The Captain & A Sea of Sin

“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” ~Romans 7:4

We have died to Law through Christ. We no longer seek to “get right” with God through the Law (as the Jews did/do). We are made righteous (by grace you have been saved, through faith) with God through a new relationship in Christ Jesus who fulfilled the Law. "You were put to death" (in Christ) and this death is a death to the Law. We as Christian believers are through with law. Kaput! Finsished! For us, in its most comprehensive and basic sense, it has been made ‘null and void’ by Christ. It is no longer the path through which Christians are to seek salvation. We do not seek to “get right” with God by obeying some form of law, as the adherents of nearly all known religions including Judaism. The death mentioned here is final and alludes to finality. Paul does not mince words. 

Paul is pointing to a complete and terminal break with Law. SNAP!

Let me get this straight though…for those that completely miss the point of Christian liberty and understanding their sin. This does not mean antinomianism. The idea that since Jesus has acted in our stead to fulfill the Law for us, that we can go out and do whatever we want in our Christian liberty. To freely and stupidly abuse the hard won victory by Christ at the Cross because we are indeed covered by the blood of Christ. We must never forget it is a gift this salvation that we have in Jesus. The privilege of the freedom we gain from Jesus’ work at the Cross can never be trivialized in this manner. If you are a self-described Christian and you have been doing this type of thing (abusing your Christian liberty), you should be mortified and ashamed! Your Christian liberty and ability to sin so that grace abounds (Romans 6) came at a severe price! It came though Christ sufferings and Crucifixion. So please divest yourself of your perverted twisted perception of sin and your “rights” to do as you please. If you're doing this you have a total misconception of sin and Christ's work. You are a slave now to Christ, not a slave to sin.

Your release won by Jesus Christ is not from the righteousness which is taught in the law, but from the rigid demands of the Law that no man except Jesus could keep. It is also release from the curse which follows from its demands" (John Calvin). It is not the Law per se that died, but the believer. The Law still points to the kind of living that is pleasing in the sight of God. The type of life outlined in Scripture. Jesus freed us, or made us dead to the legalism of the Law. We are still expect to live righteously in accordance with Scripture.

We are still called to live morally, biblical conscientious lives as the result. Our behavior is a fruit of, but not the cause of our salvation.

Paul goes on to say that our belonging to Christ is not an end in itself. It takes place in order that we might have fruitful lives. Not continue to immerse ourselves in petty selfish sins that bear the fruit of death but rather bear the fruit of righteousness that produces life.

Is the Law therefore sin? Nope!

It is the Law that let me know that I am a sinner and in need of repentance! It is the Law that showed me just how far short of God's righteousnss that I fall. Without the Law we know that sinning (because of out conscience) is wrong but what the Law did was make humanity realize that sin and immorality is something much more. Its and affront against God’s holiness that He cannot ignore, He must judge it as a perfectly just being. Therefore, if we were not immediately judged for it, we store judgment or wrath up against ourselves every single time we sinned…

The Commandment or Law therefore becomes our sin’s very ‘base of operation’. Human nature is awakened to sin by the Law’s ability to draw attention to it. It actually makes us want to violate it…because it’s there. Our obstinate, stiff-necked and sinful nature drives us to it in rebellion. The failure point or fault line is therefore not the ideal or Law but the people themselves who react to the Law. The command of law is not evil or sinful but rather the one who disobeys it is. The truth is that it just isn’t within mankind’s nature to eventually gravitate towards that which is good, righteous or holy. It is to drift away from it and to apostatize. It is why we are always told to stay in God’s word and to pray, as this is the only way to re-anchor to that which is correct. Otherwise we are cut adrift on a sea of sin and godlessness.

Therefore the commandments acted as an anchor to show us our position relative to God like a compass on a wayward ship. We are clearly “south” of God as the Law has made evident. Christ has fulfilled the Law. He has righted the ship. We now know where we stand and we can get our bearings after a storm of wickedness that has disoriented us. We are still sinners but we have a captain or ἀρχηγὸς / archegos that will lead us to the eternal shore. We need only hold onto the line the ἀρχηγὸς / archegos took with Him that acts as our eternal life preserver. That line is the Gospel. The eternal life preserver is faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Like anyone else cut adrift, in danger of falling away (apostatizing) and being lost forever because they are inundated by sin, we must…

“…lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder / archegos[ἀρχηγὸς] and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

An [ἀρχηγὸς / archegos] in ancient Greek maritime tradition was the strongest swimmer on the ship. In case of shipwreck, he would dive into the sea with a rope tied around his waist and swim to shore and tie the rope to a tree or something fixed on shore. He then would swim back to the ship and help everyone on board to follow the line to safety. If the archegos drowned, then the people on the ship were doomed. Jesus didn’t drown. He went down (in death) but resurfaced (in Resurrection) according to Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus is God's “archegos”. He has safely navigated the waters of death with the sin of humanity on His shoulders to reach Heaven's shore safely. He has tied a rope to that far shore for us and He is coming back to us someday to assure that we reach safety. None will be lost on His watch (John 17:12) except those already doomed to destruction.

The god of the Closet

In a headlong rush to grow up, get involved with the world and live our lives I believe many including Christians minimize their God until He becomes god. We put him in a box where we can keep and eye on Him and take Him out only when we want to engage or interact with Him. In doing this we make God small...meaningless. In our minds God goes from God to god [lowercase, non-deity] or so we think.

We grow away from Him often times. We treat Him like the fairy tales of our youth. He is dismantled and disregarded like so many mythical fables. As a matter of fact I have often heard people make those very statements about some of the Old Testament stories like Adam and Eve and David and Goliath. The world encourages this unbiblical mindset and then...off we go chasing the vanity of world...the vanity of life. The problem is that He is not like the fairy tales. He is real. Although, we leave Him behind, He doesn't leave us.  We end up storing wrath on ourselves as we go our own way. In an attempt to chase a dream and a fairytale type of life we relegate God as to the same fate and forget about him like an apparition.

Somehow over 20 or 30 years in a vain pursuit of the world I lost the wonder and awe of the timeless omnipotent and sovereign God I had as a youth. I believe this holds true for many of us. By marginalizing Him, trivializing Him, putting Him in a box and putting Him on a shelf in our closet to collect dust like our nightstand Bibles, we ignore and forget Him.

