A Star Led Them: God Will Lead You Also!

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 

in the days of Herod the king,behold, there came 

wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For 

we have seen His star in the east, and are come 

to worship Him.....

Now when they saw the star, they rejoiced 

with exceeding great joy. And when they were 

come into the house, they saw the young child 

with Mary His mother, and fell down, 

and worshipped Him...

Mathew 2:1-2; 11a  

     Much has been speculated about those wise men from the east but we do know this: God led them to see and worship Jesus. How else can anyone say anything different for it was a star that miraculously led those wise men. Without saying this, it is apparent that there was some understanding about the Messiah the Jews were expecting to come to them and that understanding spread far and wide, wide enough so that those who looked into the mysterious, as would wise men, they knew that it was time for the King of the Jews to be born. The star led them, God used means to do this, a star, and by the coming of the wise men from the east the news that the Messiah had come would be brought back into their country. God used means to spread this Good News by the use of the wise men. There is good news for us: God uses men, means to accomplish His purpose, that, that is, if you choose to allow God to use you, will use you as the means to spread the Good News: Jesus the Messiah, the Savior has come.

     These wise men, even if unknowing fully, this baby was God incarnate, but they knew enough to worship Him and only God has the right to receive worship and Mary did not rebuke those wise men for she knew that Jesus was miraculously conceived and was God come to save. It is important to notice that Jesus by this time was a young boy and living in a house. Those scenes placing the wise men at the manger are wrong, might seem a small thing, but it is not for we can see that Jesus having gone into Egypt to avoid being killed by Herod and Herod now dead was back in Israel and growing to be a man and soon will tell that He is God in the flesh. 

     Now, if strangers, not even Jews who believed in Jehovah, would worship Jesus how much more should we who have the record that He came, lived, died, and rose again into heaven, should worship Him? This is what Christmas is all about: Jesus!

     Now is the time to have joy, a special joy, a time to meditate upon the reason for the season. To enjoy life, to enjoy family, to enjoy friends, to celebrate, to be festive, to also remember that there are those who do not have all this and are lonely: do you know of anyone that may be in that situation? Have you ever thought as to how you might bring joy into their lives or are you to wrapped up in your own festivities? Take time, go, do, is this not what God has done for you? Yes!

      Well!! MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I will start again after Jan 1, 2017: wow another year gone by and a new one begins may it bring you great joy, and to aid you to grow in your holiness. 

O Zion, That bringest good tidings,

     get thee up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings,

     lift it up, be not afraid; say unto

the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

             Isaiah 40:9

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Richard L. Crumb

 

  

Baby Jesus: God Is With Us

But while he thought on these things, behold, 

the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a 

dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of 'David, fear 

not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that 

which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call

 His name Jesus: for He shall save His people

 from their sins.  

Matthew 1:20-21

     I am sure that all of you who have attended Church for anytime are aware of these verses. This account about the conception of Jesus has arisen many different theological doctrines. Mormons say that Jesus is a created being and that he has a soul and that soul was implanted into Mary. The Mormons believe that Jesus is the highest intelligent being in all the universe, next to Lucifer who in their theological beliefs causes Satan, to be the brother of Jesus. Jehovah Witnesses follow much along the same line of reasoning as they too make Jesus to be an angel who God transformed into a cell to become a man. Jehovah Witnesses then make Jesus to be a god. Historically Christians have believed that Jesus is God and that He in a hypostatic union with God and Mary is both Man and God. Mormons say that they hold the bible (rightly translated according to Joseph Smith, Jr.) to be true and so do the Jehovah Witnesses albeit they use the Critical Text for their translation rather than the Received Text that contains the majority of all extant manuscripts. 

     This is Christmas the time of the year that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, so who is this Jesus? Is Jesus just another soul, albeit to be of the highest intelligence, or an angel that God created to create all things? Or is Jesus God?

Is Jesus God and Man in one joined together in a body? 

     The narrative of the birth of Jesus may make you wonder as to the truth. An angel came to Joseph in a dream. Let us look at the Greek to get a better understanding for a Greek person would not have trouble understanding the words written in this narrative. How are we to understand "an angel of the Lord?" Could this "an angel" be just another angel being used as the means to bring this narrative to Joseph? The word angel means a messenger, a supernatural being who at times bears a message on behalf of God. In the Old Testament the angel of the Lord is identified with God and in instances there is a distinction between the Lord and the angel. These terms: "the angel of the Lord," and the Lord," and "God" are interchangeable. When the angel came to Hagar in the Sarai desert she stated and names Him: "You are the God who sees me" (Genesis 16:13). There was a curse put on the people of Meroz by the angel of the Lord (Judges 5:23), and only God can execute a curse so this calls into question as to who this is angel of God. The angel of the Lord executes judgment, carries out a ministry of reconciliation. There is a connection between the angel of the Lord and the preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ which cannot be denied. Furthermore, the angel of the Lord accepts worship as He did from Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:9-22). The functions by the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament can be seen to prefigure the reconciling ministry of Jesus. The Greek in this case, in this verse is:
άγγελος (a singular masculine noun without the article and can be translated: a angel, or the angel or angel, and the text will determine if the word "an" can be used)  κυρίου (A noun that is genitive: of is the word that is genitive, or of the). So we can use angel of the Lord, the angle of the Lord, or angel, but the context is referring to a being so the words could be "an" or "the" and we now know that this angel is of the Lord. 

