Have you ever wondered what Satan or the Devil looks like? What about demons? What are their appearances? Does the Bible say what Satan or the demons look like? Are demons fallen angels? Is so, why did they fall away and did they become demons?
What Satan Does Not Look Like
First of all, the images of Satan or the Devil with horns and a pitchfork are inaccurate according to the Bible. If we use the Bible as our authority, then the Devil looks nothing like we can imagine. His name originally was Lucifer and he was described like a bright morning star. Satan was the greatest of all of God’s creation. The greatest of all the angels and the most powerful being that God has ever created, including any human being ever made. When he was created by God, there was nothing like him in the entire universe and in all of God’s creation.
In Hebrew, the name Satan means “the accuser”. And the Bible describes him as the accuser of the brethren or the saints of God in Revelation 12:10, “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night.” The Devil is sometimes, shockingly, behind a pulpit and spewing forth false gospels as he appears as an angel of light, yet he is the father of lies (2 Cor. 11:14).
Satan; Created in Power and Beauty
In Ezekiel 28:12-18 you will find God describing him: “Thus says the Lord GOD, You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created. Until unrighteousness was found in you.”
So Satan was created a cherub and he originally was “the anointed cherub that covered” the very throne of God. He was perfect and “blameless”. Reading God’s description in Ezekiel, you see all the precious stones that have ever been created are a covering of his: gold, emeralds, jasper, and so on. He was “full of wisdom and beauty” but his pride lifted up his self-worth and he became “unrighteousness” before God.
Satan’s Power and Rank
Satan was of the highest rank of all angels created; greater in power and rank than Michael and Gabriel. But Satan’s pride caused his downfall and he managed to convince about 1/3 of the angels to rebel with him and these rebellious angels became demons. This is explained in Revelation where “…another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth” (Rev. 12:3-4). They too are powerful but not as powerful as Satan or as Michael or Gabriel. Satan also convinced Eve to take from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Regardless of what you have read or heard, it was not an apple nor was it even mentioned that it was fruit. We really don’t know what it was on that tree but the fact is Eve and her husband Adam disobeyed God and were cast out of the Garden of Eden, just like Satan was cast out of heaven.
What Satan and Demons Look Like
So Satan is a cherub angel. What do cherubs look like? If you could actually see an angel, they would frighten you. They are not the chubby little angelic and winged baby-looking creatures you see pictured so often. In fact, not all angels have wings. But a cherub, in particular Satan, is enormous in size, power, and strength. Every cubit is 1.5 feet (18 inches) and so I have formulated the cubits per feet in measuring just how big these demons and Satan are. Satan himself and all other cherubs stand 18 feet tall! However Satan is the most powerful of all beings that God ever created in the universe. Satan and likely, a number of his demon, have wing spans of 8 feet long and under each of their four wings there were what looked like the hands of a man (Ezek. 10:8). They had not only four wings but they had four faces too (Ezek. 10:21)! Imagine how frightened Ezekiel was when he was recording this in Ezekiel chapter ten.
Satan and likely most of the demons entire body, including their back, their hands, and their wings were completely full of eyes, including the four wheels they had (Ezek.10:12). Their four faces where faces of a cherub, a man, an eagle, and a lion (Ezek. 10:14). Similar creatures or angels that may have become fallen were likely those that were over the Most Holy. These had six wings and one looked like an ox, another like a lion, one like a man, and another like that of an eagle (Rev. 4:6-8). Satan and these fallen angels are spirit beings and so, thankfully, they can not be seen because they would be terrifying to anyone. Even so, Satan and his demons are subject to God’s sovereignty and can do nothing over and against the will of God and are not allowed to take human lives (Job chapter one and two).
Satan Deceives and Blinds the Whole World
Satan has deceived the whole world and much of the world doesn‘t even know he exists (Rev. 12:9). In fact he has blinded the eyes of those who are lost so that they can not see the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). If you don’t know Christ as Savoir and Lord, as far as God is concerned, you are blind too. Here’s how you can have the scales removed. Mark 10:46-52 tells us how:
“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
I too was once blind and a poor beggar and could not see the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, but God gave me the free gift of faith and now I can see. And like the blind man who could now see and received my sight, I “…followed Jesus along the road.” Will you follow Him too? I pray you will.
Was this Article Helpful?
If this article was helpful to you, please consider linking this article to your own blog or sharing this through the social buttons to the left. You might also find some of these other good Christian Answer articles helpful:
What Are the Signs of the Second Coming of Jesus?
What Do Christians Believe About Dinosaurs?
Source,
The Holy Bible, New International Version
Tagged as: Bible Answers, Christian Answers
Welcome to What Christians Want To Know! The mission of this site is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians. Look for regular updates including Bible Verses, Bible Stories, Christian Quotes, Christian Answers, and much more. Find out 
{ 278 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Thank you for your answers! This was very informative. I did a little research on the study of demonology, and I have concluded that a lot of the names of demons came from exorcisms conducted hundreds of years ago. Obviously, during exorcisms, priests would communicate with demons that had possessed people, and would not only ask their names, but also ask them to reveal the names of others, and give information about the power structure under Satan. This is where the idea of ‘legions’ comes from. Very scary stuff.
One last question, if I can.
The devil’s machinations seem out of place looking at his history. Lucifer believed he was greater than God, correct? He believed he could create a better Heaven, and would be a superior god of all creation. I assume though, he didn’t love sin during this time however, as this would be ungodlike. He (being an angel) knew good and evil, but he wanted good over evil, because he wanted to be like God. What I mean by this, is that Lucifer was not a supporter of idolatry, sexual deprivation, murder, etc, since he was an angel. After his fall however, he was no longer an angel, having committed the sin of pride. Now he is the patron of ALL evil, pride and all. What is his aim in this? To lead man away from Jesus Christ? What benefits does he reap from this? He knows he will be sent to Hell on Judgement Day, so is his mission just vengeance against God by leading His people away from Him? What motivates Satan, and is all sin now the right path for him, or is it simply a tool to lure human beings into the evil of their own desire?
Thank you Mr. Larom. Again, my apologies for responding so late. These are hard questions for me sir. What motivates Satan for example is hard to know since we can’t see inside someone’s heart to see motivations. Yes, Satan was sinless at one point…until he tried to overthrow the throne of God. He didn’t want to submit to God’s authority (another sin). True, at first he didn’t support idolatry, but later he was making himself an idol (thus, becoming idolatry). There was no sex in heaven so sexual deprivation was not an issue nor murder, but later inspired Cain to murder Able and has since been called the Father of lies (since he lied to Eve “you will not surely die if you eat of the fruit of the tree of good and evil.” Wrong. Eve did die in time.
After his fall…he was still an angel, but just a fallen angel. He didn’t change his exterior but his interior (heart became darkened). He is by all means the patron of all evil, pride and sin, yes. To lead men away from Christ, yes, as it says he has blinded their eyes to be able to see Christ (2 Cor 4:4). The only benefit he gets now or enjoyment is to bring as many to hell with him and yes he does know his final fate. He knows the Bible better than theologians do. Yes, this is vengance or revenge against God to get as many condemned as possible. He can’t bring any Christians and so he does the rest of those. He is not a tool that God uses but his own evil desire is to lure as many to hell as possible.
I don’t believe Satan knew he was greater than God but pride inflates a being’s worth and he wanted to be in place of the most high. Pride clouded his judgment too I believe.
I actually believe at the core of it all is that Satan actually thinks he can win against God, no matter what was preordained, or if he can’t win, he will take as many as possible with him. Pure evil corrupts, even to the point where rationalization is no longer even possible.
Truly stated sir. I believe power corrupts and this corruption infiltrates and penetrates the mind. I believe he knows that he can not win but has deceived even himself by the overwhelming affects of evil. Yes, rationalization is no longer possible. I believe you are spot on my friend.