The truth is He was not to be another thought that we have during the day, He is the preemptive thought that we should have before we think of anything else. Like most, I people think in a linear manner. If I put Christ at the forefront of any decision or idea it is lead with that foot forward. It permeates all thoughts that come after it. If we do therefore think in a linear manner and Christ is whats in our head...He leaves no room to think about anything else. It is when we don't do this that other things rush to the forefront of our minds and those things supplant God making themselves idols of our minds. Perhaps what is worse is we in our meaningless existence without God make ourselves idols therefore making our very minds our own idols. Our worldly wisdom and knowledge becomes our God. I believe we see that around us today in the secular culture that puts science and data at the front but totally interprets it wrong. We saw this in the church at Corinth too. This is nothing new. We have just become more advanced and arrogant and think we are smarter than our 2000 year old brethren when in reality our arrogance has made us blindly ignorant of obvious facts known to the Christians long ago. Science has made no room for God. The Bible tells us to make no room for anything that sets itself up before the knowledge of God. Whom do you obey?

2 Corinthians 10:5 ~ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We need to take every thought captive. Not just errant ones that inundate us from others on a daily basis from the culture, friends and even family but we need to arrest our own thoughts. Science and data are fine but not when they are segregated and removed from the context of a holy God. Down that path lies nihilism and meaninglessness. Otherwise the awe-inspiring God of childhood becomes the compartmentalized boxed in god of the closet that only comes out once a year if your lucky. For some that god never comes out. He ends up getting packed away forever and abandoned. In time, God gives you over to your pursuits and you are lost. Condemned. He stays locked away in darkness in the closet and in our minds. It is hard for us to have reverential awe for a god we think we can control and push out of our lives when we see fit. Frankly, this god that people trivialize isn't really God at all. Its a figment of their imaginations...certainly not God.

When we see God like this we are indeed seeing God as a fairy tale, not the one outlined in the Bible. The real One that is "...one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." ~ Ephesians 4:6

How does this happen? Life. Our lives (or someone else's) supplant Him. We make ourselves or our ideas and thoughts gods...we make ourselves or ideas idols. What other explanation is there? Sadly, this is the worst form of idolatry there is too. We worship ourselves the creation not the Creator. The thing created in the image of God but not God.

You cannot play this fast and loose people. This is not like a divine form of Storage Wars. This is life or death. I personally have regained that sense of awe at 43 and I do not think it will ever go away again. I have seen too much in the last 4 or 5 years along with my wife that is supernatural or transcends what science and data can explain away. The more I see the more things occur. Just when I thought things in life couldn't become anymore odd...they do.

So where is your God? Where are your idols? Are your idols buried and forgotten or is your god? I suggest that if you have God in a closet...get him out and make Him God. Put Him in a place of prominence in your lives where he belongs. If you have idols in your life...throw them in the dumpster. Its time to start taking inventory of your life and do some Spring cleaning.

Apocalypse Prophecy XX: The Ram, The Goat & Another Little Horn-Part I

Diademed & Deified
[Alexander the Great]
(w/Horn)

Daniel 8:1-4~ "In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great."

Daniel chapters 8 through 12 contain three revelations which Daniel received that concerned the kingdom of God. This came hot on the heels of chapters 1-7 which dealt with the world-powers and how they related to the people and Kingdom of God from time of Nebuchadnezzar to the time of its final destruction by the perfected kingdom of God.

Now delivered in a second part it reveals to Daniel how God through the Kingdom of God will wage a war against the power and enmity of the rulers of the world. This vision is peppered with severe oppressions but God’s plan is carried forward to ultimate victory.

The first visionin Daniel 8, represents what will happen to the people of God during the developments of the second and third world-kingdoms. In the second revelation of Daniel 9 the prophet, in answer prayer for restoration of Jerusalem and the abandoned Temple, is given a prophetic nearly full disclosure regarding God’s future plans concerning the Kingdom of God.

The last vision in Daniel 10-12 Daniel receives a vision regarding the severe persecutions which await the people of God for their purification, in the immediate future under Antiochus Epiphanes, and in the distant time under the persecution of the Antichrist.

Daniel sees the vision and within it, a ram with two horns, a he-goat coming from the west, running over the earth, having a great horn on his brow, struck and devastated (vv. 3–7). After that the goat had grown very mighty, his great horn was broken and in its place four notable horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. Then came the a little horn out of one of them which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land (which appears to be the Holy Land or the area near Jerusalem). It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the LORD; it took away the daily sacrifice from the LORD, and his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the LORD’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

In other words, whoever this was he challenged the host of heaven, and dared to exalt himself/itself to the Prince of the heavenly host. In so doing, it took away the daily sacrifice owed to God, and desolated the place of the sanctuary (The rebellion or abomination that causes desolation). Daniel is then told it will be 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated. This is how long this sacrilege will continue.

This new revelation articulates a phase in the development of the world-power and its enmity against the people of God of which nothing is prophesied in Dan. 7. The erroneous assumption that chapter 8 is only a postscript to chapter 7 is foolhardy and poor reading comprehension (TBD take note), there is much more going on here. In the chapter 7 it is clear God had given a preview of history with importance on the end times, mostly the undertakings of that scumbag the Antichrist.

Chapter 8 deals with something much more immediate and just as devastating the faithful’s way of life that would eventually pave the way for the coming Messiah. God’s people needed to be warned of another crisis that was coming in less than four hundred years after Daniel’s vision—the typology of the Antichrist…a monster and Jew hater named Ἀντίοχος Eπιφανής…Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Seleucid Empire. The very religion of Judaism was threatened by this loon. He would even go on to be nicknamed Epimanes or “the mad one” which was wordplay on his real name because of some of his insane exploits. He would bring a tribulation to God’s people.

Belshazzar became coregent with his father Nabonidus in 553 B.C., the third year of his rule would have been approximately 550 B.C. About this time Cyrus established the Medo-Persian Empire, destined to bring an end to the period of Babylonian supremacy within a mere twelve years. Nabonidus, observing this union, became apprehensive about Cyrus’s intentions and attempted to forge an alliance with Lydia and Egypt to protect himself against a possible Medo-Persian threat. The ancient world was anxiously watching to see what Cyrus would do...

This all happens around the time Daniel has his vision that is mentioned in 8:1-4.

