in time?  If he were to add an interpretation to his simple request he would have to assume I was mentally challenged. 

The question of Adam being the first man created is not a biblical fact, it is an hypothesis or  at worse an assumption created by merging two separate incidents.   Adam was the representation of God's chosen people.   I searched the entire King James version of the Bible for information concerning Adam.  There are twenty nine references to Adam in the Old and New Testament, there is none that says Adam was the first man created.  1 Corinthians 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  What does this verse really say?  The context is established between the first and last Adam.  The only two men whose existed was "formed by God'.   This verse should not be taken out of the context of the entire chapter  and used to justify a point that is not being made here.   This is a discussion of the first and the last Adam in reference to our salvation, not the creative works of God.  The last man Adam restored what the first man Adam lost.  1 Timothy 2:13  For Adam was first formed, then Eve. Why did it not say "created"?

Jesus is the federal head of His elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham, when Melchizedek met him: it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure for ever. Thus, whatever Christ hath done, He hath wrought for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does, is ours as well as His, seeing that He is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution.

Genesis 4:16-18  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.  And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.  Here it becomes necessary to prove that Cain married his sister.  Why did God have such a burning hatred of the Canaanites.  Were they not the same bloodline of Adam? 

Genesis 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Numbers 21:3  And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

The sixth chapter of Geneses opens up another interesting avenue of discussion that is often overlooked.  Genesis 6:1-3  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God, (Who were the Sons of God?) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.  Genesis 6:4  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Some hold that these "sons of God" were the "angels which kept not their first estate" Jude 1:6-7  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  

Genesis 7:5-10  And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

Genesis 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.  The Bible is not a complicated book, if we study to rightly divide the Word of truth.  it tells the story of the creative works of God and how God interacted with his creation.  It tells of a time when God was actively fighting for his people and it it tell of a time when God was silent.  It tells the story of his son coming to redeem the lost world and it tells of how his very own Son was rejected.  The story ends when God pours out his wrath out on a sin cursed world.    Humanity was tested and those that passed the test would be able to rule with his son, 

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Creative Works of God.

Earl Gillespie
In The Beginning

The Creative Works of God.

Without a clear knowledge of the creative works of God, many expressions of faith have been tested and found wanting.  Recalling the religious fervor of the early sixties when it was announced that a moon landing was in man future,  It was a lack of knowledge that allowed many members of the religious community to entertain prophecies that failure of the project was imminent. The lack of knowledge as pertaining to the spiritual and the natural world has left many in a total state of confusion.  This confusion has caused Christianity to morph into its worst enemy.   The lack of knowledge of God's Word has caused a believability problem and our younger generations are walking away from the teachings of the Bible.   The enlighten generation no longer believes simply because they have been taught to believe, they are asking questions.  Bible studies that revolve around retelling the stories of the life and times of the ancient patriots without searching for answers and debating the relevancy is no longer acceptable to much of the generations of today.  

Geneses 1:5-26 gives us a step by step progress report of God's restoration process.  There is no need to try to expand or attempt read out of context ideologies in this report.  Some will try to show that a day was as a thousand years, even after the morning and evening was used to mark the days.   Now try to imagine that during the restoration process, Lucifer shows up and try to unseat God.  It would be more scriptural and practical if we could accept that the Devil was the cause of the destruction that was brought upon the earth in a previous dispensation.   Now, to believe this requires a firm belief in the Ages and Dispensations of the Bible.  According to Peter the earth was standing in and out of the waters.  If we utilized God's given ability, our 'common sense',  many of the answers that seem to escape us will become apparent.  Once we open up our mind and Heart to understanding God's Word from the beginning to the ending of the book, much of our hidden doubts, those doubts that we dare not vocalize will dissipate.  Just because in the early sixties influential bible teachers and preachers taught the world was square did not make the world square.   To weave a story of how Cain married his sister is not in the best interest of a deeper understanding of God Word, it only proves that you are a good storyteller and for some reason you are afraid of the truth.  Also, to refuse to answer the question is damaging to the faith of many.

