In these last days that we are living in, it is interesting to note how certain “strange” things suddenly start crawling out of the woodwork. Just as I wrote in another article about Christians who don’t want to believe that they will be going straight to heaven or hell when they die, but only into a state of sleep until Jesus’ return. From the Bible we have seen that that point of view is not Scriptural at all.

Suddenly I am being confronted – on more than one occasion – by Christian men who want to allege that they don’t just have to stay with one wife, because: “Solomon had many wives…” etc. And this argument they then want to use as Biblical “proof” why they may stay in other adulterous affairs, or why they don’t have to stay loyal to one wife. Not that they necessarily want to divorce, just as long as they “…can have other women too”.

Or they want to use arguments like: “Even nature shows you that one male can have a harem of multiple females. Just look at an impala ram with all his ewes, or a male lion with all his females, or a baboon male with all his females…”  Regarding the argument concerning nature, I just want to show you that God created man as the CROWN of His creation, in His own likeness and that we can’t compare ourselves with the animal kingdom.

Again we can only go back to the basics of the Bible and read it just as it is written:

“For we write NONE OTHER THINGS unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end…”

(2 Corinthians 1:13)

This means we can read the Bible as it is written and understand what is written, just as it is written. Jesus also warned us very clearly in Matthew 22:29:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

Let us see then who “errs” because of “not knowing the scriptures”… those Christian men who just want to justify their sexual lusts from the Bible… or the Christian men who want to stand for the truth of the Bible, just as it is written…

In the first instance we read in Genesis 1:27:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; MALE AND FEMALE created he them.”

Please note that the Bible says “…male and female…”  it does NOT say “…male and females…”. So, when God created man after His own likeness, He created them as ONE MALE and ONE FEMALE.

We also read in Genesis:

“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took ONE of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the RIB, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he A WOMAN, and brought HER unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: SHE shall be called WOMAN, because SHE was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:20-24)

Please take note of a few very clear ideas from these verses:

1. God takes ONE of Adam’s ribs, not TWO or THREE or FOUR.

2. Then God took the ONE rib and made “…’a woman…”, not “…women…”.

3. Adam calls out: “…SHE shall be called woman…”, he doesn’t say “…THEY will be called women…”.

4. And lastly Adam says: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his WIFE…”, he doesn’t say that he will cleave unto his WIVES.

Thus we see in Genesis that God created Adam and EVE, not Adam and en EVE’s. The interesting thing to take note of, is that this verse regarding a man leaving his parents and cleaving unto his WIFE, is referred to a further three times in the Bible. In other words, this verse is contained in the Bible FOUR times. If something is contained in the Bible four times, I think God is quite serious about that specific matter. Read with me:

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them MALE AND FEMALE, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his WIFE: and they TWAIN (two) shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain (two), but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

“And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them MALE AND FEMALE. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his WIFE; And they twain (two) shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain (two), but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:2-9)

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his WIFE, and they TWO shall be one flesh.”  (Ephesians 5:30,31)

In Matthew and Mark we see that Jesus Christ is the one speaking. And who is Jesus Christ? He is God Himself! And what does Jesus do? He refers to the creation in Genesis and He confirms that from the beginning God created them MALE AND FEMALE and that the TWO of them will be one flesh. He doesn’t say that the three, four or five of them will be one flesh. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes exactly the same thing! The man will be joined unto his WIFE and the TWO of them will be one flesh.

But where did man become disobedient to God’s instructions regarding one man and one wife? Let’s stay in Genesis, because we shouldn’t forget the words of 2 Timothy 3:16,17:

ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Clearly then I can learn from ALL SCRIPTURE, which is “…given by inspiration of God…”, and I can also be CORRECTED from it. So, I can’t just write Genesis off as just so much history, or that it may not be applicable to us anymore, no, I can still learn doctrine from it, because Genesis was ALSO given by inspiration of God (no matter what other people may say).

“And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. And Lamech took unto him TWO wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.” (Genesis 4:16-19)

Here we see that the first person who took unto himself TWO wives, was Lamech, from the bloodline of Cain. So very clearly Cain’s disobedience to God cropped up a few generations later in Lamech’s life, who suddenly takes unto himself two wives. But did you notice that Cain “…knew his WIFE…”? Even he didn’t have more than one wife.

But as we read from the Bible from the time of Lamech more and more people, including God’s own children began looking at other people, and what other people did, instead of staying obedient to God’s instructions. Another person who intentionally and in total disobedience took unto himself more than one wife, was Esau. We read:

“When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.” (Genesis 28:6-9)

It is clear that Esau tried to “spite” his parents and therefore took unto himself more than one wife, and specifically from the tribes that did not please his father. To this day it breaks my heart to see how certain Christian men intentionally try to “spite” their own friends and family by having multiple adulterous affairs in direct disobedience to God’s Word. But remember the saying: “Cut your nose to spite your own face”. At the end of the day it is just that person himself who looses a lot, because his disobedience to the Word of God opens the door to a number of attacks from satan on his wife, his finances, his relationship with his family, with his children, etc..

But still they want to stick to the argument that all those men had more than one wife and that Solomon even had seven hundred wives, so why can’t they have multiple wives too? Okay, so let’s read in the Bible what all those wives eventually caused in Solomon’s life.

“But king Solomon loved many strange women… Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father… And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father…. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twiceAnd had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.” (1 Kings 11:1-11)

Can you see what was the result of Solomon’s disobedience to the Lord’s instructions? His many wives turned away his heart from the Lord and he went not fully after the Lord. This is exactly what happens to men who want to have more than one wife. Those adulterous relationships results in the hearts of men of God who previously served the Lord fully not serving Him in the same manner as before and that they don’t live in total obedience to God’s Word any longer. In effect their hearts are also “turned away” by the “idol/god” called lust, because many men get addicted thereto, just as to smoking or drinking or drugs…. We also see that the result of Solomon’s disobedience is that the Lord takes away his kingship. I see this to be in line with the very well-known words of Hosea 4:6:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledgebecause thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

Those men who are part of God’s children, and who want to use the Bible to justify their disobedience, thus keeping on sinning intentionally, must beware that the Lord doesn’t take away their “kingship” and “priesthood” as well. Who are God’s “kings and priests” today? Let’s read together.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,  And hath made US KINGS AND PRIESTS unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5,6)

For if we SIN WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26,27)

Be warned!

No what must such a person rather do? He must confess his sins and STOP doing it!

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we CONFESS our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8,9)

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosperbut whoso CONFESSETH AND FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

Why am I so serious about this, or how can I say that this is sin? For I see in the Bible that extra-marital sex is fornication and therefore, according to God, sin. And just read in what clear language the Bible speaks about fornication:

Now the body is NOT FOR FORNICATION, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body…. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. FLEE FORNICATION. Every SIN that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication SINNETH against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:13-20)

“But who says sex outside of marriage with somebody else’s wife, is outside of God’s will and is sin?”  some people ask me. Well…. the Bible….

“And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with meBut he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9)

Look at this! Joseph receives an open invitation from Potiphar’s wife to have sex with her. Most of today’s men who want to justify their sins, would have accepted that invitation immediately, but Joseph REFUSES. Why? Because Joseph is a TRUE MAN OF GOD! And please note what this man of God says in that last verse: “…how then can I do this great WICKEDNESS and SIN AGAINST GOD?”  From Joseph’s words we receive the Biblical confirmation that, if he would have had sex with Potiphar’s wife – another man’s wife – then he would have SINNED AGAINST GOD! Who still wants to argue that sex outside of marriage is NOT sin?

Do you know what happened to people in the Old Testament who had sex with other married people? Let us now read Deuteronomy 22:22:

“If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall BOTH of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.”

