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Emphatic Elements in the Greek: Matthew 24 (part 2)

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The following is section two from a series on emphatic elements in the Greek New Testament, written by biblical language expert Justin Alfred. For section one, click here.

Section II – Matthew 24:4-8

When the disciples ask Jesus when the end is coming, He then begins to tell them what to expect until He returns, which leads us into Section II:

              And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. (Matthew 24:4-8)

 As you read the above, if you were a second or third century believer, you might tend to think that His return and “the end” was right around the corner because at that time there were already “false Christs” coming on the scene, as well as up through the 21st century today:

Among the number of these was one Montanus, who taught in the rude districts of Phrygia, in the latter part of the second century, and of whom we read in the words of an anonymous author quoted by Eusebius (H.E. 5, 17; P.G. 20, 464), that he uttered strange sayings beyond the Tradition handed down from old times. Some of his followers, including two women, spoke as though carried away by the Holy Spirit and full of the gift of prophecy. Manes, the founder of that Manichean heresy which has been so deadly a foe to the Church, called himself the Paraclete, and professed to know all things from all eternity. (St. Epiph. Hær. 66, n. 19; P.G. 42, 57.) The year 250 may be assigned as his date; and, to pass over many centuries, the pretended prophecies of the Abbot Joachim, who died in 1202, remained in credit for many years, in spite of the condemnation by the Fourth Council of Lateran in 1215 of the doctrine on the Blessed Trinity taught by their author; and new revelations were among the extravagances of the Fraticelli condemned by the Council at Vienne in 1311.

Among the sects that sprang from the Reformation of the sixteenth century, similar delusions have been plentiful; it may suffice to mention Swedenborg, whose death occurred in 1772, who claimed to have direct illumination from God, not through Angel or Spirit; . . . and Smith, the American, who pretended that the Bible of the Western Continent was discovered to him in 1823, and who was murdered in 1844.

Therefore, what Jesus was talking about in this section will continue until He returns, which includes not only false teachers and teachings (e.g. the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well), but also a continuation of wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, etc.

Comments

  2. I think we keep wishing we were in the end times so that we won’t have to put up with any more of the garbage that life keeps dishing out.

    I pray that I can just make it gracefully and faithfully to the day the Lord calls me home. And I just pray that my life is a reflection of the grace and love that God bestows on His sheep.

    But it sure would be fun to look up and see the sky rolling back like a scroll and see the Lord Jesus returning on the cloud!

    Bless you all,
    Debi

    • Thankyou, Debi, for your comments. I too yearn for an end to all the garbage. I often catch myself worrying about how bad things will get and what my children Will be up against. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. We serve a God who loves us so much that He commands us, “Do not worry”! He is in control and Will work everything for our good in His perfect timing! God bless you.

  3. Matthew 24:4-8 refers to the beginning of sorrows which relates to the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period, as shown by the first four seals in Revelation 6:1-8. Sure, bad things have gone on in the last 2,000 years, but they have to do with Satan still being the god of this world. What Jesus refers to in Matthew 24:4-8 is much worse than these.

    The reason Jesus spoke like these events would happen soon is because, according to the prophetic timeline of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24-27, the first 69 weeks had been fulfilled. Therefore, the tribulation period should have started soon, and these events would have taken place 2,000 years ago.

    Instead, Israel rejected the kingdom offer, the Lord Jesus Christ started the dispensation of grace with the apostle Paul, and Israel’s prophetic program will not resume again until the rapture of the Body of Christ. Then, prophecy can resume, and the events of Matthew 24 will take place.

      • Says the Word of God. Let me know what part of my statement you are questioning, and I will be happy to show supporting scripture.

          • We really need an in person Bible study to go over these passages to answer any questions that come up. But, here is my shot at writing down the scriptures to support my conclusions:

            1. God called Israel to be His nation above all other nations.
            A. Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
            B. Deuteronomy 4:1,7-8 “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you….For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
            C. Deuteronomy 28:13 “And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.”

            2. Israel is to reconcile the nations back to God.
            A. Exodus 19:3,5-6 “Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel…Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
            B. Isaiah 61:6 “But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves.”
            C. Zechariah 8:23 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

            3. John the Baptist and Jesus offered the kingdom to Israel.
            A. Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
            B. Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
            C. Luke 12:33 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

            4. Jesus came only to save Israel to bring about the covenant promises God made to Israel.
            A. Matthew 15:24 “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
            B. Romans 15:8 “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.”
            C. Romans 9:4 “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenant, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, Who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

            5. Jesus sent His 12 apostles to Israel first.
            A. Matthew 10:5-6 “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
            B. Zechariah 12:7 “The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.”

            6. Israel rejected the kingdom offer.
            A. Romans 9:31-33 “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
            B. Romans 11:11 “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

            7. According to prophecy, God would destroy His enemies.
            A. Psalm 110:1 “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

            8. Peter warned that Israel, by being in unbelief, were God’s enemies.
            A. Acts 2:22,23,34-36 “Ye men of Israel…Jesus of Nazareth…Him…ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain….The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The implication is that Jesus would judge Israel for killing Him.

            9. Jesus stood up.
            A. Acts 7:55-56 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
            Since Jesus was going to sit down until God made His foes His footstool, this means, prophetically speaking, that Jesus would have destroyed Israel for killing their Messiah. Instead, He offers “grace and peace” through the apostle Paul.

            10. Jesus begins the mystery program through Paul.
            A. Galatians 1:11-12 “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
            B. Ephesians 3:2-6 “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”

            11. Israel’s kingdom offer was known; God’s offer of grace today through Paul was not known.

            A. With regard to the kingdom program: Acts 3:21 “Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
            B. With regard to the mystery program: Romans 16:25-26 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. But now is made manifest.”

            12. God revealed Israel’s future to Daniel.

            A. Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city.” The seventy weeks are weeks of years, as history has shown, meaning that there was 490 years left in Israel’s history when God revealed this prophecy to Daniel.
            B. Daniel 9:25-26 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.” These verses tell us that Jesus’ crucifixion happened at the end of the 69th week. This leaves one week of prophecy left.
            C. The one week of prophecy is the tribulation period. Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

            Thus, prophecy showed only 7 years after Jesus’ crucifixion before He comes back and judges the world. However, God inserted a mystery program, by which He is saving Gentiles today.

            13. God will still fulfill His promises to Israel.

            A. Romans 11:25-27 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
            B. We see this happen in Revelation 21:1-2 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

            14. Therefore, Israel will be saved after the fulness of the Gentiles has come in. That means that the tribulation period will take place after the rapture of the church, and the events of Matthew 24, since they describe the tribulation period, will take place then as well.

  5. It would seem that throughout their history false prophets were more or less always around.

    The false Christs maybe a different breed in that salvation is possible only in relation to them which is simulare to the Watchtower teachings and even the Catholics claim of being the only true religion.

    Your conclusion that it would always be happening has merit but consider these 2 or 3 mentions in Mathew 24 maybe standout. In other words an entirer religion may be built for the sole purpose of misleading just one of God’s chosen ones.

  6. “… a second or third century believer”?? Why not focus on the believers Jesus was speaking to, the Jewish believers who actually wrote the inspired scriptures the second and third century gentile believers were reading? The question that truly matters is what were they thinking? Rom 9:4-5.

