Category: Bible versions debate

Replacement Terminology Theology #2

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Corinthians 8:5,6 KJV).

Satan deceptively employs terms that the Bible uses—“God,” “Lord,” “Jesus,” “Christ”—but he does not always apply them to the same individuals the Bible does. What ingenuity!

Usually, our King James Bible (in the Old Testament) expresses the Hebrew Tetragrammaton “YHVH/JHVH” as “the LORD” (all caps)—not to be confused with “the Lord” (Adonai). However, the King James Bible renders “YHVH/JHVH” as “JEHOVAH” seven times—Genesis 22:14, Exodus 6:3, Exodus 17:15, Judges 6:24, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, and Isaiah 26:4—for these contexts demand it be rendered “JEHOVAH” instead of “the LORD.” Furthermore, lest our King James Bible would awkwardly read “the LORD the LORD” in Isaiah 12:2 and Isaiah 26:4 (as modern English “bibles” read), the 1611 translators wisely rendered the Tetragrammaton “the LORD JEHOVAH.”

Interestingly, modern English “bibles”—NIV, NASB, ESV, and even the NKJV, et cetera—completely remove “JEHOVAH” from their texts and substitute it with the ambiguous “the LORD GOD” and/or simply “the LORD” (which is foolish; see above paragraph). Oftentimes, sadly, the gravity of this subtle change is unnoticed.

By removing all references to “JEHOVAH,” the special name of the God of the Bible, the modern versions actually confuse the reader. “JEHOVAH”—as opposed to “the LORD”—distinguishes the true God, the God of the Bible, from the heathen idols. Relying on the King James Bible, Christians have used the term “JEHOVAH” for hundreds of years. Since modern versions omit it, their readers have no idea JEHOVAH is a scriptural name, or who He even is (their “bible” does not use it)! They only vaguely know Him as “the LORD,” and remember, even the pagans have deities named “lord” (today’s Scripture). Beloved, here is just one reason why you want to keep your King James Bible!

But, there is much, much more deception in “replacement terminology theology….”

Replacement Terminology Theology #1

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Corinthians 8:5,6 KJV).

Satan deceptively employs terms that the Bible uses—“God,” “Lord,” “Jesus,” “Christ”—but he does not always apply them to the same individual the Bible does. What ingenuity!

Many use the name “God” in a generic sense. That is, they are not necessarily referring to the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible. To the pantheists, nature is “god.” Did you know “Allah” is Arabic for “the god?” Egotists consider themselves “god.” Consequently, the God of the Holy Bible commanded, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). He knew there were other “gods” in the world, and He knew that the Gentiles called their idols “god” and “lord” (today’s Scripture). In fact, the name of the ancient Canaanite god “Baal”—whom Israel repeatedly worshipped (Judges 2:11-13; et al.)—means “lord/master.”

The God of the Bible is called “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6; et al.) in order to distinguish Him from the idols of the heathens/Gentiles (who were not descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). His Hebrew name is “JEHOVAH” (pronounced jah-ho-vah or yah-ho-vah). See Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, and Isaiah 26:4 for specific instances. Notice what Psalm 83:18 says: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”

If it is a critical Bible teaching to distinguish between JEHOVAH and the world’s idols, why, interestingly enough, do the modern “bibles”—NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, et cetera—remove “JEHOVAH” from some or all of those verses, making them nonsensical ambiguity? “JEHOVAH” does not apply to just any god, so this wresting of the Bible makes their product less offensive to “other faiths” and certainly increases sales.

But, there is much, much more deception associated with this “replacement terminology theology….”

The Virgin Conception of Christ

Monday, December 17, 2012

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 KJV).

While Christendom speaks of the “virgin birth of Christ,” according to today’s Scripture, a more accurate term would be the “virgin conception of Christ.” There was nothing unusual about Christ’s birth; it was His conception that was unique because there was no human father!

Interestingly, today’s Scripture has been the point of controversy for over a century (to Satan’s delight!). Some modern Bibles (RSV, NRSV, et al.) translate the Hebrew word here translated “virgin” as the vague “young woman,” thereby leaving room for the heretical idea that Joseph was Jesus’ biological father (and denying Christ’s deity)! If someone ever tells you almah (the Hebrew word translated “virgin”) can mean “young woman” or “virgin,” they are right, but point out that the key to choosing the right translation is not up to a translator, but rather the Holy Ghost!

