THE RED HEIFER OF NUMBERS 19 – WAS IT A TYPE OF CHRIST?

Recently one of our readers brought up an interesting topic discussing the red heifer found in Numbers chapter 19. He called this a great mystery to the Jews and Moses' most important writing. He equates the red heifer with the purifying sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He also wrote that the Jews are looking for another red heifer as precursor or a sign of the Messiah's return.

As Christians understand, Jesus died for our sins. His shed blood covers our sins like the sin sacrifices under the Torah did for the people of Israel. The difference is that Christ's sacrifice was once for all. This occurred at Passover and the New Covenant symbols are the Blood and Body of Christ symbolized in the Bread and the Wine of the new Passover. Christ became our Passover Lamb. There was no longer the need for the continual sacrifices to be offered, first for the priests then for the people. Christ did it once at the appointed time and then became our High Priest. There was no longer any need for the physical Temple, the physical priesthood, the physical altar, or any of the rituals that were performed there. It was all ended in Christ (Rom 10:4) who fulfilled all of the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms, as He said in Luke 24:44.

Our reader referred to the red heifer as purification from sin. And the passage in Numbers 19:9 does indicate that;
 

9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.

So is there really a great mystery surrounding this and was Christ symbolized by or a type of this red heifer?

Let us look at the entire passage and discover what the story of the red heifer really is.
 

The instruction of the Lord that came to Moses and Aaron in Numbers 19:1 was called an ordinance of the law. The instruction was that the children bring a red heifer (which is a FEMALE COW NOT MALE, please note that for later). It must be without blemish , no defects. and never have worn a yoke.
 

vs3 It was taken by the Priest outside the camp and slaughtered.
vs4 The priest was to sprinkle blood seven times in front of the Tabernacle.
vs5 Then the red heifer was burned, skin, blood, flesh, innards.
vs 6 HERE IT GETS INTERESTING: The priest ADDS; Cedar Wood, Hyssop and Scarlet Wool to the midst of the fire.

vs9 Then a man who is clean gathers these ashes and they are stored in a clean place outside the camp. It is kept for the water of purification, it is for purifying from sin. These ashes were mixed with water to make a purifying solution. vs 17 “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them.

The Questions: What do you get when you mix animal and wood ashes, water, and rendered fat? Lye Soap. What about adding Cedar Wood ashes? Good smelling Lye Soap. also Cedar Wood Oil is used as an anti-bacterial, fungicide. From a Wikipedia article on Cedar Wood Oil; "Cedar-wood oil is a mixture of organic compounds considered generally safe by the FDA as a food additive preservative. The oil has healing and antibacterial effects."

The by product of wood ashes when mixed with water is potassium carbonate. From a Wikipedia on potassium carbonate; "Wood ashes produce Potash (especially potassium carbonate) has been used from the dawn of history in bleaching textiles, making glass, and, from about A.D. 500, in making soap."

What about burning Hyssop too? Extremely fine aroma also used in modern colognes.  

What about adding Scarlet? In the tradition of Maimonides, he said that he Cedar wood was wrapped in the Hyssop and then bound with a scarlet yarn made of wool. A package that could be easily deposited into a raging fire on top of the heifer.

THE ANSWERS: The collected ash combination when mixed with water would be a very strong Lye Soap; anti-fungal, anti-bacterial anti-microbial sanitizer/cleanser with a pleasant fragrance of Cedar and Hyssop. The Cedar and Hyssop would act to preserve the ashes stored in a clean place from decomposition with these natural preservatives. The Ancient Egyptians used Cedar Oil in embalming due to it's powerful preserving properties. Something the Ancient Israelites would have been quite familiar with on a first hand basis at this particular time in their history having just left Egypt in the exodus.

One time when my wife and I were camping many years ago we built a campfire to cook our dinner over. The wood we used turned out to be cedar which was difficult to light but once lit burned with a very hot pink flame and smelled wonderful. The next day when we were washing our cooking pots and pans we noticed the bottoms were coated black with soot from the cedar fire. When we got them wet the soot had a very strong wonderful cedar smell. We decided the fragrance was so unique and enjoyable that we would only wash the insides of the pots and pans and not the outsides to preserve the aroma. For many subsequent years when we went camping we enjoyed the cedar fragrance on the pots and pans and reminisced about our adventure. So I can easily imagine the ashes of the heifer having that same wonderful cedar aroma I remember mixed with the fragrance of the hyssop which is strong mint. Once combined in fresh water it would have been a very pleasant smelling cleanser.

What about the red wool yarn? Scarlet had significance in the priestly functions in the Temple. The priest had scarlet threads on his robe. The priests had scarlet threads in their windows. Scarlet was the color of royalty. There are several possibilities, even as simple as they had a lot on hand and it was used to conveniently bundle the wood and hyssop.

