Division In Christianity
Written by: Delbert Magusara Haim
October 31, 2012
From the very beginning of generations, I think people are always living with divisions because of the knowledge of good and evil. Indeed, the Bible today in particular became a very controversial book in the world.
Actually, division in Christianity is a result of great errors in interpretation. This situation cannot not be changed forerever unless we discover its source. But I believe there are many diligent men have found yet the key of wisdom that written in the epistle of Paul.
When the Apostle Peter said that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation”, it is actually means that concerning prophetic texts, these were not written by the thoughts of men as we normally receive simple messages. And so in understanding the meaning, we could not directly define its texts literally because these words are cryptic and had been revealed wisely by the Holy Spirit to the intent that his plan may not be interrupted by devils. In other words, their thoughts are not the same with ours.
Like as follows:
· Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
· The sword of my mouth. (Rev. 2:16)
That is why all prophecies are very hard to understand and it needs more time to study. The word “prophecy” in strong dictionary is a “prediction”- a message that about to happen.
For example; (The prophecy of the second coming of Christ)
We have here the following predictions:
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
4. With power and great glory.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth
Now, if we will interpret these by its normal sense or literally, here are the results;
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven – something not normal will happen in the heaven above, like; climate change and the earth will stop
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn – All people exist on earth will mourn
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven – Jesus and thousands of angels with horses are flying in the clouds of heaven, like flock of birds.
4. With power and great glory – Making war against men by his warrior angels; the war of immortals against mortal creatures, and thereafter to be crowned inside the new temple building of Jerusalem and rule the whole earth like emperor, king, and President.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth- He will fight using a sharp sword from his mouth.
But if by comparing scripture by scripture as Paul said;
See the difference:
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven – When Jerusalem compassed with armies is the sign of the coming destruction. It’s like the fig tree when it shoots forth it means that is now summer.
The “armies” here are not the new generation armies today or even in the future as other scholars claimed but they were the armies of Israel in the first generation. Why? Because Jesus said; “This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled”. After the Bible completed, years later, Israel was besieged by Romans in 70AD and in here this prophecy was exactly fulfilled.
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn – The tribe of Israel will mourn; the families in the house of David, and not the all people on earth.
Since the second coming of Christ is with vengeance, then this is all about the punishment of his people who killed the saints, prophets and disobeyed his voice. And this is now the time of their mourning.
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven – They will see the Roman armies marching; coming in Jerusalem to destroy their city. He used the Roman armies to be the Son of man that will come and this day will be the day of clouds/wrath/distress/darkness in Israel.
Witnessed by the Jewish General/Priest during the war: Josephus
This march of the Romans seemed to the Jews to be a flight; and as the watchman who was placed upon the wall gave a signal by shaking his garment, there came out a fresh multitude of Jews, and that with such mighty violence, that one might compare it to the running of the most terrible wild beasts.
4. With power and great glory – a powerful Romans and their victory against the walls and high towers of the magnificent city.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth – the 70AD Jewish and Romans war
Witnessed by the Jewish General/Priest at that time: Josephus
NOW as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be the objects of their fury, (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other work to be done,) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple.
Therefore;
Division in Christians is just the product of misinterpretation and brainwashed ideas. So be transformed and withdraw from erroneous concept and follow what is good. For we are not in bondage in a certain group but to the truth planted in our hearts.
October 31, 2012
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
From the very beginning of generations, I think people are always living with divisions because of the knowledge of good and evil. Indeed, the Bible today in particular became a very controversial book in the world.
Actually, division in Christianity is a result of great errors in interpretation. This situation cannot not be changed forerever unless we discover its source. But I believe there are many diligent men have found yet the key of wisdom that written in the epistle of Paul.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
When the Apostle Peter said that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation”, it is actually means that concerning prophetic texts, these were not written by the thoughts of men as we normally receive simple messages. And so in understanding the meaning, we could not directly define its texts literally because these words are cryptic and had been revealed wisely by the Holy Spirit to the intent that his plan may not be interrupted by devils. In other words, their thoughts are not the same with ours.
- 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Like as follows:
· Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
· The sword of my mouth. (Rev. 2:16)
That is why all prophecies are very hard to understand and it needs more time to study. The word “prophecy” in strong dictionary is a “prediction”- a message that about to happen.
For example; (The prophecy of the second coming of Christ)
- Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
We have here the following predictions:
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
4. With power and great glory.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth
Now, if we will interpret these by its normal sense or literally, here are the results;
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven – something not normal will happen in the heaven above, like; climate change and the earth will stop
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn – All people exist on earth will mourn
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven – Jesus and thousands of angels with horses are flying in the clouds of heaven, like flock of birds.
4. With power and great glory – Making war against men by his warrior angels; the war of immortals against mortal creatures, and thereafter to be crowned inside the new temple building of Jerusalem and rule the whole earth like emperor, king, and President.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth- He will fight using a sharp sword from his mouth.
But if by comparing scripture by scripture as Paul said;
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
See the difference:
1. Shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven – When Jerusalem compassed with armies is the sign of the coming destruction. It’s like the fig tree when it shoots forth it means that is now summer.
The “armies” here are not the new generation armies today or even in the future as other scholars claimed but they were the armies of Israel in the first generation. Why? Because Jesus said; “This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled”. After the Bible completed, years later, Israel was besieged by Romans in 70AD and in here this prophecy was exactly fulfilled.
- Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 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. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
- Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
2. Shall all the tribes of the earth mourn – The tribe of Israel will mourn; the families in the house of David, and not the all people on earth.
Since the second coming of Christ is with vengeance, then this is all about the punishment of his people who killed the saints, prophets and disobeyed his voice. And this is now the time of their mourning.
- Zec 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
3. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven – They will see the Roman armies marching; coming in Jerusalem to destroy their city. He used the Roman armies to be the Son of man that will come and this day will be the day of clouds/wrath/distress/darkness in Israel.
- Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Witnessed by the Jewish General/Priest during the war: Josephus
This march of the Romans seemed to the Jews to be a flight; and as the watchman who was placed upon the wall gave a signal by shaking his garment, there came out a fresh multitude of Jews, and that with such mighty violence, that one might compare it to the running of the most terrible wild beasts.
4. With power and great glory – a powerful Romans and their victory against the walls and high towers of the magnificent city.
- Zep 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
5. Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth – the 70AD Jewish and Romans war
- Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Witnessed by the Jewish General/Priest at that time: Josephus
NOW as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be the objects of their fury, (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other work to be done,) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple.
Therefore;
Division in Christians is just the product of misinterpretation and brainwashed ideas. So be transformed and withdraw from erroneous concept and follow what is good. For we are not in bondage in a certain group but to the truth planted in our hearts.
- 1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.