When discussing the creative works of God often  the most common scripture out of context used to reconcile the time differences between science and the Bible is 2Peter 3:8. Verse 8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years. This (2Peter 3:8-9) is the second consideration by which the apostle meets the objection of scoffers against the doctrine of the second coming of the Saviour. Nowhere in his dissertation was he trying to prove or address the creative aspect of God.  The objection was, that much time, and perhaps the time, which had been supposed to be set for Christ second coming, had passed away, and still all things remained as they were.  Man looks at the growing graveyards today and in their conception of time is filled with wonderment. It has been a long time, I wonder when Christ is coming back?'  The reply of the apostle is, that no argument could be drawn from this, for that which may seem to be a long time to us is a brief period with God. In the infinity of his own duration there is abundant time to accomplish his designs, and it can make no difference to him whether they are accomplished in one day or extended to a thousand years. Man has but a short time to live, and if he does not accomplish his purposes in a very brief period, he never will. But it is not so with God. He always lives; and we cannot therefore infer, because the execution of his purposes seems to be delayed, that they are abandoned. With Him who always lives, it will be as easy to accomplish them at a far distant period as now. If it is his pleasure to accomplish them in a single day, he can do it; if he chooses that the execution shall be deferred for a thousand years, or that a thousand years shall be consumed in executing them, he has the power to carry them onward through what seems to us to be so vast a duration. The wicked, therefore, cannot infer that they will escape because their punishment is delayed; nor should the righteous fear that the Divine promises will fail because ages pass away before they are accomplished. A similar thought occurs in Ps 90:4: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

To learn and live by the Word of God, we must apply the rule of who is talking, who is he talking to, and what is being discussed.  We must be careful not to misslocate, misstate or misapply the Word of God,  When we do this we are guilty of changing or perverting the Word of God. Now let us continue.

Genesis 1:26-27  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  So God made man, why did God make man?  Then he gave him dominion over the things that he had created.  Prior to man, who had dominion over God creation?  These are not profane questions, Job asked questions and God answered them.   We should not be afraid to ask God questions, then as a little child sit back and wait on God to answer.  There are those among us that do not want us to know the truth.  There are those that can't handle the truth.  The Devil is constantly lying.  He can't handle the truth.  He does not want us to know the truth. Without the truth our lives are filled with confusion.  If we seek to embrace the truth, we would not be so easily led astray by lies or shaped truth.  

To understand the scripture, to grasp a deeper understanding of God's word, many times we need to lay aside the things that we have been taught and come as a little child seeking knowledge from God.  An analogy used in my book, "My Search for The Real God' describes how clean water was placed in a pitcher that once contained Kool-Aid. Those who drank the water couldn't help but notice that the water tasted like Kool-Aid.   When questioned about the funny tasting water, the filler of the pitcher replied, "that's the way it came out of the faucet".   The statement is true to a point, but the pitcher was not washed before filling it with water.  'Always wash the pitcher before filling it with water.'  Our mind is like the pitcher, when studying the Word of God, it should be free from contamination.   Bible study should be more that rehashing tired old sediments or sermonizing indoctrinated phrases.  

Now it is my intent to flood your mind with questions.  Are you afraid of questions?  Are you so set in your ways that you cannot handle questions?  Why is it at this point of the creative restoration God decided to make man.   Was it so that He would have somebody to beg Him for stuff?  Now re-read the above verse and take a long look at the things that he gave man dominion over.   The most interesting aspect of this verse is, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."  What is the image of a spiritual God?  Does this mean we look like God?  It is easy to assume that these verses refer to Adam an Eve, but if we assume that then we open the door to several more questions that most often is left unresolved.  (1.) Did God create different races of people? (2.) Did the Bible say Adam was the first man created?  The final question of Geneses is, "where did Cain get his wife?"   Now most bible study groups will conclude with Adam was the first man created and all human life sprung from Adam and Eve.  Now imagine yourself going back in time prior to the Wright brother's flight, listening to a group of old men discuss the reason why a man would never fly.   When asked for further enlightenment the pious prelate responded, "God can do anything he want to", and the indoctrinated few said "Aman".

