Bible study
Blog for Podcast #9
Into
Welcome to another broadcast and I am Dreamwalker1960. Once again you can read today’s podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen to it on YouTube. Please like and subscribe.
Discussion
Today will be the toughest Bible study I am most likely to ever record. In addition and also tough to talk about. Will be one of the dreams I believe I was given from God in accordance to Acts 2:17. Which also serves as verification that we are living in the end times.
If you have been following my teachings. You will remember the offer the Glorified Jesus Christ made to the church of Laodicea. To surrender the gold of the earth for heavenly gold. As well as covering their nakedness with garments of white.
Why do I mention this?
Well there is other places where there is a mention of white garments or robes in Revelation. Here is one of them:
Revelation 7:9 – 10 – After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Many do not understand what is going one here.
I have been studying the end time prophecies most of my life. I realize there are multiple views on this. However, of all the commentaries I have read. Then through analyzing these studies by looking into the Greek. I have found the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries to be the one that follows a true logical formula to not only the book of Revelation but as well as the books of Mathew, Daniel as well as First and Second Thessalonians.
As a result of my own studies and taking into account the Walvoord commentaries. I have come to the following belief. And Yes I say “belief,” because I do realize many will not accept what I am going to say.
There are multiple raptures throughout the Tribulation period. As a result there are going to be a lot of people that are going to find themselves not in heaven standing before the Throne of God after the first rapture, but still here upon this earth.
This is actually fortified by the verses I just read, which I feel is a depiction of the second rapture, which occurs in the middle of the Tribulation.
Why I say this is due to the preceding verses in which the elect of the Tribulation receive the seal of God. These are named as members of the tribes of Israel. There is no way around this description. It clearly names 12,000 from each tribe of Israel and shows that these are the true 144,000 and that they are Israelites otherwise known as Jews. This is done just before or while the altar to the last Temple is defiled by the antichrist. Why they are sealed is something to be handled at other time.
Right now we are concerned about the number uncountable standing before the Throne of God in verse nine wearing white robes.
Six times there is a reference to white robes, linen or garments in the book of Revelation. The first is when Christ ask the seventh church to wear them (Rev. 3:18). The second refers to the twenty-four elders (Rev. 4:4). The third time they are given to the martyrs below the altar (Rev. 6:11). The fourth and fifth deal with the multitude before the throne (Rev. 7:9 and 13). And the sixth deals with what the armies that follow Christ upon His return to earth wear (Rev.19:14).
Now the majority of times white clothing is mentioned a theme is established.
Revelation 6:9-11 – When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.
Revelation 7:13-14 – Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.
The theme is that of martyrdom. In chapter six those under the altar ask why they must wait and their answer is that not all the martyrs are accounted for. While in verse 7:14 we are told they are all the martyred. This too adds a chronological order to the book of Revelation. So those that stand before the Throne of God are all that is left of those upon the earth that turn to Jesus Christ after the first rapture, which takes place between the last verse of Chapter 3 and the first verse of Chapter 4. During the ensuing time of tribulation when the events of Mark 13:9-13 occur is what leads to the last of the martyrs enduring to the end.
This tells us that those left upon the earth after the first rapture are those that live in sin and Israel.
This must be said. There is a clear understanding of those that are counted amongst them are the “lukewarm.” They will not be in the first rapture, for they have been spit out of the body of Jesus Christ per His own words.
Now the question that needs to be asked is this:
Will all those that are the lukewarm then become martyrs?
That is not in my job description as teacher. I am not a prophet.
Can I speculate? Yes I can.
Doing so I will say that there will be those that will feel betrayed by God. Mainly due to a lack of true understanding of the Bible or its teachings within it. However it is not God who has done the betraying. It is they who have done so. Many will decide to receive the mark of Satan and accept the chip into the hand. So they can continue to live their lives in the worldly lusts they desire more than the eternal salvation offered to all. They will do this as those others that are lukewarm awaken to the errors of their ways and turn again to salvation and offer themselves up to the teaching of the gospel so those willing to hear will hear and turn to God through the blood of Jesus Christ. And they will willingly surrender to their fates as martyrs, for they know that in a short time they will at the very least be under the altar and at the most be counted among the uncountable as they stand before the Throne of God in a truly very short time. For they will know without any question or doubt that they are at the beginning of the Tribulation. And it best to die a martyr than to receive the mark or accept the chip.
This brings me to one of my dreams I was given in the late 1980s. In this dream I found myself in chains, which not only held my hands and feet but led to those in front and behind me. All in these chains were glad in grey. Which I now take to identify that we are lukewarm. Neither hot or white for God through Jesus Christ. Nor cold or black for those living in sin.
We were herded into a Walmart. Its shelves rifled and cleaned out. Those herding us were barley glad yet covered in tattoos. They laughed and mocked us as they pushed us to the back of the store, which had become our jail. A monument to our desires to have the riches of the world instead of the riches of salvation, as they moved us toward the back, to be held in this store as if mocking us for our stupidity.
It must be said that in the late 1980s tattoos were around, but they had not become as prevalent as they are today.
One of these people driving us stood upon the now empty racks. Jeering us as his lashed us with the wipe in his hands. As he yelled his insults at us a cheer came up from the back of the line. As I looked back I saw a boy no more than twelve come into view at the end of the isle. He was filthy and the beginning of tattoos was evident upon his skin. A huge grin spread across his face and his eyes were filled with a type of insanity. Just looking upon him sent chills into me. Then I noticed what he was carrying in one of his hands as he thrust it over his head.
Within his hand was a severed head of a woman, as he held it up by her blonde hair. Those herding us began to yell and cheer with delight at the sight of this. I went into shock as once again they began to move us to the back of the store.
Once we were at the back of the store we were given cots to lay upon. Showing us they we were not worth of the luxuries of this world. Then one by one those with me were taken to door at the back of the store. Then my time came and I went through these doors. What happened next I have no idea for at that moment all went black and it was that way from some time until I awoke from my dream. Something that has never occurred before or since in any of my dreams.
Now with that imagery upon your mind. I come to what we can do to change this from becoming a reality to those willing to listen. That being we must all diligently begin to study the Bible. As a foundation I give you these verses.
Acts 17:11 – 12 – And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
In the KJV of verse 11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
And searched – G350 – anakrino – to scrutinize, i.e. investigate, interrogate, determine [Strong’s]
The paraphrased interpretation of this word in the TDNT gives this impression:
That these people came at what was said by Paul and Silas with doubt. However they were so determined to find the truth that they found what these two men had said to be THAT TRUTH. So as a result they became saved and accept Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and their Savior.
My point?
That the people did not accept the words given to them without question as many do these days. They went to the scriptures.
The scriptures – G1124 – graphe – a document, i.e. holy writ (or its contents or a statement in it) [Strong’s]
The only complete scriptures at this time was the Tanakh. It is this they searched through and found within, what we call the Old Testament, the Truth. It is not merely the fact that they found the truth. It is that they thoroughly searched.
We are not to take the words given to us a fact, just because it comes from someone who has been given a type of authority over us. Which goes back to the time I mentioned when the Methodist Minister said the book of Revelation was a fairy tale.
We are to not just read the Bible but we are to research the Bible. I use the Strong’s Concordance and the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. This is something we ALL should be using.
We should not just accept what a Minister, Pastor, politician, professor or new broadcaster tells us. We should never take anything on face value. Not even me. A few episode back I had said the message about Jesus being the vine was after His Resurrection. That was wrong, and I corrected it as soon as possible.
This goes to my point. I made a mistake. Why? Because I am human.
We should always verify for ourselves what is given to us. This is our duty as Christians. To seek out and find the truth and to show what is true to the world. Then if they doubt us they can research for themselves and they may come to the truth themselves.
