1 God Series Isaiah 9:6

 1 God Isa 9:6

Some hold that Jesus is Almighty God the Father from Isaiah 9:6, I was one of them.

Let's revisit that verse in light of the words in other passages. 

1. "God" in that verse is a word also applied to men, judges, rulers, and magistrates.
2. The "son given" as Jesus Christ is a man. The Messiah, God's servant.
Isaiah 53 makes this abundantly clear.

3.  "God" in Isa. 9:6 is a word also applied to men, rulers, magistrates, and judges. See the link.

4. The "everlasting father" is fulfilled when Jesus became the "seed" that was planted in the earth (death) and raised to become the "last Adam". -a father sows seed to produce children.

5. When Jesus was preached after His disciples were Spirit-filled, we must look at what they said who Jesus is to Jews, gentiles, rulers, pagans..
They never preached Isaiah 9:6 meant God became a man.
They did preach Isaiah 53 and Psalm 110
A Psalm of David.
110 The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

We have 100% assurance "THE LORD" is the Father and God of Jesus Christ. John 17:3.
John 20:17
but go to My brethren and say to them,
‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

Isa 9:6 is prophecy. Prophecy must be fulfilled. 
Let's itemize the prophecy and see when EACH PORTION was fulfilled. Lengthy but worth the read!

Isaiah 9:6 KJV  For to us a child is "BORN", (prophecy)
- fulfillment
Luke 2:7  And she brought forth her first "BORN" son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

- So we know this child is not the Father because GOD the Father is not born. The Father is eternal.

to us a son is "GIVEN": (prophecy)|
- fulfillment
John 3:16   For God so loved the world, that he "GAVE" his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- the Father did not become his only begotten son. The Father GAVE his Son....

and the "GOVERNMENT" shall be upon his shoulder (prophecy)
- fulfillment
John 5:22  For the Father judges no man, but has committed ALL JUDGMENT (government) unto the Son

- the Father is not governing. The Son is! Why? because the Father GAVE him that rule.

As we continue with this prophecy to fulfillment we MUST understand that "NAME" in this prophecy (Isa 9:6) means reputation, fame, and glory. Let's keep reading...

(Prophecy) and his NAME (reputation, fame) shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

- Let's itemize each "NAME" called

WONDERFUL- wonder, marvel wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing)
- fulfillment
Jesus is wonderful.
Matthew 21:15 KJV And when the chief priests and scribes saw the WONDERFUL things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased.

COUNSELLOR- to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan
- fulfillment
John 4:25-26 KJV   The woman said to him, I know that Messiah comes, who is called Christ: when he is come, he will TELL US ALL. Jesus said to her, I that speak to thee am he.

THE MIGHTY GOD- strong, mighty (adjective) strong man, brave man, mighty man (noun masculine) god, god-like one, mighty one mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes
- fulfillment
Hebrews 1:8-9 KJV  But to the Son he says, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

- Let's note that when God the Father referred to "the son given", The LORD did so in the same manner that other MEN were called gods. How so?  Let's keep reading...
Exodus 7:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you <Moses>  God to Pharaoh

Isaiah 41:23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods;
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

THE EVERLASTING FATHER- perpetuity, for ever, continuing future. Father of an individual of God as father of his people head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
- fulfillment
John 5:18, 22-23 KJV   Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself EQUAL WITH GOD. For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, EVEN AS they honor the Father. He that honored not the Son honored not the Father which hath sent him.

- We point out that No N.T. scripture EVER has anyone calling Jesus the everlasting Father.

THE PRINCE OF PEACE- prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain of completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

- fulfillment
Hebrews 12:2 KJV  Looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR (i.e. the chief leader, prince) and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

 The gods of Psalm 82 are nothing more than men who, by God’s sovereign design, are chosen to rule over other men. In fact, the word “Elohim,” used in verse six, is often translated “judges” in the Old Testament. An example of this can be found in Exodus 21:6 where it reads, “Then his master shall bring him to the judges [Elohim] …” 

Another example is Exodus 22:8 which reads, “If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges …” Again, the Hebrew Elohim is used.

This is why Jesus is called Elohim/God because God has given him authority to judge in...