Genesis 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  God gave man a blessing, what happen to that blessing.  Why are we so obsessed with blessing.  The operative words here are replenishing and subdue, how do you replenish the earth if there had been nothing there.  Subdue, how do you subdue? The military subdue countries.  There are many clues provided her to stimulate you desire for learning.  Take the word replenish, can you replenish or refill an empty glass?  From the use of these words we should be able to extrapolate that there was a force present on earth at the time man was created and that force need to be subdued.

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Let us take a closer look at the at the terminology used to describe the implantation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.  Here we have God is forming a man and only a man, not male and female, but a special man and placing him alone in the garden of Eden. .  In Genesis 1:26-27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.The creative works of God were preformed by God speaking, such as 'let there be light'.  Read Genesis 2:7 again, there is no reference to them, nor is there any reference to male and female in in that verse.  A period of time elapsed and God reasoned that it was not good for the man to be alone.  Genesis 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  Now we have the formation of the woman.  

Genesis 3:20  And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Since this verse did not specify the mother of human life, we must conclude that there is a deeper meaning to this verse than saying Eve is the mother of all life.  Adam is referred to as "a living soul", yet she was not his mother, nor was she the mother of the living creatures.   Any assumptions made as to the meaning of this verse must take into consideration that there were different races of people, and God wanted his special people to be separated from.  When Cain killed his brother, he fled into a distant land, established a city and promulated a race of people (Cainites)  that God was determined to stamp out.   

If we accept the differences in the events that took place in Geneses 1:26-27 and Genesis 2;21 we are well on the way to a deeper understanding of God's Word.  If we choose to combine the events, then we have created a convoluted conception of the scripture that cannot be explained except through speculation and fairy tales. 


Next:  
Who Was Adam and Eve?

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

In The Beginning

Earl Gillespie
In The Beginning


Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2  And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters

A vast amount of resources are squandered on surveys and studies whose primary focus is to determine why church attendance is down. Many assemblies are in denial as they bring more spectacular attractions in the worship services to attract a younger demographic.    There are more pastors, preachers, ministers, apostles, prophets and teachers per ratio than at any time within the course of human events, yet the world situation is not getting any better.  The question is why?  The answer is, It is the believibility  of God that suffers.  Even many of those that say they believe have a problem with their faith or believability.  Even the government that has offered up massive amounts of money to assist in the building of churches, do not believe in the word of God.  Conflicts  with the teaching of the Bible, and those that teach the Bible is being exposed. 

When I was a small child one of the first questions and conflicts that I encountered in bible study was why was there no dinosaurs in the Bible. As I grew older the question of the different races began to emerge. The question of Cain's wife was too far out to even entertain the possibility of an answer.  There were other questions that were just as important, but to maintain a sense of superiority, teacher and preachers were quick to exclaim, "There are much about the Bible, we will never understand", and once the call for an "amen" was sounded you knew it was time to shut up.

   Often in todays setting, when an attempt is made to shed new light on a subject using biblical facts,  the enlighten voice will be suppressed. When I first did my research on the subject of "the beginning", I was prepared to "wow" my bible study class with a series of questions and answers.  My first question was in, in what dispensation was the devil cast out upon the earth?  The second question, in what dispensation did dinosaurs walked the earth, set the stage for a bible study revolt.  When I began a study of Ages and Dispensations, the bible study class was cancelled. 

Bible studies  and preached messages in most instances are based upon the interpretation of one or more verses surgically removed from the context in which they were spoken.  Who is speaking, who is being spoken to and what is the subject of discussion is overlooked in search of emotional charged and exciting sound bites.  Indoctrination through iteration is the preferred concept of teaching, relying upon old concepts rather than studying to understand the Word of God. 

Failure to understand the Word of God provides the groundwork for a faulty perception of God. The God of today could be said to be different from the God of old, yet we loudly proclaim God do not change.  So, the question does God change or did humanity change?  The Bible is as a history book that details God interaction with his creation.  It reveals His plans, His hopes and His expectations.  It is a book that transcends ages and dispensation.  A study of ages and dispensations, will reveal the fact that outside of "Time" the Scriptures mention "Two Ages:" Before "Time" the "ALPHA" or "CREATIVE AGES," and after "Time" the "OMEGA," or "AGES OF THE AGES." In "Time" there are three "Ages" and eight "Dispensations." 