    Plenty of false christ’s at that time – Barabbas. The majority of Gods People Israel were looking for the Messiah to deliver His People as was promised by OT prophesy.
    J.

  7. The words of Mathew are spoken in private to the 12 four of which intiated the questions regarding the temple destruction and what would follow in it’s wake and aftermath. And, it wasn’t uncommon, for private conversations to go out to the brothers. For example john 12:23 when the conversation between Peter and Gods son went out to the brothers.

    It wasn’t until pentecost that the chosen ones became a people to whom the words would have the most meaning and not merely in a pratical or intellectual since. The direction Gods son gave was to “flee the city to the mountains” before the Romans invaded eventually he purposed for a gathering of his chosen ones no not a rapture, a gathering. Then he ends with, ” Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur”

    The implication of writing Mathew ch 24 on the minds and hearts of chosen jews Mark, Luke, and Mathew likely had both a positive and negative aspects which Paul expressed in his writings and as for the chosen gentials of those times, may have been identical to a chosen gential of today who reads it. Its diversified. It can warn, give direction, Gods son can speak through the words they can be used by those on the spirit plan and so on. Eph 3:8-11 1:8

  8. Eric,
    I am also interested in reading the Scripture passages that describe the comments you made in your last post. Predominantly passages that say the rapture must take place before the events of Matthew 24. also, Matt 24 contains many commandments given by Jesus, who do you believe these commands are for?

    • See my above reply. As far as who the commandments in Matthew 24 are for, they are for the tribulation saints since they will be the ones going through the events Jesus talks about. For example, Jesus’ command in Matthew 24:16 for those in Judea to flee into the mountains pertains to those who see the abomination of desolation set up, as Jesus says in Matthew 24:15.

      • Eric,
        I don’t usually read huge downloads of information. In replying to what I did read, I’ll keep my reply short. You skew off into Replacement Theology at your 3rd item. That is a false doctrine put forth by the Catholic Church at its origin. The Kingdom was not originated during John and Jesus time on earth, much earlier. John and Jesus are Jewish, in other words Israel. 4th item, the promise of a Deliverer was first made in Eden, no nations at that time. 5th item, Jesus never mentions going beyond Israel, so there is no second to your first. 6th item, Jesus, the 12, the disciples are Jewish, in other words Israel. When do they stop being Jewish, in other words Israel? Do they reject themselves and their own faith? I don’t find that anywhere in scripture. I’ll stop here.
        J.

        • Item 3: The kingdom was started with Abraham in Genesis 12. Jesus and John merely declared that the kingdom of God was at hand.

          Item 4: Yes, Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of a deliverer. The Messiah would save all mankind from sin, for all those who have faith in God. True. However, Jesus only revealed that He was come to save Israel. It is only through Paul that we learn that He gave his life a ransom for ALL (I Timothy 2:6). Jesus said He gave His life a ransom for MANY, not ALL (Matthew 20:28).

          Item 5: The second to my first would be Israel going to all the world with the gospel after Israel is saved. As Jesus told them in Acts 1:8 “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria is first. The uttermost part of the earth, or the Gentiles, is second.

          Item 6: Israel never stopped being Israel. However, the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14) was taken down with the mystery revealed to Paul. Jews can still be saved today, but they are not distinguished as Jews, because both Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. They would be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, just like Gentiles.

          • Thank you for the reply. Let me start by asking what you think the Kingdom is?

            Let’s stay with the item #’s. #4, anyone could follow the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and be delivered well before Paul, remember Ruth and all the other gentiles in Messiahs bloodline. Then there’s Adam, Eve, Abel, Seth, Noah, Enoch, etc. these are considered righteous before there was a Hebrew race. Israel was chosen as GODS people so all nations (gentiles) would be drawn to her as proselytes into the faith. Not an exclusive club. #5, yes, “mentions” was a poor word choice on my part. My point was during HIS ministry as the Hebrew Messiah. Gentiles were never courted by HIM, yet never denied by HIM; gentiles would implicitly come under what I write above. What do you mean by “after Israel is saved”? #6, as I wrote previously, that is Replacement Theology and is only conjecture and read into by interpretation.

            Was Jesus a Christian or Jew? Were the 12 Christians or Jews? Was Paul a Christian or Jew?
            J.

  9. There is no “imminent” return of Jesus the Christ. Never was. Acts 3:20-21 (KJV) makes it clear that Heaven must receive (RETAIN) until “the times of restitution of all things,” which includes restoring the kingdom to [the nation of ] Israel…
    20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
    21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
    The entire pre-Trib Rapture myth/Imminent Return doctrine is easily refuted from Scripture and basic logic.
    Probability Jesus could have returned before Gospel of Mark = 0
    Probability Jesus could have returned before Revelation 90AD = 0
    Probability Jesus could have returned before printing press = 0

    Furthermore, there is no future 70th ‘seven’ (or week of years). Jesus was crucified AFTER the 69th week (i.e. in the 70th ‘seven.’ The count was from the decree (Daniel ch 9) and no future 7-year period is implied. Just because the antichrist breaks a 7-year [agreement/covenant] in no way confirms a 7-year Tribulation.

    DANIEL 9:26-27 (AMP)
    26 And after the sixty-two weeks [of years] shall the Anointed One be cut off or killed and shall have nothing [and no one] belonging to [and defending] Him. And the people of the [other] prince who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood; and even to the end there shall be war, and desolations are decreed.

    27 And he shall enter into a strong and firm covenant with the many for one week [seven years]. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering to cease [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and upon the wing or pinnacle of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolator.

    The Tribulation period is 3.5 years (42 months = 1260 days), which is given in Daniel 12:7, 11 and at least 5 times in Revelation, which is the amount of time the antichrist is ALLOWED to operate (see Rev. 13:5 below). There is no Tribulation/Great Tribulation separation. Isn’t “a time of tribulation such as never was” GREAT???

    REVELATION 13:5-7 (KJV)
    5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [NOTE: The antichrist only allowed 42 months!]

    6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

    7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

    Tribulation begins with “the abomination that maketh desolate” and ends shortly after the 3.5 years with Armaggedon.

    Returning to Matthew 24:
    The beginning of sorrows (v8)
    The Gospel must be preached to every nationality (v14)
    The abomination of desolation (v15) = start of 3.5 year Trib
    Tribulation, which is only “great” (v21)
    2nd coming of Christ is OBVIOUS AND VISIBLE (v27) to ALL
    Verse 28 is an obvious reference to Armaggedon, especially when compared with Luke ch. 17 – those “taken” are take to judgment (context is key) not in some “secret, pre-Trib Rapture.”
    Celestial Signs (v29)
    Again, 2nd coming is VERY VISIBLE (v30)
    Verse 31 is obviously the “Rapture,” which is really the 2nd phase of the Resurrection, since the dead in Christ rise FIRST.
    When? AFTER the Tribulation. At the “last trump” [last of a sequence] – see 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thess 4:14-17 (KJV).