SECOND QUESTION: Was the solution called the "Water of Purification" for the purifying from sin? Lets look a the pertinent verse in two translations.

(NIV) 9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. For purification from sin is indicated. What about other translations?
 

(KJV) 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification;[a] it is for purifying from sin. Both agree. But what does the original Hebrew record? My Interlinear Bible says nothing about sin in the original Hebrew. It reads," ...for a water of impurity. it is a purging offering."

The original writer of the book of Numbers tells us this was actually  a cleansing solution to be used to cleanse and purify.  Like Purell today or anti-bacterial Bath Soap? Or even stronger like Lye Soap. Did the Scarlet tread merely brand the ash powder as the Lords for use by the Israelites and foreigners among them? I think so.

SECOND ANSWER: The Water of Purification was not used in the covering of Sin. The Sprinkling of  Blood was for that purpose and came from the blood of the Sin Offering. The Water of Purification was to purify physical ceremonial uncleanness ONLY so an unclean person did not wander into the Tabernacle and defile it. This is a practical application because meats were being processed and eaten in the Tabernacle by the people of Israel and the Priests. Germs could easily spread causing illness and death if the area where the meats were processed and eaten were not kept very clean so those coming into the Temple must be clean.

Let’s look at the actual scriptures that list the uncleanness this water is to purify. Note there are no violations of the Decalogue listed here, so these thing are NOT sins according to the law.


11 Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. 12 They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean. 13 If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse, they defile the LORD’s tabernacle. They must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean; their uncleanness remains on them. 14 “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, 15 and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean. 16 “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days. 17 “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. 18 Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death. 19 The man who is clean is to sprinkle those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them. Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean. 20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean. 21 This is a lasting ordinance for them. “The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. 22 Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.”




We see that this purification is for ceremonial purification so that no one who is unclean or exposed to something that could harbor germs or may pass germs to others goes into the Tabernacle and defiles it. That is a serious infraction that requires banishment from the camp of Israel.

There were already provisions made for one who sins unintentionally called a “Sin Sacrifice.” This was given in detail in Leviticus 4:1-35. Sin sacrifices were with a bull, a MALE or a MALE goat for a priest who sins. But for the common people who sin they bring a female kid. The original Passover Lamb that the Israelites sacrificed and painted it’s blood on their door posts so the Death angel would pass over them was a male only without blemish of the first year.




So does this red heifer in some way symbolize Jesus as our Passover? As a purification for sin? We cannot conclude this from the context of Numbers 19 as we have read. While there were specific sin sacrifices already and shed blood for the atoning of the priests and the people’s sins. This water of purification was for ceremonial purposes only and not for sins committed by breaking a law. As a final proof the original Hebrew does not refer to “sin” at all.


The lesson we can learn from the red heifer and the water of purification is that the cleansing was only external from external uncleanness. It did not cleanse the person internally from sin nor was it intended to.

Jesus said Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees who lived this way;

Matthew 23:23-25 (NIV) 23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and

Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the

outside of the cup and dish, but inside

 they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 

 Hebrews 9:11-28,

 ¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,^[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^[c] so that we may serve the living God!

 ¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

 ¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. ¹⁹ When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. ²⁰ He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[e] 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

 ²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. ²⁵ Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 

In conclusion verse 13 we see again that the ashes of the Red Heifer were strictly for the outward purification. The blood of Christ was for the inner purification from Sin. So the Red Heifer could not symbolize Christ or His atoning sacrifice.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
Francis Bacon

NEW COVENANT AND ACTS 21 CHALLENGED BY A HEBREW READER

A Hebrew reader recently made a comment after reading my letter "Unraveling Armstrong's Doctrinal Errors" on this blog.


Here is his interesting challenge which I will endeavor to answer.
ImAHebrew said...


Shalom Michael, you have made a very severe mistake in how you looked at Acts 21. Paul was accused/reported to be teaching JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles, certain things. You don't make that distinction in your flawed argument. Paul submits to a sacrificial ritual to "prove" there is NOTHING (no truth) to those accuations/reports (Acts 21:25). You also fail to mention how the Believing Jews were Zealous in KEEPING THE LAW (Acts 21:20). And then, obviously, you failed to mention what happened later in Acts 28:17, where Paul reaffirms that he did not do as you and those who spread the false reports think he did, for he was not teaching the JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles to forsake Moses, the circumcising of their children, or the customs. You need to re-write and re-think everything you have written about the Law of Moses and Paul. ImAHebrew


October 30, 2011 6:29 AM


Thank you for visiting my blog and offering your insights into Paul’s teachings and things written about him. I also have Hebrew Blood in my veins and grew up in a church that taught a blend of Old Covenant and New Covenant theology. So I have a unique perspective on issues of law and grace few people possess.