“And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer AND the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10)

Wow! If somebody committed adultery in the Old Testament and had sex with other men or women, they were stoned to death. And please, don’t even try to use the argument that the women with whom you are having such an adulterous relationship “is not married”. Because the Bible is just as clear about men having sex with unmarried young women. Can you see how big an abomination sex outside of marriage was to God in the Old Testament? My question to today’s Christians is: If sex outside of marriage was such an ABOMINATION to God that He had them stoned to death, what makes Christians think it is acceptable to Him today? Where in the Bible do we see that GOD has changed HIS view regarding this? For I read in the Bible that God hasn’t changed:

“For I am the LORD, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6)

“Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

This means that if God has never changed, that His view regarding sex outside of marriage is ALSO still the same! Praise Jesus that He doesn’t let us be stoned to death anymore, but did you know that the PRINCIPLE is still the same in the spirit today? What do I mean, you ask? I mean that to this day things “DIE” when there is fornication and sex outside of marriage. Usually one or more than one marriage “dies”, or relationships between a father and his children “die”, or relationships between an mother and her children “die”, or even finances “die” in some instances, etc. During counselling sessions we have had it more than once that a person who was busy with pornography or with adulterous affairs, had serious financial problems, and that his finances were actually “dying”. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t say for one moment that all people who have financial problems are busy with sexual immorality, because there are many other factors that can also contribute thereto, but we do get it in situations like these.

My call to any Christian man in the world, who wants to justify his sin, is to come out of his rebellion and stubbornness, because even that stubbornness is sin according to the Bible.

For REBELLION is as the SIN of witchcraft, and STUBBORNNESS is as iniquity and idolatryBecause thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”    (1 Samuel 15:23)

Here we have a further warning that God may remove your “kingship” if you don’t become obedient to God’s Word and wilfully and stubbornly keep on rejection God’s instructions.

Therefore we see from the Bible that there is no Biblical grounds to justify any multiple relationships. It is just not Scriptural. Stay with the one wife God has given you, pray daily for the Lord’s wisdom to make your marriage work from your side. (You are welcome to order my DVD called: “King, Priest and Prophet” in which I explain the role of the husband in marriage.)

Because men, take heed of just another warning in the Bible, what will happen if you don’t live with your wife according to the Word:

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, GIVING HONOUR unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

Sir, does it sometimes feel as if you are “…praying against the ceiling”? Does it sometimes feel as if your prayers are not being answered? Then my question to you is: – do you live with your wife “…according to knowledge…”, in the wisdom God gives you, and do you give honour to your WIFE? Because if not my Bible is clear that your prayers will be “hindered” and thus not heard. Most definitely it is not “…according to knowledge…”  to have multiple adulterous relationships and most definitely you do not honour your wife if you are in adulterous relationships with other women. So, don’t marvel at the reason why your prayers are not heard…

May the Holy Spirit of God convict every true man of God regarding the truth of this message in their own lives.

“And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of SIN, and of righteousness, and of judgment…” (John 16:8)

Are YOU open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your life, you who call yourself a Christian or a man of God? Or are you so blinded by your adulterous affairs with other women in your life, that even the Holy Spirit can’t convict you of your sin?

tiaan gildenhuys

Authority in Christ Ministries

Pretoria RSA

22/10/2011

Let us walk with Jesus of Nazareth, right from the very beginning. A prophecy is received…

“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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Isn’t it wonderful to see FOR WHOM this Child was born and TO WHOM was this SON given? This  prophecy is fulfilled in…

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:8-14)

In these scriptures we read the answer to a question often asked:  “What happens in each of us, the day we personally meet Jesus?” The answer is: Exactly that which happened to the shepherds…

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:16-20)

That’s right! Every individual who meets Jesus Christ on a personal level and finds that He is indeed a reality feels the URGE to go and spread the Good News about Him, wherever they go. Yes, to testify about Him! What is the result of this testifying? It brings others to a point of awe about the testimonies they hear about Jesus which in turn leads to people going back to their homes honouring and praising God for that which they’ve heard and seen.

Then Jesus begin His “Walk”. As a 12 year old boy, He joins His parents on their traditional trip to Jerusalem, to celebrate Passover. On their way back home, they discover that Jesus is no longer part of the group travelling home-ward. They promptly turn around and go back to Jerusalem only to find Him in the Temple, amidst the learned people, listening and asking questions….

“And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.” (Luke 2:47-50)

Can I learn something from the 12 year old Jesus here, at the onset of His journey with God? Oh certainly. His answer to His parents is also the question that is put to every one of us even today:  “…wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Without a doubt it is not only Jesus that had to go about His Father’s business certainly we must too.  At the end of His ministry, He tells His disciples (today it’s you and I)…

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)

In other words, EXACTLY what He came to do we must do today.  Only if we mean business with the Word of God, the Bible, will we be able to determine what: “His Father’s business” was (and is) that we have to “be about”. The things He wants us to busy ourselves with! A 12-year old Jesus was sitting with the tutors and questioning them. Does it mean that He accepted everything they said at face value, as the truth? Definitely not! The Bible states: “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” It is clear that Jesus was answering their questions in a way that astonished every one present, even the learned people. Does that mean that we can ask questions, prompted by the Holy Spirit, to the tutors and learned people around us? Questions that will also astonish them? Sure we can, and we may, because that is the way Jesus walked the walk and we are on the road with Him as His pupils. In doing so it will happen that people will recognise us as “companions” of Jesus, even if we are “unlearned and ignorant” compared to the intelligent and educated people, tutors and graduates and their qualifications…

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

Can there be anything more wonderful than to be recognised as having “been with Jesus?” I don’t think so! Therefore, at all times, we must be ready to answer any questions about the thoughts and the hope burning in our hearts and minds…

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” (1 Peter 3:15, 16)

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1Timothy 4:12, 13)

It is clear from these 2 pieces of scripture that I as a modern day disciple of Jesus Christ must be ready to share the HOPE that LIVES in me. HOPE that only Jesus Christ can bring. However my testimony may never be given with pride or vanity; only in modesty, love, purity and with respect for GOD.  But even in this modesty, love and purity, I must not fear people or cease to show them to live according to the  principles in the Bible. This must be done at every possible occasion –  “be instant in season and out of season” – and I must cease to fear Satan or to allow him to fool me and stop me by making me believe I’m a “fanatic”, a “Bible bashing” fanatic…

“I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

To be a so-called “fanatic” and to testify about God and His works in my life just means that I am extremely pleased with my Heavenly Father and what Jesus Christ has done for me by dying on the cross. That act of love alone justifies me to walk around with a huge smile every day. I am also not embarrassed to be branded as a “Bible basher” seeing that I’m doing everything in my personal ability to truly live according to the principles recorded in the Bible. By doing this I notice the true fruit that follows on the application of these principles in my life. This results in my further desire to be obedient to God’s Word only. And as we are commanded in 2 Timothy 4:1-4, to proclaim the gospel at every possible occasion! To my mind, talking about the Bible “in season”, means to do so at church meetings, Sunday School, Bible School or even Home Cell meetings. To talk about the Bible “out of season” would mean to do so on occasions no one would expect one to do so. Places like sports events, a barbeque with friends, at work, in public etc. In short: I can never cease doing so because I must keep on talking about God, His love and His Word!

There is however one very important fact to remember: When we do talk about the Bible it’s not just about sharing our human knowledge of scriptures! We must act with LOVE, AT ALL TIMES!  Indeed, all knowledge descends from the tree of the knowledge of good an evil and even Paul warns us that…

“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity (LOVE) edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

How did Jesus interact with people? With knowledge or with love?  Surely there is nobody around today who has the slightest doubt at all that Jesus acted in LOVE even when sharing His knowledge, while He walked the earth. In the same manner, if we love God He endues us with that same love too. The result of this true, divine LOVE in our lives is that we’ll grow in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and Man – just like Jesus did…

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”(Luke 2:52)

Can we readily say that we can still learn from the child–Jesus? Yes! We are told repeatedly by Jesus that  in order for us to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God,  we must become like small children.