Paul understood this concept of bible study when he encouraged  Timothy  to, "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).  The operative words in this verse is to study and dividing the Word of God into its proper Ages and dispensations. The "Ages" are (1.) The Antediluvian Age  (2.) The Present Age and (3.) The Age of Ages.  The "Third Age" is a "Dual Age," composed of the "Millennial Age" and the "Perfect Age."  There are eight  "Dispensations" (1.) The Edenic, (2.) The Antediluvian, (3.) The Post-Diluvian, (4.) The Patriarchal, (5.) The Legal, (6.) The ecclesiastical,(7.) The Messianic, and (8.) The Dispensation Of The "FULNESS OF TIMES."

The difference between an "Age" and a "Dispensation" is, that an "Age" stands for a period between two great physical changes in the earth's surface, while a "Dispensation" stands for a "moral" or "probationary" period in the world's history. For illustration, the "Present Age" began with "The Flood," and will end with the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives. "The Flood" caused such physical and climatic changes that the length of human life was reduced from 900 to 100 years; all this will be reversed when Christ comes back, when the whole contour of the Land of Palestine will be changed (Zec 14:4-10; Eze 47:1-12), and men shall live again for upwards of 1000 years. Isa 65:20. While the Dispensations are probationary periods, the form of "Administration" is different and progressive in each "Dispensation." For illustration, the Administration of the "Legal Dispensation" was that of "LAW," of the "Present Dispensation" is "GRACE," and of the one to follow is "RIGHTEOUSNESS."  If we take that which was apart of a previous Dispensation and make it a part of a present Dispensation we pollute the message and render it unbelievable, except to the indoctrinated followers. 

THE CREATIVE AGES

The Scriptures begin with the sublime declaration-- "In the beginning God `CREATED' the heaven and the earth." Ge 1:1.  As the word "heaven" is in the singular it will clarify matters to limit this creative act to our own planet, and the solar system to which it belongs, rather than to the whole of the starry spaces or the universe.  Also, I will ask you to note the period at the end of verse 1, this is indicative of a complete thought. 

 THE ORIGINAL OR PRE-ADAMITE EARTH

This creation was in the dateless past. The six days' work as described in Ge 1:3-31 was the restoration of the earth to its original condition before it was made "formless and void" and submerged in water and darkness. Peter speaks of it as the "World that then was, that being overflowed with water, perished." 2Pe 3:5-7

The manner of the creation of the "Pre-Adamite Earth" is not revealed in the Scriptures. They simply declare that "In the beginning God CREATED the heaven and the earth." And in that statement we have all the Millenniums of time that science may require for the formation of the earth as a planet.  We have all of the time needed for the great beast that God spoke to Job about, to exist.   During that dateless past, we have a battle taking place, that Jesus alluded to when he said he saw the Devil cast out upon the earth.  Now consider this, when God created man, Lucifer appeared to Eve as the old serpent, the Devil.  

 THE CHAOTIC EARTH

The "Original Earth" was doubtless a most beautiful earth, covered with vegetation and inhabited with fish, fowl and animal life, and probably with human life. How long it continued in this condition, we are not told, but an awful catastrophe befell it, it became "FORMLESS AND VOID," and submerged in water and darkness. Ge 1:2. That it was not originally so we know from Isa 45:18 (R.V.). "Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; he is God; that formed the earth and made it; He established it. He created it NOT A WASTE, He formed it to be inhabited." What caused the earth to become a "Waste" after its original creation is not clearly revealed. It is clear from the account of the Fall of Adam and Eve that sin existed before man was created. The inference is that Satan and his angels were in charge of the Pre-Adamite Earth, that they rebelled, and by rebellion brought destruction on the Pre-Adamite Earth and its inhabitants, and for their sin was excluded from Heaven, and now occupy the "heavens," and that they are the "Principalities and Powers" over which Satan rules and of whom we are warned in Eph 6:12.

The manner in which the Pre-Adamite Earth was made "formless and void," and this refers only to the exterior surface, the habitableness of the earth, is clearly revealed by Peter, where he says-- "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; whereby the world that then was, BEING OVERFLOWED WITH WATER, perished." 2Pe 3:5-6.