Thank you very much. I was able to find information, thought I am confused.
After reading this, I directed myself to the bible to confirm what you have said. When I starting reading Ezekiel, when you explained the cherubim, I found out it is not in fact Satan who looks like that, but when Ezekiel has seen angels surrounding God in the glimpse of the vision of Heaven from the temple. Are you saying that is how Satan looked like or still currently looks like, because he cannot look like that since when he was in Heaven, he was the most beautiful now he is not so much.
Finally, what I am saying is cherubs were angels when Ezekiel saw them and not Satan. I might be wrong, but can you explain it to me?
Thank you Follower for your comment and question. I have not seen Satan and so I don’t know what he looks like today. I can not say what he did look like but the Bible describes what his appearance is like in Scripture. Cherubs were and still are angels but many are now fallen angels. Whether they changed in appearance or not, I don’t know because the Bible doesn’t say and so I can not say.
Hi Pastor Jack. Once again, a very nice and interesting topic indeed.
From what I have read, I would say; satan doesn’t look like he was any more.
If we can carefully read the chapter in Ezekiel, God is describing him as he WAS.
God is sayin how he used to look, the power he had, what he used to own when heoperate in God’s will.
Which clearly tells us that those things he used to enjoy, are no longer to him.
So, according to how God is talking there in Ezekiel, satan lost lost all of the things he used to own while in heaven.
According to Job 1 and 2, what I can say is that satan still had power at that time to talk to God and visit heaven. Beccause there, the Bible tells us the the sons of God came to present themselves before God, and he too came in the presence of God.
What actually gave him that power was the Adamic power that he still had.
But now, he doesn’t have that power at all,which means after falling, this spirit being lost his control,power and beauty. Jesus Christ took those powers and gave us back, thats why when Jesus was about to go to Heaven, He told and tells us that we have power over serpents, demons and satan himself. Mark 16v15-18.
Thats how in short I have seen it Pastor.
Correct me please if I haven’t seen it in the right way. Thank you sir.
I was wrong and you are right. Nice points. This isn’t the first time I have been wrong and won’t be the last. Thank you Gracious. I believe this article is going to be deleted. I just have too many mistakes in it I can see. Thank you for correcting me and my error being exposed.
Curious to know’, where in Scripture does it describe the height of Cherub Angels, particularly Satan and Demons? If all of 1/3 of Angels that were cast out from their first estate happen to be Cheribum?
Pardon for the misspelling of “Cherubim”…
The Bible does not say that all of the 1/3rd cast out of their first estate were all Cherubim. I wouldn’t think they would all be. As for the height of the Cherub angels, I took them from the Jewish Temple specifications to the scale of what the rest of the Temple is. Even so, if only a tiny Cherub was what they were, size doesn’t make them weak. They are exceedingly strong. Since Lucifer was of the highest rank, we can assume that those other Cherubs over the Mercy Seat of the Ark, were also large and most definitely powerful.
Curious to know’, where in Scripture does it describe the height of Cherub Angels, particularly Satan and Demons? If all of 1/3 of Angels that were cast out from their first estate happen to be Cherubim?
Thank you for responding Mr. Wellman. I am we’ll aware the Bible does not specify that all of the 1/3 of Angels who were cast out of their first estate were Cherubim or any but Lucifer for that matter. My question centered around the height of Cherub Angels and where in Scripture does it describe that. I am not aware of such Scripture in Gods Word, nor where it describes the wingspan of a Cherub, although I am we’ll aware of Ezekiel’s description of what he saw. So you took the height of Cherubim from Jewish temple specifications…interesting, I am not certain of the basis? Is this concept in extra-Biblical writings?
THank you Allen. You are right sir. I regret even writing this article for I have caught much grief over it and I am simply going to delete it. Yes, the measurements that are estimates of the size of Satan are too great a point of contention and unless it is exactly recorded in the Bible, it should be trashed and so I will do so. You are right. I am wrong. I should have never written this.
Mr.Wellman,
I have seen you say many times in here that you are going to delete this article…and I am glad to see so far that you have not. The fact that you feel there are errors on your part is all the more reason to keep it here, it is by this that we can learn and others can see that we can arrive at truth through reasoning as Paul did in the synagogues when first preaching Christianity. When I am teaching, if I make a mistake I make sure to let everyone know that there is NO WAY I could be right 100% of the time, we can only do the best we can with pure hearts and motives. I think you have expressed many good points in this as well as so many responders who have as well…to wish you never write the article would mean that you never had the opportunity to see mistakes, it has been of benefit to all, and I thank you for writing it. As ministers, we must take chances and God guides us in every way, which includes stumbling so we all can learn.
Great point Mr. Schwenk. Sometimes, being human, I weary of being attacked or accused of writing in error. But I truly believe that I must rely on God and the Word of God (the Bible). Thanks for your encouragement. I tell my congregation, “Today, part of my sermon will be perfect! The part where I read out of the Bible.” LOL
Hello Mr. Wellman,
Thank you for clarifying. I want to point out that it certainly was not my intention to cause you grief concerning this topic, personally I appreciate Christians such as yourself who are willing to touch basis on these specific topics and your open mindedness and humbleness to receive constructive feedback. I believe this topic you write about was meant to be, it certainly strikes interest in those who find this topic worth while.
Thank you, keep up the good work!
Thank you sir. Please, you may call me Jack. At the very least, if this article does survive, it will be edited to extract any measurements of the Enemy for indeed, size has nothing to do with power in the angelic realm. Thank your my friend for your patience with me. I do not want to rely on anything that is outside of the Bible, as you rightly pointed out. I thank you for that. I am prone to mistakes and error. The Bible? Never!
Pastor Jack, I think that will be a very good idea if you only think of editing the article, rather than deleting the whole thing. Its well arranged, but you only need to add more information and take out the mistakes you may have noted. And in some places it only needs to change sentences from past to present, as far as the scriptures are concerned. In some parts, you also just need to realize, which I know that you already know what the death of Jesus Christ meant and even today means.
Much as it is a reality that demons have tpower according to their categories and source, but we also need to know that the very source those demons rely on, was made a public spectacle. Which means together with the demons. When we read Ephesians chapter 4,,the Bible tells us that Jesus took captivity cative. If we consider all these facts and many more other chapters, we will find that satan only takes advantage of a Christian’s weakness to be victorious, but he is not more powerful that me, a Christian. 1 john 4v4 annd also v17. So, if, while editing, you may consider these facts, and put them according to the Holy spirit’s direction and info, it will help me and all lovers of your articles man of God. Thank you sir.
Could you explain the apparently successful and long-standing partnership between god and satan?
Clearly the proper maintenance and operation of hell is a critical part of god’s plan. He needs a reliable partner who will run it the way god wants it run. Yet satan is supposed to hate god and try with all his might to interfere with god’s plan – yet he runs hell like a first rate administrator devoted to the successful operation of god’s plan.
So it looks like they are working together. If they were not satan could really screw things up by letting people out or not really punishing them properly.
Can you clear this up for us?
Thank you Raoul my friend for your question. The fact’s are, from what I find in the Bible, that Satan is not in charge of hell. Satan does indeed hate God but even the Devil is God’s Devil and Satan has not yet been cast into hell yet (Rev 20, 21) and so he is not in charge of hell. I see no Scriptural evidence that he is in charge of it or that Satan is working in cooperation with God. Satan can not let people in or send them to hell or let them escape for once a person is there, they are there for eternity. There is a misconception that Satan is running hell or is in charge there but nothing in the Bible indicates this at all. Thank you sir for your question.
Wow – that is sure a surprise. So is it a myth/error when I hear people associating satan with hell? If so – it sure seems to be an error that a lot of christians are making. I guess you learn something every day.
thanks
what kind of things have you heard Raoul that people have associated satan and hell besides the fact that Satan and his followers will one day be cast there?