     The narrative then state: "For that which is conceived in here is of the Holy Ghost" and the Greek is: τό (the) γὰρ (for) (those to words are to be translated "that") ὲν(in) αὺτη̣ˆ(her, this word is feminine) γεννηθὲν (nominative, singular,neuter, participle, arorist, passive") this word refers to coming into existence, to be crated, to exist in its etymology but in this case it means what is born or produced, offspring, progeny. ὲκ (denotes origin or source and after passive verbs as is γεννηθὲν it can be translated by6, of, or from, making the agent. νεύματός  (Nominative, masculine, without the article can be translated the spirit, a spirit, or spirit and the context determines the article that is implied. The next determines that that the article is "the." ὲστιν (third person singlular, present tense, indicative) therefore is a strong word meaning "is" άγίου (this word is genitive and means "of" holy). 

     Begotten is from beget and means to generate, offspring, to produce as an effect. Nothing can be begotten which is not produced from that which is begetting. What this begotten was producing was of the Begetter an is holy as the one Begetting. Jesus was not created but begotten, or produced from the One who is the Begetter, and this one begotten is holy as is the Begetter. Therefore this One conceived by the Holy Spirit which is God produces Himself to be joined with humanity and is God while taking on the form of a human. Jesus as His name was to be called then is both God and Man in one flesh. He came to die for sin, to pay the debt owed tot the Godhead, to God Himself. Man could never pay this debt so God paid it Himself. 

      This is Christmas, that God came to earth to become the Savior, not as a Spirit, but as Man, a Man who revealed God to us, this God who cannot be seen by human eyes. this Baby had but one mission, to die, and to die sinless, not having the sin of Adam that plagues mankind who are the progeny of Adam. 

     Now this One who will be brought forth shall be called "Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. This can only be true if God is actually with us and this is the case with this Baby Jesus, God now resided until His death with men on earth, God is with us, and will be with us for all eternity. This is the Baby lying in a manger, the Savior. 

     This is Christmas.

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion,

     and utter His voice from Jerusalem;

and the heavens and the earth shall shake:

     but the LORD will be the hope of His 

people, and the strength of the Children 

    of Israel. So shall ye know that I am

the LORD your God dwelling in Zion,

    My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem

be holy, and there shall no strangers pass

   through her any more.

                         Joel 3:16-17

God Is With Us: Celebrate His Birth

Richard L. Crumb

Christmas: Christ Is All

...Christ is all...

Colossians 3:11b

     Yes, the opening verse is short. Do not be misled that due to its shortness that it does not have great meaning. Those words are the very essence and substance of Christianity. In what sense is Christ "all in all?" We must take the time to judge ourselves and to inquire as to whether or not this is true for ourselves. Christ is the mainspring of our doctrine and our practice of Christianity. We must have the correct understanding of Christ so we have the right knowledge of sanctification and justification. Jesus Christ must have His rightful place in us, that is, if we are to be Authentic Christians.

     In a few days Christmas will be upon us, a day of joy, excitement, a day of receiving and giving of presents, of ourselves to others. Christmas has become a day that not only Christians celebrate but those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as well. When Christmas is given way to "happy holiday" we get upset, even mad. When Christmas carols are not given air to be heard and only secular songs about Christmas we get mad. Why? 

     Christmas is a shortened form of "Christ mass" and literally means "Christian mass." Christmas was unknown to the early Christian writers. Irenaeus and Tertullian (Their writings were around 200 A.D.) omit it from their lists of feasts. Christmas celebration was first in Rome 336 A.D.Clement of Rome around 200 A.D. did write about this subject of great interest and had great uncertainty: 

only the year of our Lord's birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in the 25th day of [the Egyptian month] Pachon [May 20] … And treating of His Passion, with very great accuracy, some say that it took place in the 16th year of Tiberius, on the 25th of Phamenoth [March 21]; and others on the 25th of Pharmuthi [April 21] and others say that on the 19th of Pharmuthi [April 15] the Savior suffered. Further, others say that He was born on the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi [April 20 or 21] (McGowan, Andrew, How December 25 Became Christmas, Bible History Daily, 12/02/2016.)

Several other dates were offered and used as to this celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic and Protestants settled on December 25th as the date to be used for the Christmas celebration. Many other so-called Christian religions object to this, as do the Jehovah Witnesses who will not celebrate birthdays and often use Origen for their support. 
     THIS ALL CAN BE DEBATED FOR ETERNITY BUT DOES NOT REMOVE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. If this celebration for you is all about or mostly about the gifts, the tree, the songs, the excitement then you have missed the point: JESUS CHRIST CAME TO EARTH TO DIE! Jesus Christ is the greatest of gifts ever given to mankind. We cannot give a gift to Jesus other than to make Him our personal Savior. God dis not send to earth by some transformation of an angel to become a man, and God did not send any other spirit to become our Savior. Mormons believe that Jesus is a created being, and Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jesus is a created being, but neither or correct for Scripture makes plain and clear: Jesus is God, God incarnate. It is God who saves and this by means of Jesus Christ. 
     There was a time when this earth was nothing more than a mass of electrons created by God to become formed into all that was to be created. It was Jesus Christ who being God created all things: "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). "Christ is all" This Christ, the promised Messiah who was "in the beginning, not the beginning but in the beginning who as with God, and this due to the fact that He is God, the Second Person of the Trinity, and who is God" (John 1:1). "Christ is all." Christ is all as a sinner's justification before God and without Christ no man can come before God. We have to come in the name of Jesus, standing on no other ground, pleading no other plea. Jesus Christ, this baby, this One whom we celebrate on December 25, came to die and this He did on the cross. The name, not the letters of the name but the authority of His name is the only name by which a person can enter into heaven. 
     With all this then will you take the time not to just celebrate all the gifts, the food, the time with family, friends to remember the reason for the season. "Christ is all." This baby boy born in a manger grew to be a man, a man who walked and talked and did great wonders in His ministry here on earth was born to die for you. This baby boy must be looked at with the eyes of One who has all gratitude and love that God would come for you and all you have to do is to accept Him, believe upon Him, repent truly for you sins and then to grow in holiness. 
     This day, December 25th, or whatever date you use to celebrate His coming must not lose it reason due to all the excitement of celebration but a day to call all together and go over the reason for the season. God came, and He came for you. This baby boy is the Messiah, the anointed High Priest. Christ is not Jesus' last name, it is the appellation of who He is; the Messiah, the Savior, the Promised One from the beginning of man when he fell. Jesus Christ is Jesus, Immanuel, and when we say we are Christians then we say to all that we are the image of His character and then we live that image. 
     Enjoy this day, enjoy all the celebration, enjoy the reason for this celebration: God has come and has come to put an end to all this sin, this cultural world that is in opposition to God and this He did by becoming a baby, and to grow, and to teach and to die all just for you. All this in the economy of God He came and now CELEBRATE!