John 5:23  Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son

God gave His Son Yeshua/Jesus the throne of his Father David to rule over Israel.

Luke 1:31-33
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High; and the LORD God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”

Summary:
 If you are believing Jesus is Almighty God the Father from Isa. 9:6:

1. "God" in that verse is a word also applied to men, judges, rulers, and magistrates.
2. The "son given" as Jesus Christ is a man. The Messiah, God's servant.
Isaiah 53 makes this abundantly clear.
3. The "everlasting father" is fulfilled when Jesus became the "seed" that was planted in the earth (death) and raised to become the "last Adam". -a father sows seed to produce children. His life was the seed.
4. When Jesus was preached after His disciples were Spirit-filled, we must look at what they said who Jesus is to Jews, gentiles, rulers, pagans..
They never preached Isaiah 9:6
They did preach Isaiah 53 and Psalm 110
 The LORD (Yehovah) says to my Lord (the Christ):
“Sit at My right hand  until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

We have 100% assurance "THE LORD" is the Father and God of Jesus Christ.
John 17:3. Jesus calls his God "the ONLY TRUE GOD".
John 20:17 Jesus said:  ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
Rev. 1: from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him that loves us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
6  and he made us a kingdom of priests ==>>> to his God and Father; <===  

 Almighty God or " MIGHTY GOD"- defined: strong, mighty (adjective) strong man, brave man, mighty man (noun masculine) god, god-like one, mighty one mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes
- fulfillment
Hebrews 1:8-9 KJV  But to the Son he says, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

- Let's note that when God the Father referred to the future son given, He did so in the same manner that other MEN were called gods. 
How so?  

Exodus 7:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you <Moses>  God to Pharaoh
Isaiah 41:23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods;
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

 The gods of Psalm 82 are nothing more than men who, by God’s sovereign design, are chosen to rule over other men. In fact, the word “Elohim,” used in verse six, is often translated “judges” in the Old Testament. 

An example of this can be found in Exodus 21:6 where it reads, “Then his master shall bring him to the judges [Elohim] …” 

Another example is Exodus 22:8 which reads, “If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges …” Again, the Hebrew Elohim is used.

This is why Jesus is called Elohim/God because God has given him authority to judge.

John 5:23  Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son

Using Isaiah 9:6  in proving "Jesus is God" does not pass the test. 

 

Proverbs 7, and we thought it was only a morality story..

 

A Proverb and a revelation
Proverbs 7, and we thought it was only a morality story..
How "naive" we were!

I looked at some of the key words and *wow*.
𝙉𝙖𝙞𝙫𝙚:
"𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝,"

The elder speaks:
Prov. 7:6 For at the window of my *house (*His House is holy)

I (wisdom) looked out through my lattice, (God's Word)
7 And I saw among the 𝙉𝙖𝙞𝙫𝙚,
And discerned among the youths
A young man lacking sense, (unawares-lacking understanding)

8 Passing through the street near her corner (tower. steeple);
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 *𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆,
(𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚-𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣)
(𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆: temple-prison, a place of worship that entraps)

9 In the twilight, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈,
(he does not have full "Light", the personal revelation of scripture and the Spirit of God)

In the middle 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.
(the "evening" leads him to the darkness, no longer in the Light of the gospel)

10 And behold, 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 comes to meet him,
𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕 and cunning of heart.
11 She is boisterous and rebellious,
Her feet do not remain at home;
("𝘀𝗵𝗲" 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟴 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗻. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 *𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺*)

12 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨, 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨,
And lurks by every corner.
( "she" is easy to find..

13 So she seizes him and kisses him
And with a brazen face she says to him:
14 “I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows.
15 “Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
( 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒚, "𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅" 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 "𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒕" 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒔..)

16 “I have spread my couch 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀,
𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒈𝒚𝒑𝒕.
17 “I have sprinkled my bed
With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
(𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮 (𝙀𝙜𝙮𝙥𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 "𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨" 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩. 𝙖𝙠𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙨. 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝.)

19 “For 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆,
𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚;
(she is the unfaithful bride that claims Christ as her own)

20 He has taken a bag of money with him,
At the full moon he will come home.”
(𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅)

21 With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.
(come to our church...")

22 Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,

23 Until 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓;
As a bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.
(𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏s 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕.
𝑰𝒕 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕!)