  10. Good points Tom,

    I think you would really enjoy Tim Warners website answersinrevelation.org. He has a lot of good articles exposing the nonsense of pretrib teachings and normative dispy in general. Here is a good question for pretribbers,

    In Revelation 20:4-6 it says that the saints who are beheaded during the great tribulation are included in the FIRST resurrection. If the rapture immediately follows the FIRST resurrection of those who are “in Christ” as 1 Thess 4 clearly explains then how on earth can there be a rapture before the tribulation period?

  11. We do not know the day nor the hour but we will know the season. I would think most folks could tell the difference between winter and spring. The answer is more simple than a long discourse…we are in that season

  12. Eric,
    You say that the commandments given by Jesus in Matt 24 are to be obeyed by a group you label as “tribulation saints”? I’m not really sure where the Bible makes a distinction between the saints and another group titled “tribulation saints”. The problem with this idea is that Jesus gave these commands in advance to be obeyed by His disciples (the saints) so that they are prepared when these events take place. Here are some of the commands given by Jesus

    – Let know one deceive you (v4)
    – Do not be deceived by false teachers who may make the profession that Jesus is “the Christ” yet they use this profession as a means to deceive. (v5)
    – Do not be troubled by all the distress that this time period causes (v6)
    – When disciples who live in Judea see the abomination of desolation immediately flee to the mountains (v15-18)
    – Do not believe someone if they claim to have found the Christ (v23)
    – Do not be lured out to a location to meet imposters claiming to be the Christ (v26)
    – Do not believe claims that the Christ has returned to secret chambers in an invisible manner (v26)
    – Be watchful for the true signs of His return which are given in v27, 29-31 (v42)
    – Be ready for His actual arrival (v44)

    How are these commands going to be obeyed by people who supposdly become believers after the tribulation has already started? For example, are some of these new converts who live in Judea going to find a Bible and turn to Matt 24 and read that they should probably flee the city while the AOD is happening? That’s a bit silly don’t you think? Furthermore we can gurantee that these commands in Matt 24 are for all the saints to be aware of and obey when the time comes due to Jesus statement in Matt 28:19-20
    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

    Anyone who teaches that the commands in Matt 24 are not for all disciples of Christ are in direct disobediance to the great commission. Also I want to address these continued statments you make in your posts which have no precedent in the true Gospel of the Kindgom we as Disciples of Christ are to be proclaiming.

    You

    “with the mystery revealed to Paul”
    “Jesus begins the mystery program through Paul”

    You even cited Ephesians 3 to prove your point but Eph 3 compeltey disproves your point.

    Ephesians 3:1-5 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His HOLY APOSTLES and PROPHETS:

    Notice that the nouns in v5 (apostles/prophets) are plural. The Mystery of Christ is not some secret message that was only given to Paul. Jesus taught “the mystery of Himself” to all the Apostles in Luke 24:45. The mystery of Christ is all the old testament prophecy that speaks of Himself. Paul also confirms that this is “the mystery” in Romans 16:26. He says that it has now been made known to all nations through the prophetic Scriptures. Obviously “the prophetic Scriptures” are the Old Testament. In other words the prophecies of Christ contained in the Old Testament have now been unlocked and understood. One thing that really creeps me out about your idea of a secret mystery that has only been revealed to Paul and by Paul is that this very teaching was first introduced by the Gnostic cults of the second century. Here is an exerpt from early Christian writer Irenaeus. Irenaeus lived and wrote from 120-202 AD and was a trained under a man named Polycarp who was close friends with the Apostle John. Irenaeus documented for us many heresies that the Gnostic cults were spreading within Christianity at the time.

    “With regard to those (the Marcionites) who allege that Paul alone knew the truth, and that to him the mystery was manifested by revelation, let Paul himself convict them, when he says, that one and the same God wrought in Peter for the apostolate of the circumcision, and in himself for the Gentiles. Peter, therefore, was an apostle of that very God whose was also Paul; and Him whom Peter preached as God among those of the circumcision, and likewise the Son of God, did Paul [declare] also among the Gentiles. For our Lord never came to save Paul alone, nor is God so limited in means, that He should have but one apostle who knew the dispensation of His Son. And again, when Paul says, How beautiful are the feet of those bringing glad tidings of good things, and preaching the Gospel of peace, he shows clearly that it was not merely one, but there were many who used to preach the truth. And again, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, when he had recounted all those who had seen God after the resurrection, he says in continuation, But whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed, acknowledging as one and the same, the preaching of all those who saw God after the resurrection from the dead To these men, therefore, did the Lord bear witness, that in Himself they had both known and seen the Father (and the Father is truth). To allege, then, that these men did not know the truth, is to act the part of false witnesses, and of those who have been alienated from the doctrine of Christ”. Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III Chapter 13

    The Mariconites (Gnostics) appartley were teaching the same thing you would have us believe in your threads. If this doens’t concern you I don’t know what will.

    • The context tells you that the commandments of Matthew 24 are to be obeyed by saints living in the tribulation period. Jesus is talking about end time events and so they are to be obeyed by saints living when those events occur.

      Tribulation saints will have God’s Word because God promised to preserve His Word forever (Psalm 12:6-8). So, yes, if they are saints, they will believe God’s Word, and they will follow it in the tribulation period. Who else would follow the command about the abomination of desolation but those living during that time? I certainly am not following it, because there is no abomination to run from, and I’m not in Judea anyway!

      Matthew 28:19-20 is a reference to Israel going out to the Gentiles in Jesus’ millennial reign, at which time they will teach the Gentiles to obey God’s law, as given to Moses in Exodus – Deuteronomy. This is substantiated by Matthew 23:2-3 “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do;”

      The so-called Great Commission is not in operation today, as the 12 apostles agreed to abandon it in Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” Instead, today, we have the ministry of reconciliation: II Corinthians 5:18 “And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” We are not to go to all the world with the gospel.

      Both Peter and Paul had the truth, but they were given different gospels for different dispensations.

      Galatians 2:7 “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;” The gospel of the circumcision was to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The gospel of the uncircumcision is to trust in Jesus’ death as atonement for your sins (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

      Thus, the 12 apostles had the truth and preached a saving gospel, but the gospel brought people into God’s earthly kingdom, while Paul’s gospel brings people into the body of Christ. There is eternal life in God in both programs.

      The prophets that Paul refers to in Romans 16:26 and Ephesians 3:6 are the prophets given for the mystery gospel. They are not the Old Testament prophets. Ephesians 4:8,11 says that Christ gave apostles and prophets AFTER His ascension. It is to those prophets that Paul refers to as substantiating the new mystery gospel that he was proclaiming. “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men….And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

      • Well blessing to you Eric….I take the scriptures at face value and have to say you’re reading a lot of interpretation into the passages you reference. See you on down the line.
        J.

        • I also take the scriptures literally. That is why I believe what I believe. If you do not rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15), there are contradictions in the Bible that cannot be explained without changing the word of God. Here is an example:

          1. How are we saved?
          Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
          James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

          If I rightly divide, I recognize that James is writing “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). So, he is writing to Israel. Israel is saved by faith plus works. Paul writes to Gentiles, since he is the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). Therefore, I know that in Israel’s prophetic program salvation was by faith plus works, while, in today’s grace program, salvation is by faith alone.