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live:
     I will sing praise to my God while I have
my being. My meditation of Him shall be 
    sweet I will be glad in the LORD.
              Psalm 105:33-34

Praise God: He has come

Richard L. Crumb

The City Of God And The Coming Of The Reapers

And another angel came out of the temple 

which is in heaven, he also having a sharp

 sickle. And another angel came out from the

 altar, which had power over fire; and cried with 

a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, 

saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the 

clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes 

are fully ripe. And the angle thrust in his sickle

 into the earth, and gathered the vine of the

 earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the

 wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden 

without the city, and blood came out of the

 wine press, even unto the horses bridles, by the 

space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Revelation 14:17-20

     I must apologize for not writing for few days but I have and had a very bad chest and head cold. Mostly over it but must still take it easy. I will be going away on 12/23/2016 to be with family for Christmas and will stay for a few days. When back I will resume chapter 15 to the end. I will write for the next days until leaving but more exhortation rather than continuing in Revelation. What we have learned so far from Revelation is that God is coming, that God will divide between the evil, the wicked and those who have heard His call and responded to Him, to have become the bride of Jesus Christ. We have added to our worship a time to reflect upon the first coming of Jesus Christ, we call this Christmas and if He had not come then we would still be waiting for His coming, but He did and He died for us. So our worship is not the tree, the gifts, the food, and other such trappings but to remember and recall that Jesus came, that God came to our earth and by sending His Wisdom, who we call Jesus, the Christ, that we will not experience the wrath of God, the thrusting of His sickle reaping the earth. 

     Notice this very important verse: "And the wine press was trodden without the city......" (Revelation 14:20a).

     Augustine in his work The City Of God, is a reading that I believe Christians should read for it defines Christianity and that Christians make up the City of God. This City of God is most glorious, a city surpassingly gloryious, a city that live by faith amidst this ungodly world. This city is eternal and even now waits patiently for  the return of Jesus Christ and the judgment. Authentic Christians wait patiently for the final victory and that perfect peace that comes to this city. This city is a heavenly city but there is also an earthly city, a city that rules ruthlessly, and by lust of rule. It is this earthly city that belongs the enemies of the city of God. Instead of be reclaimed from this earthly city they remain and hold fast to their ungodly error, even though seen as credible citizens of this earthly city. Yet, it can be plainly seen by anyone who takes the time to look, the have hatred against the city of God. 

    The city of God which is borne out for us in Scripture as in the writings in this Psalm: "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Psalm 87:3). John reminds us that when the reaper comes with his sharp sickle that the city will be gone and Isaiah prophesies this: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold , the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1-2). This city  now removed from the earthly city and now in heaven: "Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. a little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in His time" (Isaiah 60:21-22). Again we are reminded that God in His providence has planted by the knowledge of Him that without this knowledge of God no man can attain salvation, this salvation that is given to all who believe upon Jesus Christ who is our Mediator. 

     When the reaper comes will you be gone, in the City of God, or will you still be on this city, the city of earth? Do not play with numbers, with speculation as to what this means or that means, you can easily see that there is a dividing between those who are of the City of God, and those who are of the city of the earth. You can see that without repentance of you sinful life you cannot enter into the City of God. This is first and foremost, you must repent and believe upon Jesus Christ. When you have repented and believed upon Jesus then the truth of your repentance and belief will be seen in your growth of holiness. You cannot have one foot in the City of God and the other in the city of the earth. You must choose! God has provided the way, the means, and is calling; will you answer Him or turn away? We now are in final preparations for the celebration of the birth of Jesus: yes, this is not the actual date, and yes, there is no Scriptural warrant demanding us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but then it is not the time, or the celebration that is important, it is a recognition that God has come, and the by the means of His Son Jesus Christ, the incarnate God, we now can have salvation, and the residing of the Holy Spirit within us. Now is the appropriate time to recall all that God has done, and John in the above verses reminds us that the reaper is coming, but the City of God is nowhere to be found on earth. Can you say: Hallelujah? 

I am the LORD your God;

     walk in My statutes, 

and keep My judgments,

     and do them; and hallow

My sabbaths; and they shall

    be a sign between Me and you,

that ye may know that I am the 

     LORD your God.

