Audience Relevance

Audience Relevance

As we read and study a text of the Bible, we must keep in mind audience relevance – what did the original audience understand this to mean?
The Bible was written for us but not to us. I have had some Christians flip out on me for making that statement. They think that the Bible is written to us.

 

It should be quite simple to show them otherwise.
I was discussing this very subject with a man in my office who said, “All the Bible is written to us.” To show him how ridiculous this position was, I took him to:

 
Joshua 6:3 (NKJV) “You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.

 

I asked him, “Is this command to march around Jericho to you?”
He replied, “Yes, it is.” At that point I ended our discussion.

 
This is an absolutely insane view. I don’t think that he actually believed that he was commanded to march around Jericho (even though he said he was), but to admit that would be to admit that the Bible is written for us and not to us.

 
If you ignore audience relevance and view this verse as written to you, what do you have?

 

Joshua 6:25 (NKJV) And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. SO SHE DWELLS IN ISRAEL TO THIS DAY, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

 

You have a lady that is well over 3,000 years old. Is Rahab still living in Israel today? Of course not!

 

Why does the Bible say she is still living in Israel today when she isn’t? When the book of Joshua was written, she was still living in Israel.

 

This statement was true and accurate when it was written. But to us, some 3500 years later, it must be viewed in light of audience relevance.

 

Let’s try another verse:
2 Timothy 4:21 (NKJV) Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

 

Is this written to us? Where are we to go before winter? Which winter? Paul was writing to Timothy. When? He was to come before the winter of AD 67.

 

Philippians 2:19-23 (NKJV)
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you SHORTLY (tacheos), that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.  For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.  But you know his (Timothy’s) proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.  Therefore I hope to send him AT ONCE, as soon as I see how it goes with me.

 

The Greek word for “shortly” is tacheos. According to Arndt and Gingich Lexicon, tacheos is used in the LXX and certain non-canonical writings to mean speed, quickness, swiftness, haste, suddenly.

 

Are you (in 2016) excited about Timothy’s soon arrival? Why not?

 

The Bible says that Paul will send him “shortly.”
But I don’t know of any Christians that are looking for Timothy to arrive soon.

 

Are you?

 

Christians understand that Paul was speaking to the Philippians in the first century when he said this.
They don’t understand the “shortly” to be to them but to the Philippians of the first century.

 

 

Why then, when it comes to the subject of the return of Christ, do they want to ignore the principle of audience relevance?

Jonathan Forgor

Understanding Revelations 15:1

UNDERSTANDING Revelations 15:1

How many of you have ever seen this verse?

Revelation 15:1
The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Did you notice what it says?

The wrath of God is finished.

People always equate this with the end of the world which purportedly would take place soon.

How I wish people would read further on.

Revelation 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.

They sang the song of Moses. This song of Moses was the song God told him to write when Moses was leading the Jews into the Promise Land.

Deuteronomy 31:19-22;
Now write this song and teach it to the Israelis. Put this song in their very mouths, so that it will be a witness for me against the Israelis, because after I’ve brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised to their ancestors by an oath, they’ll eat, grow fat, and then they’ll turn to other gods and serve them, while despising me and breaking my covenant. Then, when many evils and troubles will have come upon them, this song will serve as a witness against them, since their descendants won’t fail to sing it. I know the plan that they are devising even before I bring them into the land that I promised them by an oath.”

So Moses wrote the song that very day and taught it to the Israelis.
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So in the same, When the Old covenant was ending, the transition into New covenant, the Jews had to leave the land. That is how this song of Moses is sang by Jews.

There was only a time when Moses and Jesus existed at the same time. It was AD30 to AD70.

The song of Moses has not been sung since AD70. That's when the wrath of God ended.
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The wrath of God is finished. The isn't another wrath coming in your future.
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It ended in AD70. So people tell you Revelation is about your future are only toiling with your emotions.

Do you know the song of Moses?

Has your pastor taught you about the song of Moses?

Maybe unless you live between AD30-70.
...

Adapted from Jonathan Forgor

Understanding Matthew 24

MATTHEW 24 is about The Jewish tribulation.

It is the most misunderstood Chapter of the bible. And once we grab the understanding, the whole bible opens up. And understanding the book of Revelations becomes easy. As well with the book of Acts and the epistles written.

Jesus emphatic statement!

Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till ALL these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)

When Jesus made this statement to the disciples I don’t think the Apostles were ignorantly thinking, and said to themselves “thank God THIS THING WILL happen to SOME PEOPLE 2000 years to come?”

In the Old Testament, when God told the Israelites that this generation will not enter the promise land, do you think Moses was thinking of another generation?

It took 40 years for that generation to pass away. Until they entered the promise land led by Joshua.

BEFORE Matthew 24:34, Jesus said something very important in Matthew 16:27-28.

For the Son of Man is going to COME in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, SOME WHO ARE STANDING HERE WILL NOT TASTE DEATH BEFORE THEY SEE the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:27-28)

These people were not ignorant of our LORD’s sayings. Some people actually witnessed his coming.