You state I have made an error in my understanding of Acts. 21. Here is why I believe and write what I do concerning the Law of Moses. I write in light of Jesus Christ the Messiah crucified instituting a New Covenant in His blood. The Holy Spirit given to believers and salvation made available to believers through grace by faith in Jesus. I use the NIV Bible throughout unless specified.




ACTS 15 -THE CONTROVERSY




The controversy begins at Antioch where Paul and Barnabas oppose teachings that salvation is only through Moses by circumcision and keeping the law.




Acts 15:1, 1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.




Paul and Barnabas are asked by the church in Antioch to go to the church of Jerusalem and clear this up with the original Apostles. 

Acts 15:2 “…So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”

THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE – JEWS AND GENTILES SAVED BY GRACE


The first men to speak up are a group of Pharisees (like Paul was) who are adamant about the same teaching.


Acts 15:5, 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” Peter, after much discussion, intervenes to decide the issue. Peter was the one Jesus gave the authority to loose and bind in the church, so here he uses that power and authority (Matthew 16:19). Both Jew and Gentile were the same to God, both received the Holy Spirit and no distinction was placed on either in terms of salvation (Acts 10:43-47). Peter calls placing the burden of the law on the Gentiles “testing God.” Peter refers to this yoke one neither we (the Jews) nor their ancestors could bear. He concludes salvation is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that saves both Jew and Gentile alike.




Acts 15:6-11, The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”




A letter is then sent out written by the Apostle James verifying this and giving only four commands for the Gentiles to keep. They did not have to become circumcised or obey the Laws of Moses.




Acts 15:19-20, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.


ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE PROPHECY AND PAUL'S RETURN TO JERUSALEM


Before Paul went to Jerusalem a second time he was staying in Caesarea. A prophet from Judea named Agabus told Paul he would be bound by Jews in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles. The church members in Caesarea begged him not to go but Paul was not dissuaded and went anyway. What was to happen in Jerusalem was predetermined by Jesus to bring Paul to Rome. So what happened to Paul was God's will to which Paul readily submits ready to die in Jerusalem for Christ if necessary. Here is the account:


Acts 21:10-11, 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’


ACTS TWENTY ONE - THE GREETING


When Paul and his companions arrive in Jerusalem they are greeted by James, the chief Apostle, and all the elders. The first thing recorded is James and those assembled together telling Paul that the believing/Christian Jews in Jerusalem are zealous after the law and have been informed that Paul teaches ALL the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses. They correctly allege here Paul taught against circumcision and following the laws and customs of the Jews.




Acts 21:17-21, 17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.


I believe James was either in denial about the truth of what Paul was teaching, was in fear of the Pharisees in Jerusalem (Acts. 21:22), did not personally accept what Peter said in Acts 15 or, most likely, was in the process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Later James acknowledges that faith coupled with works is paramount and not deeds of the Law of Moses (Js. 2:14) James refers here to the Commandments of Jesus not of Moses. James wrote of the Law of Liberty instead (Js. 2:12-13).


Acts 21:22 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. (NKJV)


ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP


James directed Paul to act as though the he was an observant Jew which ended up backfiring and getting Paul arrested and nearly killed in fulfillment of the prophecy of Agabus. Paul took part in a purification ritual by financing the four men who have taken a vow. This was apparently a Nazarite Vow found in the Torah, Numbers 6:2. The key is that Paul was not under a vow himself but merely financing the four who were.




Acts 21: 23-24, 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.


ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP IS EXPOSED


While in the Temple Paul is recognized by Jews from Asia that know first hand what Paul teaches. These were at the Temple involved in some sort of  activity there. These Jews could have been part of the controversy that began in Antioch. What Paul taught, in their view, was heresy and punishable by beating or stoning. It was the same thing Paul did to the Jewish Christians before his amazing conversion (Acts 9:20) immediately preaching Christ. The Jews from Asia knew Paul taught ALL men everywhere, against the people (Israel, Jews), the law (Torah), this place (Temple in Jerusalem).


Acts 21: 27-29, 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)


ACTS TWENTY ONE- THE AGABUS PROPHECY FULFILLED


Paul and his teachings were verified again and did not agree with what James wanted the people to believe. Paul was exposed by the Jews from Asia who knew what he actually taught to both Jews and Gentiles outside of Judea.

But was this the major lesson recorded here or secondary? Was the spreading of Paul’s message of Grace and Faith throughout the Gentile world the most important thing in Jesus’’ mind. I think so. The controversy had already been settled over what the correct view of the Torah was and what believers were bound to and loosed from in terms of law.


The prophecy is fulfilled and the Lord told Paul to be of good cheer because he had testified for Him in Jerusalem and would also in Rome (Acts. 23:11).