24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, (the wisdom of the elder)
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.

26 𝑭𝒐𝒓 *𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚* 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏,
("many". Many shall come in His name and deceive many.
And numerous are all her slain.

27 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.

(her "house-prison" is a temple, the way is the Broad way,
Sheol is the place of the lost dead, aka hell.
Some will say grave, but that is another subject.

Some of us were the "naive" young man, I would say the majority.
I was one. I got my ministerial credentials in one of her houses.

Some of us overcame her, she returns for mention in Revelation 2, and is called "Jezebel". Later in Revelation 17 and 18 she is revealed as "Mystery Babylon the Great"..

Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, becomes the church system with its' confusion of doctrines, buildings, organizations, ministries, all seductively calling people to her "house" while all claim Christ as husband.

Hence the holy Spirit says "Come out of her *my* people..."
-Rev. 18:4

12? How Many Apostles Were There?

 

How Many Apostles Were There?
You may be surprised at what a careful examination of God's Word tells us.
-rory moore

Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen:

 Acts 1:13
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

At this point, there are 11 named as apostles,

Acts 1: 13  And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

#12 Matthias
Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

 Acts 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.” 
³ Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  ⁴ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit they went.

 Acts 14:  1) And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together (Paul and Barnabbas) into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

2)  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3)  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4)  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. (note the plural, named in vs 1)

Paul, the 13th,  Add Barnabbas who becomes the 14th.

And from 1Thessalonians1:1  Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

9)   For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
2 Peter 3:2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

ch. 2:4)    but even as we have been approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who prove our hearts.

5)    For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;

6)    nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles  (plural) of Christ.

58 plurals "we" "our" "us", used with the context of “apostles” in 1Thess.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy in 2Thessalonians:3

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother or sister who leads a disorderly life and not one in accordance with the tradition which you received from us. 
⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example. 
¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order:
 if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 
¹¹ For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 
¹² Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work peacefully and eat their own bread.
 ¹³ But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good.

In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, there are 14 plurals used in context of the apostles ministry. And 24 total. “—because our testimony to you was believed.”

 in 1Thess. 2:6 “as apostles…” : there are a total of 58 plural references from them, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, as “apostles”, from Paul the writer.

 I see solid evidence of 17 apostles up through these passages, perhaps there are others such as Apollos?

If Silas and Silvanus are two separate individuals (there is some uncertainty they are the same man), we are at 20 apostles.

1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

1 Cor 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written

 Luke, #21 an apostle. Writer of Acts.

Epaphroditus #22
Philippians 2:25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your *messenger and minister..

*The translators should have said “apostle” here because the Greek word is “apostolos”.

"apostolos":
Definition: a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders
specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
of Barnabas of Timothy and Silvanus

Our last point is this, in the New Testament there is not a single, Titled Apostle, Pastor, Teacher, Prophet, or Evangelist mentioned. No "Pastor" Bill, no "Apostle" Jones, no "Prophet" Smith.  Those are titles men take to themselves to impress and control others, or feed their own ambitions.

The Nicolaitane (CLERGY-Laity) Error Jesus Hates (was not Santa Claus)

Overcoming The End-Time Nicolaitanes

-by Rory Moore

"neither as lords over God's heritage" -1Peter 3
The time has arrived in saving people from the CLERGY over the LAITY Church SYSTEM.

Disclaimer: 
At times it may sound as if I am anti-pastor. This is not so. We love the pastors whom God has graciously put in our lives. The truth is aimed at the harlot system and her institutions,
and NOT at any individual that is trapped by the error of the Nicolaitanes.

• "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes".
  VERY few Christians "hate" this, and if one cannot recognize the Nicolaitane error then one cannot "hate it"  (i.e., despise it).
• We do not "hate" the people snared in the Nicolaitane error. Jesus calls us to love when disagree. 

Revelation 2: (To the church at Ephesus)
6   But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate;
15 So you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,     which I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them (the Nicolaitanes) with the sword of my mouth.

You cannot repent of this unless you know what it is and why Jesus hates it!

Here is truth:
Christ detests the formal, organized  (usually 501c3 incorporated) church government found in almost every church and denomination.  The Clergy over laity churches because it puts man in the place of God.