After the incident in the Synagogue the story of Jesus fades away and for the next 18 years nothing about His life or actions is recorded, until we meet up with Him again in His 30th year.  This also happens with many children of God too. They start out as young kids, believing in Jesus Christ and walking in His ways, only to “disappear” somewhere along the way into the world’s way of life and habits. Contrary to Jesus, our paths cross those of Satan and his deceptions and then the enemy distracts us with all the temptations that makes it easy to have our minds and hearts wander on the World’s Ways. Ways that certainly are not those our Heavenly Father had in mind for us and ways that keep us busy with a life that is not from God. But praise be to God!! There comes a day when we feel the urge to want to turn around and follow the Voice of the Shepherd again. Yes, His eternal love for us keeps on pulling at our heart strings and eventually succeeds to get us back on track again

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”(Jeremiah 31:3)

Do you see? God never stops pulling at our heartstrings with His wonderful, eternal LOVE! That is the sole cause why so many “lost sons” make a choice out of their own will again,  to turn around and be WELCOMED back into the Father’s arms, to be WASHED in His LOVE and ACCEPTANCE  and still be regarded as precious, as if NOTHING has ever changed!! Praise our Heavenly Father for His MERCY!!

tiaan gildenhuys

Authority in Christ Ministries

Pretoria RSA

Where is God’s love better lived out, or more clearly seen and/or revealed than in interpersonal relationships? Because God wants a personal relationship with each one of us, He also wants for us to radiate and live out His unconditional love in our relationships. This includes normal friendships, work relationships, professional relationships, parent and child relationships, and of course the crown of all relationships in God’s eyes, the marital relationship. No aspect of our lives or any relationship MUST be without God’s love. Paul says this clearly in 1 Corinthians 16:14:

“Let ALL your things be done with CHARITY (love).”

Well, ALL, dear friend, means ALL, including ANY type of relationship.

No relationship can achieve total success if the love of God is not experienced and lived out in full. There are numerous friendship and marital relationships where one of the parties welcomed God into his/her life and gave him/her all to God, but, the other party still chased after the worldly temptations and urges and as a result the relationship did not survive. In the same way I think of partnerships and/or many business relationships where the one partner chased after the love and peace of Christ and His Kingdom, while the other partner wanted nothing to do with it and as a result that business relationship did not survive either.

Here I immediately think of the words in 2 Corinthians 6:14:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?”

This is then very clear from God’s word that no relationship can survive in the long run, UNLESS  BOTH parties in that relationship have the love of God in him or her, and both chase after the same love and peace. This tells us that both of them must be true, professing Christians, children of God asking the Holy Spirit for His guidance in their relationship on a daily basis and then they must truly LIVE according to His guidance.

The Word of God is very clear regarding the crown of all relationships, the marriage. Without the love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13, there is NOTHING. We find one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible about the marriage in 1 Corinthians 11:3, where Paul writes and says:

“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”  (Did you note the order? (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) the man (4) the woman).

Also in the verses of 1 Corinthians 7:1-11, of which I will only quote a few, namely:

“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence (Take note, as spouse I OWE my husband/wife this benevolence. [According to the dictionary benevolence also means “friendship” or “goodwill”] (Yes my friend, you have to show it – and not to me, not to the world but to your spouse),and the wife must also show benevolence to the husband.”The wife hath no power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath no power over his own body, but the wife. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband…”

Ephesians 5:22-33 also has the following beautiful verses regarding this aspect:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself”.

According to this verse, a man can’t do anything other, but to love his wife as he loves himself.

“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church..Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband”.

The dictionary also describes “nourish” as “nurse”. If I, therefore, “nurse” my own body, I should “nurse” my husband or wife’s body as well.

I would like to give a last quotation from 1 Peter 3:7, namely:

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered”.

Ouch! Can we read the last sentence once again? …”that your prayers be not “hindered” … In other words, if I do not honour my wife and do not love her with the same love that Jesus Christ loved us, my prayers might be “hindered”. No wonder it sometimes feels that my prayers do not go further than the ceiling! Could it be that the problems in these cases are sometimes found in a problematic or broken marriage? Dearest reader, once again it is not me saying this, but the Bible. God might not listen to us when we pray to Him, BECAUSE, we do not live in peace with our spouse, because we brake him/her down – not just verbally but also physically and/or spiritually and abuse or assault him/her….

Why is the love relationship in marriage for God so important? Firstly because He created us as man and woman, as referred to in Genesis 2:22-24:

“And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave onto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”.

This last verse, namely: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave onto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”, is repeated almost word for word by Paul in Ephesians 5:31. It was thus God’s plan from the beginning that spouses will leave their father and mother and become ONE in the flesh. Why? Because the ultimate sign of love in God’s eyes, is the integration of the flesh in marriage (sex).

This is indeed the precise moment in God’s eyes when that man and woman are married to each other. Why do we ask? Because the moment the man breaks the woman’s hymen during physical intercourse, the man and woman enter into a blood covenant, the same way God entered into a blood covenant with us when He tore the temple/church’s “hymen” (veil) when entering into the new blood covenant when Jesus’s blood was shed for us on the cross.

That is why it is so heartbreaking that people today do not realise what a blood covenant is. Our school children have sex with each other left and right, without knowing, that, in God’s eyes they are entering into a blood covenant with that person. The moment when a man and a woman have sex, they are married in God’s eyes and the moment that they split up, whether they were married by human laws or not, they commit adultery. “Adultery” does not only take place in human divorce courts, no! It takes place more regularly than any one of us wants to, or do realise…

I recently read an interesting article on the internet, under the heading: “THE DEVIL HATES SEX”. The writer was of the opinion that, because God created sex to be beautiful, as the crown of His marital relationship between husband and wife – that is the reason why satan tries his best to make sex into something ugly or perverse! Satan hopes that through making sex so vulgar or through clouding it with controversy or secrecy, to make it so perverse or cheap, that this part of God’s initial plan will suffer permanent damage. The writer’s view definitely makes logical sense and I agree wholeheartedly with him.

The second reason why the marital relationship is so important to Him, is because He, HIMSELF stands in a marriage relationship with us. Isn’t it general knowledge from our studies of the Bible that He is the Bridegroom and each one of us who is willing to grow in holiness and spiritual maturity, the bride?

That is why He wants a personal relationship with us. He doesn’t just want a normal relationship with is, no, like in any marriage, He wants an intimate, personal relationship with us. So intimate, that He wants to pour out His seed (His Word) into us, so that it can grow to maturity in each one of us, and because of this seed that grows within us, we can give birth to thousands of new children of God, ONLY in His honour and for the expansion of His Glory and Kingdom (reign) here on earth!

In this way God wants His initial creation plan, as contained in Genesis 1:28, namely:

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the flesh of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”.

…to also be brought forth on a spiritual level in each one of us. God wants each of us to become fruitful in His Spirit, we must multiply His children in order to fill the earth with His image and glory, so that His children can rule over the earth in all its dimensions, namely, the earthly (animals), subterranean (fish) and above ground (birds) dimensions! And they must also rule over the spirits in the air, in the spiritual dimension (Ephesians 6:12).

As soon as each one of us that are part of His church (the true, spiritual church of Christ, irrelevant of denomination, theology or dogma), give life to new spirit filled children of God around us, because of the Holy Spirit in us, the world will simply be filled with more of God’s image and glory. With this method, God’s ancient plan will be fulfilled through each one that asks for His will and lives it, through growing in and walking in the Spirit.

I praise the Name of the Lord for this wonderful privilege to be part of His great plan!

tiaan gildenhuys

I regularly talk to people that have given their hearts to God, but, so many times want to give up too easily. Why do they do that? Because things did not happen to them when, and how théy thought it will happen. Not at théir time and not like théy wanted it to happen to them. God again, wants us to learn to wait for Him, so that He can show us what HIS WILL is for our lives in HIS TIME. Let’s have a look at Isaiah 30:18 with regards to this:

 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for Him”.

This is very clear that we have to learn to WAIT for God. We always want things to happen in oúr time (naturally, as quick as possible). We always want to tell God: “Lord I want some patience and I want it NOW!”. This is however, not the way it works with God. He wants us to learn to persist, He wants us to learn to be patient, and He wants us to learn to believe in Him and not in our own abilities. What does the Bible verse that we quoted above say? God waits to be merciful unto us and that we are “blessed” if we wait for Him. In other words, He WAITS for us, to learn to wait for HIM! And when we learn to wait for Him, we are blessed! Do you know that the Bible is full of this refrain: “Wait for God, wait for God, wait, wait, wait…?” The Hebrew word for “wait” is: “qavah”, which means “to collect”or “to expect”or “to be interwoven into”. In other words, we must expect God in our lives in such a way, and genuinely take him in, so that we will be totally “interwoven” with Him. Only then, will we and can we completely obey His orders.

 This is how the prophet Micah declared it in Micah 7:7:

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me”

It can only be wonderful to be so “interwoven” with the living, true, Almighty God. Just think what He will and can teach us when we are interwoven with Him! But then we must OBEY His word. We must literally take up His word and start DOING what He says about this. We must learn to wait so that He can show us what His goal is with our lives, not what WE want for our lives.  

