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