                   Ezekiel 20:19-20

Choose today in what city you live

Richard L. Crumb

Preparing For The Coming Of The Lord

And I heard a voice from heaven saying 

unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die

 in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit,

 that they may rest from their labors; and their 

works do follow them. and I looked, and behold

 a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto

 the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, 

and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel 

came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice 

to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle,

 and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; 

for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat 

on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and 

the earth was reaped.

Revelation 14:13-16 

     Before we move on I must address the symbol of the mark, one on the forehead the other on the hand. Whatever that mark be, whether it is physical, or implanted device, or just mental, whatever it is, it is apparent that the mark is showing a person(s) as to whom that person believes and belongs. Discuss all a person wants to discuss, or speculate, the mark is not something that an Authentic Christian will receive. As for me, this mark on the head represents that a person has fallen prey to false teaching and heresy. It is this mental attitude about God that is in full opposition to God. This person carries out all that the beast, that one who is Satan, his will. For the one who receives the mark of the beast on the hand, that person is working to do the will of God. We see this mark played out in our lives by those who accept immorality, same-sex marriage, abortion, and other such sins. They do, not just talk, the will of Satan. The history of Babylon shows that this beast has its foundation in Babylon who from it very founder, Nimrod, a grandson of Noah who fell into opposition to God and to gain power developed another god(s) for the people to worship and morality was not something Babylon detested, rather they accepted it as normal. 

     We must address hell as there are many theories as to what this place is and where it is located. If you read Dante' Infernal you get his idea of hell. Some preachers preach hell fire so loudly and vehemently to somehow scare people into becoming a Christian. Some preachers say little about hell. What do you believe about hell? Let us look at this so that we get the truth about this word and how it affects people. 

     There are three words in the New Testament or in Greek for those words are found in the Septuagint, and one word used by the Hebrews. The three words in the New Testament are: hades, gehenna, and tartarus. In the Old Testament: sheol. First, and foremost: I do not believe in soul sleep a doctrine found with Jehovah Witnesses. Man dies, no one gets out of this life alive. It is what happens to a man who dies? Does this man simply go into the grave? If man has a spirit, and he does, what happens to his spirit? What happens to the spirit of a sinner who dies, and what happens to the spirit of the one who believes in Jesus Christ? All sides of this subject bring their Scriptures to prove their doctrine. In this blog I do not have the time or is it within what I am teaching to delve deeply into this subject. I may do so but not in this blog. I will keep it simple. Man dies! God resurrects! You cannot deny death! You man not believe in a resurrection! If you believe in a resurrection then why get yourself so tangled up with all the speculations and theories? What does that have to do with salvation? Nothing! You either believe that Jesus Christ is God, the Savior, the One who will resurrect the dead, Who will judge people and will cast away the sinner and save for eternity the believer. Here is the crux of the matter: "Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). There it is! You must change from the inside/out to become holy. No, not in this lifetime will a man become fully holy for within man is still the fallen soul, the very thing that opposes God and desires to lead you away from Him. It is up to you to grow in holiness. Many people go to great lengths to reach holiness. Holiness is not knowledge, while that may be worthwhile and it is, and our holiness must be practical, that does not mean that that person does not need to know Scripture holiness is the habit of being one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. A holy person will shun all forms of sin. Sin simply is missing the mark. A true holy person will do all that he/she can to do what is right. For instance: do you follow all the rules of the road, or do you speed because you love speed or that you do not see a policeman? Do you dress appropriately with respect according to the occasion? Are you denying yourself and picking up your cross and following Jesus? Are communing with God in prayer, reading the Bible and in assembling with God's people? Heaven is a holy place and only holy people will live in heaven. Does this mean that due to sin, that sin that continues to reside in me make me unholy? No, unless that sin is allowed to make you unholy. A Holy God came to die for you, cannot you do all to be living a holy life for the One, the Holy One, who came for you? 

     What we have learned from the opening Scriptures is that God will come and will judge the world and blessed are those who die in the Lord. Do not become so overwhelmed with all the talk, the speculations, the theories, those things which need to be discussed, but they are not what saves you: Only your belief in Jesus Christ, and by that you change the course of your life to follow Him, to grow in holiness. The question: will you?

Boast not thyself of tomorrow;

     for thou knowest not what

a day may bring forth.

                 Proverbs 27:1

Live a holy life: Now!

Richard L. Crumb

Who Or What Is Babylon?

And there followed another angel, saying, 

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 

because she made all nations drink of the wine of 

the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel

 followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark 

in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink 

of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; 

and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 

in the presence of he holy angels, and in the presence

 of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment 

ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no 

rest day nor night, who worship the beast and 

his image, and whosever receiveth the make of 

his name. Here is he patience of the saints: here 

are they that keep the commandments of God, 

and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:8-12 

     Who or what is Babylon? Why was this Babylon great? How was it that Babylon made nations drink of the wrath of fornication? There are so many speculations and theories as to this Babylon that before I go on, and I will, to discuss these verses we must go slow and determine the words and symbols used so as to not be derailed into false understanding. So, let us delve into this Babylon starting from history. 

       Today this ancient city from Mesopotamia has it ruins in Iraq some 59 miles southwest of Baghdad. The name Babylon is thought to derive from bay-il or bay-ilm that is in the Akkadian language the language that means for this word 'Gate of God' or 'Gate of the Gods' and Scripture makes clear of the use of this name as an unfavorable place. In Genesis, chapter 11 Babylon is where the Tower of Babel a city where God confused the language so that the tower could not be completed. The Hebrew word bavel means 'confusion.' Babylon is referred to in the books of Daniel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, among other and most notably in the Book of Revelation. Babylon was a great seat of learning, with impressive walls and buildings and the formation of a code of law that pre-dates Mosaic law. The hanging gardens of Babylon were known as one of the seven wonders of the world. 