Thank you Raoul. You know that the Bible is infinite in measure and the depths of it are beyond human comprehension in that a person could live a thousand years and still not know all that there is in it. I am like you…still learning. Thanks friend.
There is a scripture that says satan masquerades as an angel of light.2 corinthians 11:14
Thank you “A Murphy.” You are exactly right. In fact, near the very begging of this article I quoted that Scripture, if you missed, it, “The Devil is sometimes, shockingly, behind a pulpit and spewing forth false gospels as he appears as an angel of light, yet he is the father of lies (2 Cor. 11:14).”
Thanks for your comment my friend.
While I was reading your explanation on satans power and rank you said “Regardless of what you have read or heard, it was not an apple nor was it even mentioned that it was fruit.”
Now I have a New International Version bible and Genesis chapter 3 says… Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘Your must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat FRUIT from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.” Now clearly the bible is referring to a fruit, my question for you is what bible are you reading? Because I’m no detective but it seems clear that the tree of knowledge contained some sort of fruit….
Thank Matt for your critique of this article. I can see that I must clarify that God never said that the the tree that they were not supposed to eat from should not be eaten. The Bible says that “EVE” said it was fruit but God never said so as Gen 215-17 records, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
So the Bible never states that it was fruit with the exception of Eve calling it that but God never indicated that it was fruit. A stricter reading of the Hebrew is “produce.” I am sorry you didn’t like this article. It may soon be deleted because it has faced much criticism and many people do not like it and find something to disagree with it or criticize it, like yourself. Thank you for your critique/comment sir.
An interesting sidelight is in the book of Enoch where the tree is actually described as having grape-like fruit….of course Enoch is not scripture and we cannot teach it as fact, but it is an interesting speculation.
Sir,
i m realy astonished to see hw close resembelence is there in christinity and Islam…
The sumary shows same as wat is mentioned in Islam i.e, Quraan…but with more eloboratively…Quraan says Iblees (lucifer) was never an angel but a Jin (ghost) created 4m fire as humans 4m soil…actualy prior to humans this land was resided by ghosts…and Iblees bieng one of them and highly obidient slave of God..but with the misconduct and inobidience to thier Lord they were punished xcept those who were pious..and Iblees bieng one of them…Iblees had not left even a needles space without bowing his head and praying…he was given 18 branches of knowledge and promoted to the rank of teacher to teach angels ; bieng created 4m the light of God never commit any Sin…but when God created adam,He ordered everyone to bow and salute Adam,everyone at once did xcept Iblees..later was throne out of heaven and cursed by Almighty..rest is same…he is powerful coz he was among the best slaves of God and wielded a great power..
Thank you yes it was
and thanks for doing the math for me lol 
I came across this website and must say that I am HIGHLY pleased with much of the analysis to things like tongues and such. This is an interesting topic as well, and I wanted to share my belief and position on something from it however, and perhaps you can comment on this. First of all I hear so many people calling Satan “Lucifer” as his original name. But in actuality, I do not believe there is any biblical evidence that that was his name. The original Hebrew tongue uses ‘heh’lel’ which is translated to ‘shining one’ and since we must go to original language to understand true meaning, there was never the name “Lucifer” used in the original scripture. Also, the only place this occurs is in Isaiah Chapter 14, and I believe it is another situation of someone taking something out of context and applying it to what they believe. In fact this entire passage in Isaiah has nothing to do with Satan but is actually written as such, “And you lift up this the proverb on the King of Babylon”…The entire “Lucifer” quotation is actually a cry against the King of Babylon in scripture and has nothing to do with Satan. Just how I interpret this, and I am interested to see your response. Again thank you for wonderful reading.
Thank you Mr. Schwenk for your comment. You may be referring to “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Here, the prophet identifies the king of Babylon as Lucifer, son of the morning. Some debate if Lucifer is a name or a title; the word means morning star or day star, referring to a brightly shining object in the heavens. Whether it is a title or a name makes little difference; this once brightly shining king of Babylon is now fallen from heaven.
The prophetic habit of speaking to both a near and a distant fulfillment, the prophet will sometimes speak more to the near or more to the distant. Here is a good example of Isaiah speaking more to the distant, ultimate fulfillment. It is true that the king of literal Babylon shined brightly among the men of his day, and fell as hard and as completely as if a man were to fall from heaven. But there was a far more brightly shining being who inhabited heaven, and fell even more dramatically – the king of spiritual Babylon, Satan. Could this be the Devil? I believe it is more important to know that there IS a Devil than to know precisely that this is speaking of him.
Thank you again for responding Mr. Wellman, and you are so correct, it IS important to know that there is a Devil. No question. To me sometimes however it is also important to make sure that God’s word is being handled correctly as well. I like your stance saying that some debate if Lucifer is a name or a title, but again, it is not a name OR a title in the original Hebrew, simply the wording means ‘shining one’. We also know that the Isaiah passage cannot be describing Satan being cast out of Heaven, because that would have been an event taken place before creation, and we know from Job that Satan still presents himself before God in Heaven after creation, it is the heavenly angelic status that was ripped from Satan in the fall, I don’t believe he was ‘cast out’ of Heaven, I believe that is an event described in Revelation that still has yet to take place. Thank you again so much for your comments!
Sir, I am a Lady who’s life has fallen I am confussed My husband has cheated with several women and talks to me like I am nothing his children Mother Died this past Febuary and the 11 year old boy can to live with us. My husband has not change nothing about his life to be a father to this boy he leaves me and my daughter to do everything for this boy and he will get mad if we dont. This child has no Guidness at all the Daugter is 21 she drink and gets high and talks to everyone she come in contact with that has tried to help her like a dog. Her attuide is so bad, Sometimes I find myself pulling to the side of the road when i get off from work not wantibng to go home becouse it is like walking in to hell, Not that I know what hell feels like. these children act just like there Father so cold hearted, dont know how to talk to you. always want you to do something for them, My husband will walk in the house and will not even speak to me for no reason if I ask him where he is going he gets mad and curses me out, I asked him how can you want somebody to do something for you and you are so nasty to them, he said back to me ask yourself that. I said to him I have been nothing but good to you and your children I try my best to not bother you becouse you are so nasty to me. You lay in the bed and talk in your sleep about the women you have been with. when I confronted you about her you protected her and cursed me out again when I asked you to stop seeing her you kelpt right on, I want to give my life back to God and Move on I am so tired of livivng like this. any words for me,
Angel, I am so sorry my friend for your heartache. Truly this unrepentant adulterer does not deserve you. You have biblical grounds for a divorce and so you must tell him. As for the 21 year old girl, is she still living at home? I believe that God will tell you to enter into the joy of the presence of the Lord but as for this 21 year old daughter and your husband, they will face the wrath of God on judgment day and so we need to pray for them to be convicted of their sin, to repent, confess their sins, and put their trust in Christ. I would tell him you have grounds for a divorce. As for your daughter, and I would show here what is called “tough love” and turn your daughter in for doing drugs. Don’t you want her sober? Sometimes having someone busted for drugs leads to their overcoming them.
Trust God, pray for them both, tell your husband you have grounds for divorce and your daughter that if she doesn’t quit getting high, you’ll turn her it.
I would also talk to your pastor too. See what he says. Don’t put this off.
good day, i would like to know why GOD allowed him Lucifer to change if he was the best angel.also where did he go to if GOD chased him out of heaven, so is he the one that’s on earth now and want to destroy people.if i can remember the people before us was destroyed with water and this time with fire, where was he (Lucifer ) when that happen. what if Lucifer decide to give he’s hart to JESUS ? CAN HE ? What is just so difficult foe me to accept is, Why must there be disabled people , thy suffer and have ,most of them such unhappy sad life’s. and the bible say you must enjoy your life, but in the right way, how can thy.