But, if we just look around us, what does “the father of lies”, satan, do with the world? EVERYTHING becomes quicker/faster – life, technology (faster cars, faster computers, faster cellphones etc.), our lifestyle, our work programmes, fast foods, and more. Everything gets developed and established to make things happen QUICKER. I do not say that this is a bad thing, on the contrary. The problem that arises from this is that, because we get used to things happening so much quicker, we forget what it means to really WAIT. We get frustrated when we have to stand in a queue; it is so much quicker when doing my shopping via the internet. We get frustrated when the red light does not change to green quick enough and therefore there are so many accidents at robots where cars “jump” the light. We get frustrated when the preacher dares to preach longer than the 1 hour that he is “allowed” to preach. (We forget that on occasions Jesus preached for days on end without anyone complaining. Yes, but Tiaan that was in Jesus’ time when the people did not have as much to do like we have to do in today’s life. Indeed, dear friend, but they had something much better – a personal relationship with the living Jesus Christ! This is also meant for us. If we will only thirst after HIM and stop looking at the structure, the church, the program and the time schedule).

And what does God say? Like in the beginning He stíll wants for us to learn to wait for Him and persist in our faith. We do not know how to do that anymore. That is why we also get frustrated with God because He does not let things happen around us as quickly as we want for Him to make it happen. And, right there lies satan’s weapon, which he uses to damage the relationship between us and God.  

No, we have to learn to REALLY wait for God, the way that He expects us to wait. Only then, can He bless us the way He wants to bless us. But, we are our own biggest enemy and the restriction to our own blessings.

 tiaan gildenhuys

I am being confronted on a regular basis by people (Christian believers) who suddenly don’t believe – or don’t want to believe- that they will go directly to heaven when they die. (Let’s use the term “they” or “them” for purposes of this article. You must decide for yourself whether you are one of “them”.) Or “they” don’t believe that unbelievers will immediately go to hell when they die. Many of the arguments “they” use is that we will only be going to “sleep” or into a “state of unconscious sleep” until Jesus’ return, whereafter all the dead will be raised and only THEN be going to heaven, or hell.

My personal answer is usually: “Okay, if you die then, and you open your eyes in heaven, and you realize you immediately went to heaven after your death, just remember to tell Jesus to rather put you to sleep until His second coming, because the fact that you have immediately opened your eyes in heaven, is not in line with what you believed on earth. And also tell Him hat you don’t WANT to be with Him then, because He is upsetting your human theology by letting you open your eyes in heaven…”

Unfortunately “their” way of thinking causes grief among people because suddenly they are not so sure WHERE their deceased relatives are anymore. Are they still in the grave? Are they in an unknown “in-between” place? And exactly WHAT is in that “in between” place, their spirits, or their souls, or their bodies? Do they know what’s going on around them? Do they experience peace, fear… anything? Can they speak? Can they think? Can they praise God?

But you know what, it does not matter what “their” view, or my view, is…

Let’s see what the Bible says, exactly as it is written.

“For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end…”

(2 Corinthians 1:13)

Very clearly then, we can read the Bible just as it is written, and we can understand it just as it is written. Jesus warned us in no uncertain terms in Matthew 22:29:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

So let’s see who “errs” “not knowing the scriptures”,… we who believe that we will be going to heaven or hell immediately upon our death… or “they” that only want to go to “sleep” upon their death…

Some of the Bible texts that “they” usually use to confirm their arguments are the following:

“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” (Job 14:12)

(These words that Job spoke in his grief and intense emotional hardship, can not be used as authoritative for this argument, because according to other texts which I will also quote herein, all the dead will stand before God’s Great White Throne one day, and only AFTER that do the new heavens and new earth appear. It also contradicts “their” view that everybody will rise at Jesus’ return. So, if they want to use these words of Job to confirm “their” view, some of the dead will then stay dead even until the new heavens and new earth have come and won’t they even rise at Jesus’ second coming. In that way this text actually contradicts “their” own argument.)

“Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?” (Psalms 88:10,11)

(No, of course no dead bodies can arise and praise God, or speak about His lovingkindness, while in the grave. But the spirits of those who have died in Christ, do praise Him before His throne, as we will see later in the book of Revelations.)

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, 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 for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”  (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6)

(Of course the dead BODIES that lie in the grave does not know anything anymore, and don’t they have any thing to do with anything that is done under the sun anymore. But have you ever considered what happened to their spirits and souls upon their death? And where do their spirits and souls go? We will see what the Bible says a little later.)

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”(Daniel 12:2)

(There is no doubt that at Jesus’ return, the dead bodies “that sleep in the dust of the earth” will awake to be re-united with their spirits and souls, to be a tri-une being before the throne, some with glorified bodies with, and like, Jesus, some with bodies that will be eaten by worms eternally.)

“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:11-14)

(Very clearly Jesus shows us here that “sleep” in this context = death. And we also read that at that time Lazarus had already been “asleep” = dead, for four days, and that he already started to smell. So, there is no doubt that he is dead, and not just in a state of “unconscious sleep”. His body was dead, it was busy decaying and smelling. But then Jesus goes and proves that He has power over death and life and he resurrects Lazarus, and Lazarus’ spirit and soul re-united with his decaying body in the moment that Jesus called his name, and he arose from the dead. Exactly the same thing will happen upon Jesus’ return. We also read of a dead person’s soul “returning” to him, in Kings 17:21,22:

“And 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 come into him again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” )

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers…”

(Deuteronomy 31:16)

“So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.”

(1 Kings 2:10)

“And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father…”

(1 Kings 11:43) …etc…etc…etc…

That is why “they” say: – “Do you see? When you die, you go to sleep and you go into a state of sleep! The dead know nothing. There is no indication in the Bible that you go to heaven or hell immediately upon death. Especially if you look at the words of Daniel 12:2… etc…”

Really?

Okay so let us then also look at the following verses in the Bible:

Here we see our God and Great Teacher, Jesus Christ speaking:

“And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do GREATLY err.(Mark 12:26,27)

That means, when Moses stood before that burning bush, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had all been dead for many years. If they had just been dead and “sleeping” as “they” allege, then God should actually have said: “I WAS the God of Abraham, Isaac and of Jacob.” But no, He doesn’t do so, He proclaims unambiguosly: “I AM the God of…” And then Jesus uses the words that totally shoot down the argument that we are just going to “sleep” upon our death:“God is NOT the God of the dead, BUT THE GOD OF THE LIVING.” This means that Jesus confirms that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob IS with God in that specific moment when Moses stands before the burning bush, years after they had died. And then He also confirms that people err GREATLY because they don’t want to believe that people go to be with God in heaven after they died. (Do YOU also still err “greatly” regarding this my friend?) But WHICH “part” of you LIVES with Him AFTER your death? Your spirit and soul, because your body stays behind here on earth and it decays in the grave, until Jesus’ return, after which it will rise again, as we will see a little later.

Here we see Jesus using the well-known words to the man hanging on a cross next to Him:

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42,43)

But immediately “they” then come with arguments that the COMMA in that sentence was MOVED and that the verse in the original should read: “…I say unto thee to day, thou shalt be with me in paradise…”. Meaning of course that Jesus spoke to him that day and gave him a promise, but that the promise would only be fulfilled and that the man would only be with Jesus in paradise centuries later upon Jesus’ return. So he is still not there to this day. Strange that Jesus did not just add a few words to His sentence, if “they” are correct with “their” argument. What few words? “…upon My return.” In the first place “they” don’t have any concrete proof that the comma was moved in the original Majority Texts, and secondly you must please note that if you really want to move the comma, you will also need to change the words “…shalt thou…”  to“…thou shalt…”, otherwise the sentence will not make sense at all. No, for centuries that sentence is contained in the Bible, and can be understood, JUST AS IT IS WRITTEN. But suddenly satan wants to confuse Christians and to take away their hope to be with Jesus immediately upon their death. Why? So that they can doubt their own salvation and that of their deceased loved ones.

