Category: The Nation Israel

Two Abominations #4

Saturday, February 26, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

“And there was much murmuring [grumbling, complaining] among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people” (John 7:12). Again, to the believers, Christ Jesus was a “good man.” To the unbelievers, He was nothing but a “deceiver.” Here are two views of one God-Man—the first truthful, the second inaccurate. Such diametrically divergent positions about Him are taken even now.

Our world abounds with various beliefs and sundry values. Everyone and everything cannot be correct. One person has adopted a certain course of action, but another follows the direct opposite path in life. What is right to one is wrong to the other. How can what we believe and do have any eternal, meaningful merit if each person uses a different set of assessment standards? According to the Bible, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). We can be certain there will be one final evaluation of everything everyone has believed and done. That is the only way true justice will ever be meted out.

As we read in today’s Scripture, the just finds fault with the unjust, and the wicked condemns the upright. Someone is right; someone is wrong. No, rather, one belief system is truth and the other belief system is false. The Holy Bible furnishes us with information by which we can gauge doctrine and conduct exactly as the Lord does. “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Yet, very few of us can ever master that data because denominations, philosophy, and other forms of unbelief waste our time and energy. If we do happen to be “upright in the way,” the majority—not upright, having squandered its time with nonsense—is unable to appreciate God’s ministry in us. Nevertheless, despite their hatred for us, we can make sure not to follow the “unjust” in their truly abominable thoughts and works.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does, ‘bray a fool,’ mean?”

Two Abominations #3

Friday, February 25, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

Delivering His Sermon on the Plain, the Lord declared: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22). Years later, the Holy Spirit expanded on that in 1 Peter 3:16,17: “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” See also Matthew 10:22-25 and Luke 21:12-19.

“He that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Remember, the Book of Proverbs (including today’s Scripture) is God’s wisdom for Israel’s believing remnant as it outsmarts Satan’s wisdom under the Antichrist (yet future from us, after our mystery program has concluded). As the Antichrist’s supporters are deceived (wrongly believing he is Messiah/Christ; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12), they naturally begin persecuting their Jewish brethren who have trusted Jesus as Messiah/Christ. It is important these suffering saints not lose hope (purpose of 1 Peter).

Also, the Jewish Little Flock needs to detect error and discern truth (purpose of 1, 2, and 3 John), enabling them to see and avoid the unbelievers’ evil: “An unjust man [Antichrist’s follower] is an abomination to the just [Jesus’ disciple].” See 1 John 3:11-14: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren [the just, upright], if the world [the unjust, wicked] hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death [like Cain, really an unbeliever!].”

Thankfully, the Lord will make one final evaluation of all….

Two Abominations #2

Thursday, February 24, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

When preaching to Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter described Christ’s earthly ministry in the following terms: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (verse 38). That is, whatever Jesus did during those three years had advanced Father God’s cause in Israel, thereby overturning Satan’s efforts in that same nation.

Now, mark well the observations of sinful flesh concerning Jesus. “Nay, but he deceiveth the people” (John 7:12)! “He is beside himself [crazy]” (Mark 3:21)! “He hath a devil, and is mad [crazy]” (John 10:20)! “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub [Satan] the prince of the devils” (Matthew 12:24)! “Thou hast a devil” (John 7:20)! “Behold a gluttonous [greedy for food] man, and a winebibber [drunkard], a friend [buddy] of publicans [tax collectors] and sinners” (Luke 7:34)! Such absurdities could come only from the lips of souls whom natural-man thinking dominated. Remember the second portion of today’s Scripture? “And he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Lost people still slander God’s people even now—“troublemaker,” “hater,” “narrow-minded bigot,” “self-righteous,” “know-it-all!”

Recall the first part of today’s Scripture. “An unjust man is an abomination to the just.” An example of this is Luke 16:15: “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Here, God is disgusted with sinful behavior because He hates it. Above all, He is most displeased when the “pious elite” pretend their religious works will ever be an acceptable substitute for His righteousness. That was the chief problem with the Pharisees to which that verse was addressed (verse 14)—and of many billions even now.

Let us see how today’s Scripture reaches into the future….

Only One Left? #7

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

Indeed, the Christian’s life is difficult, for it concerns surviving the pitfalls of the pervasive evil world system. Everyone, everywhere is actually walking through a spiritual minefield. As grace-oriented Christians, dispensational Bible students, we are even more mindful of the perils. Religious apostasy is universal!

Spending his last moments on Earth imprisoned in Rome, the Apostle Paul lamented: “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15). The precious believers in Christ in Turkey—that is, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Laodicea, and so on—had forsaken grace doctrine. Paul himself had led them to faith in Christ, and taught them several years. Awaiting his execution, he recalled the heartbreaking news of their departure from the truth.

Demas, once an immensely helpful ministry friend (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24), deserted Paul too: “[Timothy] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus” (2 Timothy 4:9-12). Despite all that heartache, Paul was not the only one left: faithful Timothy, faithful Crescens, faithful Titus, faithful Luke, faithful John Mark (having recovered from his own disappearance from ministry a decade-plus prior; Acts 13:13), and faithful Tychicus remained. Paul himself would soon pass off the scene—but the Holy Spirit would use his epistles, Romans through Philemon, to continue his ministry right up to our current moment.

