A DECLARATION
OF THE
TRUTH REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
AS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE THEOLOGY OF CHRISTENDOM
SET FORTH
IN A SERIES OF PROPOSITIONS, ARRANGED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF EXHIBITING THE FAITH PROMULGATED BY
THE APOSTLES IN THE FIRST CENTURY IN CONTRAST
WITH
THE FAITH OF CHRISTENDOM
WHICH IS SHOWN TO BE
COMPOUNDED LARGELY OF FABLES.
SECTION TWO
A DECLARATION OF THE TRUTH REVEALED IN THE BIBLE RELATING TO THETHINGS
CONCERNING THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
18. There is but One God
19. The Spirit is not a personal God
19a. The Holy Spirit
20. Jesus Christ the Son of God
21. Jesus as the Second Adam
22. The Object of His Death
22a. His Resurrection
23. The Devil of the Bible
23a. Demons, Devils and Evil Spirits
24. Human Nature - Popular Views
Bible
Doctrine A - That man is a creature of the dust
Bible
Doctrine B - That man is mortal
Bible
Doctrine C - That the dead are unconscious
Bible
Doctrine D - That the "soul" is not immortal
Bible
Doctrine E - That the "spirit" in man is not a deathless entity
25. Origin of the Doctrine of the Immortality of
the Soul
26. The true Doctrine of Immortality
Bible
Doctrine 1. To be bestowed only on the Righteous
Bible
Doctrine 2. By change of the body
Bible
Doctrine 3. To be enjoyed on the earth
27. The Earth the inheritance of the saints
28. The Hell of the Bible
28a. Gehenna
29. The Destiny of the Wicked
30. The irresponsible of mankind
31. The Judgement Seat of Christ
32. Baptism: Its nature and object
33. How can so many be wrong?
34. Popular Errors and Divine Truth in tabulated contrast
35. Departure from the Truth foretold
36. Coming Deliverance
SALVATION is dependent upon an acceptance of the truth "concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ"
followed by baptism and obedience to the commandments of the Word (Acts 8:12).
The things concerning the name of Jesus Christ comprehend all that is
affirmable of him; and, is, therefore, the summary of his character as a
prophet, sacrifice, priest and king. Hence, to understand "his name,"
we must know what is testified of him in the scriptures. In the Old Testament
it us recorded prophetically; in the New Testament it
is set forth historically. unfortunately, the truth
concerning the person, sacrificial mission, and future glory of the Lord Jesus
Christ has been obscured by doctrines that have distorted the facts concerning
both the person and purpose. The propositions herein set down reveal the
relationship of the Lord to his Father in heaven, as well as to mankind upon
the earth, and therefore include vital truths concerning the Godhead, the
nature of man, the hope of the gospel, man's relationship thereto and his
future destiny. A careful consideration of the Bible references listed will
enable the reader to discern truth from error.
18 - THAT THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, by whom and out of whom
all things have been created, and in whose immensity-filling Spirit all things
subsist; that He who is thus the Father of all dwells in unapproachable light,
styled in the Scriptures, "heaven, His dwelling place." He and the
Spirit are one, but only in the sense in which the sun in the heavens and the
light of the day are one. Jesus is His manifestation by the Spirit(this
proposition strikes at the root of the popular doctrine of the trinity,1 which confuses the revealed relations of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (Deuteronomy 6:4).
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me(Isaiah 45:5).
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O
Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
(Mark 12:29).
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
(John 17:3).
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things,
and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by
him. (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6)
For there is one God, and one mediator between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5).
The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no
man can approach unto (1 Timothy 6:16).
Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30).
Our Father which art in heaven (Matthew 6:9).
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.(Psalms 123:1).
1.
The only passage in the Bible that "affirms” the doctrine of the
trinity is the following: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7).
This text is well known to be spurious and is omitted in the Revised Version of
1881 without note or comment.
19 - THAT THE SPIRIT IS NOT A PERSONAL GOD distinct from the Father, but the
radiant invisible power or energy of the Father, filling universal space and
forming the medium of His omniscient perceptions, and the instrument of His
omnipotent behests, whether in creation or inspiration; the distinction between
the Father and the Spirit being, not that they are two persons, but that the
Father is Spirit in focus, so intense as to be glowing substance inconceivable;
and the Spirit, the Father's power, in space-filling diffusion, forming with
the Father, a unity in the stupendous scheme of creation, which is a revolution
around the Supreme Source of all power.
The Spirit of God 1 moved
upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2).
Thou knowest my downsitting
and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar
off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and
art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,
O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset
me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high,I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from
thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell ( sheol the grave) behold, thou
art there... The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
(Psalms139:2-12).