Next we will look at the well known piece regarding the beggar Lazarus (not the one Jesus raised from death) and the rich man, as told by Jesus Himself:

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosomthe rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:19-23)

Look again, Jesus says when Lazarus died, he was IMMEDIATELY carried to“Abraham’s bosom”  by the angels. And here we see that Abraham wasn’t asleep, as “they” allege, but that he was alive and awake and that he even has a discussion with the rich man. Jesus’ discussion also confirms His own words which I quoted earlier, namely that God IS the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Most Bible scholars agree that the “bosom of Abraham” refers to paradise. And the rich man? He dies and is buried. And then? “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…” In other words he dies and immediately opens his eyes in hell, being in torments. We don’t read that Jesus says: “And after My return he will open his eyes in hell and then be in torment…”. No, the one is immediately taken to paradise by the angels, and the other one immediately opens his eyes in hell.

Just think about this, if the beggar Lazarus died and only went to “sleep”, what did the angels “carry” into Abraham’s bosom? And if the rich man also just went into a “state of sleep” until Jesus’ return, what part of him experienced torments, and also in which hell? Or are we supposed to believe that Jesus was just telling us a “story”, which actually has no real specific value, and is actually a BLATANT LIE because what He says there is not true according to “them”? If that was true, how can we believe Him about salvation or anything else, if we can’t believe Him when He tells us in so many words exactly what happens the moment when somebody dies?

You see, if we really have to believe that no believers go directly to heaven when they die, but only into a “state of sleep”, this means that we must also believe that heaven is rather empty today, and that only God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the angels, Enoch and Elijah are presently in heaven. And that will again mean that God contradicts Himself because then He is a“respecter of persons” giving two humans preference over other humans. Yet, the Bible is clear He doesn’t do that: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons…” (Acts 10:34)

And if it is true that heaven is presently empty of deceased believers, who will He be bringing WITH HIM when He returns? Please read with me:

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14)

These verses refer to what will happen when Jesus returns to earth. If there are no believers in heaven presently, who will He be bringing “with him”? It can’t be Enoch and Elijah, because they went to heaven while still alive as we read in the following texts, they did not die = “sleep in Jesus”.

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.(Genesis 5:21-24)

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11)

Clearly Enoch and Elijah went to heaven while still alive, so it can’t be them who will be coming back with Jesus. So, who will He bring with Him? Nobody other than all the believers who died in Christ and who are already with Him in heaven!

But let’s have a closer look what will happen upon His return?

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

The reason why the dead in Christ will rise first is actually quite plain as the Lord showed me. As soon as Jesus comes for the rapture (in which I personally believe), we who are still alive will change in an instant and receive a glorified body, the same as that of Jesus.

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20,21)

We who are still alive at that time will still comprise of THREE “parts”, namely: spirit, soul and body.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

And those three parts will become a glorified body in an instant.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

On the other hand, those who have “died in Christ” will have one part – their bodies – here on earth, while their other two “parts”, their spirits and souls are with Jesus in heaven. That is why their bodies need to rise first, so that their spirits and souls can be re-united with their bodies in “the twinkling of an eye”, so that all three their “parts” can then also receive a glorified body like those of us who are still alive at that time.

Now, how do we know that our spirits AND souls will be going to heaven when we die, while our bodies remain behind? Let’s see what BOTH Jesus and Stephen (the first martyr for Christ) called out the moment they died:

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.(Luke 23:46)

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

(Acts 7:59,60)

From these verses we learn that the SPIRIT of any believer who dies “in Christ”, is commended into God’s hands, and is received by Christ at the moment of his death, in other words, their spirit goes directly to God and Jesus Christ. So, “sleep” = DEATH of the body. And where are their spirits? In heaven! But how do we know that our souls will be in heaven with our spirits? Firstly we must take note that our souls consist of our will, intellect and emotions. If we go back to the discussion we had about Lazarus and the rich man, we see that the rich man says: “…for I am tormented in this flame…” (Luke 16:24). “Torment” is an experience of the soul and this is one reason we know that our souls will be there with our spirits. In the same manner love is an emotional experience, an experience of the soul, which we will have in heaven. Without any doubt therefore, our bodies stay on earth upon our death – and yes that dead body surely knows NOTHING – and can’t praise God from the grave. But our spirits and souls in heaven can most definitely worship and praise Him in heaven!

Just another confirmation – if the dead had to “sleep” until Jesus returns – why would the “dead” Moses then appear with the living Elijah with Jesus on the mount of transformation? Why not the living Enoch and the living Elijah?

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias (Elijah) talking with him.” (Matthew 17:1-3)

One thing that I learned about God the past twelve years is that He is NOT divided against Himself. If people go into a “sleep” upon their death and effective stay “dead” until Jesus’ return, and He allows the “dead” Moses to come and speak to Jesus on that mountain, then He is divided against His own word which He gave centuries earlier in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, namely:

“There shall not be found among you… a necromancer (speaking to the dead).  For ALL that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD

So, if it is an “abomination” unto the Lord if ANYONE speaks to the dead, then Jesus Himself was doing something that is an abomination to God, and then it means Jesus was disobedient to God’s ordinances. But you see it is exactly because Moses’ spirit was NOT “asleep” and “dead” after his physical death on mount Nebo, but alive and with God, that Jesus could speak to him and Elijah on that mountain, without being disobedient to His Father’s ordinances.

Also look at a further prophecy regarding Jesus’ return and the fact that He will bring all the deceased saints with Him on that day:

“ And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south…. and the LORD my God shall come, and ALL the saints with thee.” (Zechariah 14:4,5)

Clearly we see that on that day all the saints will COME WITH HIM, it does not say He will come to find us here on earth where we have all been “sleeping” for all the years. We also read in the book of Revelation that the “armies of heaven” will “follow” Him upon His return they don’t wait for Him here on earth.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelations 19:11-14)

And no, those “armies” AREN’T angels, because you will see they are “…clothed in fine linen…”. What does that refer to? Just read the Bible as it is written:

“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Revelations 19:8)

The angels are not clothed with the righteousness of the saints. Those armies that will follow Jesus, will be none other than the believers who died before His return and who will be with Him until that day!

According to me, a final confirmation that there are – and will be – believers IN HEAVEN, BEFORE Jesus’ return, we find in the following verses:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelations 7:9-17)

Clearly then this “multitude” which can’t even be numbered are people who died in the great tribulation PRIOR to Jesus’ return in Revelations 19 with His“armies”. So they are not “sleeping” somewhere until His return. They die in the tribulation and find themselves before the Throne immediately, clothed with white robes and carrying palm leaves, and what do they do? They PRAISE THE LORD! Most definitely their dead bodies here on earth can not praise the Lord, and their bodies know nothing under the sun anymore, but their spirits and souls that are before the Throne in that moment can do so, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE. Also take note that this scene is played out long before the Great White Throne judgment. Dear friend, please just read what the Bible says, as it is written.

In closing I can say with all confidence that I can’t wait to stand before my Father and Jesus’ throne one day, and I believe with my whole heart that when I close my eyes on this side, that I will immediately open it in heaven. If, after everything I have shown you today, you still just wish to go and “sleep” somewhere when you die, remember to ask Jesus to “send you back” (I don’t know where) if you open your eyes in heaven.

We read in Matthew 9:29 that Jesus opens the eyes of the blind men and then He tells them:

“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Faithful Christian friend, if you want to believe that upon your death you will only be “sleeping” until Jesus’ return, then let it also be unto you “according to your faith”. But if He has opened your spiritual eyes through this article – SEE YOU IN HEAVEN, minutes after our individual deaths!

In any case, what you believe regarding going to heaven immediately or not, doesn’t really matter, this does not affect your eternal salvation. But please just ensure THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST in your life

(John 1:12,13).

tiaan gildenhuys

Authority in Christ Ministries

Pretoria

RSA

06/10/2011

In Ephesians 4:27 the Bible says: 

“…neither give place to the devil.”

I personally think that we as Christians give the devil place to take our lives when we eat pork, shellfish etc. Why? Because the Bible tells me that he WANTS to kill us. He will use anything to reach his goal, including food. Please read further if you are prepared to withstand the devil in your life and to stop him from stealing, killing and destroying in your and your family’s health.

It is interesting to see how many discussions between Christians today revolve around the eating of pork and shellfish like crayfish, crab, shrimps and prawns. When I hear this I laugh by myself as I wonder why? Could it be the Holy Spirit that is slowly but surely breaking these Biblical truths open to them, without them even realising it?