          Any other explanation of these two passages changes the holy word of God, and I will not change any part of God’s Word. I believe every word is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16).

  13. Eric,
    I have to say that I have never encountered someone teaching such an extreme form of Pauline Dispensationalism before. I’m not sure where you are getting this stuff from but like I said before it has Gnostic roots all over it. I can see that you did not comment on Ephesians 3 that states that the Mystery was not given to Paul alone.

    You
    “The so-called Great Commission is not in operation today”

    WHAT?

    This is such an extreme departure form the Faith I really don’t even know what to say. Jesus said that the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end would come.(Matt 24:14) It is our job as disciples of Christ to go out and make more disciples teaching them to obey all of Christ’s commandments. While we perform the Great Commission the message we carry with us is the Gospel of the Kingdom. I also assume that you think the commandments Jesus gave to His disciples in Matt 5-7 are for another time as well huh?

    • Yes, as I mentioned to Jerry, only by rightly dividing the word of truth in this matter can we understand the whole word of God and believe it all to be true. Paul says in II Timothy 2:7 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” By reading Ephesians 2, we see that the Bible is divided into time past, but now, and ages to come, or past, present, and future. Recognizing this clears up supposed contradictions.

      As far as Jesus’ commands in Matthew – John are concerned, yes, those are for Israel in the kingdom program. No one follows them today.

      For example, Jesus commanded His disciples in Luke 12:33 to “sell that ye have, and give alms.” Have you sold all your possessions? The early Acts believers did: Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Acts 4:34-35 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet.”

      If you want to teach people Christ’s commands, you need to teach them what Paul wrote in his epistles, because Paul said that he received his information “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12).

      So, I believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and I believe we should teach fellow Christians what Jesus has told us to do. But, I do so by recognizing the distinct ministry of the apostle Paul being for today.

      The command in Matthew 24:14 is the gospel of the kingdom. It will go to all nations during the tribulation period. That gospel is to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. I’m not denying any scripture. I’m just recognizing every scripture’s proper place.

      I have yet to hear anyone explain how both Romans 3:28 and James 2:24 can be true to us today without changing any of the words and without rightly dividing the word of truth.

    • By the way, the answer of Ephesians 3 is that the mystery was given to Paul first. Once Paul was given it, it was confirmed by all the prophets living in that day and so all taught it. In fact, God gave a special revelation to Peter in Acts 10 so that he would see the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile had come down. So, you are right. The mystery was given to all, but it was given to Paul first.

  14. Eric,
    Where does it state in the Scriptures that Paul was the first Apostle to receive this secret Mystery Gospel of yours?

    I see that you have agreed with me that Ephesians 3 states that the Mystery was given to all the prophets of that time, and the rest of the Apostles. You conveniently left out the rest of the Apostles from Eph 3:5 because of this idea of yours that Paul taught a different message than the rest of the Apostles.

    If the Mystery was revealed to all of the Apostles then all the Apostles taught it to the local congregations. Furthermore as I told you above the Mystery was revealed by Christ Himself to all the Apostles in Luke 24 before Paul received revelation of it.

    Luke 24:44-48 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be PREACHED IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

    This is what Paul is referring to in Romans 16:25-26

    Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

    Notice from Luke that the Apostles understanding of the Mystery of Christ contained in the OT was now to be preached by them to all the nations.

    Paul states the exact same thing in Romans 16:25 and says that the Mystery has now been made known to ALL NATIONS through the Old Testament Scriptures. “The prophetic Scriptures cannot refer to the New Testament because it hadn’t even been written and compiled yet. Furthermore the Greek word used for Scriptures in this passage is graphē which is always used to refer to the Old Testament Scriptures. Also when Paul says “my Gospel” this does not mean he is referring to some exclusive message that he alone carried. “My Gospel” refers to the Gospel of Luke, since Luke was Paul’s traveling companion in his ministry.

    The early Christian historian, Eusebius, stated: “They say that Paul meant to refer to Luke’s Gospel wherever, as if speaking of some gospel of his own, he used the words, ‘according to my Gospel’.” (Eusebius, History, Book III, ch. iv)

    This is very important when we look back to Historical Christianity in the 2 century and see that Eusebius found it necessary to make this clear. Eusebius made this statement because of the Gnostic cults who were teaching that Paul had some excusive Gospel message which was different from the rest of the Apostles.

    The Greek Grammar in Romans 16:25 also indicates that the Mystery was revealed by Christ which we find in Luke 24.

    Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑμᾶς στηρίξαι κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου καὶ τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

    Both the nouns “Gospel” and “Preaching” are preceded by the definite article and separated by the Greek word “kai” which is equivalent to our English “and”. There is a rule in Greek grammar when a construction like this is given and it is called the Granville Sharp’s rule. It states as follows

    “If two nouns of the same case are connected by a “kai” [and] and the article is used with both nouns, they refer to different persons or things. [Sharp’s rule VI] If only the first noun has the article, the second noun refers to the same person or thing referred to in the first.”
    In Romans 16:25 both of the nouns separated by “kai” are preceded by the definite article therefore showing distinction. This means that there are two channels whereby the Mystery was given. One was through Jesus Christ’s own preaching to the Apostles about the Mystery in Luke 24 and the other was given by Christ through Paul for his ministry because he was not present to hear the teaching Jesus gave in Luke 24.

    I want to address this quote of yours next-

    “The command in Matthew 24:14 is the gospel of the kingdom. It will go to all nations during the tribulation period. That gospel is to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”

    You are correct that contained in The Gospel of the Kingdom message is the command to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. In fact Peter in his first sermon in Acts 2 makes this clear.

    Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “REPENT, and let every one of you be BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

    Peter says that the gift of the Holy Spirit is promised to all who will obey the Gospel. (.i.e. to repent and submit to submersion in water) He also makes it abundantly clear who this promise pertains to. It pertains to any person whether Jew or Gentile who obeys it. This is proven by his statement “for the promise is to you (Jews gathered at Pentecost) and to your children (offspring of the Jews) and to all who are afar off (the Gentiles). Therefore this idea of yours that the Gospel of the Kingdom which contains these elements is something different than what Paul preached to the Gentiles is in serious error.

    In fact Paul always preached the Gospel of the Kingdom wherever he went. In Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas are found preaching the Kingdom of God to Gentiles. (The Gospel of the Kingdom)

    Acts 14:21-28 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to THE GENTILES. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

    Paul even had a habit when traveling on his missionary journeys of going into synagogues and trying to persuade Jews with the Gospel of the Kingdom.

    Acts 14:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

    Again, more of Paul preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.

    Acts 20:17-27 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching THE KINGDOM OF GOD, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

    Here we have Paul stating that he was in chains because of his preaching. Notice that he said he was in chains because of the HOPE OF ISRAEL. The hope of Israel is the Kingdom (Dan 7). Therefore the primary content of Paul’s Gospel that he preached to both Jews and Gentiles was the message (Gospel) of the Kingdom.

    He is also teaching the Mystery in Acts 28:23 from the Old Testament Scriptures. This is the same Mystery of Christ that I have already explained from Luke 24.