Your probably asking why all this matters. So what!

As we have already learned from the previous seven chapters, God may have given the vision at this time to assure Daniel and the Jews that they would survive. This is because of the Hell that was about to be unleased on them. The 20th century's systematic slaughter of the Jews in the Holocuast is not the first of its kind. There had been many incarnations of slaughter of which, the one under Antiochus IV Epiphanes would be one of the worst.

His twisted and demonically inspired oppression and persecution of the Jews would eventually trigger and give way to the Maccabean Revolt.

Apocalypse Prophecy XIX - Visions: The Ancient of Days & A Judas Goat

The Ancient of Days & Slaying of The Fourth Beast (7:9–12)

We see God’s court and the sentence of judgment upon the Little Horn and his empire is succinct and exact. The Little Horn/Antichrist is blaspheming the God of heaven, but the Sovereign Lord is shown sitting upon his throne, coolly preparing to drop the hammer of justice on this despicable and wicked being. This grandiose vision unfolds [insert majestic theme music here] and the Ancient of Days takes his seat upon the throne like a Judge entering the courtroom of eternity. He is snow white to symbolize moral purity. Hair is white like wool to signify His timeless age from all of eternity pre-time and post hence. Angels also appear as witnesses. In perfect justice and righteousness He passes judgment from a throne flaming with fire with its wheels ablaze. The fire is a medium of judgment and purifying. There is a river of fire also being poured out upon the wicked, especially on the Little Horn.  The reference to “books being open” seems to indicate God’s omniscience of the deeds, words, and thoughts of every person who has ever lived. They account of the wicked deeds of the Antichrist and his godless empire, for when the books are opened, the beast is judged. When the records were consulted, it was found that the beast deserved judgment. Since God’s kingdom immediately follows, this must occur at the end of time. Therefore it has not happened yet. This episode cannot have been a record of a past event from our vantage point in time.

Attention is now turned back to the Little Horn. The judgment that befalls this wretched thing indicates total and absolute destruction. The kingdom is obliterated by God, “the beast is slain.” The Little Horn’s / Antichrist’s judgment in fire should be seen in light of Revelation 19:20 and the lake of fire. Regardless of what Rob Bell did or did not say in his book Love Wins, this passage clearly shows punishment of the wicked after death in perpetuity.

The three former beasts have their authority taken away but are allowed to continue to exist “for a period of time.” Their supremacy had ended, but influence lived on in the next empire just like Hellenism survived the takeover by the Roman Empire. Regardless, the fourth empire will be destroyed and replaced by the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God (7:13–14)

Four kingdoms were symbolized by the beasts which were only the kingdoms of men. Now comes the Kingdom of God.  One “like a son of man” descends into the throne room surrounded by the clouds. The well-known “One like a son of man” means that this person was like human but something much more. He is given dominion and it is everlasting.  It is the coronation of the “son of man” by the Ancient of Days.

So who is this “Son of man?”  Who do you suppose it is?

It is none other than Jesus Christ. He is identified in veiled or couched terms.

The fact that clouds accompany the son of man as he descends alludes to deity in the Old Testament.

The son of man is not only king but God. But His exact identity will not be revealed until the perfect time ordained by God. Veiled…why? Until that time ordained, the Son of Man’s time will not have come. We see it come in John 12.

John 12:23 “And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

Mark 14:61-62 “But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Did Jesus claim deity? Yes…right here in Mark’s passage. ..enough of the nonsense that Jesus never claimed to be God. Anyone that understands the Old Testament knows what Jesus said here is referring to Daniel 7.

The Son is presented to the Ancient of Days so that he might receive his Father’s gift, namely, a universal kingdom that included us as believers.

The Interpretation of the Vision (7:15–27)

At first, Daniel doesn’t understand the importance of what he had seen although he recognized that it portrayed the violent overthrow of governments and chaos in the world. Daniel wanted to know when they would take place. He also wanted to know what or who the Little Horn was. So Daniel approached one of the angels standing there.

The angelic being explained that the four beasts that came out of the sea were “four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.” The “sea” was symbolic of the earth. After the four empires run their course the saints of holy ones of the Most High will receive the Kingdom of God and possess it forever. Daniel then receives an explanation of the four beasts but is specifically interested in the identity of the fourth beast since this creature was vastly unlike the others in terms of its power. He also wants an explanation of the horns on the fourth beast’s head. He wanted to know about the first ten but more emphatically the “other horn / Little Horn” with the eyes and arrogant mouth that grew up later. The horn became greater than the others but especially because of the eyes and mouth it stands out. The eyes suggested something more...like greater intelligence and of course its mouth uttered blasphemous boasts that frightened Daniel. To a believers mind, to malign God is insane. I should note that we see this almost daily from non-believers in modern times. Not just blaspheming but mocking God outright. I makes one wonder just how much wrath is being stored up against these people in God's "book"?

The horn waged war against the saints and defeating them. The fact that the Little Horn would successfully persecute believers is startling.  No wonder Daniel was acutely concerned. The saints cannot stand against Satan and his malevolent agent here for some reason. This persecution will continue until the Ancient of Days comes judges this abomination on behalf of the saints.  The angelic being then interprets the meaning of the fourth beast, the ten horns, the Little Horn, and the enigmatic final kingdom. He explains that the fourth beast to rise out of the sea/earth. It will be different in terms of power and duration of its rule. All resistance against it will be flattened.

It is most probable that this empire is some form of the Roman Empire as previously mentioned, whether it is the old empire or a new confederation is unknown. The ten horns are interpreted to be “ten kings” who will emanate from the fourth kingdom (probably some form or incarnation of Rome). Christ’s return kills and puts an end to the rule of these horns. The ten kings must reign at the end of the present age. They will rule concurrently as a single empire since all exist together as stated in Rev 17:12–13. Some form of the Roman Empire or a new incarnation of it will give rise to ten kings/kingdoms. The Little Horn will be ruler of the last days. He is the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist or the “beast” and he will come after the 10 Kingdoms. He will either arise from the 10 or from elsewhere. The language is not entirely clear.

Judas Goat

This man of lawlessness will be greater in power, intelligence, and arrogance. He will lead people astray. In the last days he will rule with a confederation of nations (kings). Three will resist his power and they will be subjugated by force; the other nations will then submit to him. They appear to remain separate nations but will come under this monster’s control and influence.