Hello Amanda and thank you for your questions. Let me break them down one by one since there are so many.
You asked, “why GOD allowed him Lucifer to change if he was the best angel.also where did he go to if GOD chased him out of heaven”
God allowed him to change because God gives all His created being free will. God will not force anyone to obey for that is not really obedience but being a dictator. He was cast down to the earth and thrown out of heaven for his disobedience.
Then you asked, “so is he the one that’s on earth now and want to destroy people.”
Yes, he is on earth now and he hates people and wants to destroy them all but can not for God will not allow that.
You asked, “the people before us was destroyed with water and this time with fire, where was he (Lucifer ) when that happen.”
Lucifer is a spirit being, a fallen angel, and spirit can not be killed and so the waters could not drown him.
Next, you asked “what if Lucifer decide to give he’s hart to JESUS ? CAN HE ?”
The Devil will not repent because God has foresaw the future and his fate is sealed because God, knowing the future, see that the Devil won’t repent and will be cast into the lake of fire (REv 20 or 21).
You asked, “What is just so difficult foe me to accept is, Why must there be disabled people , thy suffer and have ,most of them such unhappy sad life’s. and the bible say you must enjoy your life, but in the right way, how can thy”
The Bible NEVER promises us happiness in this life. We can not question God and expect answers. Somethings we just won’t know on this side of heaven. Life is hard, it is a fallen world. The Bible never says anywhere that “you must enjoy your life.”
I believe we should also call attention to the scripture in John 9:2 which reads “And the disciples asked of Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or the parents of him that he should be born blind?” And of course Jesus’ answer, “Neither this man sinned, nor the parents of him, but that the works of God shall appear in him.” It is clear that these people who are born disabled are empowered by God to show His true glory if they so accept to do so. It is all in how they decide to pursue their lives as disabled, either in self pity or to show the power of God to overcome. Again, great article!
As Satan, demons, and angels are spirits, isn’t it a tad misleading to say that they look like anything at all? As spirits, they have no corporeal form at all, because they are not bound to space. They might reveal themselves as men (whenever they are encountered in the Bible), and they are there in a very real sense to those person visited, but in another sense they are everywhere. Please correct me if I’m wrong; I haven’t delved very deep into metaphysics or demonology. Thank you very much.
Hello Follower. Great point my friend but since God is Spirit and His Word descibes them as I wrote, that is what I am relying on because God does see Spirit and so I had to rely on what the Word of God, the Bible says…but yes, if I had to describe them by my human eyes…well, its pretty much invisible. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
This information on the devil has truly been of great assistance to me .God bless you
Your website has been a blessing to me. God will continued to bless you and your ministry IJN. AMEN.
I found this interesting …and here is something that I have not found too often ….check it out.
1Jo 2:18 Little children 3813, it is 2076 the last 2078 time 5610: and 2532 as 2531 ye have heard 191 that 3754 antichrist 500 shall come 2064, even 2532 now 3568 are there 1096 many 4183 antichrists 500; whereby 3606 we know 1097 that 3754 it is 2076 the last 2078 time 5610.
ANTICHRIST
Strong’s G500 – antichristos
Root Word (Etymology)
From ἀντί (G473) and Χριστός (G5547)
Strong’s G473 – anti
1) over against, opposite to, before
2) for, instead of, in place of (something)
….a) instead of
….b) for
….c) for that, because
….d) wherefore, for this cause
From this ROOT “anti’ can also function as ‘INSTEAD OF ” or “IN PLACE OF ”
This usage suggests that whom ever or WHAT ever …aka doctrines and various practices that are INSTEAD of Christ in one’s thinking , or heart.
With a society where there is a dominant spiritual tendency which is not only against Christ but what of those which take the name of Christ and are false and are INSTEAD of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Many may fail to recognize the deceit because …
Hsa 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Ignorance of God’s Word leads people away to follow deceitful doctrines ‘which can hold no water’ [truth]
2 Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
WHAT “TEMPLE”?
1Cr 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
What could be ‘anti’ or instead of Christ …in the temple?
Doctrine that is OF the truth which is the WORD of GOD …as 2 Tim 3:16 speaks of “All scripture given by inspiration of God and is profitable for DOCTRINE….” among reproof and correction which is instruction in rigtheousness.
This Word is the spirit of GOD which is to be IN those who obey to study and put it on …to abide in …them.
Then 2 Thess goes on to speak of a “mystery ” …a system that teaches or leads to receiving what is ‘iniquity’ which is defined as ‘lawlessness’ ….many and various doctrinal systems that lead people away from the ‘law’ which all of God’s word IS.
Thus one of the operations of this ‘mystery of iniquity’ is this effect of something being IN the temple which motivates those who take it in to think casually about God’s Word.
The Word is set aside and something takes up it’s place in the ‘temple’
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The great thing is that it is the WORD which is the ‘sword’ that ‘comes out of the mouth of God ‘ aka ‘God Breathed’ as 2 Tim 2:16 reminds us….that destroys the false idol that desires to set itself up in the heart of those who know not the Lord /Word which we have been told to ‘put on’
2 Thes 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Nothing like the ‘brighteness ‘ of the truth of the Word to dispell the darkness in those who will ‘hear’ and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save ‘ .
2 Thes 2: 29 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The condition of those who did not RECEIVE the truth …ends up being this….
2 Thes 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The ‘Strong Delusion’ is the consequence of not …
Jam 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
2 Thess 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
16 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.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The ‘seal’ of the Lord seems to be what is IN the mind …His Word which is spirit and life.
It is the ‘software’ of the Lord ….in the mind then ‘counsels’ those who are submitted to Him. What they think and what they do . In the ‘forehead’ and the ‘hand’
The thoughts and actions ‘mark’ those whose we are….
The flesh …aka “beast’ or ….of God .
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] ENMITY against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
I do not believe Paul ‘fought with” animals …at “EPHESUS”..the context is those who opposed Christ ‘at Ephesus”…religious who wanted to maintain their control over the people ..by doctrine…religions of traditions of men.Truth of Christ was the most feared because those who were politically in place to control the people were the priesthood.
Remember they feared to Christ because those in Rome would come and ‘take way our place and our nation’ ….they were ‘in charge’ of keeping the peace among the people for the conquerors who were the Romans. Paul had to deal with the religious leaders who exerted control by way of their political function
1Cr 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
Roman provinces (Lat. proviniciae) were administrative and territorial units of the Roman Empire. Governors of provinces were often former consuls. Former praetors could also serve as governor. In some places (like Judaea) prefects were appointed governor. The provinces provided a source of income for the governor and resources for Rome.
Provinces changed over time. During the Dominate, the latter period of the Roman Empire, the provinces were split into smaller units. The following are the provinces at the time of Actium (31 B.C.) with the dates (B.C.) (from Pennell) they were established (not the same as the date of acquisition
Another reference of men as ‘beasts’
Tts 1:12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil BEASTS, slow bellies.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute BEASTS, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute BEASTS, in those things they corrupt themselves.
There is also the aspect of just as the Body of Christ is made up of many believers…the ‘body’ of the antichrist may also be made up of MANY who are on the broad road to destruction following a false gospel
Just some thoughts for further study . The function of the priesthood who functioned also as political prefects suggests that antichrist as a body would actually both religious and political in unity …such as the Ecumenical and the New World Order functioning pretty much in sync….thus the blurring of the lines of distinction in all godly paradigms ….we see all God designs for man and mankind being attacked and being ‘re-branded ” or redefined. Sovereignty, gender, marriage, roles of all kinds being fragmented and slipping into a ‘New Age’ of ‘oneness’ under a world wide power system.
Once again I am trilled by your mastery of the Word of God in this eye opener title as stated in this article.