     Babylon can be retraced to the reign of Sargon of Akkad who ruled from 2334-2279 B.C. The history of Babylon begins with a famous king, Hammurabi 1792-1750 B.C. Hammurabi's law of codes, which we have are example of how he attempted to maintain peace. He was so successful so that all of Mesopotamia came under the rule of Babylon. After the death of Hammurabi the empire fell apart and was sacked by the Hitites in 1595 B.C. The Assyrains came to rule under Sennacherib 705-661 B.C. Babylon revolted but lost and it was rebuilt and returned to its former glory. It was thought that evil spirits were the ones who had led to the trouble, yet the reputation of the city as a center of learning was already established. A chaldean named Nabopolassare took the throne of Babylon and created the Neo-Babylonian empire and his son Nebuchadnezzar II 604-561 B.C. added to this city to be impressive. 
     At the time of the Jewish exile to Babylon the Euuphrates River divided the city in two, between the old and then new city that had the Temple of Marduk with a great towering ziggurat in the center. Every year a processional of the stature of the god Marduk journeyed from the city to the New Year Festival Temple outside the Ishtar Gate. 
      Babylon came under several reigns and it was Alexander the Great that in 331 B.C. who pulled down this ziggurat in order to build a bigger and better one but that never occurred to do his death and the four Greek generals fought with each other and Babylon declined into obscurity.  
    Why this history? If you do not know history then you will be easily led into error. Also, did you notice several names that you find in the Bible?  The religions of the Mesopotamian regions, that includes Babylon, were lost and forgotten over time but there is much information and knowledge that has survived it is possible to retrieve a fair reconstruction. Mesopotamia was polytheistic, worshipping over 2,100 different dieties which were associated with a city or state. Mesopotamian history shows that it was an oligarchy rather than a monarchy and the authority lied with the city and within this was three main powers of power, the assembly of elders, a hereditary ruler, and an eponym. The eponym was the patron deity of Babylon, Marduk and worship was conducted in his name in all the lands dominated by the Assyrians.
     Modern scholars have examined various accounts and have created at least partially an accurate depiction of the construction of the universe. The Epic of Creation. 1200 B.C. tells that the god Marduk killed the mother goddess Tiamat a primordial goddess of the ocean to produce younger gods. She is the symbol of the chaos of primordial creation, she then is seen as a creator goddesss and created through successive generations. When Marduk killed tiamat he used half her body to create the earth and the other half to create both paradise and the netherworld. Another document of that period stated that the universe was a spheroid, with three levels wee the gods dwelt, and where stars existed, above the three levels of earth below it. 
     The Mesopotamian gods bore many similarities with humans, and were anthropomorphic, thereby having humanoid form. This is the doctrine of the Mormons. These gods acted like humans, eating food, and drink, alcohol beverages with drunkenness. They were thought to be all-knowing, unfathomable, and immortal. They, many cases, were of family relations to one another. The temples were considered to be the dwelling places for a god and special rituals were given to them as well as service to them was given, banquets were given to them, or in their honor. Certain days required extra sacrifices and ceremony Purification rites were done against demons and to appease the wrath of gods music, female singers were done with personal homage to a personal deity. A strong belief in demons and divination was employed by individuals with the assumption that the gods had already determined the destinies of men and they could ascertain those destinies by observing omens and by rituals. Sacrifices of animals and people were practiced, suchas retrainer sacrifices where musicians, guards, Courtiers, handmaidens, grooms died, by poison. Discovered are skulls discovered in Iraq that support a grisly interpretation of human sacrifice. These also showed that not by poison did they die, but by a spike driven into their heads. 
     The ancient paganism tended to focus on duty and ritual rather than morality. The forgiveness of the ancient Babylonians were similar to Abrahamic morality the Mesopotamian religion and culture were highly sexualized, particularly in Babylon where free sexual expression was viewed as one of the natural benefits of civilized life, that includes same gender attraction, transgender individuals, and male and female prostitution and often considered sacred. The worship of Inanna/Ishtar, which was prevalent in Mesopotamia could involve wild, frenzied dancing and bloody ritual celebrations of social and physical abnormality. Nothing was prohibited to Inanna, and that by depicting transgressions of normal human social and physical limitations, including traditional gender definition, once could cross over from the "conscious everyday world into the trance world of spiritaul ecstasy. 
    I will get the Babylonian afterlife and eschatology in later blogs. But until then, can you see that those pagan Babylonian religions are being practiced today? Can you now get the reason why God chose to use Babylon as an illustration taken from actual acts to show us His displeasure? I will add to this so we can change from our inside/out to become the person God wants us to be. This may seem boring but it is not for it gives to us why God is going to bring His wrath upon such people. It gives to us that God is willing to be merciful to all who believe on Him and not on pagan gods.

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;
    yet I will look again toward thy 
holy temple.
                    Jonah 2:4 

Flee from Babylonish religious rites

Richard L. Crumb
 

 

What Is The Good News?

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,

 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto 

them that dwell on the earth, and to every 

nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give 

glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment 

is come: and worship Him that made heaven, 

and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.  

