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TheSword

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  1. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Ukulelemike in How Old Is The Earth   
    Except that elephants don't have tails that move like cedars, and crocodiles, last I checked, don't breathe fire. Soooo...no.
  2. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from AVBibleBeliever in How Old Is The Earth   
    Yes, but....the salvation of man is tied to the sin of man, not the sin of angels. That Satan fell before he tempted Adam and Eve who subsequently introduced sin to mankind, has really no bearing on our doctrine of salvation. There is also no need to insert the fall of Satan into the Creation week. Gen 3 does not specify any period of time between the creation of man and the Fall of man. All that can be definitively said is that there was no sin in the first 6 days (Gen 1:31) and that the Fall happened in the first 130 years after Creation because the first length of time mentioned is that Adam was 130 yrs old when Seth was born (Gen 5:3). Therefore, the events of Gen 3-4 (the Fall and Cain & Abel) took place sometime in the first 130 years after God finished creating. We're not told how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden nor how much time passed between the expulsion and the births of Cain and Abel. The Fall could have happned on Day 8 of Year 1 or it could have happned on Day 245 of Year 54 or maybe Day 37 of Year 32. There is plenty of time for Satan to have fallen between Creation week and the Fall of man without reading it into any part of Genesis 1.
  3. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from swathdiver in How Old Is The Earth   
    Before I go to the trouble of explaining in detail why I believe the Gap Theory and all permutations of it are completely inconsistent with the Bible, I would like to first ask a question:
     
    Why do you believe, or need to believe, that there was gap?
     
    I ask because the view that the earth was only a few thousands years old was nearly universal until the 18th century (when evolutionary theory and uniformitarian geology began to seek ways to explain existence without God)? Is it to harmonize Scripture with current scientific theory on origins and age of the earth? Or because you disagree with the historical/traditional interpretation of Scripture?
  4. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Salyan in How Old Is The Earth   
    That depends (the salvation bit, I mean). A gap theory that allows for death before sin (which some believe - don't know if you do, but that is the classic theory) completely negates the physical penalty for sin and plays havoc with the whole need for salvation. 
     
  5. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from John81 in How Old Is The Earth   
    Before I go to the trouble of explaining in detail why I believe the Gap Theory and all permutations of it are completely inconsistent with the Bible, I would like to first ask a question:
     
    Why do you believe, or need to believe, that there was gap?
     
    I ask because the view that the earth was only a few thousands years old was nearly universal until the 18th century (when evolutionary theory and uniformitarian geology began to seek ways to explain existence without God)? Is it to harmonize Scripture with current scientific theory on origins and age of the earth? Or because you disagree with the historical/traditional interpretation of Scripture?
  6. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to DaveW in How Old Is The Earth   
    Even if they are not interchangeable, there is no indication of a gap in genesis ch 1, and there is no need of one.

    Genesis 1
     1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

     2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

     3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

     4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

     5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

    In the beginning God created heaven and earth, then description of that heaven and earth.
    at vs 5 He tells us it was the end of the first day.

    Don't see what is so hard about it.
    No gap is stated, no gap is implied, the language structure actually doesn't allow a gap, and there is no Biblical need for a gap here.

    Why do people want to put a gap where God so plainly does not indicate one?

    It is not even that God is silent about it - there is simply no biblical nor linguistic room for a gap.

    Yes God doesn't say "By the way there is no Gap here", but that is because there is no need.

    it would be like saying that my wife could be someone else's wife because all I said is "She's my wife" but I didn't state categorically that she is not anyone else's wife.
    There is no need: the statement "She's my wife" is a complete statement and implies that she is not anyone else's wife.

    God's statements with regard to creation are complete and there is no need for Him to rule out a gap - the lack of Gap is implied in the stating of six days, the very words and syntax used, and simply in the information given.
  7. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Standing Firm In Christ in How Old Is The Earth   
    Exodus 20:11 For IN SIX DAYS the LORD made HEAVEN and EARTH, the SEA, and ALL THAT IN THEM IS, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

    Exodus 20:11 completely destroys the "old Earth" theory.  The Earth was created within that six day period... on the first day.
  8. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to DaveW in New Ministry/church Opportunity?   
    I agree with both - a good augmentation ministry, but dangers are there as mentioned.