Pastor Wellman, I pray you will find the time to come down to my country Nigeria and preach the gospel to our Christian leaders. There is need for people to hear the true WILL of God concerning their lives. I am tired of being told “Receive your blessings….Receive your breakthrough…. Receive this…. Receive that…Receive…Receive” Every Church owner or ‘General Overseer’ sees himself as a demi god that members must look up to before they can be blessed under his congregation!
If you are not following the crowd, then you will be left behind because you are not flowing in wealth. Some ‘General Overseers’ or GOs as they are fondly called; are now Private Jet owners and some even defends their need for such luxury saying, “they need the Private Jet for the purpose of ‘speeding up their travel trips’ to preach the gospel so that they do not have to que up at the local or international airport due to their high status as a highly respected Man of God”
I am not against any vessel of God Almighty who is richly blessed, but I am not in support of flagrant misuse of God’s wealth that is in such people’s possession. Kindly correct me if I am wrong for many says Jesus used the very best donkey to enter Jerusalem on palm Sunday, therefore, they too have to use the very best ‘donkey’ of today (pleasure rides/Jets) for the gospel.
Also Correct me if I’m wrong, I believe the church supposedly still remains the body of man that is, your body and my body. But more emphasis is placed on building unbelievable architectural masterpiece as house of worship and not mostly about building the Christian follower (Born Again) as the temple of God or as the house of Christ.
I was studying with my Wife and 2 children on Monday morning and we dwell on Hebrew 3:6; “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end”
I believe the message of Christ clearly stated that we are the HOUSE of Christ. We ought to build up our inner self for no man sees his house on fire and continues playing poker or blackjack!
The devil has embolden the church to freely practice prosperity in terms of numbers of worshippers or the largeness of the church auditorium instead of the ‘Born Again’ house of Christ – YOU! (all of us in the body of Christ).
Pastor Wellman, your thoughts will be highly appreciated on this matter Sir. Thank you so much for being ‘a pencil in the hands of God’ I pray your ink will never dry in Jesus Holy name!
Wow Mr. Molokwu. I am overwhelmed at your generosity of words. Truly only God deserves all glory and credit for what have I written or what have I learned except it was given to me by God and His Word, therefore I am only a vessel but He is responsible.
I wish I could come to your country to expose these false prophets because even Satan can appear as an angel of light and Satan has his own ministers and these are those you described. Ultimately, these men who are thieves will stand before God and give an account and receive their just punishment.
Please consider passing out these articles and telling others about “How to Identify a False Prophet or Teacher: at: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-to-identify-a-false-prophet-or-teacher/
and this one on “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: 5 Tips to Identify One” at:
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing-5-tips-to-identify-one/
Beautifully put …Thank you! I am encouraged when I see someone ‘get’ this issue…after all JESUS said…
1Cr 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Cr 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
This church was not a building but the spiritual ‘tabernacle’ built BY the Lord and was built UPON the foundation of apostles and prophets …with Jesus Christ as the ‘rock’ upon which the church is built WITHIN those who are following and obeying HIM.
Peter was “petros’ and from context and observation he was NOT a ‘rock ‘ but more like sand …going this way and that way …sincere but not equipped as JESUS IS THE ROCK….”PETRA ” …solid, and sure. This statement has been taken out of context by those who desired to ‘lead’ but in reality “rule’ in the place of …the LORD in the lives of those who were unlearned and not instructed.
You can check blueletterbible.org to do more research on words used …keeping in mind that all search engines MAY contain a doctrinal perspective …reading the word is still capable in terms of context for us to learn the meaning of words .
The ‘building materials’ for the believer is THE WORD …taken in , digested and internalized that we are thus EQUIPPED with the truth and thus may escape deceit and those who seek to ‘gain ‘ by use of people as ‘mammon ”
We belong to Him who bought us with His blood….anyone intruding to control is going to have to account for whatever they have put forth …even sincere as they might believe they are ….so the humanists are also altruistic and believe they do well.
2Cr 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.
Being drawn to the Lord we are thus also drawn together …here on earth HE also brings us together ..’fellowship ‘ is in a sense of full sharing among those who are being taught and lead by HIM as they go to the word and then share among themselves even as the early followers.
The buildings with mortgages and various worldly attribute are more or less have less to do with the Lord than those who are hoping to draw people in …but the problem I see is that the appeal to the flesh is going to draw those who may not be seeking to learn the way Jesus said those who follow Him would have to go.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
These who function as many today do for ‘hire’ are going to answer for this >>>I think pray for them to repent since being deceived they deceive…how terrifying to find themselves facing accountability for so many they effect!
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The Lord was using a child to illustrate the kind of meekness that a BELIEVER would need to receive the truth of the WORD …this is not talking about children …but BELIEVERS …who the Lord also called ‘my little children’ …People who abuse the trust of those who they teach are in BIG difficulty when it comes to accountability ! We need to pray for their souls! as well as the souls of those who sit under them …because eventually we are all to give an account for what we did with the command to ‘study to show yourself approved unto GOD …a WORKMAN ….who needs not to be ashamed …rightly dividing the word of truth’
I want to say it has taken a lot of TIME and INVESTING in doing what the Lord said in study and then trusting that HE would bring about what I needed to learn to find out what was truth or error from all that people who sat in ‘authority ‘ said …some true ..some error.
Not all are intentionally turning people from the truth but the ‘machine’ of the way many church systems work brings about pressure to bare upon those who may learn what they do or teach is not OF the WORD . Then they must make a decision.
Being a ‘man pleaser’ is one of the things we have to overcome as we follow Christ and our way gets ‘narrowed ‘ and we find ourselves being ‘pruned’ from those things of little or no use to make us ‘vessels of honor ,…meet for the Master’s use’
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
SOME DO realize they are working for the destruction …aka TARES ….but the Lord is the Good Shepherd who will engage those who are ‘looking unto HIM” by way of attending to his Word .
Matt 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
In the mean time …it is good to keep this in mind ..especially in those places where there is emphasis upon great flourish that distracts from the importance of study of the word by each believer to give a ‘show’ that tickles the senses at the loss of the presentation of the truth.
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Psa 138:8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psa 49:11 Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names.
Psalm 49:1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Gosh this word is SO GOOD! …I can’t eat just one potato chip EITHER!! >>>>MMMMmmmmGOOD!
@Kris: So many words – as if the sheer volume of sounds and syllables assures you that you are sharing true wisdom. My heart goes out to you because, though you do not know it yet, each word you write takes you (and us reading along) one more giant step further away from that which you so passionately want to possess and then share. I am praying for you however. And when the day comes when you can convey powerful spiritual insights with just a handful of those words…..then, and only then, will you truly have arrived at the place where you actually have something meaningful to say. But keep up the study for the road is long and few arrive at the destination you seek – and then seek to share.
Good luck!
Thank you for your comment. I wonder, do you know how MANY words are used by the Lord in the inspiration which brought us our Bible?
Upon further reflection of your words I wonder if you could elucidate upon what you found in error or offensive in my post. In this way you will be of help to me to learn what the issue is that you have with my lack. I then can begin to seek out the correction that you observe I have need of . This would be most welcome and helpful.Thank you for concern for my soul.
I never said anything about your words being in error or offensive in any way. I admire your energy and the (figurative) weight of your work product is staggering.
You remind me of myself long ago – before I had a clearer understanding of what is important, essential actually, and what is just long lines of words and scriptural citations.
You initially wondered if I understood how many words were used in the original messages/teaching. My answer is “yes” I do and the answer is very few. The essence from the source was his restatement of the golden rule and how and why that was more important yet getting lost in the tidal wave of words and rules and restrictions and the like that was the state of the Jewish religious tradition that he lived and sought to clarify. He said a great deal with few words.