This is how you end the lukewarm, which is my ultimate goal. For they will know the truth of the Gospel and realize they are living in sin and end it by not just seeking for the truth but who is the TRUTH. That being the true image of Jesus Christ our Savior and Messiah.
God Bless
Blog for Podcast #8
Intro
Welcome to another Podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Now remember you can read what is in my podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen on Apple, Spotify and YouTube as well as look for my page on Facebook. I am also accepting donations on fundly at:
Discussion
To reach a full understanding of who are those that are considered the “Lukewarm.” We must come to an understanding of the city of Laodicea itself.
It was a city of wealth. Made so by trade and a type of manufacturing. It was situated at the crossroads of major trade routes and so the populous became extremely wealthy. As a result of this luxury they became complacent in their faith and believe in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Well it should. It describes the current state of most of the world we now live within. Not all of it is like this. There are areas of the world that still live in squalor and those within it struggle. However, for the most part most of the world lives in a type of luxury and have need of little.
This was how it was for Laodicea when they were included in the book of Revelation. The city had even been rebuilt from destruction only a few decades before hand from an earthquake. All done without the help of any outside moneys.
When taking this imagery into account and following the chronological order of the seven letters I established in an early podcast. We come to a realization that we are in the era of the lukewarm. But to be in that era there must be those that are lukewarm within it that outnumber those of the other six churches.
This is the recognition of why I am here. This is my calling from God. To make those out there that are willing to open their ears and minds to these truths I have set before them in all the podcasts I have done to date.
Let us take a look at James 2. From verses 1 -12 it describes the behavior many live by today who profess to call themselves “Christian.” They embrace those that reflect worldly wealth and they turn away from those that are poor or live in rough areas. Within these verses James makes this reference:
James 2:5 – Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?
This leads us back to the story of the young rich man I once mentioned in another broadcast. This is described in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. Why did I made mention of this? Because it describes those that lived in Laodicea. It labels those that place the wealth of this world before their own faith in Jesus Christ. It tells us all who are the “lukewarm.”
The young man was told by Jesus Christ to follow the commandments. The man replied that he followed them all, and Christ looked upon him with love. SO this clearly shows that God loves us all.
So then Jesus told the young man to sell all he had and to give it to the poor. The young man stood and left Jesus in sorrow. Key in on that he turned his back on Jesus Christ and walked away from salvation.
This shows that WE have an active part in the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. What did the young man choose? He chose the world and all it had given him over his own salvation. This is made clear in these verses.
Matthew 19:23 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
In the KJV:
Matthew 19:23 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Shall hardly – G1423 – dyskolios – impracticably
a: impracticably – impracticable – impossible in practice to do or carry out (Oxford Dictionary)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem. it was too narrow and too low for a camel to use, especially when laden with cargo. Once all the merchandise was removed from the camel it was doable but still difficult. So no one bothered to use this gate into the city with a camel.
So the analogy Jesus was making to His disciples gave them a clear meaning of what He was trying to teach them. That being, those that embrace the world with all its riches would rather reject God than to surrender all they had here in this temporary life we now live within.
Again we return to James:
James 4:1 – What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
Befriending worldly possessions shows that those that do it are the lukewarm. So this was why the Glorified Jesus Christ said what He did to those in the church of Laodicea. And thus since we are now in the age of the lukewarm it is what the Glorified Jesus Christ is saying to the majority of those that say they are “Christian” yet live within mansions here within this temporal earthly realm.
Conclusion
When the young rich man said he followed all the commandments Jesus looked upon him with love. I know I keep coming back to this point, but it is this point that needs to be understood without question. God Loves ALL of humanity be they rich or poor, sinner or saint. That is why we have the Bible. This Bible is the owner’s manual of salvation. It is something that those that received these letters when they were first written didn’t have. They just had letters. Letters they read and re-read. Copied and recopied. The Bible is the only book that has so many copies that it has hardly changed and those copies that were found to be false cast aside and called evil.
The Bible is nearly 100% pure and accurate. This is the only book in existence that is thousands of years old that can truly boast this.
How is this possible if God is not real? How is this possible when those like Josephus mention James the half-brother of Jesus wrote this about him:
Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned:
So even outside the Bible Jesus is called Christ. And from a book thousands of years old that has barely changed Jesus is called Christ. And He has sent a letter to the lukewarm saying he will cast them out if they do not turn away from the world and return to Him.
So turn to Jesus Christ and ask His forgiveness, but do not turn away in sorrow like the young rich man. If you must get rid of your riches and give them to those in need within the body of Christ then do it. Seek out God through our Savior for you can only get into heaven though Him.
God Bless
Blog for podcast #7
Intro
Welcome to another broadcast, and I am Dreamwalker1960.
Today we will begin to explore the mindset of the lukewarm. So they can begin to understand why it is that the Glorified Jesus Christ spit them from His body.
Again this will be a painful message. However it must be said. The world has had enough of pampering and as it says in Proverbs 13:24:
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Discussion
In Revelation 3:17 we are given a description of the lukewarm:
“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
Now it continues to say which rewards you are to seek after in verse 18:
So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Christ says to seek after purified gold which ties into verse 17’s “I am rich.”
Then he states to buy a white garment from Him. This goes partly to “I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing.”
In this world we live within today. The lukewarm can boast to all about them that they are rich. They live in a huge house, they drive a fancy car. Their house has many room. Many of which are not even used unless they have guests. Yet every room is filled with items they have collected unto themselves for their own satisfaction and grandeur. Sacrificial offerings all unto themselves.
They dress in their finest when they go to the buildings called “church.” Showing off their foofaraws.
I remember one day in the early years of my faith as I sat in the balcony at church I was attending with my family. A lady stood up from her seat in the pews down below me. She caught my eye because she was waving her hand to someone a few pews away and was trying to get her attention. When she caught the other woman’s eye. I could see this lady mouthing the words:
“I love you hat!” to the other lady.
All I could do was shake my head. This was my enlightening that this church I was in was not a God focused church. It was focused upon the people within it, not God.
This is one of the main issues that those that are lukewarm suffer. They are self-absorbed. Their god is not THE God. But themselves.
The very first commandment given to us in Exodus.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
For decades I away thought of this as if God were referring to the ancient gods of Egypt, Greece or Rome. These gods are another topic altogether. Then for decades I thought He was referring to Hollywood actors or sports personalities. Well He was, but that wasn’t all He was referring to. He was also referring to the greatest god all humans worship. It is themselves. Each and every human worships themselves over God and His Son our Savior. It is something that we can never truly purge from our souls as long as we live within these corrupt earthly bodies. It is why we must have a daily, if not hourly, relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus actually added two new commandments in a fashion.
Mark 12:29 – Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
They also appear in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.
A quick Note here. This statement by Christ tells us two things. First there are 12 commandments and second there are actually more than just twelve. We are to follow all the teachings within Deuteronomy and Leviticus and apply where required in a post resurrection world. But that is a topic for another day perhaps.
But enough of the side note, let’s get back on topic.
Each person is their own greatest god.
Due to this they seek after what is pleasing to them. Be it possessions; to complements; to entering into sexual encounters, which at times result in a child they don’t want. So they go down to the nearest temple to the ultimate god of selfishness. Offering up this child as gift upon the altar of self-indulgence. Many times professing they are “Christian” and doing what is best for all concerned. All save the child whose life just ended.
Was this child loved as those that chose to abort it love themselves, as we are told to do by Jesus Himself? The answer is no.
What is truly sad is that due to people thinking themselves “Christian” or not. They have truly no concept of this basic knowledge due to the removal of God from where God once could be easily found. That is one way we know we are in the last part of the church age, and why I am teaching upon these difficult and even heartbreaking topic. For I want all to stand before God in joy and happiness, and not sorrow and horror.