"Nicolaitane" is from two Greek words "Nike" and "Laos"

The Greek word "nike" means "to conquer"…to dominate, intimidate, CONTROL, rule over, even to manipulate.

It means exercising carnal control. It means ruling by position, dominion, subjugation, and taking authority by these means. 

The word "laos" means "the people", that is, the laity.
Hence,  "nike-laity", i.e. "Nico-laitane" error.

Thus we have by definition the deeds and teaching of those who conquer, dominate, manipulate, and "lead" the laity, or the people.

Why does Jesus "HATE" their deeds and doctrines?

Simply put, it is because it puts men in the place of God, seating them in the temple of God.
-whether they be called the church board, Elder, Senior Pastor, priest, Pope, Bishop, or some other ecclesiastical title.

 And it virtually guarantees the majority of God's people never mature into faith and their own ministry as Jesus.

Denominational, factious, competitive Christianity has given the church a hierarchical, professionalized, titled, system of church clergy organizing offering "strange fire". 

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.

·     

o   WHY is no Senior Pastor, Youth Leader, Choir Director, pope, cardinal, Archbishop, priest, monsignor, or denominational structure found in scripture?

o   WHY no scripture giving any Pastor-Priest sole ruler-ship, headship, or sole authority over an assembly of God's people?

o   WHY were no formal titles or labels attached to any New Testament disciples including the obvious ones like the apostles?

o   WHY are no church boards, assistant pastors, co-pastors, associate pastors, or senior church officials in scripture?

The simple truth is because Jesus taught His disciples not to do those things.

Overcoming the Nicolaitane error and deeds

In Revelation 2, the people of God who have eyes and ears to overcome are told:
15-17: So have you also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.
 Repent therefore;
or else I come to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
 To him that overcomes will I give of *the hidden manna....

Serious words I never heard in church, never discussed or considered. Mysterious.
Yet strong admonitions are given in scripture in regard to what Jesus said was the relationship among the brethren and how actual church should function (like family and not am institution).

What Peter said in 1Peter 5:

1 The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

In this passage, note elderS (plural) are among us, Peter includes himself as an elder, and no mention of "pastors".

Why not?
Connect the dots friends.
-God gave a five headship ministries to oversee and serve God's people. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors. Co-equal brethren, elders, men. (my post regarding qualifications to oversee)

-neither ...  means  "  not even, no, not once".

-as lording: means: "to lord against, that is, control, subjugate: - exercise dominion over (lordship), be lord over, overcome."

Yet this is exactly what the Nicolaitane error does and Peter said not even once was the flock to be carnally subjugated, controlled, or have someone exercise dominion over.

As the Christian sees the truth of scripture, he will need to simply repent and realign his thinking in terms of what the New Testament ministry truly is, not from what we have seen all around us.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ;

The ministry is given to serve, edify, and steward the faith. Those who minister are to comfort, correct, and contend for the faith.
The faith they are to contend for is THE faith as it is written (not the fragmented, conflicted, sectarian mish-mash of faith found in the church world).

Friends, Jesus gave, taught, and lived THE faith to His disciples, who in turn gave the same gospel and the same faith to the churches they established. 

Many pastors compare their ministry to Moses who led the people of God to the "Promised Land" with the idea that there must be a leader-centered administration of a church body.
But that is not a model found in the New Testament because we have Christ and the Holy Spirit given to direct an assembly if they are Spirit-filled and Spirit led. Most churches simply fall back into the traditions of men in their structure.

And the 501c3 Incorporation so common to church groups legally places Caesar above Christ.

You see, when the Nicolaitanes imposed their error and deeds upon the church, the pastor-priest became the preeminent personage.
T'was never meant to be and there is not one positive New Testament example of that.

Who gave the pastor-priest preeminence over the rest of the five-fold ministry and the false hierarchial system of "accountability"?

It was the work of the Nicolaitane clergy. 
As many of us finally realize, this is the most common form of church government around us. .

How do you "overcome" the clergy-laity Nicolaitanes?

Love them but Renounce and resign from all official memberships.
Ask God to take their error and deeds out of your heart.
Then pray to assemble with others.