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath
given me life. (Job 33:4).
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens (Job 26:13).
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created:
and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalms
104:30).
The Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him (the loin) as
he would have rent a kid (Judges 14:6).
The LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine
hand upon him; (Numbers 27:18).
Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst
against them by thy spirit in thy prophets (Nehemiah 9:30).
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. 2(2 Peter 1:21).
1. "Spirit" - ruach in Hebrew, and pneuma
in Greek - is one of those plastic words which depend for their significance
upon the context. It cannot be kept in the groove of a precise definition. This
may appear a little confounding at first sight, but in reality it is the
inevitable state of the case with regard to a word of such primitive origin.
All its meanings are cognate. Both original words translated "Spirit"
havethe same radical significance. Ruach (Heb.) is from the verb ruach,to breathe or blow; pneuma (Greek) from pneo,
to breathe or blow. Every use of the word "Spirit" must therefore be
traceable in some way to this primitive idea of breathing or blowing. And we
find thisis so. It is used for breath in such
passages as "All flesh wherein isthe breath (ruach) of life" (Genesis 6:17). "In whose
hand is every living thing and the breath (ruach)
of all mankind" (Job 12:10);"Thou takest
away their breath (ruacham) (Psalm 104:29). Pneumais translated "life" in Revelation
13:15.
But of course the most
common translation of the wordis "Spirit." In considering the meaning of this form of the word
it is well observed that "Spirit" itself comes from a Latin verb of precisely
the same derivation as ruach and pneo,
viz., spiro, to breathe: "Spirit"is
therefore etymologically the correct equivalent of pneuma.
But theology has spoiled the etymology of the word by fixing upon it a meaning
not etymologically derived. This has created all the difficulty. The only
certain way to determine the significance of "Spirit" is to collate
its applications. When we read that the Israelites "hearkened not to Moses
for anguish of spirit" (Exodus6:9), we naturally understand the word
differently from what we do in 1Samuel 30:12; And when
he had eaten, his spirit came again to him." In the one case it refers to
a state of mind, and in another to the life energy of the body.
In Daniel was found an excellent
"spirit" (Daniel 5:12).This refers to intelligence and disposition,
but when we read "No man hath power over the spirit to retain the
spirit...in the day of death" (Ecc8:8) we naturally understand it as in
Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; but
the spirit (that is, the life)return to God who gave it;: in both of which the
word has a very different meaning from what it has in Joshua 5:1 "It came
to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites... heard that the LORD had dried up
the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel... their heart melted,
neither was there any spirit (i.e. courage or heart) in them any more."
Further Comment. It is peculiarity of the Greek language that
inanimate objects are sometimes found in the masculine or feminine gender. This
is the case with "Spirit," but not invariably so, for it is also
rendered in the neuter gender as in Romans 8:19, The Spirit itself beareth witness..." In the Greek, as in the English,
this is found in the neuter gender which would not be the case if the Spirit
were a person; for though, in that language, inanimate objects can be
personified as male or female, persons are inevitably supplied with their
proper gender. -Editor.
2. "Ghost" ought in every case, to
be substituted by the word spirit. "Ghost" is no translation of the
original word. It is a mere paraphrase, and mystifies the idea expressed. It
may not do so to critical minds, but it certainly has that effect with
the common run of English readers who recognise in :ghost" the third person of the trinity, when no
such idea is contained in the original word. Pneuma,
the original word, is spirit, breath or wind, and when affirmed of God, relates
to that universal effluence of Deity which is the basis of all organic law, and
the means of that unity which pervades the universe - the medium through which the
will and consciousness of corporealised Deity
centrally located in the"heaven," are made
coextensive with infinite space.” Ghost" is an obsolete Saxon term, flavouring of exploded superstitions. As the antique form of"guest," it may have been adopted as the
representative of pneuma, to denote the idea of the
spirit's indwelling; but it must be admitted that such a method of translation
is both dangerous and unscholarly.
19a - THE HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of God in official manifestation.
This is a mode of description almost peculiar to the New Testament. The Holy
Spirit is the same Spirit mentioned in the testimonies quoted from the Old
Testament, but styled Holy Spirit by way of distinction from the Spirit in it's
free, spontaneous, universal form in nature. It is the same Spirit, gathered
up, as it were, under the focalizing power of the divine will, for the bestowal
of divine gifts and the accomplishment of divine results.
The angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35).
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power:
who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38).
The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things 1
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 14:26).
He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11).
John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days hence... ye shall receive power, after that the Holy
Spirit is come upon you (Acts 1:5-8).