The nature of the blasphemous words this Antichrist utters are not stated. Blasphemy against God is bad enough. It is at this point we see things really turn dark and sinister. This fiend will eventually demand the worship owed to God (Rev 13:8, 12). He will tyrannize, oppress or wear away through attrition… the saints of God. In its context the implication is that this will be genocidal wiping-out of God’s people. It will be nightmarish and nearly too horrible to contemplate. The odds are that the rights of God’s people will be removed and wholesale and industrialized persecution and torment will take place (a la: The Holocaust but worse).

Economic sanctions will be in effect to force compliance or rejection of God’s people. Denying religious freedoms is often the tact of totalitarian regimes such as those in Communism and Fascism. These often start as more passive and “friendly” forms of government as Federations, Unions and things like Socialism. Whatever is coming is going to be vastly worse and more intense than anything that has ever come before in history. Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong II, Nero, Caligula. It is probable that this monster will be worse than all these madmen combined because his sole impetus and drive will be none other than Satan himself. Religious freedom will be non-existent. This episode in history will be a wholesale slaughter.

Why? First off, we believers will oppose him which will not sit well with him and secondly, he will be piloted by Satan, who hates God’s people.

I am a literalist when it comes to this period so the horror will last “for a time, times and half a time” or three and one half-years. Hebrew equivalents of this phrase are approximately 1,290 days of or 1,335 days both equate to about three and one-half years. Revelation 13:5 says that the beast (the same as the Antichrist) will have power for forty-two months, which is three and half years. Revelation 11:2 states that Jerusalem will be trampled for forty-two months, which is the time of the persecution of the Antichrist which is…you guessed it…three and half years. A period of three and one-half years is referred to in Dan 9:27, where a covenant is broken in the middle of the seventieth “seven” (or week).

This is either Pre-Tribulation or Pre Wrath  rapture or harpazo, the ἁρπαγησόμεθα of 1 Thessalonians 4:17…take your pick.

I believe the seven times in Daniel 4:16 are generally interpreted as seven years. The “sevens” referred to in chapter 9 to be sevens of years. Religious activities are stopped at the midpoint of the final “seven” (seven years), which would make the time of trial three and one-half years.

According to a futurist viewpoint, this persecution of the saints will continue for three and a half years, which is exactly half of Antichrist’s seven-year career. The second half of the Antichrist’s regime is called the “Great Tribulation” in Revelation 7:14. Judgments described in Revelation 14–19 will then befall the earth. The Antichrist’s inevitable doom now commence. His judgment will occur at the end of the three and one-half year tribulation period when Jesus Christ returns from Heaven with his angels. God’s judgment will be leveled and pronounce the sentence of destruction upon Antichrist. This malevolent tyrant’s power will be taken away and  destroyed forever. The Antichrist’s destruction is emphasized in an unusually powerful manner in the original Aramaic text…even for the Old Testament it is strong language. God will spare no wrath putting an end to him.

The Kingdom of God (7:27)

The fourth empire will come to an end and the Kingdom of God will fill the Earth. No more war. Peace and prosperity will envelope the world. Sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints. The “saints” are clearly identified here as people not angels and they are the followers of the “son of man” .

Scripture is clear that the One who will rule the kingdom of God and receive worship from all the inhabitants of the earth is Jesus Christ or the son of man.

Daniel 7 ends rather amusingly. “This is the end of the matter”. The thoughts that trouble Daniel though are not amusing as can be understood. He is deeply troubled him and his face turned pale. It is probable that Daniel is suffering or stricken with physical shock.

I believe I probably would’ve reacted the same way.

Apocalypse Prophecy XVIII - Visions: World Kingdoms

In Daniel 7, there is the narration of the record of a vision seen by Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar. So we must realize this is taking place somewhere between chapters 4 and 5 historically. It is a vision the four world kingdom/nations which were shown to Nebs in a dream and are represented under the symbols of various beasts. They are the nature and character of the four successive world-kingdoms, but also of the coming Kingdom of God established by the judgment of the world-kingdoms.

Daniel narrates what he saw four great beasts rise up one after another out of the storm-tossed sea; then we see the judgment of God against the fourth beast and the other beasts and finally the delivering up of the kingdom over all nations to the Son of Man, who came with the clouds of heaven. As we know the Son of Man is Jesus Christ. The narration of the vision is brought to a close by a statement of the impression made by this divine revelation on the mind of the prophet (v. 28).

Many modern critics claim this vision is to be regarded as belonging to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. Therefore the representation of the Messianic kingdom in verse 13 and 14 is the only prophetic portion of it, all the other parts merely announcing what had already occurred. This is pure uneducated nonsense. On the other hand, if this chapter were composed during the time of the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, it shows that whoever wrote it was one of the most ignorant historians in history as the author would’ve been dealing with dates and events of his own time...and they weren't very accurate.

Within this warped and flawed modern interpretation there is a complete disconnect and inability to authenticate in history the ten horns which grew up before the eleventh horn, and the three kingdoms. EPIC FAIL!

Anyway…we see the blaspheming of the Most High because the horn has a real mouth on him. We also see the wearing out of the saints, and the changing of all religious ordinances continue for three and a half times, which are taken for three and a half years, after which a cessation will occur and an end will be made by means of heavenly judgment. The godless oppression will end. These three and a half years are not historically proven to be the period of the religious persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes or any other historical period for that matter. At least none that have occurred as to today February 14th, 2012. I would suggest that the period of three and a half years cannot be reckoned with historical accuracy to any historical period known…yet.

I would also suggest that the beginning of this period in relation to the/a temple may still yet be future. I do not believe it was realized under the domination of the Roman empire over Jerusalem A.D. 70 for reasoning stated later.

The truth is Daniel 7 marks the “double-back” of the book from historical accounts to visions again. The chapter is enormously important because of its influence on subsequent Jewish and Christian thought as distant as the book of Revelation and even today.

First, the previous chapters are preparatory to the second part of Daniel and are crucial for understanding it. This is why I have scoured them over the course of 20 posts and the entire book of Daniel has a profound effect on how we will interpret John’s Revelation.

The power and sovereignty of the Lord are clearly the focus of preceding chapters therefore they’ve laid the asphalt for the prophecies later. To me it is clear Daniel prophesied about the four world empires and the second advent of Christ in chapter 2, but in these later visions both the first and second advents of the Lord are described, and much more detail is provided concerning the four kingdoms, particularly the final phase of the fourth.

