TWO GODS.
A first-time reading of scripture may leave the
impression of many gods (polytheism), but it truly teaches only two: the
Almighty and "the god of this world", Satan.
2Cor4:4. What about Baal and Molech and Dagon and Ashtaroth, you
may ask? Those aren't real, but simply the idea of what those
"believers" imagined. Just like today, when they follow
after any ghuru of their fancy instead of the Truth that is
Jesus. In the Old Testament the people had only limited
knowledge, and they were fighting flesh and blood enemies, but
now we have the revelation of all sixty-six books, and our
wrestling is against the lies and ignorance concerning the God of the Bible. This isn't your usual hell-fire and brimstone
message--we're speaking of the logic, and about
everyone's choice, Dt.30:19, to "choose life"
instead of death. Choose Jesus! Jesus IS the Life, and there is no other!
The Hebrews believed in One-God (monotheism) because of Deut6:4, and many today are henotheists who don't deny other gods, but claim their own God to be the best.
| "Of a truth, LORD, the kings...have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods,
but the work of men's hands, wood and stone.." Isaiah 37:19 NO GODS!
|
Everyone knows
about the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus
at Calvary: we read about them in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. But
Luke's Gospel doesn't say anything about thieves; instead it writes about
the two MALEFACTORS who were led with Jesus, Lk23:32. Ironically, everyone
speaks about the "thief" who defended Jesus, when according to the first
two gospels both thieves reviled Him, and nowhere do we read about one of
the thieves changing his mind. So when people commonly speak of "the thief
on the cross", they're really speaking of the malefactor.
Just another case of tradition flying in the face of what
Scripture actually says!
Folks will ask "what's a malefactor?" in defense of their position that
the two thieves and two malefactors were really the same two individuals.
They know that a thief is someone who steals, but haven't recognized how a
malefactor (wrong-doer) is like our criminal or felon. Anything from a
murderer or rapist to a drunk driver. Surprising as it may be, a careful scrutiny of
Scripture will really confirm how Christ was crucified between two thieves
AND two malefactors. Indeed, John19:18 adds the word "one" to the text
(but neglects to show it in italics) which should read "Where they cruficied
him and two others with him on either side, and Jesus in the midst".
Jewel Thief! He won't be stepping on the earth during his first return (when he
comes after his jewels (Malachi 3:17). It will be on his second return that lightning
will announce Him to all the world!
Insurance Companies and others have
decided that hurricanes, lightning strikes, and similar
catastrophes are "Acts of God". NOT MY GOD, I protest!
It's the little "god of this world" who goes about as a
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour -- and he finds a lot of
people who aren't in the Game Refuge, so they're fair game. We
aren't playing charades or Survivor (this is serious!) -- in
the Game of Life the stakes are the ultimate, and perhaps FINAL.
I set before you Death & Life: choosing Life is recommended.
The Pharaoh dreamed first about the
seven cows eating the seven cows, and I'm thinking that cows
don't eat cows--they eat hay! It's not the right kind of food for
them. Jesus said "Except
ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have
no life in you." Jn6:53.
He nearly lost his entire crew over that statement because they
weren't making the connection that He was the Passover Lamb in
the flesh. Only the twelve were present to hear him explain later
that the bread was his body, and the cup was his blood.
Then the Pharaoh had a second dream, and
this time it was seven good ears of corn that ate seven thin ears
of corn. I'm thinking corn doesn't have mouths to eat with: corn
only has ears!
People are fond of saying how the Bible is anybody's
interpretation, but I claim the Bible TEACHES interpretation--mostly through
the dreams and visions stories.
Joseph interpreted the dreams, saying
that the two were one, and further: "by two it's
established", Gen41:32. As we've just seen, it's a principle
carried throughout scripture.
Joseph went on to explain that seven
years of good harvest would be followed by seven years of famine.
Great news about the good harvest, but what will we do after
that? "Put aside some of the good harvest and save it for
the years of the famine", is what Joseph advised; and so it
turns out that Joseph himself is given charge of the storehouse.
Do you see it? The storehouse is the Bible! Like money in the
bank. The "7" good years is symbolic of all the time
required to write it, and the "7" famine years have
been in effect ever since, while we continue to feed on the bread
of life, and 'take the cup' by becoming doers of the Word.
Only two (2) "birthdays" are spoken of explicitly in Scripture. Guess which ones?
Scripture details the birth of Christ and we celebrate the 25th of December though most of us
would agree that probably isn't really the exact date. There's even a chance this was a date formerly assigned
to a heathen god of the 3rd or 4th century.
On the other hand, its a mystery how Groundhog Day is still observed in this day and age. Many will pooh pooh it, but
the 2nd day of February occurs on the 33rd day after New Years, which was preceded by the final 7 days of December.
The dates coincide with Leviticus chapter twelve stipulating the purification procedure for a new mother.
The Pharaoh's birthday was on "the third day", Genesis 40:20, when the Butler
received LIFE and the Baker received DEATH. To better appreciate the significance of such a special date
check out the SIX DAYS page.
Herod's birthday (more accurately, the day his birthday was kept, Matthew 14:6, Mark 6:21)
was on the day Herodias' daughter danced, and John the Baptist was beheaded. His head was "taken away" on that infamous day , and now
the Body of Christ is awaiting the day we'll be reunited with the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. REMEMBER will overcome DISMEMBER !
Two Special Signs.
Moses complained to God that the people wouldn't listen to him, so God gave him two (2) signs:
the first was the rod that turned into a snake and then back again, and the second was a hand that
became leprous and then was healed. Ex4:9. Now, with hindsight, it's clear that Jesus is the "rod" that
came down from heaven and became sin (the serpent) in our place, as our saviour. The sickness is
symbolized by leprosy, followed by the healing from 'the God that healeth thee', Ex15:26.
Two (2) Runners
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS: - They both ran, but the volunteer who got to David first didn't have the full message--he only knew 'in part'. Even though Ahimaaz (let's call him "Hymie") got off to a late start, he ran 'in the plain' and overtook and passed the other runner, Cushi.
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What did they THINK would happen, when they expelled the Bible? Less crime? More honesty? |
Cushi had been designated to run and tell David the good news about the victory and the bad news about the death of Absalom.
Maybe he was just slower than Hymie (Is this a play-on-words? Since Hymie ran 'in the plain', did Cushi run a fanciful or convoluted or hidden course?)
David had seen the two runners approaching with 'tidings', 2Sam18:26, and evidentally recognized Hymie, son of Zadok the priest, but not the slow one with the message about 'the death of the son'. (The oak tree had snagged Absalom by his hair, and Joab had killed him.)
"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us; Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Heb12:1.
Two of a kind. Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt, Gen19:26, and the Israeli's who were bitten by fiery serpents, Numb21:6, were healed if they
would turn to look at the brass serpent. In each case they had to physically turn and look, but now under the New Covenant
we don't have to turn our head; only think back and consider our sins, and repent.
That's when we'll become salt (Matt5:13) and pillars (Gal 2:9). It's a contrast between physical and metaphorical.