The author of Matthew’s Gospel, filled with the Holy Ghost, knew which translation—“young woman” or “virgin”—was what God had intended in Isaiah 7:14. If we want to know what God meant in Isaiah 7:14, why not ask God?

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold a virgin shall be with child…” (Matthew 1:22,23a). The Greek word translated “virgin,” parthenos, can only mean “virgin,” not “young woman.” Isaiah was prophesying a virgin, indicated by the words “firstborn son” (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7) and “Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son” (Matthew 1:25). Isaiah 7:14 meant “virgin,” as indicated by Luke 1:34, for Mary “knew not a man.” Again, the Bible is clear that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father.

Matthew 1:23 indisputably proves that almah in Isaiah 7:14 did not simply mean a “young woman,” who may or may not be sexually pure, but “a virgin,” a woman who never had any sexual intercourse. The Holy Ghost, not Joseph, was the Father of Jesus’ body (Matthew 1:18-20).

The Common People

Saturday, November 10, 2012

“…And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37 KJV).

Today’s Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God’s Word is for “the common people.”

Upon recently reading a seminarian’s “Bible” study article, I conclude that that was more of a Hebrew study. It left me, a Christian, with more questions than answers. (I can only wonder what confusion it brought to the poor lost souls who read it!)

Oftentimes, theology (mis)leads us to believe that we must go to school for 10 years to learn Koine Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and/or Aramaic, in order to fully grasp the Bible’s concepts. If God required that from us, hardly any of us could ever be saved, or even know God’s will in the first place!!

Contrariwise, God’s Word, the King James Bible, is for the common people. Its 54 faithful, Holy Spirit-filled men who translated it in 1611 knew the Bible languages. They purified and perfected the language of the existing English Bibles to provide us—the common people—with a Bible we could own and read personally (rather than it being chained to a church altar, or “shackled” in Rome’s Latin “bible”).

Notice in today’s Scripture how our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to the common people. He did not depend on the “educated” religious leaders to reach the common people (these “scholars” were too corrupt, and would have perverted His pure doctrine!). Observe what Christ told His Father: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21).

Dear reader, the key to understanding the Bible is not a college or seminary education. If you have an ear to hear, an eye to see, and you are willing to study God’s Word and learn, the Holy Spirit will illuminate your mind: “Which things we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13).

After all, the Bible is for the common people! 🙂

What is the Right Bible?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture indicates that it does matter what Bible version you use, for “many corrupt the word of God!”

Five centuries ago, Christians would rather burn at the stake than submit to a corrupt “bible.” Today, most Christians use alleged “easy-to-read” modern “bibles,” completely oblivious to the sad reversal—their source texts are those once-rejected (corrupt) Bible manuscripts! Why this sudden acceptance of counterfeit “bibles?” Textual criticism.

Bible “scholars”—weak, fallible men—utilize the crude “science” of textual criticism to “reconstruct” and “recover” the original Bible text that they claim GOD lost when so-called “errors” crept in as the Bible manuscripts were copied throughout the centuries. (Blasphemy!)

Essentially, textual critics collate (compare) all extant Bible manuscripts, and then select their preferred readings, usually falling prey to the slipshod rule, “Oldest manuscripts have the purest readings.” (Old manuscripts are not necessarily pure, for corrupt Bible manuscripts existed in the first century A.D., according to today’s Scripture.) That system of selecting preferred Bible readings then generates a new corrupt “modern” version. Thankfully, we can bypass all that confusing nonsense of 200-plus modern English “bibles” (which all read differently)!

For over 401 years, the King James Bible has been the standard English Bible. Its style, language, and textual source are unparalleled. Just as we hold to “one body, one Spirit, one hope of [our] calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6), we unapologetically hold to the doctrine of ONE Bible, the King James Bible! Dear friends, despite their godly pretense, modern “bibles” contain verses that prove their untrustworthiness. Remember, modern English means nothing when the text you are reading is worthless.