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4).
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the
beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John
indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.(Acts 11:15,16).
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And
when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power(Acts
8:17-19).
The foregoing testimonies make plain the New Testament meaning of being
baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is a very different meaning from that
attached to it by professors of popular theology. It means an immersion or
enswathement in spirit power, conferring miraculous gifts. No baptism of the
Holy Spirit now takes place. All that can now be done is to preach the Word,
and this having been given through the agency of the Spirit, working in ancient
prophets and apostles, is the Spirit's instrument -the Spirit's word, by which
the Spirit makes war on the natural mind, and hews it into the similitude of
the mind of the Spirit.
1. Here the Spirit is personified, and some
people deduce from this the personality of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the
Father, whose messenger the Spirit is here represented to be. Such forget that
it was the custom of Jesus to personify great principles, such as Manna- a master,
Sin - a master; also the Prince of this world. Wisdom is spoken of in Proverbs
as a woman (Proverbs 8:12) - the Spirit here as a man, but the literal fact in
both cases excludes the idea of personality.
20 - JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, is not the "second person" of
an eternal trinity, but the manifestation of the One Eternal Creator, who is
"above all and through all" (Ephesians 4:6), and "out of whom
are all things" (Romans 11:36). This Creator is Spirit, dwelling
corporeally and personally in heaven, yet, in His Spirit effluence filling
immensity. By this Spirit-effluence, He begot Jesus, who was therefore His Son;
by the same power He anointed him and dwelt in him, and spoke to Israel through
him (Hebrews 1:1).
Jesus Christ, therefore, in the days of his weakness, had two sides, one
Deity, the other, man; but not as construed by trinitarianism,
which makes Jesus the Son incarnate. The man was the Son, whose existence dates
from the birth of Jesus; the Deity dwelling in him was the Father, who, without
beginning of days, is eternally pre-existent. There were not two or three
eternal persons before "the man Jesus Christ", but only One, God the
Father, whose relation to the Son was afterwards exemplified in the event
related (Luke 1:35), by which was established what Paul styles the”
mystery of godliness:" "God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up into glory" (I Timothy 3:16).
And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God.
(Luke 1:35).
The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son
of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:20).
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like
a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16,17).
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18).
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all
things into his hands. (John 3:34,35).
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement
is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which
hath sent me. (John 5:30).
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine
is not mine, but his that sent me. (John 7:16).
I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but
the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10).
He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God (Matthew 19:17).
I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
(John 14:28).
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?( Mark 15:34).
Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders
and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves
also know: (Acts 2:22).
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went
about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38).
21 - THAT JESUS WAS OF OUR NATURE, notwithstanding the mode of his
conception and his anointing with the Holy Spirit. He was raised up as the
second Adam (constituted of flesh and blood as we are, and tempted in all
points like unto us, yet without sin), to remove (by his obedience, death and
resurrection) the evil consequences resulting from the disobedience of the
first Adam.
The man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh 1, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: (Romans 8:3).
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same;
(Hebrews 2:14).
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman (Galatians 4:4).
He was made sin for us, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead...the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was
made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:21,45).
The gift by grace (or favour), which is by one man, Jesus Christ,
hath abounded unto many... For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans5:15,19).
He was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:7-8).
In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God...He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.(Hebrews
2:17,; 4:15).
1. This is construed to mean that Jesus
existed before he was sent forth in the flesh; but this is a straining of a
form of speech which is precluded by the nature of the subject. If it means
pre-existence in the case of Jesus, it must be allowed the same force in the following
statement in reference to John the Baptist: "There was a man sent from
God whose name was John" (John 1:6). You are compelled in such a case
to speak as if there was a pre-existence: e.g. ,Have
you built your house? Have you printed your circulars? Have you
engaged your apprentices? These questions, wrongly construed, would
prove the existence of the house, circulars and apprentices before the acts had
been put forth which call them into existence.
22 - THE DEATH OF CHRIST was not to appease the wrath of offended Deity,
but to express the love of the Father in a necessary sacrifice for sin that the
law of sin and death which came into force by the first Adam might be nullified
in the second in a full discharge of its claims through a temporary surrender
to its power; after which immortality by resurrection might be acquired, in
harmony with the law of obedience. Thus sin is taken away, and righteousness
established.
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(John 3:16).
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.(John 1:29).
To him give all the prophets witness, that through
his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other namee under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved. (Acts4:12).
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25).
He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
(Hebrews9:26).
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
(Galatians1:4).
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus2:14).