Acts 21:28, When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us!


Acts 23:11, The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”


ACTS TWENTY TWO - PAUL’S PERSICUTION OF CHRIST


To analyze this passage is to discover that Jesus Christ had in fact literally ended the Old Covenant and replaced it with a New Covenant. If Paul, a Pharisee, a devout follower of the Law of Moses was persecuting Jesus, how could that be?




Paul had been hunting down Christian Jews and imprisoning and beating them for what, for following Jesus’ teachings? If the Christian Jews were keeping the Law of Moses what was to prosecute? On the contrary they were expelled from the synagogues for heresy, because they DID NOT follow the Law of Moses any longer. Paul testified of these things before the people who arrested him and the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem.


Acts 22:6,  6“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.




JOHN CHAPTER FOUR – JESUS ENDS TEMPLE WORSHIP AND ESTABLISHES PAUL’S TEACHINGS




Before the beginning of the Jerusalem Church of Christ on Penticost 31 A.D. and before the crusifiction of the Messiah Jesus made a trip to Samaria to a town named Sychar (ancient Shechem) and at the Well of Jacob announced the end of Temple worship. Christ was living under the law at this time as was prophesied to fulfill all things.




John 4:21-26, 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”


25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”




HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN - THE BODY OF THE BELIEVER BECOMES THE TEMPLE




I Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.


CHRIST WAS THE FULFILLMENT AND END OF THE LAW


Matthew 11:13-14, For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.


Romans 10:4, 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.


CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING

Paul teaches that circumcision or uncircumcised is nothing but to keep the law of love is what matters. (John 15:12).




I Cor. 7:18-19, 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.


THE READING OF MOSES PLACED A VEIL OVER HEARTS- ONLY LIFTED BY TURNING TO CHRIST


2 Corinthians 3:13-18, 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED IN GOD’S EYES BY WORKS OF THE LAW


Gal. 2:16, 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.


ALL WHO TRY TO CONTINUE IN THE LAW MUST OBEY ALL THINGS IN THE TORAH


Who can do everything in the law? Peter said the Jews could not bear the burden in Acts 15:10. God said Isreal would not obey (Deut. 31:16-20). The song of Moses is God’s prophecy that Isreal would not keep the covenant (Deut. 32-33) No man has nor can he continue in the Law perfectly, the law was to reveal sin so God would be glorified in his righteousness and extension of Grace through Jesus’ sacrifice.


Galatians 3:10, 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”


THE TORAH/LAW WAS ONLY A TUTOR UNTIL FAITH CAME- UNTIL THE SEED


Jesus was the Seed promised to come from Abraham due to faith. The Law was only a tutor until faith. Christians are no longer under the Law. There is no longer Jew or Gentile…alone in Christ.


Galatians 3:19-29, 19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

A NEW COVENANT WAS PROMISED THAT MAKES THE OLD OBSOLETE


We cannot continue in the keeping of a law that has been fulfilled by a sacrifice and the blood of a perfect man, Jesus Christ our final atonement. Just like one does not continue to serve a commuted sentence or pay a forgiven debt.




Hebrews 8:10-13 (AB) 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. 13When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.


IN DEFENSE OF MY VIEW OF ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE


The controversy was that men from Judea taught incorrectly that the Christians in Asia, both Jew and Gentiles, must be circumcised and follow Moses’ Law. They taught this was required for salvation. The Acts 15 conference concluded that all are saved through Faith and the law discarded as a burden and unnecessary. Acts 21 Was the fulfillment of a prophecy given by the Holy Spirit to the prophet Agabus not an indictment of Paul’s teachings as you argue.


James creates an event that will make it look like Paul is still an observant Jew and cause the rumors to die. The cover-up fails but not for reasons of any Mosaic Law violations per se but a false believe that Paul had brought Trophimus, a Gentile, into the Temple which was not permitted.




It was the arrest of Paul on false charges while participating in a Nazarite ceremony that was central. Paul had done nothing to violate any of the Temple laws but was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple. That is why Paul was arrested, drug out of the Temple and into the street, the Temple doors closed and he was nearly killed by the mob. This answers Acts 28:17.




Christ told Saul that he was persecuting Him. This could not be if what Jesus taught and what Saul practiced were the same, they were not. Saul was trying to wipe out the new Christian Church because of heresy against Moses’ Law.


Jesus had already announced the end of temple worship in John 4. So the Feast Days and the Sacrifices that were contained in Statutes and Ordinances could never again be observed. Paul taught the same thing after his conversion.


The body of the believer becomes the Temple of the Holy Spirit. No more requirements for a physical Temple or a physical priesthood in Jerusalem. Christ prophesied the physical temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was in 70 A.D. Worship becomes in spirit and truth for God is spirit (Jn. 4:23-24).