Because of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction to the Temple the future of the nation was uncertain even to those who returned with Zerubbabel to Judah. God made it clear through Daniel that the people of Israel, His people would continue to have a place in history. A messiah was coming that would redeem them from the bondage of empires and the bondage of the powers of this world…including sin. When He came his kingdom would come also. To this day we do not know the exact time that the prophecies will be fulfilled, especially the second advent of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:36 ~"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Interpreting these prophecies are puzzling but not thoroughly impossible. It is important to have a correct view of the nature of apocalyptic literature in general which we have discussed in earlier lectures. We must understand exactly what the writer saw and heard rather than some contrived interpretation. Symbolism is a key and Daniel’s are nearly impenetrable.

Daniel had a dream in which he saw visions while sleeping and made “the following summary of it” as the NASB says or as the NIV states “He wrote down the substance of his dream”

Four Winds & The Great Sea (7:2-14)

Daniel saw four winds churning up the great sea. “The great sea” may refer to the Mediterranean as it is not specifically named. In verse 3 four great beasts are portrayed as coming up from the “sea,” whereas verse 17 states that these beasts rise up from the “earth.” It can be concluded that the “sea” is actually a symbol of the “earth,” and the beasts that rise out of this “sea” are interpreted later in the chapter as being great “earthly” kingdoms.

“Four winds of heaven” were “churning up” the sea. The word “churning up” can also mean “busting out”. The idea seems to be that these winds suddenly erupt upon the sea. The number “four” denotes the four directions of the earth and probably signifies that the chaos and mayhem created by this storm winds is universal. To me they are God’s judgment being leveled upon godless nation(s) all over the world. The truth is that this type of turmoil has been seen among the earth’s nations throughout history. This may be the case for the winds continually stir up the sea during the rise and fall of all four empires.

It is certain that God’s is involved as He is omnipotent and Sovereign. The chaos and mayhem that we read about is because of the actions of people who do not know God and satanic forces operating on humanity.

Beasts from the Sea (7:3)

“Four great beasts” now appear in Daniel’s vision. It would appear that they were great not only in power but in size as Daniel watched them pass before his eyes. What do these four animals from the sea represent? The angel explains that they represent “four kingdoms” that will rise from the earth. They are the exact same empires represented by the statue in Chapter 2. This description just goes into much more detail. The general and traditional view is that these kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. An observation could be made that it would appear each beast is successively more callous and vicious than its predecessors

The First Beast (7:4)

The first beast resembled a lion (Rev 13:2); a lion with large wings like an eagle. It makes the most sense that the empires would start with that of the author’s day, which was Babylon. In the ruins of Babylon, and winged lions adorned the famous Ishtar Gate. The lion’s wings being ripped off symbolize the king’s insanity and loss of power. The lion being “lifted up” indicates that it was God who raised the king.

The Second Beast (7:5)

The Medo-Persia followed Babylon as the next great world empire. The bear was and animal which was noted for its great size and fierceness in fights (a la the Medo-Persians). The bear then has stopped to devour a mouthful before springing again on its prey. Of course one side of the bear being higher or larger could indicate that the empire consisted of two parts, one being greater than the other (i.e.: Media and Persia) the higher side would symbolize Persia. Since the beasts represent empires the bear eating another beast means victory over another empire. I have no idea what the ribs mean. Battles? “Get up and eat your fill of flesh” means they would conquer subdue many nations.

The Third Beast (7:6)

The third animal resembled a “leopard” (or panther). A leopard with four wings like those of a bird and it had four heads. “Authority to rule” is given to it. Following the Medo-Persian empire it is Greece that dominated the world courtesy of Alexander the Great. The “Four wings” upon the leopard’s back increased the speed, ability and dexterity of this already swift beast. Greece is remembered in history for its blistering speed in battle and Alexander the Great had an voracious covetousness for territory. Within ten years by the age of thirty-two he had conquered the entire Medo-Persian Empire all the way up to the doors of India. Then come the four heads. Daniel predicted symbolically that one empire would ultimately evolve into four kingdoms, and this is exactly what happened. When Alexander dies mysteriously in 323 B.C.

Head 1-Antipater control of Greece and Macedonia.
Head 2-Lysimachus ruled Thrace / Asia Minor.
Head 3-Seleucus I Nicator governed Syria, Babylon, and much of the Middle East
Head 4-Ptolemy I /Soter controlled Egypt and Palestine.

The Fourth Beast (7:7–8)

The fourth beast was essentially a nightmare and terrifying because it was very powerful and had large iron teeth with which it devoured all its prey. We also see words like: Crushed, shatter, pulverize…a formidable empire indeed. Fragments of its victims that remained were “trampled” under the monster’s feet. It had ten horns with that it gored its victims with. This beast was “different from all the former beasts” because of its great power, fierce appearance, and because it was much larger. It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that this is symbolic reference to the Roman Empire. Strangely this fourth beast did not look like any animal known then or now. The incredible size and cruelty of Rome are explained by and empire that stretched to the British Isles and punishments like crucifixion. Rome possessed a power and permanence unlike anything the world had previously seen. Nations were crushed under Roman legions feet.

Ten Horns & The Little Horn

“Horns,” like heads, commonly symbolize kings or kingdoms in Scripture and the “horns” specifically identified as kings or kingdoms. Since the “horns” protrude from the fourth beast I have to assume these “kings” must have a connection or come from that empire…The Roman Empire. Then suddenly another horn, a little one come up among the ten. The little implies its size at inception

It grew or “came up,” and its size in the end is beyond the original ten horns because of the fact that it overpowered three of them. The uprooting three horns seem to indicate that three kings/kingdoms (nations) will be conquered by the new ruler. This appears to be and usurping. By force this the Little Horn will overpower other kings /kingdoms who resist and he will devour and incorporate them into his empire. The Little Horn also has “eyes” too and seem to approximate human personality but in Scripture they could also function as symbols of control, observation or learning and may equate to intelligence, insight, and wisdom. This dude also has a “mouth that spoke boastfully/great things”. This is an arrogant leader and what is of particular note to believers is that he will spout blasphemies against God. This is where I believe Daniel’s prophecy does futuristic as it…this stuff hasn’t occurred yet. To me the fourth beast is clearly Rome but the ten horns/kings? The ten horns coming out of Rome represent a union or coalition of kingdoms that will originate from the old Roman Empire because as far as I can see…there were not ten clearly defined kingdoms that arose from the ruins of a dissolved Roman Empire. Also I see this union or coalition or nation’s dominion will immediately precede the return of Christ. Why? Because Scripture tells us that this empire will be destroyed by the coming of the Kingdom of God .