    Acts 28:17-23, 30-31 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain.” 21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” 23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of THE KINGDOM OF GOD, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

    30-31 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

    Paul always continued preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in his epistles to the churches as well (Rom 14:17, 1 Cor 4:20, 6:9-10, 15:50, Gal 5:21, Col 4:11, 2 Thess 1:5)

    Apparently Paul did not understand that the Gospel of the Kingdom was only to be preached by newly converted Jews during the Tribulation. Paul simply understood Jesus plain statement in Matt 24:14 that the Gospel of the Kingdom was to be preached to the whole world until Christ’s second coming.

    Eric I think you are bright enough to figure this out. If I’m going to consider your arguments seriously you have to explain all these passages to me under your Pauline Mystery Gospel that is supposedly separate from the Gospel of the Kingdom.

    I want to give you one last passage concerning this topic of the Gospel of the Kingdom so that you can be guaranteed that you have been subscribing to seriously bad doctrine.

    Acts 17:19-23 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the GENTILES, that they should repent, turn to God, and DO WORKS befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying NO OTHER THINGS than those which THE PROPHETS and MOSES said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

    V 22 is very important to our disagreements concerning “the Mystery” and the Gospel message as a whole. Paul’s statement in v22 includes all of his past missionary activity and all of his epistles to the churches already written by AD58. Paul said that everything he had previously taught (to the churches) was contained in the Old Testament Scriptures and was the “hope of Israel” as he stated in Acts 26:6-8. Even the Gentile part of the church is the fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy!

    Eric, you must be able to describe this alleged “Mystery program” from the Old Testament Scriptures if your theories are sound. Now for another quote from you that I want to address-

    “If you want to teach people Christ’s commands, you need to teach them what Paul wrote in his epistles, because Paul said that he received his information “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12).
    “As far as Jesus’ commands in Matthew – John are concerned, yes, those are for Israel in the kingdom program. No one follows them today.”

    Eric, what do you suppose Paul was referring to when he made this statement?

    1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping THE COMMANDMENTS of God is what matters.

    What are the commandments of God? They can’t be the 613 commandments given under the Old Covenant. They must be the Commandments of Christ. Or as Paul calls it “The law of Christ” (Gal 6:2)

    How can you call yourself a follower of Jesus if you do not think that any of the commandments He gave from Matthew-John pertain to you? Furthermore Paul considered the commandments of God to be the commandments of Christ which he taught to all the churches. For example

    Romans 12:14-17 14 BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

    The statements in v14 and v17 are direct quotes from Jesus commands in Matt 5:38-48. Apparently Paul did not have the same attitude towards the Lords commands as you do.

    I also want to answer this question you asked-

    “I have yet to hear anyone explain how both Romans 3:28 and James 2:24 can be true to us today without changing any of the words and without rightly dividing the word of truth”

    I know you think that James preached a different message than Paul but Paul taught the same things as James and the rest of the Apostles.

    Romans 2:4-10 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 ETERNAL LIFE to those who by patient continuance IN DOING GOOD seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who WORKS WHAT IS GOOD, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

    Jesus also taught the same thing

    Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and DOES NOT DO THEM, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

    You
    “If I rightly divide, I recognize that James is writing “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). So, he is writing to Israel. Israel is saved by faith plus works. Paul writes to Gentiles, since he is the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). Therefore, I know that in Israel’s prophetic program salvation was by faith plus works, while, in today’s grace program, salvation is by faith alone”

    No Israelite has ever been saved by faith plus their own good works. The point James is making in his epistle and Paul in the Romans 2 passage is that true saving faith is always accompanied by good works. Just a mental assent of faith to the Gospel is not sufficient for salvation. There has to be action that follows. People’s works are in no way gaining them access into the Kingdom; instead it is through the channel of faith which involves a person’s conscience and submitting in their heart to what God has revealed. All people have sinned against God so ultimately they are condemned regardless of what works they can muster up. This is why Jesus came and completely obeyed every command under the Old Covenant allowing us (through faith in Him) to be saved and become joint heirs with Him when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth.

    Now Eric, if you are a genuine truth seeker you will provide answers to these points I have made in this thread. I hope you can put your loyalties to man- made doctrines aside and consider what I have written.

    • Hi Ben,

      Thanks for your very lengthy explanation. My apologies for taking a while to respond.

      I believe that the Bible is inspired by God: II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
      I also believe that God has preserved His Word for us to read today in the English language: Psalm 12:6-7 “6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
      As such, I know that the Bible that I read in the English language has no errors in it. If it did, it would not be God’s Holy Word. As Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).

      What this means is that every word means what it says, and it is not an error that could be translated better. If God can put His thoughts, which are above man, into the language of man, He certainly has the capacity of preserving His Word into the English language without having to re-interpret it.

      Fundamentally, it is this belief that has led me to rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).

      With regard to salvation, you said that “true saving faith is always accompanied by good works.” That is not what Paul says in Romans 3:28. There, he says “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul says that, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” These verses say that man is saved by faith without works. However, James 2:24 says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” This is a direct contradiction from Pauline doctrine of Romans 3:28.

      Those believing in eternal security change God’s holy word in James 2:24 by saying that James does not really mean that God justifies man by works. Those believing in conditional salvation change God’s holy word in Romans 3:28 to say that Paul does not really mean that God justifies man apart from works. Many people take a middle ground by saying that salvation is by faith but works have to back them up. All three views pervert God’s holy word.

      God says in Romans 3:28 that salvation is by faith without works. That is 100% true. God says in James 2:24 that salvation is by faith plus works. That is 100% true. Rather than listening to what man says to change God’s word, I have chosen to take God at His word and find out how both statements can be true when they say opposite things. By recognizing the distinct ministry of Paul, I see that salvation is by faith alone in this dispensation. During the tribulation period, salvation will be by faith plus works. Both salvation by faith alone and salvation by faith plus works must be true. We cannot change God’s holy word just to fit our notions of what we think God’s word should say.

      When you take the position that true faith is accompanied by good works, you are perverting the word of God, because God never said that was so. Whatever God requires is what brings saving faith. For Noah, he had to do the work of building an ark. For Abraham, he had to believe God and have the work of being willing to sacrifice Isaac on the altar. For us today, we only need to trust in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as atonement for our sins. For the tribulation saints, they will have to repent, be water baptized, and avoid taking the mark of the beast.

      If we do not rightly divide the word of truth by saying that Genesis – Acts applies to time past in Israel’s prophecy program, Romans – Philemon applies to the present with God’s mystery program, and Hebrews – Revelation applies to the future with a resumption of Israel’s prophecy program, we must change the word of God to mean different things.

      Another example: Jesus preached a conditional salvation Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Paul preached eternal security Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

      God’s holy word says in one place that God will not forgive you if you do not forgive others. Then, in another place, God says that God has already forgiven you, regardless of if you forgive others or not. By rightly dividing the word of truth, we can see that Jesus’ command in Matthew does not apply to us today, while God’s command in Ephesians does apply. As with Romans 3:28 and James 2:24, both cannot be true at the same time, and we cannot change one or the other to fit our own beliefs. We have to take God at His Word and believe all of the Bible.

      Now, let me answer your specific questions and passages you brought up.