We are content to study and memorize our “old,” “hard-to-read” King James Bible. It is the perfectly preserved Word and words of God, as handed down by the saints through the ages. We rest on it, and we exalt it as highly as God has. We magnify it above all His name (Psalm 138:2b).

The Patient Waiting for Christ

Saturday, September 22, 2012

“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV).

Saints, we must patiently wait for the Lord to come and take us home!

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers—and us—that the Lord will “direct” (guide) our hearts, our innermost beings, “into the love of God” and “into the patient waiting for Christ.” These two doctrines are crucial to the Christian life.

“The love of God [Christ]” “constraineth” (motivates, empowers) us so that our lives are pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). But our Christian lives are not only meant to be experienced here on earth: in eternity future, Christ’s life in us will be lived in the heavenly places!

“The patient waiting for Christ” means we are to be patiently waiting for the day when Jesus Christ will rapture us, the Church that is His Body. (Sadly, absurd modern “bibles,” including NKJV, pervert “patient waiting for Christ” to read “the patience [or perseverance] of Christ,” thus cleverly denying the rapture!)

As our King James Bible declares, we are not simply exercising Christ’s patience; we are patiently waiting for Christ to come get us (there is a major difference). While we who have trusted in Jesus Christ alone as Saviour often earnestly pray for Him to hurriedly return to rescue us from this nasty, miserable world, that is not patience. 🙂 The actual purpose of the rapture—“our gathering together unto [Christ]” (2 Thessalonians 2:1)—is to remove us from earth so God can inaugurate us into our governmental positions in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6,7; Colossians 1:16,17).

We patiently wait for our Lord Jesus Christ. He is still extending His grace and mercy to mankind. As long as there are still (lost) people willing to trust Him, our Dispensation of Grace will continue to operate. It will be terminated when no one else wants to trust Christ alone as their personal Saviour. Be patient, saints! 🙂

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Be Not Pierced By the Sword of the Spirit #5

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

“And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17 KJV).

Saints, we are engaged in spiritual warfare, so let us take heed. A giant sword, not a butter knife, is what we need!

In the context of today’s Scripture (verses 10-18), Paul describes the spiritual warfare, the battle between God and Satan. As God’s people—we who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour—we are Satan’s enemies and he seeks to deceive us! Thankfully, the Lord has given us “the armour of God” to “stand against the wiles [deceitful schemes] of the devil” (verses 11ff.). Additionally, we have God’s Word, the Holy Bible, which defends us and saves us from Satan’s corrupt doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13,15,16).

However, Satan perverts God’s Word, so that instead of it being a weapon for Christians, it becomes a weapon used against Christians. Corrupt “bibles” troubled the Thessalonian Christians’ minds (2 Thessalonians 2:2), and this perversion of the Holy Scriptures is ongoing. Instead of today’s Christian soldiers wielding “the sword of the Spirit,” many have been duped by false bibles, which are actually butter knifes when it comes to fighting Satan. (Instead, they are only sharp when Satan uses them against God’s people… in God’s name too!)

Almost from the beginning of man, Satan has sought to corrupt our mind (Genesis 3:1-5). The devil sidetracks man using false doctrine, so that he can neither understand nor appreciate God’s will for him. By deceiving man, Satan hinders God’s will for man (and Satan thereby furthers his own purpose and plan of robbing God of His glory!). Throughout Israel’s history, evil men cooperated with God’s adversary (Satan) to accomplish Israel’s spiritual ruin; the same is happening today to us, the Church the Body of Christ, as counterfeit “bibles” poison Christian souls and hinder God’s will (their spiritual maturity).

Comrade, the battle is waging…. Fellow saint, I exhort you to abandon the butter knives, and “take the sword of the Spirit,” the King James Bible, study and believe it rightly divided, and watch it defend you against “the wiles of the devil.” 🙂

Be Not Pierced By the Sword of the Spirit #4

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

“And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17 KJV).

Again, take heed—it does matter what Bible version you read!

Utilizing Greek philosophy, Satan distracted the Corinthians from the sound doctrine Paul preached to them. Hence, the Apostle cautioned them regarding this worthless human wisdom (pagan philosophy).