The little horn of this league of ten horns will be extraordinary in a bad way with “eyes like a man and arrogant (mouth speaking arrogant things) against God and His holy people. He will conquer three kingdoms (or nations) that will initially resist him. It is a picture of a horrendously evil, future king in these verses seems to concur with descriptions of him found in other Scripture passages (Daniel 11, 2 Thess 2 & Rev 13). He is the archetype of…you guessed it…the vile antichrist.

Although “ten horns” could indicate the Little Horn’s dominion will consist of ten kingdoms but of course this could just be allusion to the idea of complete power, sovereignty or rule. It is believed by many that this will indeed be a federation of nations will come from the Old Roman Empire. I’m not so sure. Every successive generation sees these verses and claims their truths for themselves and every successive generation passes on to be in glory with the Lord only to see their predictions fade into the haze of history. We will know the season by the changing of the leaves…

What we do know for sure is that the final empire before the arrival of God’s Kingdom in force will have incredible power…and it will eventually become merciless and horrendously evil because we know that it will be by force that monstrosity the Antichrist will rule the whole earth (Rev 13:3, 7–8, 12).

Apocalypse Prophecy XVIII: Odds n' Ends In the Middle of Daniel

Chapter 4 & 5: Probably Should Be Read Together

Daniel Chapters 4 and 5 forms the core of the structural unit that comprises Chapters 2 thru 7. As such chapters 4 and 5 provide contrasting examples of royal hubris or extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. In chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar eventually comes to recognize that 'the Most High God is the true sovereign and rules over human kingship. Because of this understanding and recognition Nebuchadnezzar is restored to his throne.

Conversely, Belshazzar having Nebuchadnezzar’s example to learn from being his descendant has learned nothing from the example which the narrative in chapter 5 assumes he knows, hence the linkage...so he loses his throne and then his life as both are God's. The author of chapter 5 is even specific of this comparison by mentioning Neb’s in verses 2 & 11 to make sure the reader sees the comparison/contrast. They both therefore share the idea that God’s judgment or wrath is directed at human pride that sets itself up against God. Nebs’ pride arose from his achievement(s), Bells’ arose from his lack of achievements.

These two combined and their intended contrast should structurally be seen as the climax of the unit containing chapters 2 thru 7. The moral of the story or overarching theme is that of royal hubris or extreme haughtiness especially when it is waved in the face of the Most High God...it leads to disaster. This then paves the way for the visions in chapters 8 thru 12 which to some extent speak to the rise and fall if kingdoms until the ultimate one comes...God's

Overall chapters 3, 4 and 5 are closely interrelated. The story leaves Nebuchadnezzar 'half-converted'. He recognizes the power of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, but still thinks that he can manipulate this power to some extent by prescribing which God people should worship. In chapter 4 we see the completion of his conversion as his pride is humbled and he ends up simply confessing the greatness of God. These two stories (Chapters 4 & 5) thereby form a pair that contrast one another since both describe the humbling of arrogant leaders/kings.

Nebuchadnezzar “gets it”, Belshazzar “doesn’t get it” therefore Belshazzar deserved the calamity that befalls him. As the Professor McLaughlin notes: ”Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

What Does Daniel Praying in an Open Window Tell Us Today? (Chapter 6)

The key is the term 'law' in this story. There is competing demands on Daniel (and believers like us) of the “Law of God” and the “law of the land”. In the case of Daniel it is the “law of the Medes/Persians”. There is also the idea of a divine sovereignty that overarches everything. Even though Darius is tricked into making a law which forces him to comply with throwing Daniel into the lion’s den. Undeviating, God’s sovereignty and control of things can make that law ineffective and essentially a “paper lion” or a “lion without teeth and claws”. In this story there is even the supposed immutability of the “law of the land/men” with the Medes and Persians that even the supposed all-powerful king cannot overturn it…but God can.

Furthermore, we see the idea relevant to today, that the State might/may claim for itself a quasi-divine type of distinction. Boy!...This this damning for us today in the United States and to some extent many “sovereign” nations in the world. Especially today in times of increasing crime rates, economic problems, growing social unrest or external threats that appear to be the divine judgement of a just God. In the supposed absence of a tangible or physical God, citizens of kingdoms or nations willingly afford quasi-divine status on their government (i.e: Nanny State). The State becomes God…and if this sounds strangely familiar it is because it is the premise to some extent for Communism, Fascism and to a milder degree Socialism. When this happens, it causes a need to divide loyalties to either State or God. This presents problem to those the wish to worship the One True God. As history has shown, the State will sooner or later make demands that challenge allegiance to God whether openly or subtly. We saw it all through the centuries and especially in the 20th…and we see it now. These subtleties mentioned often come in the form of a governed of mandated “political correctness” that inevitably make it a crime to obey one’s God or worship Him openly. Eventually certain expressions of belief, or moral stances, are no longer culturally acceptable. Two of the more recent issues forcing a divided loyalty in our culture right now are homosexual marriage and abortion due to laws being passed by the government against the concept and edicts clearly outlined in the Bible.

When presented with this choice Daniel and believers like us are called to obey God even if it is a violation of the “laws of the land” / ”law of the Medes and Persians”. As Daniel understood and we should also, obeying God saves us, obeying the laws of man and the precepts of this world condemns us because in the long-view…this world is fallen, corrupt and prone to a continual reprobate nature. We must delineate or separate ourselves from the world in these instances. We are to engage and interact with the world…we are not to become it.

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

If men and their laws try to usurp God, God and His decrees trump men. Period…end of discussion. "Man cannot serve two masters."

We must also remember that earthly powers do have some power over us, the people of God. We must remember that the faithful like Daniel are not saved from the lions den but rather in the lions den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are not saved from the fiery furnace but rather in the fiery furnace.

Makes one think...doesn't it? Its a matter of timing.