The mere fact that there is so much unrest going on in our streets is a testament to the truth I am speaking right now. Other signs we are in the end times is:
Matthew 24:7 – Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
Additionally in Mark 13:12 Jesus says this:
“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.”
Nations translates to races, while kingdoms translates to countries. Have we not experienced a race against race upheaval? Are we not in a war as I speak? Isn’t there reports of earthquakes nearly monthly? I just saw a video the other day of a young black man who on his birthday told his family that he was conservative. They disowned him on the spot. Plus you add on top of this we are in the church age of the lukewarm.
Jesus is coming and soon.
Stop worshipping yourself. Stop hording your riches unto yourself. You don’t need to live in a huge home if there is only two people or even one person living in it. The money you spent upon yourself could be uses to help those in true need.
“But that is why I pay taxes!” someone just said.
It is not the government’s job it is your job as a Christian. If you have the money to live in a huge house. You have the money to live in a two bedroom condo and use the rest to love your fellow humans as you would love yourself. We are to give our money to needed charities that help those in need. We are to do it not the government. This comes from 1 John 3:17.
The greatest leader is someone who desire to serve his fellow humans not lead them. Any who seek to lead and control are to be shunned and turned away from. Any who wish to dominate are worshipping themselves and see themselves as gods that deserve to be worshipped. They wish for you to look upon them as a god. Does this not sound like the Pharaohs and the Roman emperors of old? All humanity is equal be they ruler or pulpier; sinner or saint. Look to Mark 10:42-44.
Conclusion
Humanity are not the gods. Only the Creator of the Universe is. Stop seeking after self-glorification. Turn toward the true God. Who sent His Son to walk amongst us, to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we can speak to God freely and without shame. Cast off the worldly gold and seek after the gold that is purchased from Jesus Christ upon the pyres of trials and tribulations. That we as Christians are told we must endure. Seek out the white robes of salvation that can only be purchased by being bathed in the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Bow your knee to God and beg for His forgiveness in the name of His Glorified Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Seek out those that do not seek to rule or control. Seek out those willing to stand their ground for God. Seek out those willing to teach the true Word of God. Accept the trials and embrace the pain that comes with being a true disciple of Jesus. For our path is not easy, and we are told it will become even worse the closer we come to the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we are seeing by being denied the rights to even gather to worship our true God.
God Bless.
Blog for Podcast #6
Intro
Welcome again to another broadcast. I am Dreamwalker1960
Today we will be studying the letters to the seven churches found in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
I will also be consulting the John Walvoord commentaries for this as well. Why? Because of all the commentaries that are out there that deal with trying to interpret the book of Revelation. I have found this one to be the most creditable. Again why? John Walvoord dealt specifically with the books of prophecy within the Bible and has several books upon this. They cover Daniel, Matthew, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians as well as the book of Revelation.
What drove me to seek after this knowledge of these books?
Well in the introduction podcast I mentioned a dream I had when I was 18. What is in this dream is something between me and God. However it sparked my journey to earnestly study the Bible, and as I read the Bible the books of Daniel and Revelation stood out the most to me.
Well a church had been built right next to my home I was living in my late teens. So one Sunday I went to it, mainly because of the dream and my desire to learn more about the Bible. It was a Methodist Church. And the Minister began to talk. What did he talk about? The book of Revelation. First thing out of his mouth. “The book of Revelation is a fairy tale.”
I was shocked and never went near a Methodist church ever again. This one event caused two things to take place. An even stronger desire to learn the truths within Revelation and a very strong mistrust for the buildings called “churches.” For the “Church” is not a building but those people that follow Jesus Christ. This latter fact has been reinforced time and time again as I have tried to go to the buildings that call themselves “churches.”
But I have gotten off track.
Discussion
The seven churches and why discuss them? What a majority of scholars have determined is that even though these seven churches were churches that John did write to. They represent the seven types of mental states within the body of Christ within each of them at that time. From faithful, to willfully turning away from Christ. However as time has marched on since those letters were written approximately 60 years after Jesus went to the cross and rose again on the third day. That these letters reflect how the church, both religion wise and spiritually had reflected each of these letters throughout the centuries. Meaning that they are both concurrent and chronological.
Concurrent – happening or existing at the same time
Chronological – arranged in the order of time
I will be dealing mainly with the Chronological aspect of the seven churches.
That being said, when taking the churches in order. The first letter to Ephesus to the last letter to Laodicea expand from the beginning of the church age to the end of the church age.
The beginning of the church age began on the Third day when Jesus Christ left the tomb. While the ending of the age is when those within the Church are taken into heaven at the Rapture. What happens in between people have always though was a mystery. However, when taking these seven letter into account God is telling us how we will know when to expect His Son’s return.
In the book on Revelation by John Walvoord the seven churches are described this way:
1. Ephesus – the Orthodox, but lost Church
2. Smyrna – the Suffering Church
3. Pergamum – the Compromising Church
4. Thyatira – the Tolerant, Permissive Church
5. Sardis – the Dead Church
6. Philadelphia – The Faithful Church
7. Laodicea – the Lukewarm, Useless Church
The Chronology follows suit.
First letter
This first phase goes from the times of the letters which later become the New Testament to approximately one hundred years after the crucifixion. In this time were the descendants of those who has seen Jesus themselves. These people adhered to the teachings in the letters but could not fully comprehend what their parents had told of their firsthand encounters with Jesus.
Second letter
The second phase interlaced with the first phase, for in this time those that worshipped Jesus were seen as criminals. In fact in the histories written by Josephus, is an account of James the half-brother of Jesus who had been tried and then stoned with others for breaking the law. However the prosecution ended in 313 A.D. when the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made it legal for Christians to worship God freely in the Roman Empire.
Third letter
When Constantine made it legal to be Christian it became the popular fad to be Christian. And so the compromising began. So it can be said that this letter in the chronology began in 313 A.D. and the corruption and intermingling of different beliefs started to change and corrupt the true faith in Jesus Christ. I will quote from the book on Revelation by John Walvoord page 67:
“Though some benefit was gained by the successful defense of biblical truth by the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, the history of the three centuries that followed is a record of increasing corruption of the church, departure from biblical doctrine and an attempt to combine Christian theology with pagan philosophy.”
So this would place this in the time line up into the 600s.
Fourth letter
It is here that pagan influences entered into the church and are still present today. Like all saints day, which led to Halloween, and the birth of Christ being celebrated in December. As well as the inclusion of statues and images being made of Jesus.
All of this is mainly due to the official introduction of the Catholic Church in 313 A.D. However there is evidence that can show the church unofficially existed as early as 110 A.D. Now even though the Catholic Church become the “official” church throughout the Middle Ages. It was filled with corruption and led mostly by a greedy self-serving hierarchy.
It is partly this behavior, but it is also due to the fall of the Byzantine Empire that a shift took place. Which result in Greek transcripts of the Bible to make their way into Europe. And so this period ends in 1517 A.D.
Fifth letter
Now even though that Great Reformation was going on during this time period. There was a type of spiritual death occurring in this time frame. A spiritual death that resulted in the persecution of those that sought after the true teachings of the Bible. The great expansion of “civilization” took place in this time frame and many cultures were dominated or destroyed. The Spanish Inquisition occurred in this time frame and greed was the ruler of most hearts. Also the lusts of man’s carnal desires which caused the creation of the Church of England. From within this came those that sought after the truths within the Bible. The Quakers and the Puritans. And so this period can be said to end when these people fled Europe for a new land where they could worship God and Jesus in the way the Bible taught them. When they landed in what is now called Massachusetts in 1620 A.D. this period ended.