Revelation 14:6-7

     How can it be that the gospel is everlasting? The gospel is not the words spoken or written rather it is what or who they are written about and that One must be everlasting if the Gospel is to be everlasting. The One whom the Gospel proclaims must be true in all aspects without fault if that One is to be everlasting. The Greek word that is translated into English means "good tidings" and often we lose this when we just say "Gospel." Words have meaning and for the Gospel to be "good tidings" then what is "good tidings?" This word has as its foundation a form of the Greek word to mean even more: to evangelize. That is, to bring "good tidings" to the world. And is this not what the angel who was flying in the midst of heaven doing? Yes! Once again to offset the doctrine that good standing with God Christians will speak in some angelic tongue. The Greek word translated tongue in English refers always to a language and this text makes this clear. We must spiritualize that which has no business being spiritualized.

     The angel said to Fear God and to give to God glory and to worship Him that made the heavens, earth, the fountains of water. Jehovah Witnesses will see this as speaking of two creatures, God, and Jesus a created being. In Deuteronomy 30:17 we are told to worship no other gods or to serve them, and this being true of God then how can we worship as a god, as Jehovah Witnesses teach, a god? We must not! Throughout the Old Testament God only is to be worshiped and there is never a time in the New Testament whereby Jesus was to be worshiped. While on earth Jesus the incarnate God, the Second Person of the Trinity would not allow Himself to be worshiped although His humanity was conjoined with His Godliness, both natures in one body. Now being in heaven after His ascension Jesus returns to the throne of God where in this place He is to be worshiped for He is God, God who accomplished His purpose to pay the debt of sin owed to Him and now paid, Jesus although never ceases to be Jesus is now once again to be worshiped. Did not John in Chapter one of his book tell us that Jesus, the Word, create all things? Yes! Did not John ensure to us that Jesus is God? Yes! Only God who is everlasting can make the Gospel everlasting because He is the Savior, He is the Creator, it is He that is the Gospel and revealed to us through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

     The Greek word that we translate as worship means to do homage and that word is plural, aorist, and imperative. That then means to be at sometime, all the time, giving to God all your worship in all it plurality and being imperative it means that if you are not doing, start now and continue giving to God worship. The Greek word translated "who" is a good translation that is dative, singular. So then, with good translation we can add "Him" and that "Him" is no one less that God and Jesus Christ is God therefore in no manner is Jesus made a created creature. We are to fear God and worship Him. We worship Jesus as God, and we have the Gospel, the Good tidings that Jesus, God came to earth, lived among us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, died on a stake, rose again on the third day, was seen by more than 500 people, and seen as He ascended into heaven to once again, now as the Messiah, to sit, as it were, for as God He never left the throne, to be on the throne. How can this be? God is not a being, as do the Mormons teach, for He is everywhere at all times and as God, the creator, He can reside in the human body of Jesus and never not be God. You cannot pay for your sins, only God can do this! God by means of His Mercy extended that mercy towards man by Jesus coming to earth, as a baby, to live amongst us, to suffer all the things that man suffers, and never depart into sin by means of His humanity, but as God doing what was necessary if any person was to be saved, remain sinless, as man, for He could not sin, He was God incarnate, but showed to us that we too do not have to fall prey to sin. We have no excuse for not following Him in every way. God came, God revealed Himself literally through Jesus, and God saves you through Jesus for it was the death and resurrection and ascension that the Good News is: Jesus saves and that salvation is for everlasting. 

All nations whom thou hast made shall  come

     and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall

glorify thy name. For thou are great, and

    doest wondrous things: thou are God alone.

                        Psalm 86: 9-10

You are the bride of Christ

Richard L. Crumb

Who Are The 144,000?

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the 

mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty 

and four thousand,having His Father's name 

written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice 

from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and 

as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard

 the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

and they sang as it were a new song before the 

throne, and before the four beast, and the elders: 

and no man could learn that song but the hundred 

and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed 

from the earth. These are they which were not

defiled with woman; for they are virgins. These 

are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever 

He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, 

being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And 

in their mouth was found no guile: for they are 

without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14:1-5

     The number 144,000 has caused much controversy among those who claim to be Christian. The Jehovah Witnesses claim that they have the answer: Do they? Due to the fact that this number 144,000 is a hallmark doctrine of this cult I must address this so that we have a clear understanding. Remember: we are to be ready to give an answer for our faith to anyone who asks, but to do so with meekness and fear (1Peter 3:15).

     The teaching by Jehovah Witnesses is that only 144,000 people will get to go to heaven. God chooses these 144,000 and that this choosing began in the first century and was completed by the year 1935. The beginning of the Watchtower in 1879 and until 1935 only faithful Jehovah Witnesses were chosen. All others will remain for eternity on earth. Those not faithful will be destroyed. Those destroyed would also include any Jehovah Witness that had been disfellowshipped and not return to good graces with the Watchtower Society before Armageddon. What was their basis for such a teaching? It is based on Revelation 7:1-9.

      Is there a flaw in this teaching? First, the Watchtower takes a literal 144,000 in verse 4 but the numbers in verses 5-8 they say are figurative. They give no reason as to why they take 144,000 to be literal and say that verses 5-8 are figurative because the 12 tribes mentioned earlier do not match the 12 tribes of Israel. This a convenient way to support their theology and to say that verse 4 is literal and verses 5-8 are figurative then a problem arises. Only descendents of one of the tribes of Israel or of one of the tribes mentioned. Critical thinking must be used here and question the motive to choose one passage to be literal and the other to be figurative.