      With regard to Paul being the first to receive the mystery: Galatians 1:11-12 “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:15-18 “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called [me] by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” I Timothy 1:16 “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” Ephesians 3:2,3,5 “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

      So, Paul received the gospel of grace directly from the Lord Jesus Christ while in Arabia for three years. It was in Paul first that God saved him by grace as a pattern for all those to be saved after him in the dispensation of grace. It was only then that it was revealed to other apostles and prophets. That means that the apostles then taught the gospel of grace. They taught the gospel of the kingdom until Acts 9. Then, they taught the new gospel of grace, once it was revealed to Paul between Acts 9:22-23 (the three years in Arabia). In fact, we see Peter in Acts 10:43 say that, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” God revealed the mystery to Paul in Acts 9, and, by Acts 10:43, all the prophets alive at the time testified that salvation by grace through faith is the new gospel for that day so that all the apostles were preaching it. Before Acts 9 though, they preached salvation by repenting and being water baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

      Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ death could not have been what Jesus told His disciples in Luke 24:44-48 because it had not been revealed yet. Acts 3:21 says that they were still preaching the prophecy program, “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” The mystery gospel Paul preached was not revealed until he received it. Romans 16:25-26 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” Peter’s gospel had been spoken by the prophets since the world began. Paul’s gospel was kept secret until made manifest to Paul. If they are preaching the same gospel, the Bible contradicts itself by saying that Peter’s message was known since the world began, but Paul’s message was kept secret since the world began. Both cannot be true of the same message.

      Now, in Israel’s program, God said in Exodus 19:5-6 that “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” So, it does not mean that God would only save Israel before the mystery was revealed to Paul. It is just that God would save Israel first, then, they would go to the Gentiles with the gospel of the kingdom. That is what Jesus is talking about when he says in Luke 24:47 that salvation would be preached to all nations, but beginning at Jerusalem. We see this when Jesus told the Gentile woman in Mark 7:27 “But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast [it] unto the dogs.” The children of Israel were to be saved first, then the Gentiles. But, when Israel dropped the ball by not believing, God called Paul to be the apostles to the Gentiles so that they may be saved in spite of the Jews’ fall. Paul tells us this in Romans 11:11 “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

      So, what is going on is that God had told Israel to preach to the Gentiles, but the Jews must become a kingdom of priests first. Since they failed at this by their threefold rejection of the Holy Ghost in the first seven chapters of Acts (this is the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost Jesus spoke about in Matthew 12), God started a new program of salvation by grace through Paul’s preaching to the Gentiles. The 12 apostles recognize this change, which is why they say they will not go to the world with the gospel as Jesus had commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). Rather, they will stick with edifying the saved Jews, while Paul will preach the new gospel of grace to the heathen, which is both the unsaved Jews and the Gentiles. We are told this in Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

      Now, when Romans 16:26 refers to the scriptures of the prophets, it is referring to Paul’s writings. Galatians, I and II Corinthians, and I and II Thessalonians had already been written by the time Paul wrote Romans. The reason Paul’s epistles are called “scriptures of the prophets” is because it took prophets to look through Paul’s writings and declare which ones of them are “thus saith the Lord,” and which ones are not the Lord’s Word to be placed in the Bible. This is why Jesus gave apostles to the body of Christ AFTER He ascended to heaven (Ephesians 4:8-13). Now, I know you’ve got your Greek definition of the word and say that the word for prophets always refers to Old Testament Scriptures. However, regardless of what language, you cannot make a blanket statement about what a word means. The context always determines the meaning. Since the context says that the mystery was hidden since the world began and Acts 3 tells us that the holy prophets have been speaking the prophecy program since the world began, the word “prophets” in Romans 16:26 must be referring to a different group of people than those referred to in Acts 3. If they both refer to the Old Testament prophets, then God is a liar, because He just said that the mystery has not been spoken about until the time of the present.

      As far as “My gospel” referring to the gospel of Luke, that is impossible. If that was the case, Paul would have said “Luke’s gospel.” When someone says something is theirs, they are referring to themselves, not to someone else. The term “my gospel” only appears three times in the Bible (Romans 2:16, 16:25, and II Timothy 2:8). All are spoken by Paul. Therefore, “my gospel” refers to Paul’s gospel. Paul calls it that because it was given to Paul first by direct revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel others preached before the mystery was revealed to Paul was the gospel of the kingdom. Others then preached Paul’s gospel after it was revealed to Paul.

      The substantiation you give for Paul’s gospel being Luke’s gospel is by quoting Eusebius. But, I would encourage you to trust the Bible over what man says. I, for one, will not change God’s word to read “Luke’s gospel,” when it reads “my gospel,” regardless of what any man may say about it.

      You mention that the mystery was revealed by Christ, and that is true. He revealed it by direct revelation to Paul as Galatians 1 says. Now, as far as quoting Greek to say that there were two channels through which the mystery was given, I cannot comment, except to say that that is not what the Bible says, and so I will trust the Bible over some supposed Greek rule.

      In reference to Peter’s offer in Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Those afar off are the scattered Jews. It is not the Gentiles. We see Peter addressed his speech to Israel: Acts 2:14 “Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem.” Acts 2:22 “Ye men of Israel.” Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly.” John 7:35 mentions that there were Jews that were “dispersed among the Gentiles.” This was because Israel had disobeyed God’s law covenant with them. Therefore, according to the fifth cycle of chastisement, they would be scattered among the heathen. Leviticus 26:33 “And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.”

      Now, with regard to Paul’s preaching the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God can also be applied to heaven. The kingdom of God is where God rules. God is currently reconciling the heavenly places back to Himself by saving the Body of Christ, and He will reconcile the earth back to Himself, as He promised in Exodus 19:5-6, through the nation of Israel. This will happen via the tribulation period. Then, both the heaven and the earth will be God’s kingdom. When Paul refers to preaching the kingdom of God, then, he must be talking about heaven, because he preached a different gospel. In fact, I Corinthians 9:17 probably provides some clarity where Paul says “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.” Paul specifically says a dispensation of the gospel has been committed unto him. That is the gospel of grace or “my gospel,” as Paul puts it.

      You are correct in saying that Paul would go to the Jews first when he preached the gospel. Then, he would go to the Gentiles. That was God’s plan to offer the gospel of grace to the Jews first. Paul says in Romans 1:16, when talking about preaching the gospel, that “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” He gave the Jews a chance first to believe. If they did not believe, he then went to the Gentiles.

      This brings up another point, which is that, just as the Jews had three opportunities to accept the Holy Ghost’s giving of the gospel through the apostles in Acts 1-7, they had three opportunities from Paul in Acts 9-28. Three times we are told that they rejected the gospel, and so he went to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46, Acts 18:6, and Acts 28:28). Having rejected the gospel three times, Paul then went exclusively to the Gentiles, which is why the book of Acts immediately ends, as it records the gospel of the kingdom going to the Jews (Acts 1-7) and then the gospel of grace going to the Jews (Acts 9-28). With the Jews having rejected their last opportunity to be saved, the book of Acts ends.