They did not die as Jesus said.

Also remember what Jesus said to John in John 21:21-23.

This same John is the Revealator before the destruction of the temple. Meaning he witnessed the destruction.

That is why in his gospel this is no account of what Jesus said in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21.

Even John says, he was a PARTNER in the tribulation. (Revelation 1:9)

Now..
Jesus made this statement in Matthew 24:34, When He was coming out from Jerusalem when the disciples showed Him the TEMPLE. (The TEMPLE was their heaven and earth)

Matthew 24:1-4…
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples CAME UP to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples CAME TO HIM privately. “Tell US,” they said, “WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN, and what WILL be the SIGN of YOUR COMING and of the END of the AGE?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

A parallel account of Matthew 24 is in Luke 21 and Mark 13.

This how Luke 21 recorded it.

When you see JERUSALEM being surrounded by ARMIES, you will know that its DESOLATION is near. Then let those who are in Judea FLEE to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in FULFILLMENT OF ALL that has been WRITTEN. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem WILL be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they WILL see the SON OF MAN COMING in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to TAKE PLACE, stand up and LIFT up your heads, because your REDEMPTION is drawing near.” He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. “TRULY I TELL YOU, THIS GENERATION will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
(Luke 21:20-32)

**A generation is NOT 2000 years.**

(Check Matthew 1:17, to say a generation is not 40 years is to make scriptures a lie)

This temple was destroyed exactly as prophesied by JESUS in AD 66-70. When the Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem.

Many also read this verses as a separate verse from the whole disclose of Matthew 24 and relate it to a rapture. NO!

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:37-42. A parallel verse is in Luke 17:24,37.)
This verses OCCURRED after the destruction.

This is NOT in our future or talking about a rapture. After the destruction men and women were “taken away” as slaves to other parts of the world.

If they would be a “rapture” as people teach, why was JESUS telling them to flee into the mountains.

(*Wouldn’t that be a stupid decision*)

There were NO survivors of the land except the Christians who fled into the mountains of Pelea and were saved.

When we read the verses with the history of the Jews in mind such terms like the Son of Man coming do not mean physical return of Jesus. No! It means judgement unto a nation.

And the so called “second coming” was related to the destruction of Jerusalem. Since then, there have been over 2000 years of generations before now. It would be a big error to interpret verses like these into our future. In fact, it is disrespect to the audience who heard it. Yes, a total disrespect to the Apostles.

Most of our wrong interpretation is because we think we know better than those who heard it. i.e.. The apostles. What a shame.

People in their interpretation have made Jesus a liar.

Now imagine EVERY generation BEFORE NOW reading this and thinking it is them. Will they NOT be in error?

I believe the bible was gathered together for us. Things have been written down FOR US. BUT NOT everything in it is TO US.

This is for us. For we are the new Jerusalem. The true Jew. The new heaven and new earth.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ’He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the OLDER ORDER of THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY.”
(Revelation 21:2-5)

We are a NEW CREATION.

Meaning we are New heaven and New earth. Peace.
PLEASE READ YOUR OWN BIBLE!

From Jonathan Forgor

Is the nation of Israel same as the Israel in the Bible?

WORTH READING

In the year May 14, 1948, the nation of ISRAEL got independence from the British rule in Palestine.
The current nations of Israel was formed. Since then the nation of Israel elects prime ministers (presidents) in their new political country.

Ask yourself, where was the "nation of Israel" before the year 1948.? 

Over 1000 years the nation was non-existent. How come the nation of Israel did not exist?

Because the Biblical Israel was fulfilled in Christ, ending their prophecies and making the nation of Israel scattered and desolated by the Romans in AD70.

According to the words of Christ in Luke 21:20-22;

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that ALL THINGS which are written may be fulfilled.

This fulfillment ended the nation of Israel and their "covenant with the Lord". This is what the book of Revelation talks about. The destruction and end of all their world. After that time God began to rule over All nations and all men.

The nation of Isreal of 1948, has nothing in common with those in the Bible. The Twelve Tribes of Israel do not exist today. Neither is their temple. Jesus also did not appear or die in the 1900's.

The current Israel are predominantly Muslims (Religion: 74.8% Jewish, 17.6% Muslim, 2.0% Christian, 1.6% Druze, 4.0% other).

The current Jews are not the true Jews. They are Jews from Turkey.

*****

After Jerusalem was completely destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans when the son of man came,
Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitoiina in 135 AD.

After the destruction, the Romans rebuilt a portion of the city and erected a temple to a Roman god called Jupiter on Mount Moriah and forbid access to any Jew who remain to enter into Jerusalem.

The Emperor Hadrian name it "Aelia Capitoiina" and the Moslems retained this name until the time of the Crusades.

El Khuds was next name given by the Mohammedans, and it is known by this name at the present time by them since they still LIVE there.

The name Jerusalem regained its name when Israel became a State and Country in May 14, 1948 despite the fact that the Muslims control the Temple Mount now.