If these steps are not done, or the deeds and error of the Nicolaitanes not spoken out in the church, then excuses, justifications, and having faith with "respect of persons" (see James 2:1) will keep you within the body of the harlot church system.  -and the cycle of church to church will continue.

James 2:1 NCV

My dear brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,
never think some people are more important than others.

*the hidden manna....: is the Truth revealed by the Holy Spirit. The "hidden manna" revelation of what the Nicolaitane deeds and error in this post was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit.

My prayer is others will see this and take it to heart. People will rise or fall with the Clergy church system. They will  walk in Light or darkness, be deceived or be delivered. 


Study References:
James 2:1
Matthew 23
Matthew 20: 21-27
1 Peter 5:1-5
Revelation 2:1-20
Acts 20:17-35

My Walk Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

 Trials

I went through a devastation and God showed me things in my heart..

We easily forget He is the owner of all, but by faith, we confess with thanksgiving and make confession to Him, whether we feel it or not.

HE wants the confession of our mouth the faith we preach.

11 years ago I experienced another time of testing after a wreck and serious injury, no medical insurance, a helicopter ride and 9 days in Stanford Hospital (the best hospital in the Bay Are they say).

While laying in the bed with a shattered hip, broken ribs, broken arm, stitches in my face, plenty of pain, and not doing well at all, on the hospital bed I confessed:

"I TRUST YOU" to the Lord..

... and ya know, He did come through for me, I was healed. -even my huge bill was paid for me.. miracles are still from Him.

2. Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death

No one enjoys physical suffering whether it be a small cut or serious injury.

But as children of The King, afflictions, chastisements, and pain may happen. Of Jesus Himself it is written in Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

and of us in 2 Corinthians 1:7 ... that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation

In early June, the Lord spoke the same verse to me several times: "And Satan answered YHWH, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face.

6 And YHWH said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand;

=>> only spare his life."

In all my life, I had never been even once hospitalized or had a broken bone. When I heard those words in my mind, immediately my response was "NO", I don't want anything to do with that kind of trial!"

My mind was made up on that point, and after a few times of hearing that verse, the reminders ceased and life went on.

Then came Father's Day 2008, and the fateful weekend.

On Father's Day, June 15th we had had a pleasant family gathering and late in the afternoon I decided to go do some work on a house we were trying to sell that needed repairs.

I thought that if I could just get a couple of small things done it would make my week easier as far as my workload was concerned.

While climbing down from the roof, the ladder I was using shot out from under me and I fell 7' landing on my side parallel to the ground, breaking both bones in my left wrist and breaking some ribs.

I painfully got up and realizing I was hurt (I did not know yet how bad) got in the truck to drive the 5 minute trip home.

But as I drove home, I went into shock and suddenly passed out at the wheel. I came to consciousness in a bad wreck, the truck was on its' side and I was injured a second time, this time to my right leg, dislocating it, breaking the top of it and breaking the pelvis, and in great pain.

The emergency people and ambulance extracted me from the wreck (I had hit and broken off a telephone pole, a tree, and some other things.

Thank God I did not hit a child or another person!) In the hospital Emergency Room they x-rayed and scanned the injuries, and a special lady, Dr. Martin, was able to reset my dislocated right leg, although the leg socket was shattered and would not hold my leg in place, so they taped my leg to the gurney with package wrapping tape!

Dr. Martin determined emergency orthopedic surgery was needed and later I was Medi-vac 'ed by helicopter at 4:30am to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto.

My wife and daughter who had been with me at the hospital, stood watching in shock and tears as they the copter left the pad and fly off into the pre-dawn sky.

Early Monday morning, at Stanford Hospital, in a semi conscious state and in a lot of pain, I was taken into an operating room.

But before I got into the op room, a couple of the attendants moved me and re-dislocated my leg again. More Pain.

I remember going into a cold operating room and being put under. During a long operation, my broken left arm was put in a cast, 5 stitches each above my eye and mouth, and a plate and pins were installed into the broken parts of the leg and pelvis during a 4-5 hour operation. When I awoke, I looked into the loving faces of my wife, daughter, two sons. and tears came to my eyes.