    In one respect "shut ins" could be served as well by providing the services on a thumb drive - that way they get personal contact when the drive is dropped off (or better yet, watched with them).

    But there is benefit in the "fellowship" that SHOULD happen at church. It was discussed recently about friendship being primarily among Christians - it is important that we build relationships within our churches.

    This would be infinitely more difficult without the face to face.
  9. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from swathdiver in New Ministry/church Opportunity?   
    It's not a bad thing to include in an existing ministry. One church I used to attend streamed all services live for people that couldn't physically be there like you mentioned and it's a blessing to them. One big caution I would throw out there if the intent is for this to be the whole part of the entire church/ministry is that it neglects the need for Christians to gather, socialize, and exhort one another (Heb 10:25). Part of what makes a church beneficial, and really necessary, for Christians is being able to surround yourself with other Christians and help each other live a godly lifestyle. If no one ever meets physically the sense of community that is inherent in a church is missing. For that reason, I would recommend against it as a stand-alone ministry, but think it is a great augmentation to an existing church.
  10. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from 2bLikeJesus in New Ministry/church Opportunity?   
    It's not a bad thing to include in an existing ministry. One church I used to attend streamed all services live for people that couldn't physically be there like you mentioned and it's a blessing to them. One big caution I would throw out there if the intent is for this to be the whole part of the entire church/ministry is that it neglects the need for Christians to gather, socialize, and exhort one another (Heb 10:25). Part of what makes a church beneficial, and really necessary, for Christians is being able to surround yourself with other Christians and help each other live a godly lifestyle. If no one ever meets physically the sense of community that is inherent in a church is missing. For that reason, I would recommend against it as a stand-alone ministry, but think it is a great augmentation to an existing church.
  11. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from Miss Daisy in Near Confrontation During House To House   
    I agree with everyone else, you did the right thing. If someone is so vehemently opposed to the Gospel, Jesus said simply dust your feet off and walk away; take it to someone who's heart hasn't been so hardened. There's no use standing there to argue with someone like that because it just would have gotten worse from there.
  12. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to John81 in What Does Repentence Mean?   
    Which is why a lost person must understand they are a sinner and that carries consequences.
     
    We like to poke at those ministries with their watered down Gospels, but the sad fact is, some Baptists also present a watered down Gospel when they tell folks "all you have to do is ask Jesus into your heart", "now repeat this little prayer".
     
    Whoever presents a watered down Gospel, and those who use the "pray Jesus to come into your heart" prayers, without any repentance involved, are presenting a false gospel that leaves folks with a false sense of security even as it leaves them lost in their sins.
  13. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Pastor Scott Markle in Samuel Resurrected!   
    Brother "Irishman,"
     
    First, 1 Samuel 28:7-8 indicates that this "witch" of Endor was a woman who had a relationship with a "familiar spirit."  According to the teaching of God's Word throughout, this "familiar spirit" would have been some angelic being of unrighteousness.  Thus in her normal practice, she would have engaged with this "familiar spirit" for information, not with any spirit of one among the human dead.  (Note: I do not believe that the spirits of human dead can be brought back by the power of the devil.  When a human dies, his or her spirit immediately enters hell's judgment or heaven's glory.  The devil could only remove the spirit one among the human dead from either of these places through the permission of God, and God would not grant that permission.)
     
    Second, there is no indication in the account of 1 Samuel 28:11-12 that this "witch" actually exerted herself to call up Samuel.  Rather, these verses seem to indicate that as soosn as King Saul made his request, the "witch," in spite of herself, observed the appearance of Samuel.
     
    Third, this "witch" did not actually expect to see the spirit of Samuel.  Thus she was fearfully surprised when he appeared before her.  Rather, what she expected, as was normal with her practice, was to engage with her "familiar spirit."  Yet her "familiar spirit" is not the one who appeared before her.  Rather, Samuel actually did appear before her.  eeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!
     