Sixth letter
Again we can say there has been some overlapping between events in these letters. For as I stated at the beginning of this podcast. The churches were not just chronological, but concurrent. This is seen here. For as I mentioned the Great Reformation began in 1517 and is the beginning of the time period of the fifth letter. Well it is also the beginning of the sixth. In this time period not only did we get as mentioned before those that settled in what is now the United States. We also had the spreading for the true Gospel of Jesus Christ all the way down to the common people. This was done through the creation of the printing press and the work of those to translate the Bible to the common languages. For example the King James Version of the Bible which is made officially certified in 1611 A.D. This great expansion and growth in faith and believe did not end until the 1960s. However we can give an official end to this period. That being August 1969, and it was even given a name. Woodstock.
Seventh letter
And so we come to the last church that is foretold will precede the return of Jesus Christ and the entire reason the book of Revelation was written. We come to the description of the “lukewarm.”
Revelation 3:17-18 – You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
This is also today’s church which has been seduced by the luxuries of this soft and pampering world we now live within. Even now the children revolt against their elders. Thinking they know better than those that have been in this world longer. They have been so spoiled that they wish to have everything just handed over to them. This is selfishness to the extreme. This is the total opposite of placing God first and treating all those about you as you would wish to be treated yourself. The golden rule is dead and it was killed by those that wished to kick God totally out of the world. Well now as violence is on the increase. Different social groups begin to self-segregate, refusing to interact with none but their “own.”
So we are now in the last age of the church. Most do not wish to accept or believe they are “lukewarm.” Yet this letter from the Glorified Jesus Christ says otherwise. When will Jesus return? All I can say is soon. Very soon, maybe even sooner than many may think.
I have written an entire series on these letters in my blog at dreamwalker1960.com I will repost it soon after this podcast drops. If you wish to read it please do so. Also I do highly recommend the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries.
God Bless.
Blog for Podcast #5
Into
Welcome to another broadcast and I am Dreamwalker1960
As we continue to look into the verses that identify who are the “lukewarm” we come to 2 Peter 2. In which we see where many are turn from the course of salvation and led toward the realm of the lukewarm.
Now I highly recommend that this entire chapter be read due to the imagery given for those that will tempt the people that are not only newly welcomed to the church but are at times long standing members within the body of Christ. We will however only key in on the important moment when many have been led astray without their even being aware. Mainly due to a failure on the part of those in a higher place within the earthly church. Many of whom do not know nor even realized that the world is filled with the lukewarm. Including themselves.
The breakdown
We must start with verse 1 of 2 Peter 2. Because here you get a clear image of who false teachers are in today’s world. In today’s lesson I will also go straight to the KJV.
Verse 1 – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
False teachers – G5572 – pseudodidaskalos – a spurious teacher, i.e. propagator of erroneous doctrine [Strong’s]
a: spurious – not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit. [Dictionary.com]
b: propagator – someone who spreads ideas, beliefs, etc. to a lot of people [macmillandictionary.com]
c: erroneous – containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong [Dictionary.com]
d: doctrine – a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government [Dictionary.com]
privily shall bring in – G3919 – pareisago – to lead in aside, i.e. introduce surreptitiously [Strong’s]
a: surreptitiously – in a secret way, so that others will not notice [macmillandictionary.com]
Damnable – G684 – apoleia – ruin or loss [Strong’s]
In the TDNT it adds the word “destruction” to those listed in Strong’s.
Heresies – G139 – hairesis – a choice; i.e. (specifically) a party, or (abstract) disunion [Strong’s]
What it states in the TDNT is too long to quote here so I will paraphrase to the best of my ability. However before I do that I feel it is necessary to explain how the TDNT works. It is a scholarly study of several Greek sources of material that are centuries old. Including the Septuagint, which was commissioned by Ptolemy II Philadelphus in the second century A.D. He just happens to be the son of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. This enabled those that made this dictionary to accurately compare Hebrew and Greek to the best of their ability within the Old Testament. Thus giving them an insight into how the Greek was used in the New Testament when comparing like words and wording between the old and the new.
Now from their study of the word which gave us “heresies” they came to this determination. Heresies is likened to a political party or a sect, a cult. That breaks off from within the early church, where it got its foundations. Much like what Paul describes occurring in Galatians 1. Yet they were not teaching the true Gospel. The modern equivalent would be those that have created the prosperity churches that say God wishes us to get rich here on earth, which is totally counter to what the Bible actually teaches us (Mathew 6:19-21). I will not name names, but you may know of whom I am speaking of. Those are false teachers and those that follow and listen them and so qualify to be called “heresies.”
That bought them – G59 – agorazo – to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem [Strong’s]
a: redeem – to make someone free from the power of evil, especially in the Christian religion [macmillan dictionary]
In the TDNT it boils down to the prices Jesus Christ paid for us upon the cross to save us all from the slavery of sin.
This is stating that those that become these false teachers were once given the grace of salvation. Yet they now deny this by the way they have turned away from the teachings of Christ and His disciples. Thus they are broken from the vine for the fruit they bear is evil. Which is verified in verse 2 and their fate in verse 3.
Verse 2 – And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Verse 3 – And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
In verses 4 -6 Peter lists three great and past judgements as examples. The casting of the angels to hell. The flood which changed the earth and made it so that humanity no longer lived hundreds of years. Lastly he mentions Sodom and Gomorrha.
Now we will look at verses 7 and 8. For this shows us that even though we are saved. We have our righteousness worn down. This is something I am very familiar with myself. For I remember this erosion as I came closer and closer to my year of Job.
Verse 7 – And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
Vexed – G2669 – kataponeo – to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (figuratively harass) [Strong’s]
a: harass – to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; bother continually; pester; persecute. [Dictionary.com]
Verse 8 – (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Which is something I encounter nearly daily.
In verses 10 – 17 Peter describes those that live in sin and how they behave. However, it would take too long to get into and would take us off track from what I am trying to teach. However, I highly recommend, once again, these verses be read and an understanding sought after.
We, however will continue our lesson starting in verse 18:
Verse 18 – For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
They allure – G1185 – to entrap, i.e. delude [Strong’s]
a: entrap – to bring unawares into difficulty or danger: to draw into contradiction or damaging admission: to lure into performing an act or making a statement that is compromising or illegal. [Dictionary.com]
b: delude – to make someone believe something that is not true: [Cambridge Dictionary]
Through much wantonness – G766 – aselgeia – licentiousness (sometimes including other vices) [Strong’s}
a: licentiousness – lacking legal or moral restraints [Merriam-Webster dictionary]
In the TDNT I quote: “It characterizes Sodom and Gomorrah…..” [Book I, page 490]
Those that were clean – G3689 – ontos – really; certainly; clean; indeed; of a truth; verify: adverb of the oblique cases of “on” – being, when, was, which [Strong’s]
a: certainly – used to reply completely or to emphasize something and show that there is no doubt about it [Cambridge dictionary]
Escaped – G668 – apopheugo – to escape [Strong’s]
So: “those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”
Could translate to “those which certainly escaped from them who live in error.”
So even though the wording could be translated differently the meaning is still the same. Those that live in sin tempt those that have turned to God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. As will be enforced later.
We continue in verse 19 to see who the true slaves in this situation are.
Verse 19 – While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
So even though there is a promise of freedom. In actuality they are being draw into slavery to sin and so they server their master, which is evil itself.
Now to look at verse 20:
Verse 20 – For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
The knowledge – G1922 – epignosis – recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement [Strong’s]
a: recognition – agreement that something is true or legal [Cambridge dictionary]
b: discernment – the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure [Merriam-Webster dictionary]
c: acknowledgement – recognition of the existence or truth of something
Entangled – G1707 – empleko – to entwine, i.e. (figuratively) involve with [Strong’s]
Overcome – G1096, G2274 – ginomai, hettaomai:
Ginomai – to cause to be (“gen”-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being) [Strong’s]
Hettaomai, hettao – to be inferior; usage – I am defeated, am overcome, am made inferior [biblehub.com]
Meaning to cause to be defeated.