      Now, you mention that the hope of Israel is the kingdom. However, we should let the Bible define what the hope of Israel really is. Jeremiah 17:13 tells us that the hope of Israel was the Lord: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, [and] they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” Therefore, when Paul says in Acts 28:20 that he is bound because of the hope of Israel, he means that he is bound for preaching salvation through the Lord’s sacrifice as atonement for man’s sins.

      When you give scripture where Paul uses the term “the kingdom of God,” we need to be careful to distinguish between the kingdom of God and the gospel of the kingdom. As I mentioned before, the term “the kingdom of God” refers to where God rules, which is both heaven and earth. The gospel of the kingdom refers to the good news about entering God’s earthly kingdom. The way I know this is that the term is only found in Matthew and Mark, before the mystery was revealed, and the gospel of the kingdom has water baptism with it, while Paul distinctly says that his gospel does not involve water baptism: I Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” Therefore, Paul is not referring to preaching the gospel of the kingdom just because he uses the term “the gospel of the kingdom.”

      You mentioned Acts 17:19-23, but the passage you quoted is really from Acts 26:19-23. Paul says that “they should repent and turn to God.” The word “repent” means to change your mind. It does not mean to turn from your sins, because we are incapable of turning away from our sins ourselves. The Holy Spirit has to do that through us. If we had to turn from our sins to be saved, none of us would be saved. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us.” So, Paul is saying that he preached a message of change their mind and turning to God. That means that they would stop trusting in themselves and start trusting in God’s imputed righteousness to give them eternal life. If they did this, they would then the body of sin would be buried with Christ, and they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to “do works meet for repentance,” as Acts 26:20 says. In other words, we are saved to serve Christ. Once the Holy Spirit indwells us, He can work through us those good works that are fitting for those who have changed their minds and turned to God by trusting in God’s imputed righteousness to save them.

      You say that Acts 26:22 is important to our disagreement about the mystery. However, Paul does not say in that verse that he is saying things that only the prophets and Moses said. He says that he says things that only the prophets and Moses “did say should come.” Then, he explains in Acts 26:23 that those things are “that Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Basically, Paul is preaching the gospel that they are saved by which is to trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as atonement for their sins. That is what I Corinthians 15:3-4 says: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” As Paul says there, this was all prophesied in the Old Testament. Israel’s Messiah would die for the sins of Israel. What was not prophesied was that He would die for the sins of the Gentiles as well. Compare these three verses: Isaiah 52:11 says that “my righteous servant shall justify MANY.” Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” However, it was not until Paul came along that we find out that Jesus gave His life a ransom for ALL. I Timothy 2:6 “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Notice the last part of that verse. He gave His life a ransom for all, but it was not to be testified until “due time.” It was not until Jesus revealed to Paul the mystery that Christ died for all was revealed. It is true, as Paul says in Acts 26:23, that the Old Testament did say that the Christ would shew light to the Gentiles. We see that in Isaiah 42:6, but the prophecy was that the Gentiles would be saved through Israel’s being a kingdom of priests to them (Exodus 19:5-6). (Incidentally, this is why John the Baptist started baptizing in water, because Exodus 29:4 says that a priest’s ordination is accomplished by washing them with water.) In time past, the Gentiles sat in darkness (Acts 17:27), but they now have the light. The mystery part is that the Gentiles receive salvation APART from Israel. Note what Isaiah 42:6-7 says, “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” It says that the Messiah is “for a covenant of the people,” meaning Israel. Israel would then be “a light of the Gentiles.” Never were we told in the Old Testament that the Gentiles would receive light apart from the Jews. Instead, the Gentiles would get their light through the Jews: Zechariah 8:23 “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard [that] God [is] with you.” The mystery is that the Gentiles are saved apart from this. That is what Peter learns in Acts 10 with the vision of the sheet of meat. Peter says in Acts 10:34 that “of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” This is a contradiction of Deuteronomy 4:7-8 “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” Under Israel’s prophecy program, God WAS a respecter of people. He made Israel greater than the Gentiles. But, when God starts the mystery program through Paul in Acts 9, now God is no longer a respecter of person. It took three visions of a sheet of meat coming down from heaven for Peter to realize that God had changed the program. So, Paul is saying in Acts 26:22-23 that the Christ was prophesied as having to die, but he does not teach everything found in the Old Testament. It takes three years of instruction by the Lord Jesus Christ to give him the mystery program for him to teach in the dispensation of grace.

      Now, regarding the commandments of God. You say that Paul taught the commands of Christ given in Matthew – John. First, we need to recognize that the entire Bible is Christ’s words. In fact, He is called “The Word” John 1:1 and 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” and Revelation 19:13 “And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” The Lord Jesus Christ, then, IS the Word of God. Therefore, every word in the Bible is His word. Red-letter words in Matthew – John are not any more His words than words found in Leviticus, I Chronicles, or anywhere else in the Bible. Therefore, the commandments of God are every commandment in the Bible. Genesis 6:14 is a commandment of God. It says, “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” Should we follow this commandment? No. Why? Because God did not command us to build an ark. He commanded Noah to build an ark.

      Similarly, we are not to follow the commandments found in Matthew – John, because God commanded Israel to follow those, not us. The commandments of Christ in the gospels are to follow the law. Matthew 23:2-3 “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” That means Christ told them not to eat pork Leviticus 11:7 “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.” He told them to keep the Sabbath holy Exodus 20:8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

      Paul, however, says that we can eat anything we want. I Timothy 4:4 “For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” Paul also says we do not have to keep the sabbath day holy . Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:” Therefore, we have a contradiction in scripture, unless we rightly divide. When we recognize that only Paul’s epistles are written to us today, we know that we can eat what we want and do not have to observe the sabbath. However, if you are trying to follow Jesus’ commands in Matthew – John, you must obey the law of Moses. That is what Jesus said in Matthew 23:2-3.

      There are also other commands He said that I am sure you are not following. In Luke 12:33, Jesus commanded to “Sell that ye have, and give alms;” In Matthew 5:30, He said to cut off your right hand if it keeps you from enduring unto the end of the tribulation period “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

      So, have you gone to temple to observe the sabbath, abstained from unclean meats, not worn clothes with mixed fibers, etc.? Have you sold all that you have? If you have not done these things, then you are not following Jesus’ commands in Matthew – John.

      Another example of the differences between kingdom doctrine and mystery doctrine. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, 28, and 30 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” But, Paul says in I Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” So, which is it? Do we wait for God to clothe us, or do we provide for those in our household. Of course, since Pauline doctrine is for us today, we need to work for a living and provide for our household ourselves, not waiting on God to provide for our clothes.

      Again, this is not rejecting Jesus and accepting Paul. The entire Bible is what Jesus has said, and so commandments given in Paul’s epistles are commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, we need to recognize which commands apply to us today. Just like we do not build an ark today, because God did not command us to do so, so we do not sell what we have and avoid pork because God did not command us to do so today.

      In Galatians 6:2, when Paul says we are to “fulfil the law of Christ,” he is referring to using the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16), which means to use sound, Pauline doctrine in order to restore a brother overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1).