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
22a - GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD and exalted him to a glorified,
incorruptible, immortal (because spiritual) state of existence, in which he at
the present time acts as priestly mediator between the Father and those who
come unto God by him.
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it
was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24).
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30).
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed
him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,
even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.(Acts
10:40-41).
God hath appointed a day, in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he
hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
(Acts 17:31).
Jesus Christ our Lord, was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans1:3,4).
Though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth
by the power of God. (2 Corinthians 13:4).
Christ being raised from the dead dieth
no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (Romans 6:9).
God hath glorified his Son Jesus (Acts 3:13).
God hath raised him from the dead and set him at His own right hand
in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in
that which is to come:(Ephesians 1:20,21).
The Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1).
We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God. We have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14,15).
We have such an high priest, who is set on
the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (Hebrews
8:1).
23 - THE DEVIL 1 - WHO
IS HE? It is of great importance to understand this question, because the Son
of God was manifested expressly for the purpose of destroying the devil and his
works (I John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14). The mission of Christ is, therefore, imperfectly
understood when the nature of the Bible devil is not comprehended. It will be
found upon examination that the devil is not (as commonly supposed)a personal, supernatural agent of evil, and that in fact,
there is no such BEING in existence. The devil is a scriptural personification
of sin in the flesh, 2 in
its several phases of manifestation- subjective, individual, aggregate, social
and political, in history, current experience, and prophecy; after the style of
metaphor which speaks of wisdom as a woman, riches as MAMMON and the god of
this world, sin as master, etc.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he(Christ)
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (diabolos)(Hebrews
2:14).
For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26).
Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
(Hebrews12:4).
The devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot(John
13:2).
The betrayal of Christ was the result of Judas' thievish propensities;
therefore, says Jesus, "it were good for that man
that he had not been born." Have not I chosen you twelve, and one
of you (Judas) is a devil? (John 6:70).
Why hath Satan 3
filled thin heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...How is it that ye have agreed
together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? (Acts 5:3-9).
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death. (James 1:14,15).
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according
to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians
2:2).
Give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are
already turned aside after Satan.
(1 Timothy 5:14,15).
Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20).
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou
art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the
things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33;
Luke 4:8).
Satan hindered us (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
To the angel of the church (ecclesia) in Pergamos
write; These things saith he which hath the sharp
sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's
seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast
not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:12,13).
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1
Peter 5:8).
The devil shall cast some of you into prison 4(Revelation 2:10).
The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.(Romans 16:20).
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel.(Genesis 3:15).
But God shall wound the head of His enemies (
Psalms 68:21).
Thou (Israel)
art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces
the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms(Jeremiah 51:20).
There appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon ,having
seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads...And the dragon
was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:3, 17).
He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a thousand years (Revelation 20:2).
{The symbolism of the verses immediately foregoing is explained in the following}
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead
bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalms110:6).
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom...it
shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shallstand for ever. (Daniel 2:44).
1. The original word translated
"devil" is diabolos. The literal meaning of this is slanderer
or false accuser, as illustrated in the following passages, where the word
has been translated, instead of being, as in most cases, transferred
to the English in a modified form without translation: - "Even so must
their wives be grave, not slanderers(diaboloi),
sober, faithful in all things." (1 Timothy 3:11).
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour
as becometh holiness, not false accusers (diaboloi), not given to much wine, teachers of good
things" (Titus 2:3). "Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers (diaboloi), incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good" (2 Timothy 3:3). Sin is the great
accuser both of God and man. It slanders the former in virtually denying His supremacy
and goodness, and accuses the latter unto death. The personification of this
principle is natural and effective.
2. The following table of parallel passages presents this fact to themind more strikingly than any line of reasoning: -
|
Hebrews 2:14
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;.....................................................
that through death
.......................................
he might destroy him.................................
that had the power of
death....................................
that is, the devil" ( diabolos,
accuser)..................
"By one man (Adam) sin entered into the world" (Romans
5:12)...................
" For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that he might destroy the works of the devil.”(diabolos) (1 John
3:8). .................................................
"As sin hath reigned unto death" (Romans
5:21)............
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
...wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such
like" (Galatians
5:19-21)......................................
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (no superhuman
devil, mortal or immortal) is of the
world.” (1 John 2:16)
..........
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Romans 8:3
"God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh.
and for sin (in the margin, by a sacrifice for
sin)
condemned sin in the flesh"
"put away sin" (Hebrews 9:26).
Sin hath reigned unto death (Romans 5:21)
Sin bringeth forth death (James 1:15).
The sting of death is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56).
Death by sin (Romans 5:12).