Christ was the fulfillment and end of the law (Rom 10:4). Circumcision is nothing according to Paul (I Cor. 7:18-19). The reading of Moses without faith leaves one blind until Jesus is accepted then the veil is lifted. Paul taught no one is justified in God’s eyes by keeping the law ( Gal. 2:16). All were under the curse of the Law that was lifted by Jesus at His death. No one can obey and if they do they must keep the whole law.


The law was only a tutor until the Seed, Christ came, then it is of no use. A new covenant that was promised, not like the one I made with your fathers, has come and Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. The new has made the old obsolete (Hebrews 8:10-13).




Your position that Acts 28:17 proves I am in error about Acts 21 was answered previously in this section but once again, Paul’s assertion was correct in v17 in that he had not technically done anything in Acts 21 that was a violation of Temple Law and had been falsely accused that led to his arrest. So I do not believe I spread a false report as you suggest.


I feel my understanding of Acts 21 is solid based upon many different confirming passages found throughout the Old and New Testaments some of which I have offered today. There are dozens more offered in studies on my blog I hope you will explore.

The Fall Festival Season and Armstrong's New Covenant Blunders.

The "Fall Holy Day Season" soon begins for Jews and the Armstrongite Churches. 

Now is a good time to review Armstrong's  error of placing Old Covenant practices into New Covenant Christianity. A good time to see what the TRUTH is about the Old Testament Feasts of the Lord. A good time to learn what Jesus taught on this subject.

(Previously Posted as: LAW, GRACE, AND FAITH - A NEW COVENANT BIBLE STUDY FOR JEWS AND THE CHURCHES OF GOD)

After beginning to understand the concept of Grace and  Faith in Christ for salvation and what the New Covenant meant for true believers in Christ it seemed too simple. It was eventually easy to shed the burden of the Law under  Armstrongism. This understanding did not come to me all at once but over a long period. As I wrote in my letter found on this blog "Unraveling Armstrong's Doctrinal Errors - A Personal Journey" I had grown up in the Worldwide Church of God. From 1963 when I attended my first Feast of Tabernacles with my Mother and two younger brothers in Jekyll Island, Georgia until 2010 when I finally severed ties with the United Church of God I felt there was a great degree of hypocrisy in the doctrines of the church. I was able to read and grasp the concepts of the Old Testament Festivals of God at a very young age and the instructions for their observance. One need only read with an open mind Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 and see Herbert W. Armstrong, while claiming God "Commanded Christians" to observe these days the church fell FAR short of actually fulfilling these requirements. After all what was the Apostle Paul writing about in Galatians 3:10, " For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is EVERYONE who does not continue in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law to do them," Armstrong certainly then fell under the curse of the law and brought his church under the same curse as well.


Within the Churches of God that found their beginnings in Armstrongism and base their theology on these false doctrines still prepare their annual festival cycle around this toxic soup that Armstrong brewed from some elements of an abolished old covenant and elements of the new covenant. Some Elders and members of these groups will read this blog, and they do read, with contempt and think, Hersey, Apostate!


But the Apostle Paul warns all those who reject Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ and count themselves unworthy for salvation and more so those who teach doctrines of men that cut their membership off from salvation by going back to the Abolished Covenant and rejecting the New Covenant, THE ONLY COVENANT OF LIFE THROUGH CHRIST.


Here is one of many Bible Study passages for those who believe salvation comes from keeping, or pretending to keep, the Old Covenant Festivals that were given to ancient Israel. Paul is warning the Christians in Galatia against Jews who were bringing a very similar false doctrine to what Herbert W. Armstrong taught. False for Christians then and now.

Galatians 3:25(NIV)
 ¹ You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[a] 4} Have you experienced^[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ⁶ So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{[c]  7} Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^{[d] 9} So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
 ¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^{[e] 11} Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”^{[f] 12} The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[g] 13[h] 14} He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
 ¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[i] meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.  ¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. ²⁰ A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
 ²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. ²² But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.  ²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 




In this all important excerpt from Paul's letter to the Galatian church which was made up of both Jewish and Gentile Christians CLEARLY STATES the Law of Moses including the Annual Festivals, including ALL of the Ordinances that were abolished at the cross ( Col. 2:14) were ONLY INTENDED UNTIL CHRIST,THE SEED ARRIVED. Verse 19; "...until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come."


Christ was the END OF THE LAW, as Paul writes in Romans 10:4. There is no purpose in attempting to keep Old Testament Feasts that actually cut believers off from Christ and are left fallen from Grace. Paul told the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Galatians 5:1-7 that were being taught FALSELY that they had to keep the Law of Moses for salvation that they, "should NOT become entangled AGAIN in a YOKE OF BONDAGE, which came directly from the Jerusalem Decision (Acts 15:10).