It is clear that Peter does not refer here to Noah's Flood as some proclaim, for the world of Noah's day did not perish, and Peter goes on to add that-- "The heavens and the earth which are now (that is, have been in existence since the restoration of the earth of Ge 1:3-31), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (Great White Throne Judgment, Re 20:11-15.) 2Pe 3:7.

The manner, then in which the Pre-Adamite Earth was made "formless and void" was by WATER. Violent convulsions must have wrecked the Pre-Adamite Earth and covered its surface with the waters of its oceans. Not a living creature remained alive upon it, and its atmosphere of murky darkness hid the light of the sun, moon and stars. To all intents and purposes it was a dead planet, though the seeds of its vegetable life remained entombed in its bosom ready to spring into resurrection life. The absence of the warm rays of the sun caused the earth to pass through the "Winter" of its life, and the submerging waters were congealed into ice that preserved in "COLD STORAGE" the remains of immense quadrupeds and winged creatures, (dianosors) that we might know the kind of animal life that inhabited the Pre-Adamite Earth. This was probably the Glacial Period of Geologic Times. The Prophet Jeremiah records a vision of the time:

Jeremiah 4:23-28  "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it."

If this was, as it appears, an account of the destruction of the Pre-Adamite Earth, then the Pre-Adamite Earth was inhabited, and its inhabitants dwelt in cities, (with Pyramids) and God's purpose in destroying the Pre-Adamite Earth was to efface all historic monuments and evidences of the sinfulness of its occupants.  

Genesis 1:3-5  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

How long a period elapsed between the creation of the earth and its becoming "formless and void" we do not know; neither do we know how long it continued in that condition, but when the time came in the purpose of God to restore the earth to its habitable state, and make it fit for the abode of man, He did it in six periods of longer or shorter duration. The Hebrew word translated "day" may mean either a day of 24 hours or a longer period of time. The probability is that the time was short because of the reference of the morning and the evening.

Next:  The Creative Works of God



Monday, January 13, 2014

Adrift In The Storm

Earl Gillespie
A Test Of Faith
Adrift In The Storm

Mark 11:22  And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God.
Luke 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. No one like to speak of their lack of faith, the church is not even prepared to minister to those whose faith is weak.  Like the prayer group whose testimony of how God was using them to raise people from the dead, Christians have digressed to the point of creating events or incidents to show how God is working in their life.  These events or incidents are self-serving in that they make the person telling the story seems more righteous.  The most vocal has proclaimed that God is doing great things in their life, leaving that struggling soul to wonder why it is forsaken by God.   A testimony is supposed to be a faith building message to the giver and those that hear it. The churches that once supported open testimonies formats during worship services was forced to change because the Devil's influence became apparent.  Many peoples' faith suffered because of the bogus testimonials. 

The Bible definition of "Faith" is-- "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1), and in the remaining verses of the chapter the Apostle illustrates his definition by the conduct of the Old Testament worthies that he names.  I hold in my hand a check, it is the substance (on paper) of the money I hope to get when I cash it, and the evidence (in black and white) of the money that I have not as yet seen.  There is another side of this analogy that would render the check a worthless piece of paper.  Often a check is refused because the receiver lacks the needed trust in the in the writer of the check.   The testimony of those who have had contact with the writer, even those that are lying can have an adverse effect on the value of the check.  Many valuable checks have been refused because of the slanderous use of the writer's name.  I used that analogy to show that faith is based upon our trust in God, yet because the way God is often presented many lose their precious faith.  