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
"The carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject
to the law of God, neither can be" (Romans 8:7).
"The Lamb of God taketh away sin of the world" (John
1:29).
"He (Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins" (1 John
3:5).
"So might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21).
"He that soweth to his flesh, shall
of the flesh reap corruption; and he that soweth
to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians
6:8).
"Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and
enticed"(James 1:14).
|
3. This, like the word "devil." is
an untranslated word. Originally Hebrew. it was adopted into the Greek language and finally
transferred to the English, as the traditional symbol of the great pagan myth
of an INFERNAL GOD, whose business is represented as to thwart God and damn
mankind. Its simple meaning is adversary. This will be apparent from the
following passages: - "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the
angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary (sathan)
against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with
him."(Numbers 22:22). Make this fellow return, lest
in the battle he be an adversary (sathan) to
us (1 Samuel 29:3-4).
OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS: 1 Kings 11:14; Psalm
109:20; Job1:6-9; Ezra 4:1. If this, the simple meaning of the word, be kept in
view, the Bible doctrine of satanism
will be understood. Sin is the great adversary personified. See the
texts quoted above.
4. Sin, incorporated in the authorities of
the Roman state, incarcerated the believers of the gospel. This was the
adversary, careering through the earth in search of prey "seeking whom he
might devour."
23a - DEMONS, DEVILS OR SO-CALLED EVIL SPIRITS were the fanciful creation
of the pagan mind. 1 They
were supposed to be a kind of demi-god, inhabiting
the air, and producing disease inhuman beings by taking possession of them. The
following passages show that in the Bible, the word is not used to express this
idea.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew
not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers
fearednot. (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37).
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils,
and for the calves which he had made. (2 Chronicles 11:15; Leviticus 17:7).
The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,
and not to God (1 Corinthians 10:20).
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes
he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And
I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.... And Jesus
rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured
from that very hour. (Matthew 17:15-18).
(From this, the identity of lunacy with supposed diabolical possession is
apparent. The expulsion of the evil which deranged the child's faculties is the
casting out of the demon).
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and
he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.(Matthew 12:22).
One of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my
son, which hath a dumb spirit;
(Mark 9:17).
1. The word "devils” occurs but four times in
the Old Testament; in two places the original word is sheedim,
signifying breasts and teats. Parkhurst says "As
a noun masculine plural, it was the name given by the Hebrews to the idols
worshipped by the inhabitants of Cannan." The
Egyptian Isis was one of these sheedim, and
was called multimammia, or many-breasted,
because clustered over with breasts. They worshipped the prolific principles in
nature. Segeerim, twice out of fifty
instances, is rendered devils. It represents something hairy; it came to
signify a goat, a hairy one. The Egyptians, and all other nations at that day,
worshipped it as an emblem of fecundity. Parkhurst
says, "It is not, however, improbable that the Christians borrowed their goat-like
pictures of the devil, with a tail, horns and cloven feet, from the
heathenish representations of Pan the Terrible." - Hebrew Lexicon.
In the New Testament, the word is of frequent
occurrence. The translators, however, make little or no distinction between the
Greek words diabolos and daimon, rendering
both, frequently and incorrectly,” devils." Demon, devil-god, or
evil genius, expressed to the Greek mind the idea of human departed spirits,
raised to the rank of gods or deities. The Jews imbibed in a great measure the
traditions of the Greeks and Latins, supposing that
diseases and afflictions, whether mental or physical, were the result of having
demons or possessions. This tradition had impressed itself on the general
language of the time, without being committed to the theory in which that
language had its origin; just as many exploded theories in our time have left
their mark in such phrases as "bewitched,""moonstruck,"
"St. Vitus' dance," " St. Anthony's
fire," etc. These phrases are freely used, without subjecting the person
using them to the imputation of believing the original fiction. Christ's
conformity to popular language did not commit him to popular delusions. In one
case, he apparently recognizes the god of the Philistines; "Ye say that I
cast out devils through Beelzebub,if
I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?
" (Matthew 12:27). Now, Beelzebub signifies god of flies, a god of the
Philistines of Ekron (2 Kings 1:6).
Parkhurst remarks "However strange the worship of such a
deity may appear to us, yet a most reasonable instance of a similar idolatry is
said to be in practice among the Hottentots, even to our day. The Jews in our Saviour's time had changed the name into Beelzebub, i.e.,
the lord of dung." He also says, "There is no reason to doubt
but it was applied in the same sense by the Jews, with whom our Lord
conversed." Lightfoot remarks, "And among the Jews it was almost
reckoned a duty of religion to reproach idols and idolatry, and call them
contemptuous names;" and Christ in using the name takes no pain to dwell
on the fact that Beelzebub was a reality. This might, with as much reason, be
taken as proof of his belief in Beelzebub, as his accommodation to popular
speech on the subject of devils is taken to prove his belief in the popular
idea.