*****

What the nation of Israel has now is purely a religious tourist sites. And they are the remains of what happened after the desolation in AD70. Nothing spiritual about it.

There is nothing left to be fulfilled in the scriptures today or even in the future. The words of Christ came true, because he is the Truth.

What ever teaching you are hearing about puting prophecies in the future would come to nothing. It all built on falsehood and the media (BBC, Al-jazeera, CNN etc) to which many pastors use for their prediction. All would come to nothing.

Jesus also said, after the destruction or desolation of Israel, that horror would never happen again.

Matthew 24:21;
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and NEVER to be equaled again. (Relate it to Daniel 12:1-2).

Our failure to understand Apocalyptic languages of the epistles and Revelation has lead to all this fanciful predictions which keep failing and yet people never learn from it.

The Holy Spirit would never teach anyone anything that CONTRADICT The nature and words of Jesus. Because whatever the Holy Spirit teaches is from Jesus.

John 16:13-15:
Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he’ll guide you into all truth. He won’t speak on his own accord, but he’ll speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, ‘He will take what is mine and declare it to you.’

Adapted From Jonathan Forgor

History interprets "Woman eats her Baby"

"Woman eats her Baby"

Matthew 24:7-8;
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains."

Jewish women wept as Jesus was led to the place of his crucifixion. There were women mourning his impending death.

Jesus turning unto them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28). 
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This what happened in history;

"Finally where there’s hunger and famine people died in Jerusalem. Josephus speaks about about a woman eating her child.

“Among the residents of the region beyond Jordan was a woman called Mary, daughter of Eleazar, of the village of Bethezuba (the name means "House of Hyssop").

She was well off, and of good family, and had fled to Jerusalem with her relatives, where she became involved with the siege.

Most of the property she had packed up and brought with her from Peraea had been plundered by the tyrants [Simon and John, leaders of the Jewish war-effort], and the rest of her treasure, together with such foods as she had been able to procure, was being carried by their henchmen in their daily raids.

In her bitter resentment the poor woman cursed and abused these extortioners, and this incensed them against her. However, no one put her to death either from exasperation or pity.

She grew weary of trying to find food for her kinsfolk. In any case, it was by now impossible to get any, wherever you tried. Famine gnawed at her vitals, and the fire of rage was ever fiercer than famine. So, driven by fury and want, she committed a crime against nature.

Seizing her child, an infant at the breast, she cried, "My poor baby, why should I keep you alive in this world of war and famine?

Even if we live till the Romans come, they will make slaves of us; and anyway, hunger will get us before slavery does; and the rebels are crueler than both.

Come, be food for me, and an avenging fury to the rebels, and a tale of cold horror to the world to complete the monstrous agony of the Jews."

With these words she killed her son, roasted the body, swallowed half of it, and stored the rest in a safe place.

But the rebels were on her at once, smelling roasted meat, and threatening to kill her instantly if she did not produce it.

She assured them she had saved them a share, and revealed the remains of her child. Seized with horror and stupefaction, they stood paralyzed at the sight.

But she said, "This is my own child, and my own handiwork. Eat, for I have eaten already. Do not show yourselves weaker than a woman, or more pitiful than a mother. But if you have pious scruples, and shrink away from human sacrifice, then what I have eaten can count as your share, and I will eat what is left as well."

At that they slunk away, trembling, not daring to eat, although they were reluctant to yield even this food to the mother. The whole city soon rang with the abomination. When people heard of it, they shuddered, as though they had done it themselves.”

(War of the Jews by Flavian Josephus. pp.443-444.)
..

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Fulfilling the words of our Lord and the prophets.

Matthew 24:19-20;
How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter or on a Sabbath when you flee.


Luke 23:28-29;
But Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem, stop crying for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children, because the time is surely coming when people will say, ‘How blessed are the women who couldn’t bear children and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

Lamentations 4:6;
The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her!

Lamentations 4: 9: 12;
Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field. The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people. The Lord has fulfilled His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, And it has devoured its foundations. The kings of the earth, And all inhabitants of the world, Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Lamentations 4:9-10;
Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field. The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

..

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The women knew if they stayed alive the Romans would still kill or make slaves of them.

This is also recorded in the scriptures;

John 11:48;
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

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Her properties she had was also taken away from her that lead her to eat her son.

These was why believers SOLD all their properties and distributed to the poor (Acts 4:34-37). 

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Why keep your properties when Jerusalem is going to be destroyed?
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It was this same horror Paul was admonishing the Thessalonians to be very careful of.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5;
Now you do not need to have anything written to you about times and dates, brothers, for you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
When people say, “There is peace and security,” destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape. However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness.

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All these events happen between AD 66-70. They are not your future. They are past. 

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History proves exactly what is written. Once we ignore the history, we create a lot of Falsehood and deep lies.

Any pastor who tells you any scripture is yet in your future is a LIAR.

Study for yourself.

Jesus never lied about anything when he said ALL THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT GENERATION.

Adapted from Jonathan Forgor