This blog was set up as a bible study blog, and I trust that many of you have been inspired by my writing.  I hope I can return to my verse by verse bible study soon, but for the moment I am adrift in a sea of confusion, my faith is being tested and the very fabric of my soul is being rendered irreverent.  With the recent death in the family there is an awareness  of the underlying hostility that exists between the families and in the churches.   Accusations based upon false perceptions that many was not aware of or long forgotten,  began to surface.  Simple acts of endearment were cast in a fallow light when judged by the inaccurate standards of 'he think or act like'.  These entities rely upon an individual's perception of an event that is often false because of the  impossibility of determining what a person is thinking or why he looked the way he did.   Too often, as people of God, we allow our speech and actions to be tainted by false perceptions of events.  Sibling rivalry, an ancient curse that first reared it ugly head in the Garden of Eden and destroyed the brotherly relationship between Cain and Abel.  This malady plays and important part in the way people are treated in the church and in the home.  Sibling rivalry relies upon false perceptions and it is as contagious as the worst kind of infection.  There is no defense against it and often the accused is the last to know.   What is a false perception?  Can a man of God  or a church be guilty of acting and reacting to false perceptions?   If you knew your pastor or friend was guilty of a false perception how do you respond?   "God told me", is the response that leaves you wordless.   Do you pray to the same God that told him you were evil and vindictive.  Do you ask that same God  to open up his understanding?  There is the illumination of a contradiction here.  

The Devil had learned a valuable lesson over the last six thousands of years.  If he sends so-called demons  or evil people to attract the household of faith, the people's faith would grow stronger.  In the ancient days when the church was persecuted the church flourished and grew even stronger.  The lesson was learned that the best way to attack and destroy church people is to use church people to attack church people.  When the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians, they called upon their God, imagine the confusion that would have prevailed if the Egyptians were serving the same God.  When the Children of Israel went forth to battle, they often had the assurance that God would deliver them.   The Devil learned a valuable lesson when he made a frontal attack on Job.   He adjusted his techniques and brought in Job's friends who used the Word of God against him.   Through it all Job's faith did not waver.   If we could only claim the faith of Job. 

 When the adversities of life deal us a severe blow, it is our faith in humanity that sustains us.  Many will quickly disagree and state that it should be our faith in Christ that should sustain us.   Yet, both are true statements because they hinges upon each other.  Without the support of one the other fails.  We should see be able to see the love of Jesus in the lives of the members of the church and those that we hold dear.   If we loved one another as Jesus said, we would be careful not to judge.  A judge often will make his judgement based upon the arguments presented by the lawyers, therefore his judgement may be in adherence with the law, but is not a representation of the truth.  Of time a judge will render judgement based upon the defendant 'copping a plea'.   Is this the reason Jesus said judge not?   When judgment is rendered, love is not allowed to speak.  Only grace might abound in the face of judgment.  Jesus condemns his church in Revelation 2:4-5,  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  The candlestick of the church is its anchor, the church should offer a light to those that are struggling, not an emotional high, not a place of entertainment but a place of refuge from the impending storm.   The church that Jesus ordained as his bride, was never intended to be used as a place to go to collect blessings.  

There are those things in life that should serve as anchors to prevent us from drifting. In times of adversities those anchors are tested and many are found wanting because as the song implies, their anchor did not grip a solid rock.  There is a question to be asked, but often ignored, how can you be sure of your anchor when the position of your anchor keeps changing?   There is an ornate message from the pulpit, over the airways, and even most bible studies, the blessings of God are about to rain down.  Hope is being sold.  They are like casinos peddling hope to those who say, "if I keep playing a win is going to come my way".   There are real life spiritual issues that many are facing today,  and sometimes it is hard to find a message emulating from the churches that address these issues.  Mainstream Christianity is dumbing-down and selling out to a message of deliverance, prosperity and entertainment.  But Jesus said in Revelation 2:26,  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  He ended his message  in Revelation 2:29,  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When church members are enduring problems, who do they turn to?  Can they turn to their pastor?  A member of the assembly?  A friend or community counseling might be effective.  Jesus introduced a group of people called peacemakers in Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  For years I have laid awake many nights crying, "God, where are the peacemakers"?  Those that came in the name of peace brought with them another bag of garbage.   James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 The religious establishment is quick to lead you down the roads of false illusions.  The type illusions that are destructive to the faith.  Having faith is not about buying a car,  nor is blessings about racking up earthly treasures.  Faith is about salvation.  As Christians, we should invest in the "Divine Promises" as to our present salvation. There are three elements in "saving faith." (1). KNOWLEDGE. A man cannot believe in something he knows nothing about. (2). BELIEF. A man may know about a thing, but not believe in it. (3). DEPENDENCE. A man may know about a thing and believe in it, and yet put no dependence on it. To illustrate, you are on a sinking ship, a lifeboat puts out from the shore and approaches the ship unknown to you. Someone tells you of the lifeboat, that is knowledge. You watch the lifeboat as it carries load after load of passengers safely to the shore and you are convinced of its saving power, that is believable. But your knowledge of the existence of the lifeboat, and your belief in its ability to save you, will not save you unless you get in the boat and depend on it to save you, now that is FAITH.