      You mentioned that Romans 12:14-17 repeat Jesus’ commands in Matthew 5:38-48. This just shows that some commands are applied across dispensations, while others are not. Exodus 20:14 says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” We cannot say that, just because it is in the Old Testament, it does not apply today, because we see Paul tell us in Romans 13:9 not to commit adultery. Note that Paul never tells us to keep the sabbath holy, because this is not an inter-dispensational command. For us today, what the Lord Jesus Christ commands through Paul is our set of commands for today.

      With regard to the works that Paul mentions in Romans 2:4-10. Paul uses Romans 1 to show the Gentiles need God’s imputed righteousness, and he uses Romans 2 to show the Jews need God’s imputed righteousness. Paul says in Romans 2:6-7 that God will grant eternal life to those who obey the law perfectly. His conclusion in Romans 3:9-10 is that God has “proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Therefore, all need the righteousness of God, which, in this dispensation, comes by trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection as atonement for your sins. There is no mention of faith in Romans 2:4-10, because Paul is talking about the great white throne judgment, where all men are judged according to their works. The result is, “there is none righteous.” Therefore, believe the gospel to receive God’s righteousness.

      Jesus is talking about something different in Matthew 7:24-27. There, He refers to following God’s law covenant with Israel after already having believed the gospel of the kingdom. If they do this, they will have a house built on the foundation of the gospel of the kingdom. If they do not, their work will be destroyed, because they will be following man and not God’s instructions to them.

      Your statement that “no Israelite has ever been saved by faith plus their own good works” is a contradiction of James 2:24. James specifically says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” The issue with James is justification. He says justification comes by faith plus works. Paul’s issue in Romans 3:28 is also justification. He says that justification comes by faith alone. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Again, you did not explain the difference between the two. You just gave me a man-made explanation that salvation is by faith alone, but that good works always follow true faith. Neither verse says this. James 2:24 says justification is by faith plus works. Romans 3:28 says that justification is by faith alone. There is no getting around this. Again, I ask you to explain how both can be true at the same time. They cannot. We must rightly divide the word of truth and recognize that James is talking about Israel’s prophecy program where salvation is by faith plus works, while Paul is talking about today’s mystery program where salvation is by faith alone. There is eternal security today; there is no eternal security in Israel’s program. That is why we NOW have the atonement, while Israel will not receive the atonement until Jesus’ second coming. Romans 5:11 “And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement.” Compare with Acts 3:19-20 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, WHEN the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:” If God gave Israel the atonement once they had faith, He would be a liar if He took it away when they take the mark of the beast. Revelation 14:9-11 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

      You made the statement that “just a mental assent of faith to the Gospel is not sufficient for salvation.” Again, this is a lack of believing God’s Word. God says salvation is by faith alone today. If we say we must have works accompanying it, we are saying God is lying when He says in Romans 3:28 that “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” That scripture does not say, “we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, but he has to do at least some of the law to show he has true saving faith.” No! The scripture says salvation is by faith alone. If we add works, we say that Christ’s death on the cross is not good enough to save us. Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Notice what that verse says. If we add works to give us righteousness, Christ IS dead in vain, meaning that He is still in the grave.

      What scripture do you have that says that we must have works that demonstrate true, saving faith but yet somehow we are saved by faith alone? I know James 2 is used, but that is NOT what James says. James says JUSTIFICATION is by faith plus works. He does not say justification is by faith alone.

      Anyway, I think I have demonstrated that a lack of rightly dividing the word of truth means having to change God’s holy word to say things it does not say in order to avoid contradictions that appear when trying to apply doctrine from different dispensations and meld them into today’s dispensation of grace.

  15. Eric,
    you said

    “I also believe that God has preserved His Word for us to read today in the English language”

    “I know that the Bible that I read in the English language has no errors in it. If it did, it would not be God’s Holy Word.”

    “What this means is that every word means what it says, and it is not an error that could be translated better. If God can put His thoughts, which are above man, into the language of man, He certainly has the capacity of preserving His Word into the English language without having to re-interpret it.”

    These statements are completly erroneous. God has not preserved his word in the English language nor did he give his word in the English language. I hope that you know that God gave his word through the Hebrew and Greek languages. This is like basic 101 Bible info. What we have in English is a translation from the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Which English translation is the inspired one? Because many of them differ in Grammar in many places. Our English translations are the product of a commitee of translators deciding how to interpret the orginal languages. This is why when I do in depth studies of the text I like to go strait to the original languages to gain a better understanding of what is being said. The Scriptures given in the original languages is what is considered inspired and without error. If you reject this basic truth that any informed Christian understands then I see no need to continue our discussion.

    • I’m sorry to hear you wish to discontinue our discussion. Let me just leave you with a couple of thoughts.

      1. Yes, I understand the original texts are Hebrew and Greek (with a few words sprinkled around in other languages).

      2. Which English translation is the inspired one? The inspired, preserved word of God is the King James Version. Compare the texts, and you will see errors in the other translations.

      3. If you cannot be sure that what you read in English is the word of God, then how can you rely on it? So, why bother studying it at all? Even if it is 99% accurate, there is no way of knowing what 1% is inaccurate. So, how can any of it be trusted? That is why it MUST be 100% accurate in the English language. In addition to, of course, God’s promise to preserve His Word.

      Anyway, thank you for the discussion we have had. I have enjoyed it. I wish you all the best in your endeavours to serve Christ by walking in the Spirit.

      God bless you brother.

    • Also, I did answer the passages you brought up, as you asked me to. I pray you will have an open mind to what I shared and compare my explanations with the scriptures to see if those things are so.

  16. Eric,
    the King James version is not inspired. That is what many cults of today teach and sadly you have bought the lie. I do not rely on the English languages especially the King James version to determine what the Scriptures teach. I read it strait from the Greek Text. By the way the King James version has many grammatical errors contained in it that do not represent the Greek accuratly, but you wouldn’t know that because its all you use for your study and neglect the actual language that God gave His word in.

    • I do not follow cults. I believe God’s Word. I do not believe the King James Version is inspired. Only the original texts were inspired by God. But, God promised to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:6-8). Therefore, after the original manuscriptus were penned, the doctrine of preservation took over, and God has preserved His holy word today in the King James version of the Bible.

      By the way, I notice you are completely ignoring the explanations I gave for the passages you brought up, and my explanations of the mystery that Paul taught. These doctrines are far more important than the debate over versions and manuscripts.

  17. Eric,
    There is no such thing as the doctrine of preservation especially when it concerns the King James version. This last post of yours is a perfect example of why I see no further reason to discuss the Scriptures with you.

    YOU
    “I do not follow cults. I believe God’s Word. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE King James Version is INSPIRED.”

    In your previous post you stated

    “Which English translation is the inspired one? THE INSPIRED, preserved word of God IS THE KING JAMES VERSION. Compare the texts, and you will see errors in the other translations.”

    Do you see your statements? You either have no clue what you are talking about or you are just being deceitful in your responses to me because you have no defense for these false doctrines you have been taught. I am not ignoring your explanations for this supposed Pauline “mystery program” of yours. I just do not like to continue debating with people who lie in their posts. Eric, are you truly seeking truth in our discussion?

    • If you do not believe in the doctrine of preservation, even though God promises in scripture to preserve His word, there is no point in continuing this discussion.

    • There is no point in trying to defend myself. You either believe God’s Word, or you don’t.