     What if they are correct? Let us critically examine if that is true. Jehovah Witnesses say that only 144,000 people go to heaven and it started with the Apostles. Jehovah Witnesses say that in 1935 52,465 of the 144,000 were still alive. This then means that God could only have chosen 91,535 faithful Christians and in the 1800 years that had passed this is all He could find to bring to heaven. Now here is something to ponder: in 56 years God was able to find 52,465. This does not seem reasonable that through all the preaching God would only have reached 91,535 and this does not take into account the next 1700 years. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that the 144,000 would have been filled long before1879 and this in the first century. Let us use a Scriptural example: "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. The they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellow ship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear  came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. And all htat believed were together, and had all thins common; and sold their possessions and good, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with  one accord in the temple, ad breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved " (Acts 2:40-47). God was adding daily to the Church and at one time 3,000 people so it would seem that God would have reached the number 144,000 rather quickly. Acts 5:12-16 mentions that more were added: God was at work. Read Fox's Book of Martyrs and you will see that thousand of faithful Christians were killed. The World Christian Encyclopedia estimates that be the year 100 A.D. there were some 1 million out of a population of 181 million and even if their estimates are off by 80% the number of Christians would have exceeded 144,000. If we follow the logic of Jehovah Witnesses we would have to say that God took time off choosing people to go to heaven and was saving this choosing until the Watchtower began by Charles Taze Russell. Now from 1879 -1935 God only chose those who were associated with the Watchtower Society.

      the absurdity of it all tasks my mind to say what Jehovah Witnesses say and not to have Scriptural support. Remember the Watchtower Society claims that the 144,00 had been sealed by 1935 and the age to be sealed was 35 years of age. If that is true that the number 144,000 was complete in 1935 why then does that number continue to increase? How does the Watchtower address this problem? They tell their constituents to not be concerned if a person begins to take of the emblems on Nisan 14, God knows who He as chosen. That is convenient to say that the number was complete then when it was shown that that could not be the case to say then that God must have chosen some but not others before 1935. A problem is that the Watchtower Society tells that those who wee sealed in 1935 would live to see the end of the world. Well, is that was true then how? Those people would be who were 35 would have to be 116 years of age in 2016. This theory of theirs is absurd and falls apart on all fronts. What new theory will the Watchtower Society come up with to meet this new problem? We will have to wait and see.

     The way to resolve difficulties is to examine the words and their uses in Scripture and in other writings. Notice the word "virgin" and wonder if this word means to be without sexual intercourse, to be celibate as it is with Roman Catholics. The numbers used in these verses are figurative so we must look at other words such as virgin and it is true that it does mean to be celibate, but more, it also means the "Church" as to what Paul wrote: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2Corinthians 11:2). We cannot use proof phrases to prove our theology, we must use the Bible. The Bible teaches that all faithful Authentic Christians will go to heaven, not just 144,000. All those in heaven will sing a new song, say new things, before the throne of God. These in heaven will have salvation and be without sin, without guile. The faithful will not have committed fornication with the world, and now after repentance have become clean before God and will follow Jesus Christ the Lamb for eternity. Christians, those who have died and will die before the coming of Jesus Christ, the firstfruits in heaven, the redeemed will gladly worship God. We who await our turn to go to heaven can now worship God in spirit and truth, we can now sing a new song for we are redeemed. Time will come when we are at the throne of God in heaven. Until then: we sanctify ourselves by following the Lamb, that is His commandments. 

Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts,

    the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me

of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.

     .....

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, 

           and her converts with righteousness

                                Isaiah 1:24, 27

You are of the redeemed: Heaven awaits you

Richard L. Crumb

The Deceptive Beast: He Abides With Us Now!

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; 

and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire  come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, 

that they should make an image to the beast,

 which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And 

he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,

 that the image of the beast should both speak, 

and cause that as many as would not worship the 

image of the beast should be killed. And he 

causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor,

free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, 

or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy 

or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name 

of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is 

wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the 

number of the beast: for it is the number or a man;

 and his number is six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 13:11-18 

     If there has been so much more speculation than these verses I do not know what there could be and anyone who watchers TV or goes to such Churches that speak about End Times know that the speakers speak as though they have been inspired of God and what they say is truth. It is not! It is speculation, nothing more, nothing less! 

     I do not pretend to know who or what this beast is that comes out of the earth and has two horns. I do know that Scripture says he speaks as a dragon. Now, I do know what the Bible says about a dragon, that this Dragon is Satan, and the Beast, unless you are watching Disney, is and always is noted for being evil. This beast has two horns, that is some power and he those horns seem to be deceptive as they look like the horns of a lamb. Who is known in the Bible as a lamb? Jesus Christ! So this Beast, this evil being speaks, acts like Jesus Christ but is only a dupe for Satan. This beast draws away to him men and women who come to worship him. Why this beast reminds them of the beast that died and rose again, was healed and the see all the wonders and signs even to make fire come down out of heaven. But all this is deception, and all the miracles, those so-called miracles that seem to make this beast to have power and power from God causes them to give power and worship and make this beast to have an image of the beast. 