Now there is another side of the lifeboat analogy.  There is a story about people who boarded lifeboats and was never seen again. 

Is there anybody around to help you when you are adrift in a sea of confusion? 
















Wednesday, January 8, 2014

A Conversation of Lies


Earl Gillespie
A Conversation Of Lies
A Testing Of Faith



Have you been engaged in a conversation in search of solidarity only to be reminded of an unknown 'thing that you always do'?  Not withstanding the fact that an improbability  has been stated,  the accused usually have no knowledge of what he is being accused of.  Any attempt to engage in an enlightening discussion is cast aside as being nothing more than, "your word against his' (hers')."  If this were true, why was it brought up?  Another fallacy that amazes me is that in the religious arena, we are often judged by how we act, "you act like.." or we make judgments based upon what a we think,  "you think you are more than anybody else."  Is it possible for a person to know the inner thoughts of another?  When Jesus alluded to a man looking at the outer appearance, was he talking about clothes?

Possibly,  as a young boy, participating in school closing and church plays I developed a habit of speaking in an animated fashion, relying extensively upon the use of my hands to express myself.  It became a habit that many found exciting and exhilarating as I sought to make my points in business meetings and Bible study classes.  In a conversation among friends I was sharply criticized and hurt when it was stated, " you come here with all that hand jive trying to act like somebody on TV and confuse us."

Often as advised I have prayed for God to open up a line of communication so that differences among families, friends and members of the household of faith might be worked out. The result of these prayers indicated that I prayed for the wrong thing or God simply, did not hear my prayer.  This conclusion added to my test of faith.   In my stupidity, I must admit I never understood the over used cliché of, 'He might not come when you want him to come, but he is always on time."   The again, I never understood the meaning of, "You cannot have your cake and eat it too."  If I asked you for a glass of water and you said no, did you answer my request?  When God spoke to Moses, who was he speaking to? Questions, questions designed to make us think.

In a conversation of lies the truth is stretched and shaped to accommodate the  person who has a difference of opinions with what is being said or done.  Sadly to say, in many instances there is nothing that can be said to resolve the differences when we elevate our opinion above all other opinions.   When I began to speak out about the things that was happening around me that was, 'messing with my faith', the standard reply was, we must keep our eyes on God not man.  The truth be told many times that statement is made in a self serving manners, designed to show  that you have lost your sight on God and to further implicate you in what ever atrocious act that you have been condemned of.   If we are representatives of God, then is it true, we must see God in those that represent him?

In a conversation about God or listening to the Word of God go forth there is a constant use of indoctrinated  phrases and cliches designed to bring about an emotional response.  In many assemblies a lively message is filled with questions about the goodness of God.  "God is a good God",  is repeated with such intensity that the parishioners  who might be dozing off will find it impossible to go to sleep. The question of who woke you up this morning is apt to bring on an emotional response that is equivalent to a James Brown concert.   The same as the word, 'touchdown' will evoke an emotional response at a football game, the savvy speaker has in his repertoire, words or phrases that will evoke the desired response. 

There appears to be an  ethnic diversification that has changed the demographics within the religious community.  Emotional reactions in the church manifested itself during the days of slavery, it can be argued that it is a part of the slave mentality, an infectious and  contagious malady.  It has ingrained itself in religious worship services and has redefined itself as the spirit of God.  In many ethnic churches the preachers learned to work the crowd.  In the ancient days the people would 'shout' and the Ushers would rush to, "hold and fan"  the emotionally overcome to keep them from hurting themselves.  In todays setting the crowd is worked into a frenzy and those that are so inclined,  get up and dance.   How God response seems to be relevant to this ethnic diversity of the congregation. 