Some Armstrongites would argue, "but Christ kept the Feasts!" But when? Christ kept them during his lifetime. That was under the Old Covenant that He came to fulfill (Matt 5:17-18) and was passing away (Heb. 8:13). Jesus Himself taught that these physical, Temple based rituals, passed away at His coming. His own words in John 4 at the Well of Jacob in Samaria tells the story of the END of the Old Covenant Statutes and Ordinances and the beginning of the New Covenant. 

John 4:21-26;

  ²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

 ²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

 ²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

As the Apostle warned then and now;   
                     "...who hindered you from obeying the truth?" 

As a religious writer, I am not affiliated with any church or religious denomination. I am an independent disciple of Christ adhering to the teachings of the original Church of Jerusalem founded by the Apostles. What I write is taken directly from the Holy Bible. I use several  modern translations and find the concept of salvation through Grace clear in most translations. My writings are not taken from any other writings with the exception of critically analyzing the doctrines or teachings of  religious organizations from their own literature offered to the public. 

I grew up in the World Wide Church of God under Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) and have diligently compared the teachings and doctrines of that organization to the Bible and have found their doctrines and teachings terribly flawed. When compared to All of the New Covenant teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles,  Armstrong's teaching are in direct opposition to those of Jesus Christ. Much of what HWA taught falls into the category of pure blasphemy.

THE RESPONSE - COG's NOT INTERESTED?

As I write today I am listening to the singing of hymns of praise to Jesus Christ and God the Father taking place in the Reliant Stadium in Houston Texas at the Response prayer and fasting assembly organized by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, and many other concerned governmental and religious leaders. This event is one of the most inspiring Christian gatherings I have ever witnessed.

Quite different than the church I grew up in. My former church  was an inwardly focused cult. The Worldwide Church of God (WCG) where most of the prayers were for the church members and "the work of the church" which was the preaching of the gospel. What was woefully lacking was outward prayer for the sins and transgressions of the nation. The concentration was on a warning to the nations, mostly Brittan and America, for their sins and the impending punishment that God was going to send upon them. We warned and preached of wars, pestilence, famine, droughts, captivity by foreign nations. We were not encouraged to pray for forgiveness of the nation just waiting for God to smite those evil "pagans." How wrong that was, what sick thinking. I no longer embrace that way of thinking about others. Grace has been extended to me in turn I extend the same toward others.

The Worldwide Church of God was not that at all, not the church of God.  Jesus Christ was essentially left out and the New Covenant blasphemed. The teaching of the founder, Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA), was the WCG was the only true Church of God on earth and was directly descendant from the original church of Jerusalem founded on Pentecost 31 A.D. Which was patently false on so many levels.

An assembly like the Response would have been disparaged by HWA as "pagan" or "unconverted" people gathering deceived by Satan, the god of this world that has blinded all men except those in the WCG. 

The only time I can ever remember a prayer meeting during my 45 years in the WCG was when the founder and pastor general Armstrong's wife Loma Armstrong was seriously ill. One Sabbath, during services,  all of the congregations around the world got on their knees in front of their chairs while the local Pastor led the congregation in prayer for Loma's healing by HWA's directive. She died a couple days later.  No other prayer meetings have ever been called since then that I am aware of. There have been days for personal fasting and prayer called but not as an assembly of church members where all participated in public prayers.

Is there any precedent in the Bible for such an occasion for the Response where all of Judeo-Christian belief came together in prayer? Absolutely! The Prayer of Jesus Christ, an intercessory prayer for those who would believe in Him in coming generations found in John 17. Christ prayed for those who God had given Him and He had sent into the world as God had sent Him. Christ prayed thus, "..I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word." That includes Christians everywhere today.

In the Old Testament book of Joel, one of the minor prophets, in chapter two God gives us the solution to all of our problems. One of the themes of the Response is fasting.  Joel two verse twelve has been referenced by several speakers today. 12 "Now therefore," says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;  Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him - A grain offering For the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast..."

How much more effective could the WCG or splinter groups have been if we followed the example of Rick Perry, and Dr. James and Shirley Dobson, and the many other organizers and endorsers of this even. Instead the WCG spend multiple millions of dollars observing obsolete Old Testament Feasts doing nothing spiritually for the church, the community or the nation as a whole.

As I looked through the list of Honorary Co-Chairs and Endorsers of the Response I found no participants from the Worldwide Church of God, the United Church of God, the Living Church of God, the Church of God, AWA the Reformed Church of God, or any of the hundreds of WCG splinters who claim they are the "true church of God." I guess it is the Sabbath for most of them and they were busy, too busy to join in and pray an intercessory or two for their fellow citizens. I may be proven wrong later if there were some Church of God groups I listed actually linked to the streaming video and participating in that way...but for some reason, I doubt it, and I hope I am wrong!