24 - HUMAN NATURE - WHAT IS IT? Philosophy and "orthodox" religion
say it is a thing made up of two parts - body and soul (and some add, spirit); that
the soul is the real, conscious, thinking part of man, in its nature
indestructible and immortal; that when the body is destroyed in death, the soul
is liberated and departs to another sphere of existence, thereto undergo,
endless happiness or misery, according to the life developed in the body. 1 This doctrine is known in theology as THE
IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. This is a PAGAN FICTION subversive of every principle
of eternal truth, as will be discovered by a consideration of the evidence,
which proves:
A. - That Man is a Creature of Dust Formation, whose individuality and
faculties are the attributes of his bodily organization.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul2 (Heb. nephesh chaiyah,
living creature) - (Genesis2:7).
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name
Adam, in the day when they were created. (Genesis 5:2).
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast
thou taken: for dust thou art, and untodust shalt thou return.
(Genesis 3:19).
The LORD God sent him forth from the garden of
Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (Genesis 3:23).
He knoweth our frame; he remembereth
that we are dust. (Psalms103:14).
Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto
the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: (Genesis
18:27).
Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and
wilt thou bring me into dust again? (Job 10:9).
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of
grass. The grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away:(1 Peter 1:24;
James 1:10-11).
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth
them: as the one dieth, so dieth
the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no
preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all
are of the dust,and all turn
to dust again. (Ecclesiastes 3:19,20).
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (ruach spirit or breath, which in Ecclesiastes 3:19, above
quoted, Solomon says the beasts have as well as man) shall return unto God who
gave it(Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they
die, and return to their dust.
(Psalms 104:29).
Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? (Isaiah45:9).
We are the clay, and thou our potter (Isaiah 64:8).
He that is of the earth is earthly (John 3:31).
That which is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6).
The first man is of the earth, earthly...as is the earthy, such are
they also who are earthy...we have borne the image of the earthly(1 Cor 15:47-49).
1. Strangely enough, this belief is allied
with the doctrine that after the soul has gone to heaven or hell, it will
return at a certain time, called the day of judgement, to be re-united with the
body and judged as to whether heaven or hell is to be its everlasting
portion. Where is the consistency of sending a man to hell first, and then
bringing him to judgement? Let the orthodox believer answer.
2. Kitto renders
this passage as follows: " God formed man - (Heb. Adam) - dust from the ground,
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living animal."
He also says,” We should be acting unfaithfully if we were to affirm
that an immortal spirit is contained or implied in this passage"
(Cyclopedia Bib. Lit.,vol.1, page 659). Kitto's translation is borne out by Paul's quotation of the
very verse in 1 Corinthians 15. Having affirmed that "there is a natural
(or animal) body, and there is a spiritual body," he says,by way of proof," And so
it is written, the first man Adam, was made a living soul, the last Adam
was made a quickening spirit."
B. - That Man is mortal (that is, subject to death or dissolution
of being) in consequence of the disobedience of Adam, which brought death as
the penalty of sin.
For in the day that thou (Adam) eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die(see
margin, Heb. dying thou shalt die) -
(Genesis 2:17).
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast
thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt
thou return. Genesis 3:19).
Now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and
eat, and live for ever (Genesis 3:22,23).
By one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans
5:12).
In Adam all die (1 Corinthians 15:22).
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see
death? shall he deliver his soul from the
hand of the grave?
(Psalms 89:48; 30:3; 86;:13; Job 33:22).
All (cattle, beast and creeping thing, and every man) in whose
nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died(at the flood). (Genesis 7:22).
Cease ye from man, whose breath (n'shamah) is
in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? (Isaiah 2:22).
The Blessed and only Potentate...only hath immortality, dwelling in
the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see:
to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16).
C. - That in the Death State, a man, instead of having "gone to another
world," is simply a body deprived of life, and as utterly unconscious asif he had never existed. Corruption will destroy his dead
body, and he will pass away like a dream. Hence, the necessity for
"resurrection."
In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give
thee thanks? Psalms 6:5).
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything,
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also
their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now
perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is
done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no
work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whitherthou
goest. (Ecclesiastes 9:10). 1
The grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go
down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he
shall praise thee, as I do this day (Isaiah 38:18-19).
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of
man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth
forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day
his thoughts perish. (Psalms 146:3,4).