    Fourth, I do not believe that Samuel actually was rasied from the dead.  Rather, I would contend that only Samuel's spirit appeared in that moment.  Thus I would further contend, not that the "witch" called Samuel up, but that God sent him forth in order to deliver one lase pronouncement of judgment upon King Saul.
  14. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to John81 in HOW OLD IS THE EARTH?   
    Agreed. We have to keep in mind that the Holy Ghost instructed the human writers of Scripture. If there are differences in style, they were placed there by the Holy Ghost.
     
    This reminds me of the debate over the "authorship" of the book of Hebrews. There are those who say the style of Hebrews is that of Paul, while there are those who say the style is very different from Paul's. The important point is that Hebrews was inspired by the Holy Ghost.
     
    Sometimes I cringe when I hear a pastor commenting upon some portion of Scripture and their comments focus entirely upon the human penman, making comments that make it seem as if the human writer is fully responsible for the writing, and making  a deal out of something. Totally neglected is that what's written there is ultimately there because of the Holy Ghost, not that human writer.
  15. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Ukulelemike in Music In The Independent Baptist Churches   
    Its worldly and carnal is what it is-it seeks to imitate the sensual music of the world, bringing with it its culture and inherent rebellion.
  16. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to Ukulelemike in "god Told Me To Tell You."   
    As far as the issue of someone telling her that "God told me to tell you..." I agree that this would not be scriptural, I believe. Pentacostals, (and even more so their more-words-added-to-make-them-sound-even-holier) like Pentecostal Holiness Primitive Four-Fold Four-Square Four-Eyes For Rent Assembly of Ancient Baptist Charismatics, etc, often do this whole prophet/prophetess thing, where God tells them to tell other people-if you watch how they work, its really standard fortune-telling. In the Bible, God sent prophets to Kings, to High Priests, to people of great office, who made decisions that affected others; generally we don't see the prophets sent to Miriam the goats-herdress to let her know that one of her goat's has a bad udder. Yet that's exactly what we see with these pentecostal prophets: telling people things like, "God has great plans for you! You're going to do well in music for the Lord! Woo-Hoo for you!" And that's a real example, by the way, one given to my niece in her Pentecostal church. Funny thing with that 'prophecy': she was already an excellent musician, serving God with that music.  That's like a prophet coming to me and prophesying that I am going to be fat! (I'm already 340 pounds). 
     
    If one is saved, the Lord is able to communicate the truth to them just fine. Now, that's not to say the Lord can't use someone else, or a pastor preaching a sermon that speak to you, but the Spirit will speak to YOU-the biggest problem, of course, is the listening, which we are wont not to do.
     
    So, as said before, place this in God's hands and wait upon the Lord-stay faithful and active in your church.
     
    BY the way, how old are you and your lady-friend?
  17. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to The Ohio Patriot in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    I would be happy to explain why I use a literal hermeneutics when interpreting prophecy.  The first reason is that all prophecy that has already been fulfilled has been fulfilled in a literal way.  This is  obvious to most people.  The prophecy that has not been fulfilled it would be expected to also be fulfilled in a literal way.  When it comes to Eschatology all methods that replace Israel with the church are simply not valid when scripture is literally interpreted.  A dispensational premillennial view is the only view that makes logical sense.
     
    The early church (Apostles and first century fathers) viewed scripture from a literal standpoint and was still looking for the Messiah to come the second time during their lives.  After the first century many false schools of interpretation starting using an allegorical method to interpret scripture, which continued until Augustine reasoned that the methods used by the Apostles and first century fathers were correct.  This correction was used for everything except Eschatology, and no reason was ever provided why this correction was ever made.  Likely since a post-millennial  view was created during this time to answer other heresies that had crept into Christianity is the reason that sound hermeneutics was never recovered for eschatology.  
     
    Later after the reformation theologians returned to sound Eschatology and this has been the standard since the early 1900's.   Makes sense to use a literal reading, it is so much easier that changing the simple definitions of words like, elect, all, everyone, world, whosoever, etc, etc, etc.  
     