Good job Governor Perry! I admire your standing up in spite of your detractors and persecutors and recognizing the need for a return to Christ as our savior. A special time of prayer and fasting for the nations sins and transgressions and for God's mercy is long overdue.

It is just too bad that the President of the United States or the Congress of the United States that opens their sessions each day with a prayer to God could not have seen this was the only answer in light of so many unsolvable problems our nation is facing. With all of the greed, confusion, ineptitude, and corruption in Washington, only God can change men's hearts. To hear Him and to reinstate the Ten Commandments as the foundation of American society is the only solution...
                
                                       ...to love your neighbor as yourself.

The Law and Christianity, What The New Covenant Is Not.

Dear TTDOCF Readers,

I am providing a List of Scriptures for your personal study that prove the Law of Moses was prophesied to be abolished and was abolished by Christ's fulfillment of the Ordinances and Statutes.  I recommend that you read the entire chapters so you know the context of each verse. New Covenant Christians are NOT bound to any of the Old Covenant.


What Is Abolished in the New Covenant? New King James Version used for Most. Welcome to Grace!

Book   Chapter     Verse     Relevance:


Genesis 22:16-18,    The Seed: Christ to come through Abraham, all nations would be blessed.
Genesis 26:4,    God confirmed same covenant with Abraham's son, Isaac.
John 4    Entire Chapter - Crucial and Pivotal! Jesus announces the end of Old Covenant and beginning of the New Covenant at the Well of Jacob in Sychar.
Ephesians 2:14    Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
Philippians 3: 9    not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law
Ephesians 2: 16    Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
Philippians 3: 2    Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those
Colossians 2: 14 Having canceled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note
I Corinthians 6: 12    you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
I John 2: 27    but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things
I John 3: 22- 24    love one another, as he gave us commandment
Hebrews 8: 13    When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete
Hebrews 9: 27    He will come again, not to deal with our sins
Hebrews 9: 9    This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer
Hebrews 10: 29    Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God,
Romans 7: 6    But now we are delivered from the law,
Matthew 11: 13    For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 12 :5- 7    But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Matthew 5: 17    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matthew 5: 18    For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
Romans 8: 3- 4    For what the law could not do
Hebrews 9: 15    And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,
Hebrews 10: 4    For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Galatians 4: 9    how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, Ye observe days, and months, and times, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
II Corinthians 3:6    ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth 
Ephesians 1 7    In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of 
Ephesians 2: 5    Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:8    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 3:10 10    For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse
11    But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
13    And the law is not of faith
Ephesians 6:13    Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, Lk 16 16 The law and the prophets were until John:
Galatians 2:16   Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
Luke 5:39   No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Matthew 12:28- 34   But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Luke 5: 36- 38   No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old


John 5: 45    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom
John 5:46    For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
Deuteronomy 18: 15    The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto
John 8: 51    Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
John 13: 34   A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
Matthew 5: 18- 19    Law to be Fulfilled (Lk.24:44)
Matthew 5:20 48    Commandments Magnified
Acts 18: 21   Paul to Keep Feast only one time mentioned
I Corinthians  5: 7-8    You are unleavened
John 7: 19   Jews at Feast, not keeping the Law
Hebrews 12: 2   Jesus, Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Hebrews 13: 9- 13   Established by Grace, not Foods.
Luke 24: 44    Christ Had Fulfilled All.
Matthew 12:1- 6    Son of Man Lord of the Sabbath
Matthew 16: 11- 12    Laws Pharisees taught a Yoke of Burden
Matthew 15: 16    Not what goes into mouth defiles(1TM 4:4)
Matthew 15: 52    Kingdom: Treasure New and Old.
Matthew 13: 41    All who practice lawlessness
Matthew 13: 35    Christ utters Things kept secret
Matthew 17: 23- 26    Sons of King Free from Taxes, above the law.
Hebrews 12: 24    Blood of Abel
John 1:17    Law:Moses, Grace and Truth:Christ
Ezekiel 37: 26    Everlasting covenant of peace I will make
Ezekiel 44     No Temple or Levites needed in Kingdom
Hebrews 10: 9 9    Takes AWAY the first covenant
Hebrews 10:11    Offerings and Sacrifices never took away sins
Hebrews 10: 14   Perfected by One Offering
Hebrews 10: 18   Where remission of Sin no longer by offerings
Hebrews 10: 29   Insulted the Spirit of Grace
Hebrews 12: 23   Jesus Mediator of New Covenant, Better things
Hebrews 9:9    The Temple worship was Symbolic for the present
Hebrews 9: 10   Ordinances Until the time of Reformation Until Matt. 