As Christians, “we are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9a). In Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, God has furnished us with building materials, sound doctrine. When we “study” Pauline doctrine, we understand what God is doing today in the Dispensation of Grace, and by faith, we become “workmen” (2 Timothy 2:15) who cooperate with God and do what He is doing (teaching lost mankind about salvation, educating Christians about God’s will for them, et cetera).

Paul laid the foundation, Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (1 Corinthians 3:10,11). We can build on that foundation by applying sound Pauline Bible doctrine by faith, symbolized by “gold, silver, precious stones,” or we can use worthless building materials such as philosophy and religious tradition—“wood, hay, stubble” (verses 11,12).

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (verses 13-15).

After the rapture, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, Jesus Christ will determine the quality of the doctrine we Christians believed and applied to life. That which is worthless—religious tradition, human wisdom, and so on—will burn up. Only sound Pauline Bible doctrine will withstand that fiery test, and only that will remain!

Most, if not all, modern English “bibles” are unsound. Their denominational translators obscure Pauline dispensationalism by omitting, adding, and changing words. Friend, take heed!! Using these perverted books will hinder your spiritual growth and cause you to lose—not salvation—but reward!

Be Not Pierced By the Sword of the Spirit #3

Monday, August 13, 2012

“And take… the sword of the Spirit, which the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17 KJV).

Take heed—it does matter what Bible version you read!

The Apostle Paul’s least spiritual Christian assembly was at Corinth. These saints were “carnal,” spiritual “babes,” people who had little understanding of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), whose ungodly lifestyles resembled their heathen (pagan/lost/hell-bound) neighbors! Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth teaching them God’s Word (Acts 18:11), but they had since abandoned the Lord’s grace doctrines, preferring to follow the “wisdom” of the pagan Greek philosophers.

Therefore, Paul warned these Corinthians: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no may lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11).

In our Dispensation of Grace, God is constructing a house for Himself—we, the saints, are that house (Ephesians 2:21,22)! This house is constructed upon a foundation, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery” (Romans 16:25); that is, Jesus Christ according to the special ministry He gave only to the Apostle Paul. Paul warns us to be careful how we “build thereupon;” that is, the doctrine we use/learn/believe must be God’s Word rightly divided (Pauline-dispensationally believed).

He continues in 1 Corinthians 3:12,13: “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” This describes “the Judgment Seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10), when we Christians stand before Jesus Christ, and He will examine the doctrine we learned and believed.

Friend, it matters what Bible version you use, for if it is corrupted by man’s philosophy, the doctrine you believe will be unacceptable to God!

Be Not Pierced By the Sword of the Spirit #2

Sunday, August 12, 2012

“And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17 KJV).

Satan not only attacks God’s Word, but he will attack you, the saint, with it!

The prophet Jeremiah preached before and during the three Babylonian invasions of circa 606–587 B.C., the last of which (587) involved the vandalism and burning of the Temple and the complete destruction of Jerusalem. Judah and Benjamin (the southern kingdom) being overrun by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was God’s punishment.

Jeremiah chapter 23 reveals one reason why the LORD is so angry at the southern kingdom of Israel. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD” (verse 1). “For both prophet and priest are profane: yea, in my house [the Temple] have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD” (verse 11). “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain [worthless]: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD… I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” (verses 16,21). “…[F]or ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God” (verse 36c).

People who claim to be speaking on behalf of God (prophets and priests) are lying to Israel… in God’s name too! False prophets had so deceived Israel that she had now fallen into pagan idolatry, and God’s wrath was imminent. Satan had used the office of the prophet—God’s Word—to spiritually injure Israel, and sadly, it worked!

Today, Satan still corrupts God’s people in God’s name. Paul talked about philosophers who “defile the temple of God… which temple [we] are” (1 Corinthians 3:16a,17b). Beware, just as the devil deceived Israel with false prophets, so he still misleads God’s people with false “bibles,” which claim to be “God’s Word” but are not (2 Thessalonians 2:2). God’s Word is a sword, so be careful Satan does not use it to harm you!