    I happen to agree with Clarence Larkin which is why I posted the above. However, I don't need to answer to why I posted this everyone who uses a logical, literal method of interpretation will come to the same conclusion.
  18. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to wretched in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    I am starting to see a trend in what our Euro brethren have been led to believe. It appears they regionalize the cataclysmic events of revelation to an area about the size of Texas and New Jersey (middle ages Europe & Israel).
     
    Like I said before, the mechanics and math do not remotely add up and now I will add the geography.
  19. Thanks
    TheSword reacted to JimsHelpmeet in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    If there is no further opportunity for salvation during the tribulation, then who are the tribulation saints and why the need for 144,000 set apart Jewish converts to preach the Gospel after the rapture?
  20. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from wretched in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    Agree to disagree I suppose.  The Great Tribulation is a worldwide event in which no flesh would survive if Jesus didn't return and is something so terrible that no one can fathom what it will be like (see Scripture quotes from previous post plus Daniel 12:1 and Jeremiah 30:7).  Last I checked (which was about 2 min ago) the world population has grown from 1 billion to 7 billion in the last two hundred years, holding steady at a 1.2% growth rate.  That doesn't sound like Tribulation-level death to me.  Also, when I consider the persecutions, genocides, an natural disasters that have happened over the course of history, I can't say that today is any worse than 1000 B.C.  I mean...there's no mass army banging down my door to kill my children like in Moses' day...I haven't seen numerous stars (meteors?) fall to the earth or the mountains and islands move as described in Revelation 6 which describes the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  You really have to take a strong allegorical approach to Scripture to come away with the notion that we're living in the Great Tribulation.  I take a plain reading myself.
  21. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from DaveW in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    Agree to disagree I suppose.  The Great Tribulation is a worldwide event in which no flesh would survive if Jesus didn't return and is something so terrible that no one can fathom what it will be like (see Scripture quotes from previous post plus Daniel 12:1 and Jeremiah 30:7).  Last I checked (which was about 2 min ago) the world population has grown from 1 billion to 7 billion in the last two hundred years, holding steady at a 1.2% growth rate.  That doesn't sound like Tribulation-level death to me.  Also, when I consider the persecutions, genocides, an natural disasters that have happened over the course of history, I can't say that today is any worse than 1000 B.C.  I mean...there's no mass army banging down my door to kill my children like in Moses' day...I haven't seen numerous stars (meteors?) fall to the earth or the mountains and islands move as described in Revelation 6 which describes the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  You really have to take a strong allegorical approach to Scripture to come away with the notion that we're living in the Great Tribulation.  I take a plain reading myself.
  22. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from Doug in Pre Tribulation Rapture Of The Church   
    Agree to disagree I suppose.  The Great Tribulation is a worldwide event in which no flesh would survive if Jesus didn't return and is something so terrible that no one can fathom what it will be like (see Scripture quotes from previous post plus Daniel 12:1 and Jeremiah 30:7).  Last I checked (which was about 2 min ago) the world population has grown from 1 billion to 7 billion in the last two hundred years, holding steady at a 1.2% growth rate.  That doesn't sound like Tribulation-level death to me.  Also, when I consider the persecutions, genocides, an natural disasters that have happened over the course of history, I can't say that today is any worse than 1000 B.C.  I mean...there's no mass army banging down my door to kill my children like in Moses' day...I haven't seen numerous stars (meteors?) fall to the earth or the mountains and islands move as described in Revelation 6 which describes the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  You really have to take a strong allegorical approach to Scripture to come away with the notion that we're living in the Great Tribulation.  I take a plain reading myself.
  23. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from KiwiChristian in Catholic Persecution of Christians   
    Additionally, this is not "useless stuff" when examining whether Catholic practices and doctrines are Biblical or not.  The excerpt is from an apologetic commentary blessed and endorsed on August 10, 2004 by the Bishop of San Diego, Robert H. Brom, who gets his authority from the Archbishop who gets his authority from the Pope who claims to be the "vicar of Christ".  The statements and defense of those practices just don't get any more authoritative.  It is not a statement or description by an average Catholic church member blogging their feelings.  It is an official positional statement by the church itself and is thus subject to Biblical scrutiny as applied to the whole of the church.
  24. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from KiwiChristian in Catholic Persecution of Christians   
    Yes, of course I do. However, I think you're misinterpreting what I've done above. I look at the numerous passage in the Old Testament that talk about how God despises idol worship and paganism in all of it's forms regardless of its original intent. I also see how God consistently tells His people to remain separate from them so that they are not seduced and defiled by their practices. I also then examine the New Testament that tells me how, as a Christian, to deal with people/churches who promote false/unbiblical doctrine because a little leaven (false doctrine/sin) will destroy a church (see Rom 6:17-20; 2 Thess 3:6; Matt 16:6-12; 1 Cor 5:13; Gal 1:8-9; 2 John 1:9-11; 1 Thess 5:22; 2 Cor 6:14-18)