The statement being made here is that those that became saved in the full knowledge of Jesus Christ and thus tying into verse 18. Become temped by the world and those in it to return to sin. Then it finishes that they would be better if had they never learned and were given salvation. Which is explained in the next verse.
Verse 21: For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Delivered – G3860 – to surrender, i.e. to deliver over to another to keep, yield up, entrust, transmit
Peter ends this part of his letter with this:
Verse 22 – But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The sin which was vomited out is revisited to once again be taken in. While the washing of salvation that is given when accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior is ruined by returning to the mire of the sinful world, which they willingly return to. For the comfort they receive from the world, is better than what is required to live a life where we must constantly struggle to remain clean.
In summary
I have now established and given a solid foundation of who the “lukewarm” are.
In the first podcast I showed that they had asked Jesus to be their Savior and had become saved by receiving grace from God. Yet they turn their back upon their salvation for the distractions of the world through a watered down and false gospels that did not challenge them to stay true to their Savior.
In the second I reinforced this foundation with showing that they were upon the vine that is Jesus Christ and they chose not to bear fruit and so were removed from the vine by God Himself.
In the third podcast I showed that at one point they did service for God in the name of Jesus Christ and bore fruit that can only be done if Jesus is a part of their life. Yet they later selected to stop bearing valuable fruit and instead began to bear unsuitable fruit. Then when they stand before the Great White Throne. Jesus will testify against them and they will not be allowed into the eternal life that is to come.
In the fourth I showed how false teachers will also have once been saved and willingly turn their backs upon God to seek after the pleasures and rewards that this world offers instead of the enteral treasures we are promised from Jesus Christ. They instead decide to choose the here and now over what is promised all of us in the future.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we do not choose the world, for this domain we live in is not the creation we are promised. This short time we live upon this planet is nowhere near the life we will have in the glorious eternal life that is to come.
So we have struggles and trials. Is this not the pruning we are told will occur unto us in John 15? We cannot allow ourselves to fall for the temptations to seek after our lusts or our greed that is offered by the world around us. For our true rewards are not here within this realm, but in the true life we are promised. When Jesus Christ returns, that will be the true beginning of our true lives. For everyone, be they sinner or saint.
And so this ends the identification of who are the lukewarm. They are those that believe they are Christians. Yet they have turned form God to seek after wealth and pleasures of this earthly existence. They say they are Christians, yet they are hypocrites and most don’t even realize this very truth.
But it is not too late. They can turn back to God through His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All they need to do is to ask His forgiveness and turn away from the world and return to God. This means they must change how they live their lives, but it is the only way to return to God. They must not be the young rich man who is asked to sell all his worldly goods and turns away from Jesus in bewilderment. For he did not understand what Jesus was asking him to do. If you must sell all your earth goods. Do so. If you must turn away from the world of sports. Do so. If you must turn away from the TV screen you stare at for hours on end. Do so. Return to your Savior Jesus Christ and answer His call and do what He asks of you. Without question, just do it.
God Bless.
Blog post for podcast #4
intro
Hello this is Dreamwalker1960
Before I begin today’s lesson I have to say that I messed up a fact in the previous podcast. I had states that Jesus talked to His disciples after His crucifixion in John 15, this was incorrect. It was before. It doesn’t take away from the lesson, it just shows I am human.
To start I will refresh you of the previous two broadcast. In the first we established that the “lukewarm” were people that had received the grace from God and thus salvation. Yet they turned their backs upon Jesus to listen to watered down teachings of the Gospel.
Then in the last broadcast. We showed that Jesus Christ is the vine and you can only be a part of the vine if you had salvation. Yet if they did not bear fruit they were removed from the vine and given over willingly unto the fire, because they found the world more entertaining.
Today we expand upon what we found out in our study of John 15 last time.
Today we will look into Matthew 7 where Jesus explains on how to identify false prophets and as to who may enter into heaven. But why here. Because here we have another fruit bearing example much like John 15 but with direct bearing upon why fruit is born or not born. Now even though the verses in question goes from verse 15-23 we will overlook some of them for the sake of time and hit upon the important ones for our discussion. However I will list all nine of them for the sake of context.
Matthew 7: 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
The breakdown
We look more closely beginning with verses 17 and 18. So here they are in the KJV
17 – Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 – A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Bringeth; bring forth – G4160 – poieo – to make or do [Strong’s]
Evil – G4190 – poneros – hurtful, i.e. evil (in effect or influence) [Strong’s]
“’poneros’ is used in {this verse} to denote ‘unserviceable’ or ‘useless’ fruit as distinct from the ‘karpos kalos’ of the good tree.” [TDNT]
a: unserviceable – not suitable to be used [Collins Dictionary]
A corrupt; can a corrupt – G4550 – sapros – rotten, i.e. worthless [Strong’s]
Good – G2570 – (which is different from the “good” at the beginning of this verse) – kalos – good i.e. valuable or virtuous
My translation of verse 18 – A good tree cannot bear useless fruit, neither can a rotten tree bear valuable fruit.
Verse 19 (KJV) – Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Is hewn down – G1581 – ekkopto – to exscind; to frustrate [Strong’s]
a: exscind – to cut out or off [dictionary.com]
“Hewing down is a symbol of the complete separation of a man from life” [TDNT]
Cast – G906 – ballo – to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense) [Strong’s]
The fire – G4442 – pyr – pur – fire [Strong’s]
A judgement [TDNT]
Now we will move on to verse 22 in the KJV
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Prophesied – G4395 – to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office [Strong’s]
Have cast out – G1544 – ekballo – to eject [Strong’s]
Devils – G1140 – daimonion – a demonic being [Strong’s]
Wonderful works – G1411 – dynamis; dunamis – force, specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) {[Strong’s]
The insinuation of this verse when taken in context with verse 21; (Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {KJV}).
Is that these are people are standing before the Great White Throne on that day of judgement that will occur after the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 20:11- 15)
Now as was established in verses 17 and 18 only someone who is good or saved can give prophecy, cast out demons and do true miracles. This supports what we covered in the last podcast of John 15. These people were once saved and given grace through their salvation in and from Jesus Christ as was shown in Galatians 1.
Verse 23 – And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Will I profess – G3670 – homologeo – to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge [Strong’s]
In the TDNT it continues into a deeper breakdown – to promise, to admit, to concede, to make a statement, to bear witness. It goes on to say Jesus used this wording as a form of excommunication.
a: excommunication – excluded from the rights of church membership [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
To be excommunicated you have to be a part of the church in the first place. I must also state here that Jesus’ use of this wording is a type of Jewish legalese used when some type of judgement is taking place.
Iniquity – G458 – anomia – illegality, i.e. violation of law or wickedness [Strong’s]
In the TDNT it is note as:
…. The word “nomos” (G3551) give two shades of meaning to “anomia.” The reference is either a. to a fact, “there is or was no law,” “without a (the) law,” or b. the word means “against the (a) law,” with an implied judgement since it is assumed that there is in fact a binding law.
This supports that this verse is a type of legalistic statement. So Christ is distancing Himself from those He had once welcomed unto the vine. Yet now, since they chose the world over salvation. He is placing as much distant between Himself and them by using such an extreme stance. Due to free will every human being has a choice in how they wish to live their lives. God and His Son our Savior truly and completely desire to have us in the vine of Christ. Yet it is we who decide how we will or will not bear fruit. It is we humans that have the most important part in this relationship with God through His Son our Savior. Yet millions of people willingly choose not to bear fruit.
So the implication is that Jesus is stating here that He will stand as a witness testifying that these people who were once counted as member within the Church of Jesus Christ and have been removed due to their willful breaking of the laws given within the Bible and choosing to live willingly in the world, instead of with God who had bestowed the grace upon them through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross.