God's not yours.

It is quite possible that God wants you to be a martyr. Probable? No. Possible? Yes.

The Christian Worldview -vs- The Pagan View (Chapter 7)

Daniel 7 and Psalm 2 parallel one another thereby showing unity in the book of Daniel in spite of language differences.

First it must be stated that Daniel 7 being a break in the ethos of the first part of Daniel 1-6 and then 7-12 is not because of contradictory worldviews. Instead, it represents two ends of the same spectrum of the experiences of the godly person living in a pagan ungodly society. As such Daniel 7 attempts to convey ideas through culturally based symbolic imagery because it communicates in ways beyond normal prose. In the proper context these symbols carry with them powerful communication and ideas or a “punch”. Outside of their proper context they make nearly no sense and are absolutely bewildering. This makes it imperative that we understand the culture they were written in and to.

If these imageries are based in the Babylonian Creation epic which they very well may have been they are quite possibly alluding to the imagery or “feel” or chaos, conflict and creation. It is a form of chaos that ends in renewal and order for another sustained period. From a Hebrew point of view and to another extent Christian the stability of the world is guaranteed by the fact that Yahweh created and is in control of the Creation.

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Psalm 96:10

The Creation epic is expounded upon on in Genesis 1 and 2 and is further elaborated on in Psalm 74:13-17

“You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter."

Believers are/were confident that God (the Creator) could deal with all forces in a Creation that He created and controls by His sovereign hand. Some of these forces were historical and by their nature…human in origin and this is where the parallel to Daniel 7 is best seen…in Psalm 2:1-2

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying ~ Psalm 2:1-2

Hebrews (and Christians) are sure that Yahweh can and will deal with these forces and Psalm 2 shows us that it will be done through the Messiah (His Anointed). God will not let His faithful languish forever (in exile or sin) nor will He fail to have the power to save and redeem His people (from the yoke of slavery and oppression to the Babylonians, the Medes, the Romans, sin…themselves. Those that remain faithful and repentant to the bitter end will not only see, but they will also share as co-heirs in Christ in the culmination of all of God’s sovereign purposes at the End of the Ages. AMEN!!! GOD NEVER ABANDONS HIS FAITHFUL!!!

Scars From Romans

• The Cross shows the love of God for what it is...It is gracious, merciful (for us), longsuffering and abundant and/or overflowing from the Fountainhead of Love itself -- God.
• The Cross also shows sin and evil for what it is...It took the death of the Son of Man to put it away forever
• The Cross tells us as Christians that we do not live defeated lives but are victorious in the Lord.
• We were once children of wrath but we are now saved by the blood of the Lamb.
• The Lamb who is the Son of God.

• A promise to Abraham [and us] or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
• More specifically through righteousness of faith - διὰ δικαιοσύνης πίστεως
• Righteousness...that had to have been given to us from a righteous source
• A source that cared enough to do so...
• Because we are not righteous--no, not one.
• Faith or trust that God does what He promises.
• Ultimately, what He promised is righteousness-holy like He is holy.
• Without which there is no eternal life.
• Faith, not an act of seeing but rather the eye that believes without seeing.
• Faith or the belief given to us by God.
• Given through grace
• So we may remain obedient to the faith
• Those that are righteous will live by this faith
• Without Christ...none of this is possible
• Because Jesus Christ was the promise
• More specifically He was the "Promised One"
• Of which both the Law and the Prophets spoke of all those ages before.

• Having been justified by faith- we have peace through Jesus Christ.
• We are no longer under His wrath.
• By which we have been introduced by faith into this [God's] grace where we now stand-and exult in the hope of the glory of God

God is not this distant and cold object in the sky but is close and loves us. It is from this love which grace and mercy spring forth--in salvation. There can be no boasting! None! None are righteous. It is imputed to us. The dead cannot hear and they cannot see. The dead can have no faith unless it is given to them.


I am so wretched.

Christianity & The Bible: Perfect Quality System III - Correcting Non-Conformities

Sometimes a church  looses its way and it is hard to get it back on course. The Bible calls us to corrective actions otherwise...

"...other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away." ~Matthew 13:5-6

I think what I found most surprising when doing this post is my research. I went on the internet and looked for what others felt were the corrective actions for fixing a church that has "turned to the right or the left" (Proverbs 4:27) and almost all of them made suggestions for corrective action that were devoid of Scriptural support! Dude! That makes me batty! Many made statements like: "The church must maintain its relevance...blah blah blah" or worse...they stated that we need to, "make sure the muffin and coffee table are in an accessible and user-friendly position." Still more said things reductio ad absurdum like: "We need to focus inwardly..." or make a priority of "comfort". Whaaaa? Will someone please show me in the Bible where it says this? Please..anyone. This builds Christians in their walk with Jesus Christ how?

The Bible tells us nearly the opposite:

Luke 9:23 ~"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Philippians 1:27-29 ~"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one [not alone inwardly] for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

First and foremost we need "to preach the Gospel"! εὐαγγελίζεσθαι !!! Once we get this down, then we can move forward tentatively with additional corrective actions. The first thing we should be doing is rooting out and disposing of the underlying sinful mindsets. The Bible is clear that our actions have their impetus in out thought world. Where the mind leads the body will most assuredly follow.

Matthew 5:21-22~ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment." But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Matthew 5:27-28~ "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery." But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

...and so on.

The Corrective Action in a Non-Conforming Church

Reorientation to a Biblical Standard

Check:

1. If there is either a reluctance or unwillingness to at least enforce or maintain a minimum behavioral or quality standard in a congregation there is a problem with sin or influence of iniquity already within the Body whether it be in thought or action.
2. For example: If there is a problem with quality of output in terms of marriages, sexual propriety/impropriety or immorality the root cause of these sins will also be sexual or relational in nature.
3. The end result will often be leadership wondering by leadership why output quality (marriages, sexual propriety/impropriety or immorality) is not up to or down to expected levels respectively at the point of measurement.
• Marriages
• Discipleship
• Spiritual Life