    Therefore when I, as a discerning Christian, see a practice that is unbiblical and goes against God's will I have very clear guidance on what to do. First separate from them (see verses above). Second, admonish, rebuke, and correct them (2 Thess 3:13-15; Eph 5:11-17). I also have the following guiding priciples regarding false teachers/teachings/doctrine to guide me in discernment.

    - Don't believe everyone who stands in a pulpit. Test their doctrine against Scripture first (1 John 4:1-6; Deu 18:20-22)
    - Watch out for false teachers/prophets (Acts 20:26-32)
    - Not everyone who claims the name of Christ is truly a Christian (Matt 7:13-23)

    You see, my approach to determining what is right or wrong about a church's practices come straight from Scripture and no where else. When we see an incorrect teaching we are to mark (note as you said in an earlier post) it, avoid it, rebuke it, and correct it.

    Therefore, when I as a discerning Christian, see what Scripture tells me is an ungodly practice in the Catholic dogma of the veneration of Mary I mark it, avoid it, rebuke it, and correct it. Now, nowhere in my post did you see me call the Catholic church antichrist; but if nothing else they are overly pro-Mary which is against God's commands. Nowhere did I try to fit the Catholic church into the Bible. I applied the Bible to a Catholic practice which deemed it wrong.

    You can equivocate on ecumenism all you like, but it doesn't change the Biblical principle of separation outlined above. I disagree with practices and doctrines of the Catholic church, therefore I remain separate in every way from it and rebuke/correct its false teaching when it comes across my path. That doesn't mean I'm on a crusade to bring it down and spew venom at it. God is perfectly capable of snuffing it out when He sees fit; however that doesn't negate my responsibility to stand against it when presented with an applicable situation.  
    **edit: spelling/grammar correction
  25. Thanks
    TheSword got a reaction from KiwiChristian in Catholic Persecution of Christians   
    Thanks for the resource.  Because I had some extra time I thought I would check out this site.  I'm somewhat aghast at what I find.  In a defense of their prayer habits they have an entire section devoted to the prayers to Mary.  As part of the rosary there is supposed to be contemplation on the "Glorious Mysteries":
     
    "I. The Resurrection 
    II. The Ascension 
    III. The Descent of the Holy Spirit 
    IV. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven 
    V. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth"
     
    When I saw #5 (V.) there, I immediately recalled my study into the paganism that sprang out of Babylon that manifested itself in the worship of the "queen of heaven" in the pagan goddess Ishtar/Ashtart which translated into pretty much every polythestic culture there is (Egypt, Canaan, Greece/Rome, etc).
     
    Immediately below that is the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer:
    "Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ"
     
    and then there is the "Memorare:
    "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we turn to thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To thee we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, do not despise our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen." 
     
    So here we have prayer and petition to seek an answer and intervention given to someone who is not God.  If that's not idolotry, and thus false religion, then I don't know what is.  At least Muslims and Mormons "claim" to be talking to the same God we are (though I contend they are not), but the Catholic church unabashedly prays to someone they KNOW not to be God.  How one reconciles this with Exodus 20:2-5 I'll never understand.
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