Why died I not from the womb? ... For now should I have lain still and
been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, with kings and counselors
of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves...There the wicked
cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. Job 3:11-17; 14:10-12).
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry... O spare me (David)that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be
no more.(Psalms 39:12-13).
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell
on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption : but he whom God
raised up again saw no corruption (Acts 13:36,also 2:29-34).
Then Abraham gave up the spirit (gava,
expired) and died in a good old age...and was gathered to his people. 2
(Genesis 25:8).
1. Martin Luther, commenting upon this
passage, says,” Another proof that the dead are insensible: Solomon
thinks that the dead are altogether asleep, and think of nothing. They lie, not
reckoning days and years, but, when awakened, will seem to themselves to have
slept scarcely a moment" (Debt of Grace, page 258).
2. The phrase "gathered to his
fathers," has been contended by some to express the idea that Abraham, in
a disembodied state, joined his ancestors in heaven. This view is excluded by
the fact that Abraham’s fathers were idolaters: "Joshua said unto
all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,
your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor, and they served other gods" (Joshua
24:2), Abraham's "fathers" served other gods: they would be, even on
the orthodox theory, excluded from heaven, and therefore Abraham would not be
gathered to them there. Abraham joined them in the grave, for all "go unto
one place" (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
D. - "Soul" in the Bible means creature in its primary use, but
is also employed to express the variety of aspects in which a living creature
can be contemplated, such as person, body, life, individuality, mind, disposition,
breath, etc. It never expresses idea of immortality.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living
creature 1(the same
original word translated "soul" as applied to Adam) after his kind,
cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was
so. (Genesis 1:24).
God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that
hath life (in the margin "soul" -
Heb. nephesh 2
) and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
(Genesis1:20).
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,
and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10).
He stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD,
and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul [nephesh]come into him
again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul[nephesh]
of the child came into him again, and he revived. (1 Kings17:21,22).
It came to pass, as her soul [nephesh, life] was in departing,(for she died) - (Genesis 35:18).
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth,
and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh,
and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth,
and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh,
and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of
all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
(Isaiah 29:8; Exodus 12:16; see margin)
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he
is hungry;(Proverbs 6:30; cp. Leviticus 17:10-12).
Levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle:
one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of
the asses, and of the sheep: Numbers 31:28).
But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it,
and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.(Leviticus22:11).
They smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword,
utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. (Joshua 11:11; 10:32; Jeremiah 4:10; Job
36:14;see margin)
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor
innocents (Jeremiah 2:34; Ezekiel 13:18-19; 22:25-27).
So that my soul chooseth
strangling, and death rather than my life. (Job 7:15; Psalm 105:1: see
margin).
Samson said, Let me [ in the margin, Heb. my
soul] die with the Philistines. . (Judges 16:30).
It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that
prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
(Acts 3:23).
Thou hast in love to my soul [ that is, to me] delivered it
from the pit of corruption (Isaiah 38:17).
Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall
die. (Ezekiel 18:4,20).
For whosoever will save his life [psuche] shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul [psuche], (same word translated”
life" in the previous verse) or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul [psuche]?" (Matthew 16:25-26).
And I will say to my soul [psuche], Soul [psuche], thou hast
much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto
him, Thou fool, this night thy soul [psuche] shall be required of thee
(Luke 12:19,20).
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul[psuche]: but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul[psuche] and body in hell [gehenna].(
Matthew 10:28).
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought
the young child's life.[psuche] ( Matthew
2:20).
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any
man's life [psuche] among you, but of the ship. (Acts
27:22).
And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the
blood of a dead man: and every living soul [psuche] diedin
the sea. (Revelation 16:3).
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar 4the souls of them that were slain for
the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud
voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge
our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:9,10).
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied...because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered
with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53:11,12).
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul [psuche]
was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.(Acts
2:31; Psalm 16:10).
1. Adam Clark, remarking on the text, says,
"nepheshchayiah
is a general term to express all creatures endued with animal life, in
any of its infinitely varied gradations."
2. In the 754 places where the Hebrew word
nephesh (soul)occurs in the Old Testament Scripture, it is said in 326 places
to be subject to death...The soul is said 203 places to be in danger of death,
and in123 places to be delivered from death, implying its liability to
death."
In 106 places where the Greek word psuche
occurs in the New Testament Scriptures, it is said in 45 places to be subject
to death...The soul is said in 29 places to be in danger of death, and in 16
places to be delivered from death, implying its liability to death." - Waller’s
Concordance on the Soul.