Perhaps you refer to all those who came after him who unleashed a torrent of words to try to make sense of the simple man living a simple life setting a powerful example for others to learn from and emulate. One could argue that we are still spewing words of interpretation resulting from waaaay too much talk and thought about what he must have meant and intended.
My advice to you is to keep up the energy and the good intention but model the teacher himself and see if you can distill all those words into simpler, more powerful comments and observations.
Good luck!
I would like to address some of what has come to mind in the content of what you have written here since it seems that an answer is due some of your statements of what are your beliefs as you have offered to counsel me on my efforts in seeking the Truth as I endeavor to follow Jesus Christ.
You wrote….
The essence from the source was his restatement of the golden rule and how and why that was more important yet getting lost in the tidal wave of words and rules and restrictions and the like that was the state of the Jewish religious tradition that he lived and sought to clarify. He said a great deal with few words.”
If the “HE” you refer to in that last sentence is Jesus Christ then I differ with you on the statement that he said ‘few’ words’ . I agree with you that He not only SAID a great deal when he was walking the earth but since it is my personal belief that the WHOLE cannon of scripture is God Breathed and that the Son of God IS the Word . Then All scripture is the inspired Word of GOD …that seems ‘few ‘ perhaps by the relative volume of words of all of mankind yet they are certainly more in volume and depth than any other in existance.
I differ from what I am perceiving is your position on scripture and the person of Jesus Christ in that I do not understand him in the same way as you have stated in these words that you wrote…
“Perhaps you refer to all those who came after him who unleashed a torrent of words to try to make sense of the simple man living a simple life setting a powerful example for others to learn from and emulate. One could argue that we are still spewing words of interpretation resulting from waaaay too much talk and thought about what he must have meant and intended.”
I so not see Jesus Christ as a ‘simple man’ for he is the Son of the Living GOD which is in contrast to fallen man for whom He came to offer up himself in obedience to God Almighty as sacrifice for the sin of the world.
I also would not presume despite the lack of many of our present day cultural ‘sophistication’ that life in the fallen state of the world was ‘simple’ maybe on the face of things but he still dealt with a formidable enemy that no other had overcome by way of applying human ‘discipline’ and no other before or since has been designated to not only be an ‘example ‘ for us to emulate but the fulfillment of prophecy confirming his distinct calling and ordination by God to be OUR Savior and LORD through whose sinless life we may become eternally reconciled to the Father.
All who came before him who are recorded as having all kinds of power, authority and priviledge such as King David, or all kinds of wisdom such as Solomon or all kinds of physical strength and ability such as Samson have been able to redeem mankind and fullfill all prophesies identifying WHO was to be the Messiah.
I do not argue we would do very well to follow His ‘example’ yet no matter what a person may achieve in this endeavor we are told that NO FLESH will ever , by way of behavior changes and discipline gain eternity with GOD …it is a matter of believing IN and trusting IN Jesus Christ as Savior and making Him Lord …believing GOD raised HIM from the dead.
To have ‘read’ all scripture and come away with a reduction such as you suggest is a problem when it comes to deciding that the use of many words as you say when those who follow Him are in discussion of His Word or bringing His word to the table for the purpose that HE himself told us it was for seems dismissive of the very command to seek in the Word DAILY …to share and speak the Word as we go along and to have fellowship around these recollections of the scripture which WE ARE TOLD TO KEEP ALWAYS in our hearts and minds and to bring them to mind as we live life.
Yes many have written commentaries which are not THE Word of scripture themselves but those who consider those things are told to compare the writings and offerings of those who do so with Scripture.
The body has many parts and all parts that are SUBMITTED to the task of obeying the command to ‘Study to show yourself approved unto God a WORKMAN that needeth NOT to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth ‘ are doing what GOD has told us to do .
As each one of those who believe in Him and obey Him obey THIS command then we are to speak what is ‘given ‘ from His word.
The effort to suppress or deny this aspect of the body of Christ has been going on for a long time. The first century believers were often charged with ‘speak no more in this name’ ….it is part of the same assault upon the Word from the beginning …to cast aspersions upon the vericity of the Word of GOD which first approach to cause doubt about what it was GOD actually said …was in the Garden of Eden .” Hath God said” and the very same tactic today may either draw us INTO scripture to ‘see if it is so ‘ which will affirm to those who believe that the Bible is the inspired word of GOD ….or among those who are skeptics and anti christian scholars it will bring upon them more ‘reason ‘ to doubt and cast about looking for ‘reasons ” NOT to believe .
Hbr 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Reading and understanding the Bible content takes FAITH and “faith ‘ comes FROM the scriptures preached…heard and believed .
Apart from believing that there is a FIRST CAUSE and that there is ORDER and PURPOSE in our lives and the world around us I can see why those who believe in evolution and various other ways of living in this world have little confidence in the scriptures being INSPIRED and PROTECTED and PRESERVED by the Creator who made our kidney! or a TREE ….which those who believe in the God of the Bible do not see explained well by the various theories and conjectures of those who do not want to have any higher authority over their lives than their own finite minds.
Thus to receive what it is that makes all scripture LIVE takes the meekness of heart and the awareness of need which all who are without God have ….to receive the engrafted word that is able to save souls.
The scriptures have been God breathed and are self affirming as well has history which many who attempt to ‘refine ‘ our understanding of all things spiritual utilize extra biblical and conflicting testimonies of those who opposed the Lord to formulate their conclusions.
They have so far FAILED to defeat the victory of Christ and the faith of those who heed the command to SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all things….including understanding ‘ …will be added unto you…
Thus it is my understanding thus far in my short and earnest effort to continue in the Word and learn obedience to everything Jesus taught and confirmed of the WHOLE scripture thus far ….some 44 years in the effort …to not count myself to have ‘arrived’ or to understand all things…but to pursue what He has told me would eventually answer my questions that pertain to all things in this life and to form His Word which is His spirit IN me .
I trust study when some aspect crosses my thinking that I can then turn to study the many words of scripture which have not failed to provide me with MUCH evidence that HE is GOD and I am NOT .
I believe that it is not so much the many words that causes such a problem for us …not the volume but the CONTENT of scripture that offends.
All of the various things that as you have pointed out that people have written are not without USE …even those things which are NOT OF HIM for in those who are willing to study , seek and share for the sake of learning more and to be corrected …it is a wealth of ‘assignments’ to allow the Word to speak and to set forth what is TRUTH according to the author and designer of all things.
Thus I will take your exhortation and encouragment to heart . To say one has already come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ was only a ‘simply man’ whose life was ONLY lived for us to have an example ….I believe demonstrates having missed what the scriptures themselves would speak regarding He who is the express image of His Father.
This is not without due understanding as HE Himself told us that NO man KNOWS the Father but the SON and he to whom the Son REVEALS Him…that revelation comes by way of His spirit which is found by way of trusting and seeking …study and faithfulness to the Words which HE has supplied for us to “put on ‘ in our minds and live in and by going forward.
I hope this answers those things which stood out in what you wrote for more clarity on the matter of WHO Jesus is and What the Word is for me.
In my view …I believe Jesus Christ is the SON of GOD and the WORD INCARNATE …that is HE always did the will of the Father and you correctly pointed out that we are to “follow HIM” …However He lived a life being tempted in all things like as we are YET without sin . His sacrifice for the sin of the world must be RECEIVED and it comes by way of the Word ‘heard’ ..not just with ears or eyes …but to be taken to heart.
I do not know how anyone CAN believe and follow Jesus Christ in truth without obeying His Words to study all that has been provided through the inspired God Breathed scriptures . How can anyone come to Him if they do not hear or know what HE has provided for us to ‘eat ‘ daily of the bread that came down from heaven which is HIMSELF!
The Word of GOD IS HIS Spirit …without it IN us ..abiding IN us we have not His Spirit.