But, then we also find those people that immediately try and use the “Jewish-connection” in their arguments against this by saying that those texts from the Bible were only applicable to the Jews, or that “they are free of the law” or they use the “nothing that you eat can make you unclean” argument in order to justify their eating of certain meats. They also point to Acts 10, where the animals in the sheet (clean and unclean) were lowered down to Peter and he was ordered to kill and eat these animals. Please take note that this vision that Peter saw had nothing to do with eating clean and/or unclean meat, but with people, as God showed Peter he cannot have favouritism for one group of people over another group of people. (Read Acts 10:28).

Is there then really a “religious” reason behind the eating or the non-eating thereof, or is there something more behind the fact that God specifically bannedthe eating thereof? Is it so difficult for people to understand that God had knowledge of biology and micro-biology, millennia before man? Is it also so difficult for Christians to understand that God not only wrote vital important religious and moral rules in the Bible, but also rules regarding physical health?

Let’s have a look at what the Bible determines about eating these certain meats, and then we will also look at a few quotes from a large amount of scientific and medical research done regarding this. After reading this, every reader must decide whether he/she still wants to expose themselves wittingly to the destruction that these meats can cause when eating them. Please note that after you have read this article, you will never be able to stand in front of God and tell Him that you never knew that He tried to keep you healthy by warning you in His Word, but you rejected His warnings about this.

A writer once wrote in one of his books that the eating of pork and shellfish is NOT a sin that will keep you from going to heaven, but it can certainly help you get there sooner than you expected!

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, speak unto the children of  Israel saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, buth divideth not the hoof: he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof: he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud: he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch: they are unclean to you. These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the water, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. (Leviticus 11:1-12)

The problem is that Christians have always understood the word “unclean” in the Bible as to only mean “unclean” in a spiritual, religious sense. What they actually did not realise, is that the Hebrew word for “unclean”, that is used in the Bible also means: “Polluted/pollution”. This means that a person can become physically polluted by a particular animal’s meat. Furthermore, they do not realise that the word “abomination” in Hebrews in verse 12 above also means “filth”=REFUSE. So, this means that the meat of pork and shellfish can pollute a person, and in reality is refuse for man. Who says so? God Himself!

And yet, a lot of people still ignore what God says about this, and will muddle forth in their own and self-righteous RELIGIOUS arguments in why they and their families can still carry on eating these meats.

But notwithstanding all their arguments, what are the MEDICAL and SCIENTIFIC truths about eating these types of meat?

Let’s start with quotations from the book: “Maximum Energy” of Dr Ted Broer (pronounced “Brouwer”), where he discusses the aspect: “Top Ten Foods Never to Eat”. Guess what number 1 is on his top 10-list? Pork! And number 2? “Shellfish” Please read a few of the quotations below from his book:

“High-fat luncheon meats rank number one on the list. The list includes all pork products such as bacon, sausage, ham, pepperoni, and hot dogs… It doesn’t get any worse than pork. If there is one thing you learn from this book, let it be this: Don’t eat pork! A pig is absolutely unfit for human consumption! It never has been fit, and it never will be. As far as I’m concerned, pigs were put here by God as scavenger feeders to help clean up the environment, but they were not put here for humans to eat…

According to Carey Reams, a noted author and biochemist, one of the problems with pork and high-fat luncheon meat is that these foods digest too quickly in the human digestive system. They are literally too hot for the body to handle. They actually slow down the body’s ability to fight off disease and cancer through the immune system… Bacon, perhaps the most popular pork product, is loaded with sodium nitrite… Sodium nitrite reacts with the powerful acids in your stomach to form nitrosamines – one of the most potent cancer-causing agents known to man….

Again, I personally believe that pork is not fit for human consumption, even if the animals are fed grain and raised on sparkling clean floors… The physical, biochemical and biblical problems with pork are bad enough, but we make matters worse with the chemicals we use to process the stuff.”

German Scientists also know there are definite medical problems with pork:

“Pork should be regarded as an important homotoxin (human poison), which initiates activities of the body’s defence mechanisms. These defensive measures then manifest themselves in a variety of illnesses.” (“The Adverse Influence of Pork Consumption on Health” – German Prof. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg)

Dr Broer also has an interesting point of view regarding the pigs that drowned in the sea and Jesus:

“God did not send Christ to sanctify pigs – it didn’t happen. We have convinced ourselves that it is OK to eat the only living animal Jesus ever killed according to Bible evidence. He sent demons into a herd of swine, and two thousand pigs plunged to their death. Jesus didn’t even bat an eyelash, even though the local farmers were so outraged because their source of commerce had been destroyed, that they asked Jesus to leave the region. How could Jesus, who miraculously fed five thousand people and then warned His disciples not to waste any of the scraps, be so unfeeling about “wasting” two thousand pigs? The answer is simple: He did not consider the pigs to be a food source.”

Let’s have a look at even clearer research specifically done about pork over the years:  

Is it all right to eat pork?

 “Pork is one of the foods considered to be ‘unclean’ in the food laws given to the Children of Israel. Many other foods are also regarded as ‘unclean’. A complete list can be found in Leviticus chapter 11. I will deal with this question in the context of clean and unclean meats.

 The first reference to ‘clean’ animals is found in Genesis when Noah was told to take 7 of each of the clean animals on board. Since animals are only known as ‘clean’ or ‘unclean’ in the context of whether or not they are good to eat, this suggests to me that meat was on the diet in pre flood times.

 Genesis 7:2-AV ‘Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that [are] not clean by two, the male and his female.’

There is another important aspect to this verse in that this was still quite a long time before there was ever a Jew. Those who say the food laws apply only to the Jews should note that animals were regarded as ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’, by God, before the flood.

Now, after the flood Noah was told that all animals were to be ‘meat’ for him.

Genesis 9:3-AV ‘Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.’

 Consider carefully this verse. We know from the above that Noah knew full well what was ‘clean’ or not. We also know that God does not change. So this is NOT a reference to God changing what was ‘clean’. By this time the only food not destroyed would have been what Noah brought with him on the Ark, and possibly, fish. I believe that this is God telling Noah that he could decide himself what to eat, probably to avoid waste as much as anything else. I would expect that Noah and his family would have eaten ‘clean’ food whenever possible.

 Then we come to the food laws. A careful examination of these laws will reveal that they were given more in the interests of good health than anything else. It is evident too that these health laws also included instructions for personal hygiene and methods of dealing with boils, leprosy and other maladies. Following these laws did also set the Jews apart from those around them.

 One thing one learns when exploring the Bible – God is very practical. There are some quite good medical reasons for following the food health laws. Here are some of them.

 All ‘clean’ animals are ruminants. That is they have four stomachs. This ensures a much more thorough processing of food than is possible with one stomach, and less pollutants are stored in the flesh. It has also been discovered that ruminants (‘clean animals’) are NOT subject to flesh worms. These can be acquired from eating the flesh of almost every other animal. The pig which got special mention as ‘unclean’ stores poisons in its body fat. A snake cannot kill a pig. The poison is just stored in the fat under the skin and is ingested by anything that subsequently eats that pig. Many outback Australian properties keep pet pigs around the home buildings to deal with snakes which come in plague proportions when the cracks in the ground, where they live, are closed by the swelling of the earth after rainfall. Pigs love snakes – they suck them up like spaghetti. My wife grew up with pet pigs that were kept for this purpose.

 Concerning the flesh of the pig. With today’s hygienic methods of raising these animals it is unlikely they would carry the same risk as one raised in the wild, but consider this: the meat takes 4 days to digest in the bowel instead of 2 for ‘clean’ meats. Bowel cancer has been linked to excessive meat consumption and if the length of time spent in the bowel has anything to do with it then pork is twice as bad as beef.

 Most of what we call ‘sea food’, prawns, crabs, shell fish etc. are “filter feeders”. What they do is clean up the pollution in the oceans and store it in their bodies. Oysters for instance thrive best downstream from sewerage outlets. When one eats these creatures the pollution becomes more concentrated in our own bodies. Calcium kidney stones for instance are often the result of over indulgence in these foods. Fish without scales, like sharks and catfish, are scavengers and are at the top of food chains. Their bodies will contain a much higher level of pollutants than creatures further down the chain. God’s advice concerning food notwithstanding, the bible makes it clear that the Christian has freedom in Christ to eat other foods.