For the next 9 days I was in the hands of the folks at Stanford. On day 5, they wanted to release me but a new problem had manifested itself, -I would get very faint just trying to sit on the edge of the bed and when I tried to stand, as a physical therapist attempted to get me to use a special walker, I passed out stone cold again.

When I came to, there was a room full of nurses, yelling, and hands lifting me up and back on the bed. My blood pressure kept falling very low.

This was repeated the following day (Sat), and now, in addition to broken bones and pain, I was blacking out and no one knew why. Off to the cardiac ward I went..

At this point, they could not release me because of danger of me suddenly passing out and compounding my injuries. This brought me to the attention of another round of physicians and a cardiac specialist. More tests, scans, heart sonogram, and a lot of blood tests to me, a man who absolutely detests needles!

Dr. Hsia at one point was thinking a pacemaker, which I would have refused, as my heart is just fine.

Soon I realized they were playing a guessing game as they could not figure out the cause of me blacking out, and I had become a personal challenge to a number of physicians.

I really wanted to go home and been praying, my faith was weakened by the pain. I wanted to believe the words of scripture.

The injuries were bad enough but now there was this black-out obstacle, and I was calling on the Lord and confessing His promises over my body, as it says "fight the good fight of faith". -and I was fighting as lay there in the hospital bed.

In addition to that, we do not have medical insurance and we live by faith for God to supply, and this too was cause for prayer.

Sunday: Into the Valley of the Shadow of Death

On Sunday morning, Day 7 at Stanford, a Heart Specialist MD came to see me and he was determined to solve the fainting spell mystery. His approach began with blood pressure tests while laying down, sitting up, then standing.

Laying down it was 135/72, then sitting up it dropped a bit to 126/68. So far, so good, although I felt lightheaded while sitting.

He had also hooked me up to a gaggle of electrode things on my chest and there were a couple of monitors for the heart, vital signs, and what ever else they had .

As I tried to stand, the light headedness gave way to dizziness and a cold sweat, I began to sway, and just as I passed out, the doc sat me down on the edge of the bed.

The fainting quickly passed and the next thing I saw was a couple of more doctors come into my room. We all discussed what I was feeling and they noted the various monitors.

After a few more minutes they got me to my feet again and in a minute or so of standing with the aid of a walker, WHAM! -I went out cold.

But this time was completely different.

When I blacked out, I left my body. It was actually a pleasant sensation as I left behind all physical senses, discomfort, and pain as I found myself in another dimension.

There was no sense of fear as I observed a sort of foggy looking place with numerous pulsating lights way off in the distance, and I heard voices speaking, although I saw no one.

The lights I saw seemed to be spirits and the voices may have come from them but I am not sure.

As I tried to hear the words from the voices, two lights appeared near to me, and suddenly, clearly, I heard:

"PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING" spoken to me.

Then suddenly I was back in my body and heard tense voices speaking.

People were tensely speaking and I felt myself being put back on the bed, possibly someone pressing my chest, and I was soaked with sweat.

Later, after things calmed down, the doc said my blood pressure dropped “to 86/67 and here is where you heart stopped”.

I was stunned to hear that. I then knew it was exactly when my heart had stopped was the moment I left my physical body.

After stabilizing, even with the low blood pressure (which stayed that way all day), I was left alone except for the nurses and all the stuff hooked up to me.

I thought about my own mortality and the stopping of my heart, dark thoughts began to flood my mind: "What will Linda and the kids without me?"

The possibility my heart could stop again anytime, and those blackouts!"

I was not ready for leaving them.

It was deeply crushing, depressing, and my emotions were surfacing as I wept over my situation there in in the hospital bed.

Later that afternoon a friend from Pennsylvania called, and prayed for me rebuking the cause and symptoms of the blackouts.

I thanked him with agreement but was sure he could sense my spirits were low. I felt physically weak and still wondered if and how I would make it.

About 4 pm I began to pray and parts of the 23rd Psalm came to mind:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul: He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name`s sake.

4 Yes, if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

I began to confess verse 4 out loud to the Lord, and prayed for some kind of help, "God, can you send me a messenger?".

A Messenger Arrives

About 6pm a Food Attendant came into my room.

She looked at me with kind of a strange look as she prepped the food I was not interested in.