Summary
So here I have given further foundation that those that are the lukewarm are those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. I have also shown that the evidence of this is that they did or do great works for Jesus Christ. They have done miracles and even cast out demons. All of which cannot be done unless Jesus Christ is with them as was established not only in verse 17 and 18, but also John 15:5-11.
Then somewhere along the lines they turned away from the teachings of the Bible which is our laws we are to follow, and so they are cut off from the Holy Vine that is Jesus Christ since they choose to no longer bear fruit. And as is shown in verse 19, as well as in John 15:6 are willingly cast into the fire.
So everyone should think about where they are with their life with God. Are they praying constantly? Are they obeying the laws of the land that do not go against the Bible? Like for example following the speed limit. Are they studying the Bible, not just reading it but going deep into the word as I have been doing with these broadcasts? This is what we all have been asked to do. God loves everyone and seeks to have all with Him. But due to the free will He has given all of us. He knows many will choose to be their own god. Seek out Jesus and ask for His help. He will help those that only ask and pray for it.
To see a detailed breakdown of this please go to dreamwalker1960.com
I hope this helps those listening to come to understand.
God Bless
Blog for podcast #3
Intro
((Due to an error on my part. I state this ((teaching to His disciples was after His ((crucifixion. This is not accurate. It was ((before. However it does not take away from ((the message. It just sbows I am only human.
Welcome to today’s podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Due to some feedback announcing the Strong’s reference numbers was confusing folks so I will still have them but they can be seen in my blog dreamwalker1960.com
Today we expand upon who is a lukewarm in John 15.
John 15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
The breakdown
Verse 1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (KJV)
I – G1473 – ego – a primary pronoun of the first person. I (only expressed when emphatic.) [Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 2010] {Strong’s}
a – emphatic – done or said in a strong way and without any doubt [Cambridge Dictionary] {CD}
Here is where we need to go deeper though. For John, especially when quoting Jesus, there is a more profound and powerful imagery that comes out. With the simple word “I” Jesus shows His resurrected form. In these teachings that are given they do not follow the normal syntax. They reach to a new level like saying: “He is light. But He is the true and proper light which alone deserves this name.” [Theological Dictionary of the New Testament] {TDNT}
The true – G228 – alethinos – truthful – “true” which denotes the sense of real, ideal, genuine. [Strong’s]
In this deep look we see here Jesus saying “the true” He is not just speaking of “true” or “genuine.” He is actually saying “divine.” [TDNT]
a – divine – connected with a god or like a god. [CD]
Just in these four words (“I am the vine”) Jesus is showing that He is the true and divine vine, and no other can come to God except through being a branch upon His vine.
Father – G3962 – pater – a nourisher, protector, upholder; of the nearest ancestor. [Strong’s]
In the deeper study within TDNT it is showing us the “harmony of the Father and the Son.” Of the two working together for the good of those that are on the vine which is Jesus. {book V p. 999 – 1001}
The husbandman – G1092 – georgos – a land-worker, i.e. farmer, a vinedresser [Strong’s]
a – vinedresser – a person who cultivates and prunes grapevines [Dictionary.com]
Verse 2 – Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (KJV)
Every – G3956 – pas- all things [Strong’s]
To quote the TDNT:
“The uniqueness of the NT view is that here all ideas of totality relate to a specific history of creation and salvation. As compared with the OT, the NT is distinguished especially by a richer soteriology.”
Soteriology – theology dealing with salvation as effected by Jesus Christ.
Branch – G2814 – klema – a limb or shoot [Strong’s]
a – shoot – the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or any new growth on an already existing plant [CD]
b – limb – a large branch of a tree [CD]
Shoot, young twig, branch, shoot of the vine [TDNT]
So this means “Every branch both young and old upon the vine which is Jesus Christ,” as the next words state.
In – G1722 – en
“The ‘en’ of Fellowship in John. Exclusively in John’s Gospel and 1 John. We have a distinctive ‘en’ of religious fellowship.” [TDNT]
Meaning a free will relationship between the branch (humanity), the Vine (Jesus Christ), and the Vinedresser (God).
Beareth – G5342 – phero – bear, bring forth [Strong’s]
Fruit – G2590 – karpos – of works or deeds [Strong’s]
“This power is fellowship with Christ.” [TDNT]
a – fellowship – a friendly feeling that exists between people who have a shared interest or are doing something as a group [CD]
He taketh away – G172 – airo – to take up or away; to take away what is attached to anything, to remove [Strong’s]
It is here that we come to an issue. In the many commentaries I read they go with the definition of “lift up,” which doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t even flow with the words of the Bible itself. When they translated the Bible to English in the early 1600s and then finalized it in 1611 they agreed upon the wording “he taketh away,” not “he lifteth up.” Those that made these commentaries made it sound as if they were lifting up to God those committing sin. This is contrary to the teachings within the Bible. We do not raise up the sin, we raise up ourselves to the altar seeking the removal of sin. Jesus Himself knew that this day would occur. So he repeats Himself in verse six and clarifies His meaning with more detail, which we will get to later. If their intent to say that the unfruitful are seeking forgiveness and wish to receive forgiveness and then to try to bear fruit. There can be some merit to that. However Jesus made Himself clear on this matter elsewhere in the Bible as well.
Revelation 3:15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
In John, Jesus states that God Himself will remove the branch that does not bear fruit. Not all branches that do not bear fruit laying upon the ground, but are a part of the vine itself.
Here in Revelation the Glorified Christ is making it clear that he will spit those out that are lukewarm. Using Christ’s words in John those that bear fruit would compare to those that are hot in the Revelation. So those that are cold in Revelation equates to those that deny Jesus altogether and live in sin. So that would mean that those that are lukewarm would be those that acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and so are a branch upon the vine, or were attached to the vine that is Jesus Christ. However, they bear no fruit and so are living in sin. So God takes them away in John and Christ spits them out in Revelation. Thus removing them from His fellowship cutting them from the vine. For very few fall upon the ground. Most stay on the vine unless they are cut off from it.
He purgeth – G2508 – kathairo – to cleanse, to prune, to expiate – purge
a – cleanse – to make something completely clean
b – expiate – to show that you are sorry for bad behavior by doing something or accepting punishment
c – purge – to make someone or something free of something evil or harmful.
That – G2443 – hina – in order that [Strong’s]
More – G4119 – pleion – more in quality, number or quality [Strong’s]
Verse 3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Now – G2235 – ede – at (or by) this time [Strong’s]
Ye – G5210 – hymeis – yourself, you [Strong’s]
Clean – G2513 – katharos – free from impure admixture, without blemish, spotless [Strong’s]
“In both John and 1 John the question of the full purity of Christians is discussed. It is affirmed absolutely in theory in John 15:3.” [TDNT]
Through – G1223 – dia – denoting the channel of an act [Strong’s]
The word – G3056 -logos – the teachings of Jesus to the disciples that eventually became the gospels.
“But the person who receives and keeps” the teachings of Christ (the word) is now clean [TDNT in quotations]
I have spoken – G2980 – laleo – the use of this word was to show that Jesus was like a parent talking to His children, at that point the disciples. But in turn to us at went on to the present.