If ever our associates in even grace ministry leave us, or even if we must take a stand against them for their error, we will feel like the “only one left.” Yet, we are not alone, for if we are on the Lord’s side, He is with us, and He (that) is sufficient! 🙂

Only One Left? #6

Monday, February 21, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

No, he was not. Likewise, neither are we. To be sure, while there are far fewer genuine Christians than there could be, there are far more than we know personally. Although there is an even smaller number of mature saints among them, it involves more than you and me. The Message of Grace existed for almost 20 centuries before our birth; if the Lord permits, it will go on well after our death and subsequent graduation to Heaven. Our King James Bible has endured for over 400 years; it will outlast us. Whether we live or die, God’s rightly divided words will go on and on and on, throughout the endless ages to come. He will always be working through someone somewhere. “The word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Unquestionably, the very nature of the Dispensation of Grace is one of departure from the truth. Ever since Genesis chapter 3, it has always been popular to disregard God’s current revelation. Throughout the history of the nation Israel, God’s words were ignored. With the formation of the Church the Body of Christ these last 2,000 years, church history mirrors what happened with Israel. There was great spiritual light imparted at the beginning, but it was gradually overlooked and replaced with traditions and opinions of men. By the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, the doctrine He had given to Israel was just a hollow, worthless religious system. When He comes to take us at the Rapture, the organized church will be revealed to be a failure (a great many of the two billion “Christians” today left behind, lost as lost can be!); the few who are true believers, much of their doctrine will be exposed as insignificant at the Judgment Seat of Christ. As the Lord returns yet again for Israel, there will be another small believing remnant.

Again, even if it appears feeble and declining, God’s ministry goes on….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does ‘had in abomination’ mean?”

Only One Left? #5

Sunday, February 20, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

As King James Bible-believing, Pauline dispensationalists, it is quite easy for us to grow discouraged. After all, not many church members—even genuine Christians (!)—are interested in learning what we have to teach them from the Scriptures. Precious few are willing to question or abandon their long-held religious traditions. We exclaim, exasperated, “No one wants to listen to me share the truth with them!”

Though we, like Elijah, may feel we are “the only ones left,” there are countless Bible-believing, grace-oriented Christians just like us all around the world. They also understand God’s Word rightly divided. We just have never heard of them, and they have never heard of us. Although we are mutually unfamiliar with each other, the LORD knows us both—just as He saw those 7,000 believers in Israel in 1 Kings 19:18 (of whom Elijah was unaware). With the advent of the internet and social media, we “stranded grace believers” have been connected for several years now. Our studies here reach thousands of interested people. I am not alone. You are not alone. Always bearing this in mind will guard us against self-pity.

Dear dispensational friend, it is important never to focus on self. “I am the only one with the truth. I am the LORD’S last remaining preacher or teacher.” No, that was Elijah’s assumption (verse 10 and today’s Scripture). Almighty God promptly corrected him: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” We do as the Lord’s grace enables us in our little realm, but we let Him watch over the global outreach of His words of grace. He does not need our help, but He does invite us to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), that we share His delight by valuing what He does. It is His ministry, not ours….

Only One Left? #4

Saturday, February 19, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

The Bible always tells the truth—even about its heroes. Whereas Elijah was spiritually victorious in chapter 18 because he relied on JEHOVAH God, by the time of chapter 19, he was terrified of unbelievers because he was depending on his flesh. God had taken care of him for years prior, protecting him in chapter 17, but once he doubted the LORD he started wallowing in self-pity and became depressed, his spiritual life disintegrating. He actually asked the LORD to kill him (19:4)!

Elijah started focusing on himself. “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts…. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (verse 10). Again, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts…. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (verse 14, today’s Scripture). The LORD responds, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (verse 18). Paraphrased, “Oh, Elijah, though you find it difficult to comprehend, I have 7,000 other Jewish believers just like you on My side. You do not know about them, but they have neither kissed nor genuflected/bowed before Baal’s statues.”

Paul summarizes in Romans chapter 11 about a believing remnant in Israel, “[2] …Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”

Now, let us see a modern parallel….

Only One Left? #3

Friday, February 18, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

Having put the prophets of Baal to death in chapter 18, Elijah now flees for his life in chapter 19: “[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.” After his glorious mountaintop triumph on Carmel (northern Israel), fearful Elijah absconds, down through southern Israel, all the way to Mount Horeb/Sinai some 300 miles (500 kilometers) away (verses 4-8)!

Today’s Scripture in context: “[9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away…. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard [a still small voice], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? [14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Elijah is terribly mistaken….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Who are the ‘confectionaries’ in 1 Samuel 8:13?”

Only One Left? #2

Thursday, February 17, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

Go back to chapter 18, Elijah’s “Who is God?” test: “[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: [24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” Read verses 25-35 for other details.

“[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. [37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. [40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”

Queen Jezebel will be most angry and vengeful when she hears about this….

Only One Left? #1

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were definitely the Northern Kingdom’s evilest, most idolatrous leaders. Israel, the 10 tribes of the north, underwent extensive spiritual reform as Baal worship was declared the official state religion. See 1 Kings 16:29-34, and 1 Kings 21:25,26. In chapter 17, the Prophet Elijah announces God will bring drought and subsequent famine in response to this widespread Satan worship among His people (cf. Deuteronomy 11:16,17).

After three and a half years, Elijah meets Ahab again. The Bible provides these words in chapter 18: “[17] And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? [18] And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. [19] Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. [20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. [21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. [22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.”

Imagine, there are several hundred false religious leaders (Baal preachers) in Israel, contrasted with lone Elijah who is still loyal to JEHOVAH God! Moreover, Elijah proposes a test to see if Baal is God or the LORD is God. Let us see the results….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How can God have ‘horns’ coming out of His hand?”