The ‘golden rule ‘ does not SAVE anyone….to learn what God’s LOVE IS …HE has told us that we are to put HIM first..
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
HOW can one know HOW to LOVE as GOD defines LOVE without first consulting what HE has had written ?
His definition differs from Alistair Crowley, Anton Levy, Madame Blavatsky, Carl Sagan , Darwin, Alfred Kinsey, Hugh Hefner, Shirley McClain, the Jesus Seminar, Robert Johnson, Margaret Mead , Carl Rogers, Abrahan Maslow, Margaret Sanger, Madeline O ‘ Hare,Freud,Rudolf Steiner, and a HOST of others….who wish to define what it is to “love your neighbor ”
This is in the hope of DOING the second commandment but ignoring the First …and all of the commandments of GOD are protective and definition of what His LOVE IS .
Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, IF a man LOVE ME, he will KEEP MY WORDS: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
To ‘make ‘ somewhere your “abode’ means you are going to LIVE IN …STAY IN …but in order for this to occur we are to KEEP or have HIS WORDS ABIDING or STAYING and LIVING IN us .
The question is not do we believe in God or Jesus at this point …many believe they follow HIM but this proviso instructs us that IF we love HIM we are to KEEP HIS WORDS …and the command to us is “DAILY” ….eating at HIS table …the WORDS which are HIS SPIRIT …ALL of them….
What then …we ‘write too much’ about what we have learned? We speak too much about what we have been understanding?
Those who oppose , deny or reject Him have no problem writing VOLUMES which do not bring those seeking God or eternity to Him….as we attest.
The Word of GOD is rejected by those who reject God’s WAY of SALVATION.
Hsa 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.[The whole word of God is God's Law...the Kingdom of GOD is ruled by the Law of truth and what HIS love is.]
Jhn 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, hath one that judgeth him: the WORD that I have spoken, the SAME shall judge him in the last day.
It seems to me that is a wonderful extension of the grace of GOD to have provided US with the standards by which we will be evaluated as to IF we LOVED GOD the WAY that HE has defined it …which includes consuming His Word and then living as HE has provided equipping by way of His Spirit and His WORD .
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known MY WORDS unto you.
Repentance is necessary to turn from reliance upon carnal fleshly explanations to the Lord …to turn from the world and the flesh to ,lean not unto our own understanding but in ALL our WAYS to acknowledge GOD …and HE will then ‘make known’ His words to those who are willing to humble themselves to seek Him where he said he may be found …In HIS WORD
Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Whenever someone speaks what GOD has said…in the understanding and context of WHAT He has in truth spoken…then …
1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The damage is not down by all that is written and shared among those who write…but it is done from NOT GOING TO THE LORD and HIS revealed WORD to learn the truth of those things we have coming across our path.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Jam 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
This is an error that many make in seeking to learn what GOD has said …seeking to find something to confirm what they already want it to say instead of seeking to learn what GOD would reveal is HIS WISDOM ….thus many are lead away and then blame GOD for having believed lies.
I believe we must become equipped with the attitude that GOD has had written what HE had determined and has preserved what He intended for us to find when we seek with ALL our heart , ALL our soul, ALL our minds and ALL our strength to learn what HE will reveal as we are faithful and continue as Jesus told us to do.
Not all understanding is going to come all at once or in our own determined way that the world has led us to believe . Intellectual understanding that is brought about ONLY through exercise of the mind apart from the knowledge of the WORD is faulty… and at odds with GOd
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Many assert the authority of their carnal minds over the authority of GOD and His inspired Word to their own destruction and that of those who take them as ‘truth’ based only upon their fleshly perspective.
This leads away from truth and eventually through emotions and appetites leads to death spiritually .
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
The ‘Spirit’ is the WORD which when followed and applied ‘mortifies’ the deeds of the flesh …the body which is to be governed or ‘reigned’ by way of the WORD of GOD .
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
It seems preferable to heed the commands of GOD and to learn what they are by way of allowing Him to ‘speak’ through the means He has ordained that we might know and then apply them …His WORD.
Thank you for the time you take to read this lengthy expression in effort to give the reason for the hope that I have in the scriptures and the Lord who inspired them.
If you care to see HOW this exchange demonstrates the way those who knew Jesus were experiencing the same as we do in this day and their response to being told to ‘speak no more in this name’ ….I found this very instructive.
4 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
The Word of God is FOR HIS glory and OUR good….
So fascinating that you responded to a comment about “too many words” with yet another avalanche of words.
You have clearly wrapped yourself up in “talk” but I fear you may not yet have mastered the skill to both listen and hear…especially not to me so much as to that “still, small voice” within you. That is a special, even holy place that Jesus himself said was where the “kingdom of heaven” was. See Gospel of Luke.
No problem. One day you will get there in your own journey and when you do you may even remember this exchange. But if not, at least you will have arrived. I will be waiting.
Best of luck on your journey.
It is not clear that you even READ what I offered, on a site which encourages sharing and discourse in regard to the Bible.
With that said there are those who desire to “listen to the still small voice within’ but do not care for the Word of GOD which IS His ‘voice’ without which much of what is NOT godly nor endorsed by God will enter in.
This a premise of Gnosticism.
Good day Pastor Jack Wellman,
The more I visit this humble Holy Spirit filled website, the more I am convinced that God indeed has plans for my life. Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for what you and your team of Pastors are doing today!
I have now made it a duty to be part of the WORK of God in your website and visit everyday without fail.
Sir, I have already posted this comment in Pastor Pamella’s article on ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ but still felt the need to post the same here. Hope you will allow this.
I have become a humble student of yours here in Nigeria and wants to learn from your wisdom Sir. Kindly share your thoughts on my comments below.
I also want to thank you sincerely for the links you referred me to on How to Identify a False Prophet and Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. I have already started working on preparing the article as tract for sharing purposes.
God bless the Works of your hand.
WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
I want to commend you very much for this article and wants you to know that you speak our minds 100% These wolves are a major concern to us in Nigeria as Miss Cat has rightly said: “Even churches will become more interested in bringing in money, bending to popular beliefs (being politically correct over teaching the truth of Gods’ word), and providing social services as a means of bringing in money and increasing membership.”
Note her words; ‘bringing in money and increasing membership’. This particular statement fits well with majority of the churches in Nigeria and this is not supposed to be the case for Jesus Christ did not lay down this precept for us to practice.
I have heard cases where a Pastor will ask members those of you who wants to test God with your finances should come out with N100,000 another set with N50,000, yet another set with N20,000 respectively. People will come out in numbers with cheque or cash to give to the Pastor with the intention and expectation of ‘great financial breakthrough’ since they are trading with God or are in investment partnership with God according to what the Pastor has said. Kindly shed some light on this practices, I need to know if this is biblical because such practices are prevalent in most of our mega churches.
Another issue is the manner these Pastors stress and hammer on Tithe matter. Is tithing a prerequisite in making heaven or gaining salvation? Can one still be blessed by God Almighty even if you do not pay your tithe dutifully or not at all?
I once read an article published by Pastor Femi Aribisala.
It reads as follows:
As far as many pastors are concerned, the most important scripture of all is not to be found in the word of Jesus. Neither is it even in the New Testament.
That scripture says: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” (Malachi 3:10).
This scripture is drummed repeatedly into Christians on Sundays. However, the only time Jesus mentioned tithing in scripture, he pointed out that it was not a weighty matter of the law. (Matthew 23:23). Hebrews says people only receive tithes “according to the law.” (Hebrews 7:5). It then insists tithing (and everything else under the law) has been annulled: “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless.” (Hebrews 7:18-19). Nevertheless, mercenary pastors continue to insist on the payment of tithes.