Verse 4 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (KJV)
Abide – G3306 – meno – remain, dwell, continue [Strong’s]
“…… God abides in Christ. Believers abide in Christ, and Christ in them. God abides in believers, and believers in God. The eschatological promise of salvation becomes immediate possession in virtue of this statement in the present tense.” [TDNT book IV pg. 576]
Cannot – ou(G3756), dynamai(G1410)
a: ou – also [Strong’s]
b: dynamai – to be able or possible, can, cannot, to be able to have power [Strong’s]
Bear – G5342 – phero – to bear, carry, being moved, borne along [Strong’s]
“The term has the special sense of bearing fruit…… the vine with branches that bear fruit.” [TDNT]
Of – G575 – apo – off, away (from something near) [Strong’s]
Except – G3362 – ean me – unless, except [Strong’s]
It abide – G3306 – meno – to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) [Strong’s] See meno above for TDNT
No more – oude(G3761), houto(G3779)
a: oude – nor however, neither, nor, not even
b: houto – in this way
Verse 5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV)
And I – G2504 – kago – from kai and ego: likewise me
Much – G4183 – polys – much, many, great, abundant
Without – G5565 – choris – separately or apart from [Strong’s]
Me – G1700 – emou – of me, mine, my [Strong’s]
Do – G4160 – poieo – to make or do [Strong’s]
The use of this word “poieo” had it usage done primarily to the actions, works and miracles of Jesus Christ. [TDNT] The use here stating that only with Jesus in and with you can you do holy works.
Nothing – ou(G3756), oudeis(G3762)
a: oudeis – not even one, none, nobody, nothing [Strong’s]
“…for without me ye can do nothing.” Without having Jesus within you. You cannot bear fruit.
verse 6 – If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV)
A man – G5100 – tis – some or any person or object [Strong’s]
Me – G1698 – emoi – to me [Strong’s]
He is cast – G906 – ballo – to throw [Strong’s]
“To throw” or “to cast,” “to cast off fruit. ‘Often in the NT “ballo” is used in different ways in connection with the thought of judgement, partly as a committal to the element which exercises it. Partly of expulsion from the community of salvation, when used with “exo.” [TDNT]
Forth – G1854 – exo – out [Strong’s]
As – G5613 – hos – in that manner [Strong’s]
And – G2532 – kai – and, also, even, so, then, too. [Strong’s]
Is withered – G3583 – xeraino – to desiccate, to shrivel [Strong’s]
Men gather – G4863 – synago – sunago – to lead together, collect or convene, to entertain [Strong’s]
Them into – G1519 -eis – to or into [Strong’s]
The fire – G4442 – pyr – pur – fire [Strong’s]
A judgement [TDNT]
They are burned – G2545 – kaio – to set on fire, consume [Strong’s]
With the TDNT the emphasis of this word is keyed to self-burning. Voluntarily giving oneself over to be burned.
The main takeaways from the translation of this verse is if you accept Christ as your Savior and you choose not to follow his teaching and live a truly Christian life. You instead choose to live in the world of man which entertains you. You are broken off from the Divine Vine that is Christ and you are cast willingly into the fires of judgement. Which agrees with Revelation 3:15-16.
This also shows that we must actively and with full knowledge follow the teachings within the Bible and if it is called a sin in the Bible and we are told not to live in this fashion. Then that is what we MUST do as our part of this relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a one-sided relationship. We have an active part within it, which we need to do or we voluntary to lose our salvation and to be removed from Jesus and His Heavenly Father. This is verified in the next verse.
Verse 7 – If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (KJV)
Verse 8 – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (KJV)
Herein – en(G1722), touto(G5129)
a: touto – to (in, with, or by) this (person or thing) [Strong’s]
Glorified – G1392 – doxazo – to render (or esteem) glorious [Strong’s]
Shall ye be – G1096 – ginomai – to cause to be, to become [Strong’s]
Disciples – G3701 – mathetes – a learner [Strong’s]
Summary
One important factor that needs to be made here. When Christ is giving this lesson to the disciples. He has been resurrected. This is after the crucifixion. So to see Jesus as the Divine Vine gives true meaning to that imagery.
He makes it clear that to be a part of Him upon this vine you are one with Him. So you are saved. So to be able to be on the vine you have had to be grafted onto the vine. Meaning to be saved. So again we see that those that are on the vine can stop bearing fruit. You can only not bear fruit when Jesus is not a part of you. If you were saved but Jesus is not a part of you then what are you? You are the lukewarm. And as seen in Revelation 3 you are seen as worse than those that that deny God altogether.
So as has been shown in this podcast and the previous one the lukewarm were a part of the body. They were saved. As can be seen here God Himself cuts these people from the vine and gives them over to humanity. And then ultimately due to these peoples own desires and intentions are cast willingly into the fires of judgement.
In my next podcast we will look at Mathew 7 to see how people are influenced to turn willingly away from Jesus and the salvation He offers unto us all.
Again go to dreamwalker1960.com to see my blog post for this podcast.
God bless
Blog for podcast #2
Welcome to today’s podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Today we will start on our journey to awaken the lukewarm to the reality of the Bible and the importance to have a daily if not hourly relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
We start in Galatians. Why There? For this is when we truly see the lukewarm already showing their true form.
The lesson
Galatians 1:6- I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
The breakdown
Verse 6 from the KJV – I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel
Marvel – G2296 – thaumazo – to wonder, to admire [Strong’s]
It is used here in a literary from to express surprise [TDNT]
I actual take the use of the word to not just surprise but a type of sarcasm. He is bewildered and shocked that they would surrender their salvation so easily.
Soon – G5030 – Tacheos – briefly, speedily, rapidly [Strong’s]
So quickly they turn from God.
Removed – G3346 – metatithemi – to transfer, transport, exchange, change sides, pervert [Strong’s]
To turn from, to fall away, to become apostate [TDNT]
Apostate – someone who has given up their religion or left a political party [Cambridge dictionary]
Him that called – G2564 – kaleo – to call
The grace – G5485 – charis – graciousness; the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life [Strong’s]
Christ – Christos
Another – G2087 – heteros – other or different [Strong’s]
Gospel – G2098 – enangelion – a good message, i.e. the gospel [Strong’s]
The implication is clear in this one verse. These people were saved and given salvation in the name of Jesus Christ from God. They were given grace.
“Grace” is a word I hear a lot of. Too many once they receive “Grace” think they are good to go. They are saved. They are fine. They can live their lives as they so seem fit to do so.
This one verse brings the lie to their words. This one verse shows they are lukewarm, and that the lukewarm have existed even in Paul’s time upon this earth. Again we hit upon a future podcast, but we shall continue.
There are many interpretations as to what is meant by another gospel. For that time it was aimed at false apostles. Claiming to represent Jesus and God. My view is that it was aimed for those that live in this time as well, but in a context that fits in today’s body of Christ. Again I will show in another lesson how God includes the time we now live within. But due to this belief “another gospel” has many meanings today. The most important of these is the watered down gospel that is being spoken in the buildings called “churches.” Why? To make money. For if you let people know that they are lukewarm they will not attend these “churches,” because they do not wish to hear that they are living in sin, and so these building will not exist without this false gospel. Moses made it clear in Deuteronomy 4 that we are not to add to nor take away from what is taught in the Bible. Yet most have never heard the verses I am going to address in my teachings unto you my listeners.
Verse 7 from the KJV – Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Trouble – G5015 – tarasso – to stir or agitate (roil water) [Strong’s]
A: roil – to (cause to) move quickly in a twisting circular movement [Cambridge Dictionary]
Pervert – G3344 – metastrepho – to turn across, i.e. transmute or corrupt
a: transmute – to change from one nature, substance, form, or condition into another; transform. [Dictionary.com]
b: corrupt – to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
My translation – There is no other Gospel, but there are some that would twist you and would corrupt the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 8 from the KJV – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Angel – G32 – angelos – aggelos – (to bring tidings; a messenger; especially an “angel” [Strong’s]
Heaven – G3772 – ouranos – the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God) [Strong’s]
Preach any other gospel – G2097 – euangelizo – euaggelizo – from 2095 (eu, neutral of a primary eus (good); well) and 32 (angelos – see above) to announce good new (“evangelize”) especially the gospel [Strong’s]
Accursed – G331 – anathema – from 394 (anatithemai, to set forth {for oneself} i.e. propound); a (religious) ban or excommunicated (thing or person) [Strong’s]
a: accursed – being under or as if under a curse [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
a1: curse – exclude from a church or a religious community [Vocabulary.com]
b: excommunicate – 1. to cut off from communion with a church or exclude from the sacraments of a church by ecclesiastical sentence. 2. to exclude or expel from membership or participation in any group, association, etc.