3. Adam Clark says of this passage, "On
what authority many have translated the word psuche in the 25th verse 'life',
and in this26th verse 'soul', i know not, but am
certain it means life in both places,” The revisers have since adopted
this translation.
4. Adam Clark says of this passage, "The
altar is upon earth, not in heaven." We quote his opinion, because he was
of identical faith with those who use this passage to prove their belief in disembodied
existence in heaven. In reference to the "souls under the alter," he says,”
Their blood, like that of Abel, cried for vengeance, "The Lord said to
Cain, the voice of thy brother crieth unto
Me from the ground" (Genesis4:10). It is said of Christ, that his
blood..."speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).
It is evident the apostle beheld in vision those of the Lord's disciples who
should suffer martyrdom upon the earth, symbolically styled "the
altar," during the papal persecutions. In Revelation20:4, John again, in
vision, sees "the souls" (i.e. persons), of them that are beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, "as having come out of their graves through the
resurrection, and lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." This
will be when "he shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom."
E. - "Spirit" in the Scriptures, as applied to man, is no more expressive
of the philosophical conception of an immortal soul than "soul," but signifies
breath, life, vital energy, mind, disposition, etc., as attributes of human
nature while alive.
Behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy
all flesh, wherein is the breath [ruach] 1of life, from under heaven; and
every thing that is in the earth shall die. (Genesis 6:17).
For as the body without the spirit 1[pneuma, in the margin, breath] is dead, so
faith without works is dead also.
(James 2:26).
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit [pneuma] 2 . (Matthew 27:50).
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit [pneuma] - (Acts 7:59)
Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit
[ruach] (1 Samuel 1:15).
Who knoweth the spirit [ruach]
of man that goeth upward, and the spirit [ruach] of the beast that goeth
downward to the earth?(Ecclesiastes 3:21).
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the
side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the
sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the
children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither
was there spirit [ruach] in them any more,
because of the children of Israel. (Joshua 5:1).
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [ruach, in the margin, "wind"] of
the day: and Adamand his wife hid themselves from the
presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
(Genesis 3:8).
God made a wind [ruach] to pass over the
earth, and the waters assuaged (Genesis 8:1).
There is no man that hath power over the spirit [ruach]
to retain the spirit [ruach]; neither hath he
power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall
wickedness deliver those that are given to it. (Ecclesiastes 8:8).
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits 3of just men made perfect (Hebrews
12:23).
Are they not all ministering spirits 4,
sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews1:14).
Beloved, believe not every spirit [pneuma],
but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:1-2).
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had beena spirit [in the original, phantasma],
and cried out (Mark 6:49).
1. Ruach primarily
signifies "air in motion, breath, or wind," from the verb ruach, to breathe; also "intelligence, courage, mind,
disposition," etc - Parkhurst. "Neshamah from the verb nesham, to
breath, occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament, invariably rendered pneuma(Greek) from the verb pneo,
to blow, breathe, rendered wind, air, the breath of life, the spirit, a living
spirit, i.e., feeling." - Liddell and Scott. Mr. McCullough says,
"There is no word in the Hebrew language that signifies either soul or
spirit, in the technical sense in which we use the term, as signifying
something distinct from the body." - Credibility of the Scriptures, vol II. page 471. Parkhurst also translates ruach
"a puff of breath."
2. Wakefield
and others render this "He expired."
3. That is, to perfected men at the coming of
Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing (2
Timothy4:1). "Just men" and those whose names are
written in the "book of life” then shall be made perfect"
(Hebrews 11:40). That Jesus, in the days of his flesh, was not made
perfect, is gathered from the following testimony,” Go ye, and tell that
fox...I do cures today and tomorrow, and the thirdday
I shall be perfected" (Luke 13:32). "The Son who is
consecrated (in the margin, perfected) for evermore" (Hebrews
7:28). "And being made perfect, he became the author of
eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).
4. The angels are called spirits, not because
they are immaterial or unseen, for on several occasions they appeared and gave evidence
of being tangible beings. Abraham entertained them, and they ate and drank; see
Genesis 18:2-3. They are called spirits because they are of spirit nature.
Christ likened the resurrected immortalised bodies of
approved believers to thereof the angels (Luke 20:36), for they will possess
"divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). Paul taught that the approved will
have "spiritual bodies" (1 Cor.
15:44), that is, bodies energized by the Spirit of God, and not by blood as at
present (1 Cor. 15:50). The glorified, resurrected
Christ had a tangible, visible body of "flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39),though not of blood, and the approved will be made
"like him" (1 John 3:2)- Editor.
GO TO PART THREE