Plan

1. We as a church must delineate what we are by defining what we are according to a biblical standard. If we maintain or allow the standards of the world or culture wholesale through the front door of the church if not by the laity, then by the leadership itself sometimes we will become the culture. Even precursory review of the culture can see that the culture seriously messed-up. It is messed up becuase:
• It has abandoned God and the Bible.
• It therefore has no absolute moral benchmark or absolute measure of Truth
• If we reject Bible truth, we reject God because God is Truth.
• I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life ~John 14:6
• Therefore mankind makes its own benchmark and it is based in human logic and human reason which is a recipe for disaster and further apostasy (fall away from God).
• We've seen all throughout the Bible the endgame of man putting himself in the place of God.
• Thou shalt have no other God's before Me....Exodus 20:3
• Failure to obey this incurs judgment and curses of Deuteronomy 28.
2. If we rarely (perhaps never) check some of the sins at the door and we wonder why the church appears to be stagnating relationally both in marriages and with covenant with God
• The church therefore becomes the same or indistinguishable from the outside.
• This is a problem because it is a non-conformity to a Godly standard outlined in Scripture
• We are expected to change after we have entered the Faith.
• "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Do or Act

1. We as a church must delineate what we are. Are we running a church or running a business or a business running a church? We can use ideas from the business world to help our churches as long as they align perfectly with the Bible but we cannot run our churches as businesses! (Take that Rick Warren :) We can't have our cake and eat it too. No man can serve two masters. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24
2. We must start with a basic minimum expectation of behavior.
3. If we were running a business which many evangelical church models are based on, then, just like every other business in the world, implement a minimum standard level of Human Resource quality by enforcing a...
• Dress Code
• Minimum Acceptable Behavior standard
• Make proper interpretation of Bible the benchmark
• First, assure that leadership (and their spouses ,as they are de facto leaders) have a correct view of Scripture.
• Second, Assure through aforementioned biblical leadership that laity have a correct view of Scripture
• Implement Biblical training and education where necessary to improve the minimum level of sanctification and holiness.
4. If were running a church then implement a minimum level of holiness to allow for productive environment for a minimum level of sanctification.
• Dress Code
• Minimum Acceptable Behavior standard
• Make proper interpretation of Bible as the benchmark
• First, assure that leadership (and their spouses ,as they are de facto leaders) have a correct view of Scripture
• Second, Assure through aforementioned biblical leadership that laity have a correct view of Scripture
• Implement Biblical training and education where necessary to improve the minimum level of sanctification and holiness.
5. Either way, business or church, both demand a minimum level of quality for them to function at even a nominal or "functional" level.
6. Why do we need that minimum standard? Is it a "work"? NO!
• "Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." ~1 Corinthians 8:13
• "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God" ~ 1 Corinthians 10:32
• "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea." ~Mark 9:42
• "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." ~Romans 14:21

Check Again

1. If not, you just have a broken business/church with little or no acceptable cut-off or standards.
2. Therefore they're just like everyone else.
3. Therefore they are the culture. That my friends...isn't biblical

A Control Group of Criteria

1. No true believer would intentionally set a snare in order to cause confusion for those who seek the Lord.
2. No true believer would intentionally lead a fellow Christian away from truth.
3. No true believer would intentionally lead their children to rebel against God and not believe and obey the Bible.
4. No true believer, wife or husband would deliberately do things to cause their spouse to fall
5. No true believer would deliberately, intentionally and openly sin against God in front of another believer without conscience.

Check Again and Again and Again and....

We need to continue to consult the Scripture until we die. Over and over and over and over ad nauseum if need be. None of us are good enough to just read it a few times and walk away. This is where many churches and leadership stop either willingly or because they have reached a point of denial. By this I mean that leadership believes they have finally "made it" or they begin to become pharisaic and start answering to their own standard therefore abandoning Scripture. They believe they "know" Scripture as well as they should and therefore no longer consult it. This is no different than apostasy as we, in our depraved sinful nature begin to think or say, "Oh, the Bible says this when I read it ten years ago...". What did Jesus say? "It is written..." He always consulted the Bible directly. Believe me, I serious doubt Jesus forgot Scripture or twisted it. Jesus was the WORD! He said this as a model or benchmark for our behavior!

Benchmark:

1. We are called to be different and we are to hold ourselves to a higher level of holiness quality
• For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
• Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Hebrew 12:14
• As he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of conduct. 1 Pet 1:1
• 1 Peter 1:15-16~ "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Humans set up organizations and institutions but they nearly always take on a life of their own and it then seems as if these institutions run the people rather than the other way around. That is because institutions and organizations that have their inceptions in humans are unequivically of this world and are therefore subject to the powers and principalities of this world (Ephesians 6:12)...which are not of God at all. This is just the opposite for the Church which has its inception in Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Having said this, if the church has its inception in a business model it therefore is not of God per se , is it? We tread and extremely thin line and it revolves around heart intent and vigilant adherence to the Bible and God. Incorporating ideas into the church that align to the standards of the Bible is fine but aligning corporate standards to the Church that are not absolutely and perfectly congruent with Biblical teaching is not. God and people have an ethos, insitutions do not. Institutions have a high probabilty of becoming idols. Although the Law and the Temple were meant for man's own good, man was still able in his depraved and fallen nature to even mess up the divine created Law and Temple by misappropriating it and making it an idol.  We saw this with the Jews and the Temple right before the Babylonian Exile. The Jews took for granted they had the Law and the Temple therefore assuming God was on their side...so God took the Temple (and to a greater of lesser extent the Law) away by sending them into exile. This is why we now are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. There are no longer "brick and morters" to become idols or at least there shouldn't be. But even then...even our relationship with God, when it becomes a "religion" can potentially become idol-like. We must always return to the Word...to the Gospel. Over and over: Plan-Do-Check-Act, Plan-Do-Check-Act, Plan-Do-Check-Act, Plan-Do-Check-Act...

In closing I will state this: Although it isn't explicitly stated in this post, it is most certainly implied. This must all be done in love and with a firm hand. Tough love when necessary. Tough love means telling people the truth...even when the truth hurts. If I didn't love people, I would lie to them and soften the edges. There is no room in this world for a watered-down Gospel. When you are telling the truth of God there is no such thing as not delivering the truth in love because God's truth is love! Also, through all of this including the consultation of Scripture we should be praying. Taking our issue right to the throne of God. It is a double-check system to assure that we are in alignment with God's overall plan for holiness. We have the Word and we have the relationship. It is an airtight process to sanctify us as we adhere to Him...(dare I say it)...religiously, with devotion and conviction. ;)