Paul makes it clear that if anyone even themselves or an angelic being preaches another gospel that being is removed from Jesus and thus God.
Verse 9 of the KJV – As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Any other – G3844 – para – near, i.e. from beside, at (or in) the vicinity of (object or subject) [Strong’s]
Here Paul re-emphasis that if you are given a good news that is not the exact teachings from the letters or personally from the disciples or the Tanakh that person is cursed.
So when people remove items or change them in the bible which has been done 58 times in the NIV bible that version of the bible is actually cursed and those that changed are as well. Or when they say they have received a gospel or teaching from a glowing angelic form they have received a cursed teaching which has happened two times that I am aware of.
NIV examples –
Philippians 3:21
KJV says, “Vile bodies.” NIV says, “lowly bodies.” These words have different meanings. Vile means sinful and lowly means humble.
Ephesians 5:9
KJV says “Fruit of the Spirit.” NIV says, “Fruit of the light.”
Galatians 4:7
KJV says “servant,” and not “slave,” as translated in the NIV.
A servant has the choice of leaving his master and a slave does not have a choice.
The importance of this translation is that we have a choice of serving Christ or of deserting Him, whereas, a slave does not have that choice.
This is why it is so important to:
1) Study not just read the Bible yourself
2) Do not take the word of others without verification from the Bible
3) Make sure what you are hearing is taken in context from the Bible
May times people take verses from the Bible and use them incorrectly because they are not using them in context.
One of the most misused is do not judge. The main teaching of this is in Matthew 7.
They just throw out the first verse of this teaching “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”
Yet it actually ends in context in verse 5
““Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
In the Greek the speck is more accurately translated as a splinter of wood. So we are speaking of a splinter and a log, both made of wood. This means the same sin.
Jesus is telling us to address our own sins which are the same but greater than the other persons. Fix our own sin, then once that is done and we are without this sin we can then help the other person.
This deals with hypocrisy. Not judging one another.
Summary
The lukewarm are those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and have received the grace of salvation from God. But are turned away from God for they listen to a gospel that is not true and accurate to the Old Testament and New Testament as given by God, Jesus and the disciples. So THEY believe they ARE saved. Yet they live their live in sin.
The good news though is that if they come to realize this and to truly seek after God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. They can fix this issue.
Many live under the impression that they accept God in the name of Jesus that is all there is to it. They don’t have to do anything else. That is the total opposite of what needs to take place.
They need to seek after God daily not just on Sunday. But every single day. It is an active relationship that God desires from us all. Where we pray to Him many times a day. That we seek to obey the laws of the land that do not go against the laws within the Bible. That we strive not to commit anything that is called a sin within the Bible. We live a daily life in and for God, in the Name of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Next podcast we look at John 15 Jesus the Vine those who and do not bear fruit. God bless.
see link below for podcast
Blog post to go with Podcast #1 for Dreamwalker1960
I am Dreamwalker1960. Yes I know this is a handle and not a real name. Why? Because I am not the focal point of my podcasts or my blog post. What is important is Jesus Christ and what He did for all of us upon the cross.
But why Dream walker? Well that has everything to do with this verse within the Bible:
Acts 2:17 – ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
Well since I was born in 1960 you can guess that I am an old man and I have dreamt dreams that I know came from God.
I was born again in 1984 and filled with the Holy Spirit. At that time I was called to minister to the youth of the middle and late 1980’s. However due to multiple things that took place I failed to follow through with this ministry.
As I grew in my faith I came to a point to start a new ministry. Making Christian based comic books. I even has the financial backing for this one lined up, but again falters and allowed this ministry to fail.
During these times I married, became a father, divorced and married once again.
Then as I moved further and further away from God. I entered into what I have dubbed as “my year of Job.” Here I was divorced once again, evicted from my home. Lost most of my personal possessions and strived to raise a ten year old boy and work all on my own.
During this I came to my rock bottom and had to make my choice. Acknowledge and serve God or deny Him and live of the world. I chose God and started the Dreamwalker1960 blog. Since then I have posted well over 700 post. Most dealing with the Bible.
In time as I was doing this I came to understand the next level of my calling. To address my blog to what is called the “lukewarm” of Revelation 3:15 and 16.
Rev. 3:15 – “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Who are the Hot?
The hot are those that actively seek to have a relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who are the cold?
The cold are those that deny there even is a God and prefer to live their lives as they see fit.
Then the lukewarm is a combination of these two extremes
A person that believes in God and that His Son is the Lord Jesus. They even profess to be “Christian” yet they deny the teachings of the Bible and live their lives as if there is no God.
These are the lukewarm.
I will go a step further in this definition. I will say they are those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and have turned their backs upon Him.
Now here many will say that once you are saved you cannot lose your salvation. That is why I have making my podcast and posting to this blog. For it is my ministry to show those that said the previous statement to come to an understanding within the Bible itself that will show that is not true.
I will break down the scripture to its base languages. First by using the New Living Translation for those that can’t handle Old English and then I will break down each verse and most words of these verse to their original language. That being Greek, Hebrew and in some instances Aramaic. I will do this with the Strong’s concordance.
For example: kingdom
In the Greek is 932 or G932, G – meaning Greek
In the Hebrew it is 4438 or H4438, H being Hebrew
Then at times I will delve even deeper by going to look at the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. When using this dictionary the men that worked on these books look at how the word was used when it was originally written down. Even to how the word was perceived to the culture that was not interested in seeking after God or the word of Jesus.
For those that wish to study a long will need the follow:
First and foremost if you have a NIV Bible —- THROW IT AWAY!! I am not joking, get rid of it.
I cannot implore this enough. Again something we will discuss in the next podcast.
At the very least if you cannot handle Old English get the New Living Translation (NTL)
However if you really wish to learn the Bible you need a King James Version. Not a New king James the KJV.
Why? The closer you are to the original source language the closer you are to truly understanding the Bible.
Along those lines you need a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. This will get you closer to a better understanding for as I mentioned before it gets you into the Hebrew, the Greek and even in some cases the Aramaic. These were the original languages used in the writing down of the Bible.
Why Hebrew? Many don’t understand why the Jewish people are so important. The Old Testament comes from the Tanakh which is the name of the entire Biblical teachings of the Jewish people. They are the first chosen of God and should be honored and respected.
Through God, Abraham is the father of the Jewish people. Jesus came from the Jewish People and through His Sacrifice upon the cross allowed sin to be removed from us, if we ask for it. The first Christians were Jewish. Today they are called Messianic Jews. Then the gentiles were invited into the fold. So if the Jews are the child of God, we Christians are His grandchildren.
Why Greek? The answer to this was shown in the Reformation started by Martin Luther. The Catholic Church which used and uses Latin had corrupted the Bible. So their versions of the Bible had become tainted with false teachings like for example “purgatory,” which can be found nowhere in the Bible. It was when Martin Luther started coming into contact with the original manuscripts that were written in Hebrew and Greek that his epiphany took place. You see Constantinople fell to the Muslims in 1453. It was in this city that the original manuscripts in these two languages were stored. The monks and priest that had kept them saw the coming fall of the Byzantine Empire and so fled with these documents into the west. It was in 1517 that Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses.” So you see how coming into contact with the true teachings, in their original language, is so very important and can change not only your life, but the world.
So it is here that we will leave off this podcast and I hope for you to listen to more of my podcasts as I release them.
God be with you.
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