 The main point here is whether God has received a person, not what he eats. Some religions make a big issue of food and actively support vegetarianism. There is no biblical support for this position and such should be a matter of personal choice.

Colossians 2:16-AV ‘Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath [days]’

 Jewish converts were critical of Gentile converts and had been admonishing them for not complying with all the laws kept by the Jews. Here Paul tells them they can safely ignore any ‘rules’ concerning food and drink, and ceremonial days. There is a need however, to consider that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are to keep them in good order. We should be careful then to avoid foods that we know may be harmful.”

Lance Wearmouth

(http://www.answers2prayer.org/bible_questions/Answers/food/po rk.html)

Eating pork can be Hazardous to your Health

“When I was studying in England I used to live in a “dig” (rooming house) in Highgate, North London.  There were Chinese students from Malaysia, Singapore, Sarawak, Hong Kong and Vietnam rooming in the two houses that faced each other.  We were all good friends and we spent the weekends cooking and sharing our various dishes. One of our friends called Luk studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and he would spend his summer vacation in London with us.  Luk’s special contribution was “Charsiu” the Cantonese barbecued pork. The way he prepared it was just exquisite, much better than those of any Chinese restaurant I have ever tasted. He had been coming to Highgate every summer for three years, and we always looked forward to tasting his “Charsiu.”  

The summer before his final year in the university Luk also came to stay with our group, but there was a radical change in him. He told us there would be no more “Charsiu” from that time onwards. The real shocker is that he vowed not to eat any more pork dishes and strongly advised all of us in the group not to do so either.  He had such a strong conviction against pork that he would not eat with us if we insisted on having it.

Here is his explanation. Luk was with a team of medical students doing a research project on the effects of diet on stomach and intestinal diseases such as trichinosis.  The research team’s method was to go to the hospitals and dissect corpses for autopsies. They based their studies on the diets of the various ethnic communities in the region. Their research uncovered the finding of the ethnic community with the highest percentage of cases with the trichinella spiralis worm belonged to a race that had pork as its main staple diet. Their research data showed a remarkably low percentage of Jews and Moslems with the trichinella spiralis worm in their bodies.  It is significant that these two ethnic communities exclude pork and other biblically unclean meats in their diet.

My friend had seen such clear evidence in the co-relationship between pork consumption and stomach and intestinal diseases that he could make a determination not to eat that meat again in all his life.  That was the first time I had ever heard a negative report on pork, but it has a lasting impression on my mind ever since that summer in London, England.”

Trichinosis – from Encarta Encyclopaedia

Pronounced as: trikinosis or trichiniasis trikinisis, parasitic disease caused by the roundworm Trichinella spiralis. It follows the eating of raw or inadequately cooked meat, especially pork. The larvae are released, reach maturity, and mate in the intestines, the females producing live larvae. The parasites are then carried from the gastrointestinal tract by the bloodstream to various muscles, where they become encysted. It is estimated that 10% to 20% of the adult population of the United States suffers from trichinosis at some time. In many people the disease exhibits no symptoms and is discovered only at autopsy. In others it causes diarrhoea and other gastro-intestinal symptoms as the worms multiply in the digestive tract. When the larvae circulate through the bloodstream, the patient experiences edema, irregular fever, profuse sweating, muscle soreness and pain, and prostration. There may be involvement of the central nervous system, heart, and lungs; DEATH occurs in about 5% of clinical cases. Once the larvae have imbedded themselves in the muscle tissue, the cysts usually become calcified; however, the infestation usually causes no further symptoms except fatigue and vague muscular pains. There is no specific treatment.

Bad Effects of Pork Consumption:

Pig’s bodies contain many toxins, worms and latent diseases. Although some of these infestations are also found in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far more predisposed to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because pigs like to scavenge and will eat any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta (including their own), garbage, and other pigs.

Influenza (flu) is one of the most famous illnesses which pigs share with humans. This illness is stored in the lungs of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and humans in the cooler months. Sausage contains bits of pigs’ lungs, so those who eat pork sausage tend to suffer more during epidemics of influenza.

Pig meat contains excessive quantities of histamine and imidazole compounds, which can lead to itching and inflammation; growth hormone, which promotes inflammation and growth; mesenchymal mucus, which leads to swelling and deposits of mucus in tendons and cartilage, resulting in arthritis, rheumatism, etc. Sulfur helps cause firm human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig’s soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human cartilage.

Eating pork can also lead to gallstones and obesity, probably due to its high cholesterol and saturated fat content. The pig is the main carrier of the taenia solium worm, which is found in its flesh. These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is INCURABLE once it reaches beyond a certain stage.

One in six people in the US and Canada has trichinosis from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork. Many people have no symptoms to warn them of this, and when they do, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are not noticed during meat inspections, nor does salting or smoking kill them. Few people cook the meat long enough to kill the trichinae. The rat (another scavenger) also carries this disease. There are dozens of other worms, germs, diseases and bacteria which are commonly found in pigs, many of which are specific to the pig, or found in greater frequency in pigs.

Pigs are biologically similar to humans, and their meat is said to taste similar to human flesh. Pigs have been used for dissection in biology labs due to the similarity between their organs and human organs. People with insulin-dependent diabetes usually inject themselves with pig insulin. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, and wait a little while, you will see worms crawl out of it.

Medical and Scientific Reasons for not Eating Pork:

This is a direct quote from “What the Bible Says About Healthy Eating” by Dr. Rex Russell.  He attended Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, Texas and did his residency at the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minnesota.

“One reason for God’s rule forbidding pork is that the digestive system of a pig is completely different from that of a cow. It is similar to ours, in that the stomach is very acidic. Pigs are gluttonous, never knowing when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasites, bacteria, viruses, and toxins can pass into the pigs flesh because of overeating. These toxins and infectious agents can be passed on to humans when they eat a pig’s flesh.

In the “Biblical Archeological Review”, Jane Cahill examined the toilets of a Jewish household in Jerusalem, finding no parasites or infectious agents, but only pollen from the many fruits, vegetables, and herbs they had eaten. A similar study done about Egyptians revealed eggs from Schistosoma, Trichinella, wire worm and tapeworms, all found in pork.  All of these organisms cause significant chronic diseases.  [this is footnoted Jane Cahill and Peter Warnock, “It had to happen, Scientist Examines Ancient Bathrooms of Romans 586B.C.” BAR May/June 1991]

In the U.S., three of the six most common food-borne parasitic diseases of humans are associated with pork consumption. These include toxoplasmosis, taeniases or cysticercosis [caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium] and trichinellosis.

In Japan, the source of these infections was traced to the flesh of pigs, bears, horses, racoons and foxes. All of these animals are listed in Scripture as putrid or unclean.

Swine are also good incubators of toxic parasites and viruses- although the animal doesn’t appear to be ill while carrying these diseases. A scientist at the University of Giessen’s Institute for Virology in Germany showed in a study of worldwide influenza epidemics that pigs are the one animal that can serve as a mixing vessel for new influenza viruses that may seriously threaten world health.

If a pig is exposed to a human’s DNA virus and then a bird’s virus, the pig mixes the two viruses – developing a new DNA virus that is often extremely lethal for humans. These viruses have already caused worldwide epidemics and destruction. Virologists have concluded that if we do not find a way to separate humans from pigs, the whole earth’s population may be at risk. [footnoted Scholtissek,M.D., “Cultivating a Killer Virus” National History Jan. 1992]

The 1942 Yearbook of Agriculture reported that 50 diseases were found in pigs, and many of these were passed on to humans by eating the pig’s flesh.

Additionally, just the handling of swine has an element of risk. A large hog-raising facility in the area where I live wisely requires its employees to wear gloves, masks and protective clothing while working in the pig barns. The workers are required to shower each day before going home.

Little wonder that GOD would inspire His prophet to include eating pork among the disobedient acts of stubborn people in addition to idolatry and conjuring spirits of the dead, “a people who continually provoke Me to My face,…who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat” [Isa. 65:3,4]”

Paul Wong

JUST SAY NO TO SWINES’ FLESH

 Dear friends:

 (This will make you think!)

On March 15, 2000 I posted a news item saying that “cloned pigs could provide organs for transplants into humans on the NHS within six years, it emerged yesterday..” I commented: “If pigs were an abomination in the ancient Jewish temple, how much more will they be an abomination being made a part of God’s New covenant temple–our bodies! Six years away? For this and many other reasons, I suspect God will pull down the curtain before then and say, ‘No more.’”