I am very much aware that I have crossed over into a dark territory and ministers of God are declaring damnation upon my soul.  They say I have an agenda, some will say I am being vindictive.  The truth is I am being vindictive and I do have an agenda.  In my book, "My Search for The Real God," I challenged the pious prelates to take a closer look at the lies that are being told in the name of our Father.  In my test of faith I realize how tired I am of hearing the scripture misquoted, misapplied and I, like many others who are walking away from the church are tired of being lied to and lied about.  To sustain that which is left of my faith, I will speak out against those who have perverted the Word of God.  The church that Jesus ordained is being presented as a casino, "money goes in and blessings come out."   Why did Jesus condemn the church in the Book of Revelation?  Questions, questions.

Do you get tired of the lies? Do you recognize how many lies you are constantly being told?  When you go to church is there truth in the message, or is the Bible being twisted to massage someones egotistical personality?  When you engage in a conversation, are you repeating or reacting to the lies that someone else told you?  How do you know you are not?  Have you become so desensitized to lying now that it has become such a normal part of living.  Are you guilty of judging someone because of what someone told you?  Lying is the outcome of people being right in their own eyes and stubbornly holding to their own viewpoint, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Lies are constantly in politics and government, and we tend to simply accept them. Rarely does anyone address issues truthfully. And when such a rare thing does occur, many simply do not want to hear the truth.

Politics and lying are quite synonymous and to think that the church has become involved in politics.   We are constantly being bombarded by little lies, big lies and every kind of shading or perversion of the truth that falls in between. In the church, talk shows, books, advertising, and the news—what is the truth? How often do you find genuine truth, fidelity, honesty, and faithfulness in marital relationships?   Adding to the fragility of marriage alternate lifestyles that condone all of the sins that the Bible speaks against is becoming the accepted norm.  Again, how many lies? Over half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Are lies involved in such cases? Constantly! Are there lies in the workplace, in corporations and between employers and employees? People live with lies and deceit every day, and this very thing contributes mightily to the daily stress of life. Lies hurt relationships and cause people to be agitated and angry at one another.  A lies will cause a person to commit murder.  Brothers cannot get along because of lies.  One tells a lie and the other is never given a chance to defend himself.  Lies, lies how much stress is added to other areas of your life because of lies?  Lies are like photos on the internet once introduced, they become public domain and impossible to remove.

 What about relationships in families and the home, with children and parents, and between neighbors, friends or relatives? The list is endless, but we simply don’t stop to consider how such a thing impacts everyday life. The consequences are enormous and far greater than anyone can imagine. So how long has it been since you were lied to by someone? How many minutes has it been? How long has it been since you repeated a lie told to you by someone of a vindictive nature?

Religion Is the Worst Offender,  Religion is the greatest culprit of all when it comes to lying and deceit. You need to know why!  It's about money, the selling of hope.  The church teaches you to pray for all of the worldly excesses, and many are reveling in their fairy-tale misrepresentation of God.  It is for this very reason that this earth is about to suffer more than it has at any other time in history. Religion has had a devastating impact on people in all nations of the world. The clash of lying religions is about to erupt on a worldwide scale that will affect every person on earth. Why is this, and how is such a thing possible?  The Book of Revelation paints a bleak picture of the church and the conditions of the world.   Judgment is imminent, and no amount of praying is going to prevent God's judgment from being poured out upon the wicked.

Generations may come and go, but the chronic problems persist.  Lack of faith or a test of faith has been around for a long time.  Nearly two thousand years ago Jesus spoke a parable that illustrated our need to have and practice a living faith.    He described a widow who was having a difficult time obtaining justice.  She persevered in her quest for righteous judgement, however, and eventually the judge decided to help her because he grew weary of her constant pleadings (Luke 18:1-5).  Jesus used this example to draw from everyday life to illustrate God's promise to intervene on the behalf of people of faith.  Luke 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Now I have used a segment from the Book of Luke to demonstrate that God has promised to deliver people of faith.   This chapter these verses make for a good Sunday morning message of, "God will deliver you."    To some who is suffering from life's situations, these verses do not provide the substance needed to grow their faith, no matter how it is sermonized.   I once asked a seasoned minister to reconcile the statement of Jesus in Luke 18:1-5 and the events spoken of in Acts 7:58-60  and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

The Book of Revelation provides the answers….