Then she asked me "Do I know you, have we met somewhere?, you look so familiar". (I looked like a mess!, arm in cast, face stitches, pale, in pain..)

I noticed she was wearing a small gold cross, but that may or not mean much these days.

She told me "you look so familiar" but we found nothing common and our paths had not crossed before. I live in Los Banos 105 miles away.

She said she lived in San Jose, and worked at Stanford only on the weekend, part time, yet in this large medical facility with multiple floors and wings, she was there in my room in my dark hour.

I read her name tag, it said "Evangeline". Evangeline asked me how I was doing, and I responded "not too well". She asked "How's that?"

I told her I was struggling with my faith. I went on to say God gave His Word in 1Peter 2:24 that "by His stripes we were healed, and in Mark 11:

23 Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he says comes to pass; he shall have it.

24 Therefore I say to you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And Hebrews 11:1 where it says "Now FAITH is the ASSURANCE of things HOPED FOR, the EVIDENCE of things not seen."

Although I was struggling to "hold fast the confession of your faith that it waver not", because of what had happened to me that morning, the pain of my injuries, and the low blood pressure, my faith in God's Word for myself was being severely tested.

However Evangeline spoke very comforting words to me and assured me of God's care, saying "you are going to be fine God will take care of you". She repeated those words several times before she left and continued her rounds.

After Evangeline left the room, as I pondered these things, I noticed it was the time of our online Bible Study. I found out they were also praying for me at that same hour while Evangeline was with me.

Then the Lord began to speak to me. He told me He had sent her, that He had made me appear as someone she knew in order for her to take the time needed for me to confess to her my struggle and the scriptures above.

The Lord told me she was a vessel who would receive the testimony of The Word (the scriptures written above) that The Lord wanted me to confess with my mouth, according to Romans 10:9

That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. (the word saved also means healed.)

To my surprise, later Evangeline returned and I told her what God had spoken to me about her. She was amazed and she said how she had prayed while on the way to work asking the Lord to use her to be a blessing to someone. Yet we were both so astonished at the reality of God's hand directing multiple circumstances.

That evening I sensed the change within my body. The weakness, faintness, fragileness was gone. Isn't it interesting that from that night forward not once have I blacked out or fainted? praise be to God! (even to 11 years later).

Two days later, June 24th, I went home and healing was evident with each passing day. 3 weeks out, my faith had strengthened and I removed the arm cast.

5 weeks later I was walking (with a limp), unassisted. God is my Healer and our Provider. It was so wonderful to be home and I have a new perspective and fresh compassion for people who have been injured and suffering.

I also have a new found respect and admiration for those kind nurses and staff who attend their patients.

So many of them showed real care and concern as they served in their job, I say this about both hospitals who treated my injuries and even the flight crew on the helicopter.

For my family, especially my wife and daughter, we thank everyone who prays for us and ministered to us as we go through tribulations. The calls and prayers received while in Stanford made a difference in encouraging and comforting us, thank you again.

"Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities."

Pic:

The truck ended up on the passengers side and with great difficulty, they extracted me thru the back window.

My face had hit the windshield and the steering wheel (10 stitches). My right leg was broken at the top and the pelvis socket shattered into 5 parts. And the broken wrist (both bones) and several broken ribs.

I never went back for follow up and not returned to the doctor since leaving Stanford 6-24-08, thank God for His healing promises.

I returned to work that September, even climbing a ladder again, about 3 months later.

Today I have no limp, but there is a 20” scar on my thigh and hip where they operated.

Did I mention that messenger, Evangeline?.

A few months later I thought of her and looked up her name.

It means "Messenger of good news". http://www.babynames.com/name/EVANGELINE

I called the hospital to find out when she worked so I could speak to her and tell her the good news of my haling.

Calling Stanford, the connected me to he Food Service Kitchen and I got the manager.

I asked when Evangeline was working again so I could thank her. The Manager said "I have been here 6 years and there is nobody named "Evangeline" working here.

I argued, "YES there is, she attended me 4 months ago".

The manager said "I am sorry sir, we have no one by that name working here, not now and not prior."

I wanted to argue but realized it was pointless.

God sent me a messenger.

39Kimberly Hervé, Mark Angelo Williams and 37 others

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