     Too late! It will be too late! This deceptive beast has drawn immature people away from God and now by this power the beast controls their very life. They cannot but or sell, unless they have the mark of the beast, in their right hand, that is in all they do even if it seems good as the use of the right hand was to be used for good, and/or the mark on their forehead, that is, they have come to believe that they have knowledge of this beast that he is acting for God. Now, if anyone does not have that mark they cannot buy, sell and their life is one whereby they could be killed. Do we have an example in today's world that power, governments who control their subjects, to cause them to worship the god they say is true and if you do not you are killed? Yes! ISLAM! You do no have to look far to see that this is true no matter how a Muslim, or an Islam worshiper says they do not like what radical Muslims are doing, they have the mark of the beast on them in their right hand and on their forehead and if push comes to shove, they will kill you for not being a worshiper of Allah. We have some so-called Christian Churches that control their constituents by teaching such things as speaking in some gibberish sound as a mark of one who had true faith. They believe in healing, Yes God heals, but God heals not due to anything but according to His will and purpose, but to say that men and women have been raised from the dead, that many have been healed and all this without facts is to teach falsely. 

     Wisdom, yes, wisdom, use wisdom and that wisdom is wisdom from God as revealed in His word. The number 666, is simply failure multiplied to the utmost. Man's number is 6, short of 7 which is perfection. The beast seems to have perfection but is short of perfection and furthermore magnifies himself powerfully as truth but is only evil. Those who do not live according to the Word, that is Jesus Christ, that which is truly revealed in Scripture is only a person who is worshiping the beast, making an image of the beast. 

     Do you want to be an overcomer? Do you want to have the blessing of God? Miracles will not save you! Speaking in some gibberish tongue will not save you! Believing in anecdotal stories will not save you! You will not enter into the kingdom of God unless you do what Scripture says you must do: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). You must be holy! A holy person will do all they can to be like our Lord Jesus Christ, to become the image of Him, not the image of the beast. A holy person will deny himself and minister to others and be uncompromising in denouncing sin. A holy person will seed to be meek, longsuffering, gentle, patient, kind, and governs what comes out of their mouth. a holy persons denies lust, and curbs passions those carnal passion that attempt to lure him/her away from Jesus Christ. The beast will say that it is ok for homosexuality, for same-sex marriage for transgender life when Scripture plainly speaks against such things. A holy person follows after the fear of God, this leaves no room for any other teaching. A holy person communes with God, in prayer, in reading His word and to assemble with God's people regularly. A holy person now in this life is preparing for eternal life with Jesus Christ eternally. Live eternally now for if you truly believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you should be living now as though, for it is, accomplished, you now reside in heaven, but until Jesus Christ returns you have work to do, for yourself, for your family, friends, for your world and that is to bring the good news about Jesus Christ so by the hearing of God's word they come to faith. 

The righteous shall never be removed:

     but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

                       Proverbs 10:30

Grow in holiness: it is up to you!

Richard L. Crumb

Beast, Sea, Horns, Crowns, Heads, What Do They Mean?

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon  his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, 

and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

 And it was given unto him to make war with the

 saints, and to overcome them: and power was 

given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,

 whose names are not written in the book of life

 of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that

 leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity:

 he that killeth with the sword must be killed

with the sword. Here is the patience and 

the faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:1-10

     A problem that exists among those who attempt to give some meaning to symbols, and words is that they only apply that to a single event. For instance: Rome is used in many cases to determine Scripture. It may be true that Rome can be said to fit a symbol, or section of verses. But, the Bible exists several thousand years from the time Rome was a power. Can a symbol have more than one application? Yes, that is, if that application is the same in meaning and according to the original Greek, or Hebrew for that matter. Let us look with critical thinking these verses.

     A beast rises out of the sea. Who is the beast? Who or what is the sea? Well, we know the beast is not Satan, but receives power from the dragon who is Satan. The word sea often refers to people: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt" (Isaiah 57:20). Daniel under inspiration tells of a great beast that came upon from the sea (Daniel 7:3). Later we will study that the sea gave up the dead in it, and it does have a literal translation, but with all the Scriptures, and I only listed two. the sea represents people, both good and bad. This beast had seven heads, and on those heads ten horns and on those horns ten crowns. The beasts rises out of the sea of mankind and is complete, the number seven, and power as horns represent power and authority as crowns represent authority. We have had throughout the ages of Christianity men, and women, who teach what they say is the truth, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and other so-called "Christian" Churches that include heresy as with the Bethel Church and school here in Redding. This beast speaks blasphemy against God. These blasphemous Churches have such heresies as the "Sozo Movement" long determined to be heretical. They are like a leopard fast, quick and strong as it is with a bear, and they roar their blasphemy as a lion roars to scare up prey. The teach that they have authority, and they do: from the Dragon. How else can it be for they speak as hidden in a veil blasphemy, false teaching. This beast seems so wonderful that many come to them and believe in them, but not forever for it is only a short time that God will allow this blasphemy to occur. 

     We are in a war! We are to fight against such blasphemy! I am afraid that many, even Authentic Christians, have fallen asleep. We must remember: Our names have and are written down in the Book of Life, so live as what you are, overcomers. You cannot be an overcomer in name only, it takes action, and determination to bring the truth to your world. The Greek word translated as patience means in Greek: endurance. Yes! Endurance! There is no endurance to just come to Church on Sunday, or to some Bible Study, at least not in the United States, to go to Church and then leave never to discuss the sermon, but to go after fun things, those things that you have determined as OK, but leaves little time to worship God. Is this not what we are to do? Yes! Do you want to show your faith to all who will see or hear about you? Then live your faith. Do not be one who hears and then goes away to other things rather than to God. 

     The beast has risen, and the Dragon has given him power, but you have a power greater than the Dragon, the Beast, you have the Holy Spirit. Fight, or run! It is your choice!

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace,

     and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

until the righteousness thereof go forth as

     brightness, and the salvation thereof

as a lamp that burneth.

            Isaiah 63:1

Be an overcomer

Richard L. Crumb