Hebrews 9: 11- 12    Having obtained eternal redemption
Hebrews 9: 15    Jesus Mediator of New Covenant
Hebrews 10: 1    The Law was a Shadow of good things to come
Hebrews 8: 7     If First Covenant faultless no place for a second
Hebrews 8: 9    Not according to the Covenant made with fathers
Hebrews 8: 13   He has made the First Obsolete
Hebrews 9: 1     First covenant of earthly Tabernacle
Hebrews 9: 8    The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while
Jeremiah 3: 16    They shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind

COG YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS SEEM BOTH A PHYSICAL AND SPRITUAL HAZZARD TO THE YOUTH

  

UCG Summer Camp Archery Training Leads To Solid Career Path - Click Here To See  Video

Just who is it that runs these camps and what are their qualifications?

This picture is from a 2011 UCG Youth Summer Camp that was posted on Facebook by Darris McNeely who is a United Church of God COE Member and Church Pastor who was supervising at this camp location.  Do you notice something that is not right in this picture? Unless you are an archer like me you may not. The bows the youth are shooting are called re-curved bows. THEY ARE ALL STRUNG BACKWARDS!  How do you spell METAPHOR? This is dangerous because they are not designed to be drawn backwards and poses a safety hazard and can destroy the bow.  Just like Jesus taught new fabric could not be used to repair an old garment because the new will rip the old Luke 5:36.  If the fiberglass bows break they could shower fiberglass and wood shards into the shooters faces and eyes causing  injury and possible blindness. Which brings to mind the veil of blindness that is placed over those who read and teach the law, until Jesus is accepted through grace and faith, II Cor. 3:15. It was indicated this was later corrected. We wonder if these damaged bows were discarded or used anyway posing a further danger to future unsuspecting archers?


The UCG parents send their youth off to camp thinking they are in safe keeping Instead incompetent and obviously poorly trained staff are put in charge of teaching archery safety thus putting their young people in danger. As well as teaching them obsolete laws that cut them off from salvation in Christ by faith.

I wrote about a similar experience my children encountered that caused both my son and daughter injury with long term effects at the 1996 Philadelphia Church of God Youth Summer Camp.




Do the COG's have any real concern for the youth and their welfare, physically or spiritually? Apparently none. By teaching them anti-Christ theology it shows their only interest is in preserving their cash flow by following Herbert W. Armstrong's sociopath business  model.

1975 IN PROPHECY - A BOOKLET, A FAILED PROPHECY, A FALSE PROPHET. FOURTY SIX YEARS AGO HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG PUBLISHED THIS MUST READ.

I recently re-read this booklet for the first time since I was a young teen in the Worldwide Church of God. I was around 13 or 14 years old when I read it for the first time which would have been around 1967 or 68..seven years before these horrendous events were to unfold. This single booklet effected my life more destructively that any other publication of that church. I am not alone. 


I suggest if you still have doubts about attending any of the Churches that branched out from the WCG after 1995 you must read this booklet first.  Then RUN!

Read 1975 IN PROPHECY here. 

1975 IN PROPHECY VIDEO

THE MYSTERY OF THE AGES REVEALED, 1919 - ANOTHER ONE? AFRAID SO.

I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS OUT OF PRINT GEM while doing research for my upcoming book which discusses many sources of the doctrines that false prophet Herbert W. Armstrong taught in the World Wide Church of God that do not agree with new covenant theology.

Many of the sources that are well known in x-WCG circles and have been written about by others I have reviewed. But this one I had never heard of. If this book influenced his teachings it is difficult to know for certain. If he read it, it may have influenced him in his British Israelite theories to some degree in an obtuse and unusual way.  Larsen claims the western United States was actually the promised land and was inhabited by ancient Israel after the exodus. This book with a familiar title was possibly in the public libraries in the 1930's when Herbert was doing his research on religion.

 

The authors middle initial was incorrect on this cover, it is "B" not "A." On his photo it is correct. Very little is known about this author. The preface to the book written by Larsen  himself is dated April 1919 in Portland, Oregon. Some of his books can be purchased on line but none that I could find had the same title. It seems like Larsen may have been Mormon, or heavily influenced by their teachings. While I did not see where he actually says so in the book he makes reference to many Mormon teachings and the book of Moroni, the last of the books of Mormon.

 

This book may explain why HWA ended up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and later Los Angeles.  Larsen claimed Los Angeles would the the heart of missionary work in America in the 1920's and that the tribe of Judah would inhabit the southern California area.

 

Larsen's book is full of failed prophecies and absurdities. But GOOD NEWS, the invasion of America by Germany will not occur until the year 4000 so he claims on page 154. So Larsen has not failed on that one...yet. Herbert's failed in 1972, then 1975....thankfully I add.

 

Did HWA read Ludwig B. Larsen's book written in 1919 

before writing his own Mystery of the Ages in 1985? 

Maybe.