Latter-day Pharisees
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law. (Matthew 23:23). That is what tithe-collecting pastors do today. If we insist our congregants must pay tithes, we must also insist that they keep the rest of the law. James says: “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10). Therefore, if we insist on tithing, we should also refrain from eating pork. We should stone adulterers, execute homosexuals, kill Sabbath violators and restore blood-sacrifices.
Tithe-collecting pastors counter this by maintaining the payment of tithes pre-dated the law. Here Abraham is cited as the cardinal example of someone who paid tithes before the promulgation of the Law of Moses, as did Jacob, his grandson. However, such arguments are disingenuous.
Before the law, tithing was at best an example but not a commandment. Moreover, pastors fail to mention that Abraham only tithed once in his lifetime. When he did, he did not even tithe his own money: he tithed the spoils of war. He gave ten percent of the plunder he took when he rescued Lot to Melchizedek, king of Salem. But then he did not even keep the rest but returned it (all ninety percent) to the king of Sodom.
For his part, Jacob also tithed only once. He did this in a “let’s make a deal” arrangement he offered to God: “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’” (Genesis 28:20-22). This kind of deal about accepting God only under certain self-serving conditions should certainly not be a term of reference for any serious believer.
Lies upon lies
The first lie pastors tell Christians is what some have referred to as “the eleventh commandment:” “Thou shalt pay thy tithes to thy local church.” But the bible says no such thing. The storehouse of Malachi was not a church. It was a place where food was kept.
Pastors hide from church-members the fact that money was not acceptable as tithe. The tithe was a tenth of the seed and fruit of the land and of the animals which ate of the land. (Leviticus 27:30-32). That is why God says: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be FOOD in my house.” (Malachi 3:10). He does not say “that there may be MONEY in my house.” The food was used to feed the Levites, the poor, widows, orphans and strangers.
Pastors also conveniently fail to teach the biblical tithe. The principles of tithing were not laid down by Malachi. They were laid down by Moses. The study of Moses’ guidelines quickly reveals that the biblical tithe has no application whatsoever to Christians and is mischievously violated by tithe-collecting pastors today.
According to the Law of Moses, the tithe was divided into three allocations. The first year, it was given to the Levite. The second year, it was given to widows, orphans and the poor. The third year, it was eaten in the company of the faithful before the Lord as thanksgiving for his faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 14:22-28). In the seventh year, there was no planting and no reaping and therefore no tithing.
So the next time your pastor asks you to pay tithe, ask him about the seventh-year reprieve. Also ask him if you can give your tithe to the orphanage, or bring it as food items to be eaten in church. Believe me; he will not agree with you because it is your money he is after.
In applicability of tithes
Tithing was only applicable to Jews and to the land of Israel. When large populations of Jews lived in Babylon, Ammon, Moab, Egypt, and Syria, these lands became tithe-able lands. However, tithes were not acceptable from strictly Gentile lands. So you need to ask your pastor how come he is collecting tithes in Nigeria.
Servants or slaves who worked on the land did not tithe because the land did not belong to them. Since only agricultural and animal resources were included, a fisherman gave no tithe of his fisheries. Neither did a miner or a carpenter pay tithes, nor anyone from the various professional occupations. So if you are not a farmer or a keeper of livestock, tell your 419 pastor tithing is biblically inapplicable to you.
Moreover, the only people authorised to receive tithes were the Levites. (Hebrews 7:5). So if your Pastor is a “tithe-collector,” ask him if he happens to be a Jew. Remind him that, even though a Jew, Jesus could not receive the tithe because he was not from the tribe of Levi but from that of Judah.
The trick, of course, is for pastors today to claim we are “Levites.” If your pastor is one such dissembler, ask him if he lives as a Levite. Remind him that Levites had no land and did not have private property. Ask him also how he knows he is from the tribe of Levi, which happens to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. Point out to him that even Jewish rabbis don’t claim to be Levites today because all Jewish genealogical records were lost with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, ensuring that it is no longer possible to ascertain the true identity of Levites.
Therefore, if Jews no longer tithe because the Levites are a lost tribe, how can Christian pastors collect tithes when we are not even Jewish, how much more Levites? If Jewish rabbis, whose terms of reference remain the Old Testament no longer collect tithes, then pastors who insist Christians are under a New Testament have no business doing so.
The conclusion then is inescapable. Every pastor who collects tithes is nothing but “a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1).
Pastor Pamella, kindly share your thoughts on this article and help me learn more on what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches concerning tithing and sowing seeds.
I believe not all workers in the vineyard of God are wolves in sheep clothing but, majority seems to be due to the questionable activities of the key players involved in the ministry. I also worship in a mega church but like my Lord Jesus Christ has said in Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we,…” hence, the mega church building is not my house but, I am a house of Christ.
I pray that God Almighty will continue to inspire all of you at WCWTK and that you will remain ‘a pencil in God’s hands’ in Jesus mighty name Amen!
I agree John…that many are taking the text of Malachi out of context and using it a pretext. These schemers are no better than thieves and God says in the Bible that no thief will enter heaven. You have the odds against you in your country my friend, but God and His Word, which is truth, is with you.
In addressing this issue this came to mind …Hope you do not mind if I chime in here….
Interesting scripture on the issue of leadership and ‘filthy lucre”
1Ti 3:8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Tts 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Ti 3:8 Likewise 5615 [must] the deacons 1249 [be] grave 4586, not 3361 doubletongued 1351, not 3361 given 4337 to much 4183 wine 3631, not 3361 greedy of filthy lucre 146;
Tts 1:7 For 1063 a bishop 1985 must 1163 be 1511 blameless 410, as 5613 the steward 3623 of God 2316; not 3361 selfwilled 829, not 3361 soon angry 3711, not 3361 given to wine 3943, no 3361 striker 4131, not 3361 given to filthy lucre 146;
1Pe 5:2 Feed 4165 the flock 4168 of God 2316 which is among 1722 you 5213, taking the oversight 1983 [thereof], not 3361 by constraint 317, but 235 willingly 1596; not 3366 for filthy lucre 147, but 235 of a ready mind 4290;
FILTHY LUCRE
Strong’s G146 – aischrokerdēs
1) eager for base gain, greedy for money
From the root
Strong’s G150 – aischros
1) filthy, baseness, dishonour
And from Strong’s G153 – aischynō
1) to disfigure
2) to dishonour
3) to suffuse with shame, make ashamed, be ashamed
And in that last verse…
FILTHY LUCRE
Strong’s G147 – aischrokerdōs
1) eagerness for base gain
Strong’s G146 – aischrokerdēs
1) eager for base gain, greedy for money
Strong’s G150 – aischros
1) filthy, baseness, dishonour
Strong’s G153 – aischynō
1) to disfigure
2) to dishonour
3) to suffuse with shame, make ashamed, be ashamed
It seems that any leader that FOCUSES upon ‘filthy lucre” is disqualified in the sense that this brings shame and dishonor upon the ministry of Christ.
The ‘riches’ of the church are the coin of the hearts of those who are obedient to seek in the Word of GOD what it is that God is pleased by from those who He desires to bless ….who do what He has said .>TO LOVE HIM with ALL the heart. all the soul, all the mind and all their strength.
No doubt you are familiar with this section of scripture which describes the qualities of those who lead ….I place this for the sake of those who may read the site but not be those who have a Bible to refer to this reference.
I Tim 3 :1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Good Article! There are many tjat claim to be talking to angels not knowing that those are demons. Rarely do angels reveal themselves to humans.
I believe angels MAY appear in human form but this is only by God’s directives as they answer to God. I highly doubt that many people do talk with angels and I agree, they rarely reveal themselves to humans. You are right on both accounts CYP. Thank you. The book of Hebrews says that we might (MIGHT!) even entertain angels (rarely) being unaware as the Scriptures say…that “being unaware” indicated we likely wouldn’t know it if we did have an interaction with them.
← Previous Comments