 Combining swine flesh with human flesh will not just be a spiritual abomination, there are also extreme concerns physically, no doubt why God did not (DOES NOT) allow eating of swine. I used to think that God had this restriction about pigs, only to protect those poor, primitive Israelites, from the deadly trichinella worms found in swine. But we modern, sophisticated humans are so smart that we do not have this problem. Yeah, right!

Not true, according to Dr. Gordon S. Tessler, in his excellent book, “The Genesis Diet,” He says:

“Obviously, the indiscriminate eating patterns of omnivores like pigs, make them disease carriers. Pigs are known to carry up to 200 diseases and 18 different parasites and worms, including the deadly worm called trichinella spiralis. This worm is commonly called trichinosis and there is no known cure for these spiral worms. The trichinae worms are so small and transparent that only trained inspectors using high-powered microscopes can detect their existence. Trichinosis can cripple or even kill anyone that eats as little as a forkful of contaminated food! Trichinosis can mimic other diseases such as arthritis, rheumatism, or typhoid fever. (NOTE: On his video, Dr. Tessler says that even cooking does NOT kill the trichinae worm!)

“Pigs have more incidences of arthritis than any other known animals in the world. Arthritis may be a virus or a parasite that is transmitted from pigs to humans as a direct result of eating the flesh and blood of hogs and pigs. Perhaps many other diseases are misdiagnosed and their real cause is roundworms, gullet worms, hookworms, thorn-headed worms, trichina worms, stomach worms, nodular worms, tapeworms, as well as many other parasites found in the flesh of the unclean swine. A person may be committing SLOW SUICIDE when he or she eats bacon, ham, sausage, or pork chops.

“Even hog farmers who insist that corn fed hogs are safe won’t give you a guarantee that their indoor hogs haven’t eaten any rats, mice, fecal waste, or maggots within the past few days. The metal doorknobs in pig nurseries, become corroded after a year or so, due to the gases produced by the pigs urine and feces. The same gas and pig dander that eat away metal doorknobs are harming the respiratory tracts of hog farmers. Their unusually high incidences of respiratory ailments, from coughing and sniffles to lung scarring and pneumonia can no longer be attributed to weather and allergies alone. The hog waste spills from hog farms are contaminating our land, our rivers, and our water supply. Pork should be considered a homotoxin (human poison) and the probable cause of many common sicknesses and degenerative diseases.

 “The Great Physician, the Creator of all life, admonishes us to separate the clean animals from the unclean, for physical health and well being. Many faithful church people who would never defile God’s temple with cigarettes, even though smoking is not mentioned in the Bible, continue to ingest bacon, ham and pork chops which are disease-carrying, parasite-infested unclean foods which God commands His children not to eat! It would be futile and absurd to ask God to bless the smoking of cigarettes, yet we pray that He bless a pork chop on our dinner plate! Can we expect our Creator to disregard His word to us so we can indulge our appetites?”

Dr. Tessler’s book, “The Genesis Diet” and his video, “Eating God’s Way” are highly recommended…….

Jim Bramlett

Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the President of ARK International. His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in Houston. The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.

(http://www.onlinetruth.org/Articles%20Folder/eating_pork_can_b e_hazardous_to.htm)

PIG & PORK FACTS

THE pig or swine is a very popular food item with most Christians. Yet Christians are unaware that the God they profess to believe in had condemned the eating of swine’s flesh. The condemnation was based on some very sound BIOLOGICAL principles. Here are some facts on pork that prove it to be a very unhealthy food to eat:

A pig is a real garbage gut. It will eat anything including urine, excrement, dirt, decaying animal flesh, maggots, or decaying vegetables. They will even eat the cancerous growths off other pigs or animals.

The meat and fat of a pig absorbs toxins like a sponge. Their meat can be 30 times more toxic than beef or venison.

When eating beef or venison, it takes 8 to 9 hours to digest the meat so what little toxins are in the meat are slowly put into our system and can be filtered by the liver. But when pork is eaten, it takes only 4 hours to digest the meat. We thus get a much higher level of toxins within a shorter time.

Unlike other mammals, a pig does not sweat or perspire. Perspiration is a means by which toxins are removed from the body. Since a pig does not sweat, the toxins remain within its body and in the meat.

Pigs and swine are so poisonous that you can hardly kill them with strychnine or other poisons.

Farmers will often pen up pigs within a rattlesnake nest because the pigs will eat the snakes, and if bitten they will not be harmed by the venom.

When a pig is butchered, worms and insects take to its flesh sooner and faster than to other animal’’ flesh. In a few days the swine flesh is full of worms.

Swine and pigs have over a dozen parasites within them, such as tapeworms, flukes, worms, and trichinae. There is no safe temperature at which pork can be cooked to ensure that all these parasites, their cysts,and eggs will be killed.

Pig meat has twice as much fat as beef. A 3 oz T bone steak contains 8.5 grams of fat; a 3 oz pork chop contains 18 grams of fat. A 3 oz beef rib has 11.1 grams of fat; a 3 oz pork spare rib has 23.2 grams of fat.

Cows have a complex digestive system, having four stomachs. It thus takes over 24 hours to digest their vegetarian diet causing its food to be purified of toxins. In contrast, the swine’s one stomach takes only about 4 hours to digest its foul diet, turning its toxic food into flesh.

The swine carries about 30 diseases which can be easily passed to humans. This is why God commanded that we are not even to touch their carcase (Leviticus 11:8).

The trichinae worm of the swine is microscopically small, and once ingested can lodge itself in our intestines, muscles, spinal cord or the brain. This results in the disease trichinosis. The symptoms are sometimes lacking, but when present they are mistaken for other diseases, such as typhoid, arthritis, rheumatism, gastritis, MS, meningitis, gall bladder trouble, or acute alcoholism.

The pig is so poisonous and filthy, that nature had to prepare him a sewer line or canal running down each leg with an outlet in the bottom of the foot. Out of this hole oozes pus and filth his body cannot pass into its system fast enough. Some of this pus gets into the meat of the pig.

There are other reasons grounded in biological facts that could be listed to show why pigs and swine should not be eaten. But a true Christian should only need one reason why not to eat this type of food – – – BECAUSE GOD PROHIBITED IT !

“And the swine, because it divides the hoof, yet does not chew the cud, it is unclean unto you: you shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.””–  (Leviticus 11:7,8; Deuteronomy 14:8)

Those who say Christ abolished the law condemning pork are motivated by their stomach not Scripture. The problems with pork are BIOLOGICAL, and Christ NEVER changed the laws of biology.”

(http://www.ensignmessage.com/archives/porkfacts.html)

I invite you to have a look at the following video on the internet, namely: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/248607 or  www.ebaumsworld.com/pork and coke.

If you cannot find it, feel free to contact me so that I can send you the video via e-mail. On this video you will see how worms appear out of a very neatly packaged piece of pork, that was bought from a shop.

I do not think I can say much more about the eating of pork that will convince you to rather not eat it any more. If the Holy Spirit has not been able to touch your heart regarding the truth about the information that I have given you, then nothing will.

In conclusion, let’s have a look at Dr Broer’s views regarding shellfish:  

“I am referring to shellfish, which includes lobster, crab, shrimp, (and prawns), oysters, scallops, mussels and clams… There are three reasons I have eliminated these foods from my diet. First and foremost, I am inclined to exercise extreme caution any time God’s Word warns mankind about particular foods. I am convinced there was, and is, more involved in the kosher food laws than mere religious separation. Second, the “Ten Foods You Should Never Eat” list is based on clinical research findings, not the personal diet opinions of one or two people. Third, this group of animals is being contaminated by environmental factors at an alarming rate, and they are passing along contaminants to everything and everyone that eat them… Shellfish need to be avoided.

Some people have known this for centuries… Let me clarify the fact that we should avoid shellfish, but I did not say avoid seafood. Fish is an excellent choice for a low-fat, high-energy diet… but avoid shellfish. These foods may taste good, but they are pure trouble when it comes to your physical health… Let’s do a reality check. If God Himself said, “Don’t eat it”, don’t you think He has already figured out our best diet? After all, we were created in His image…

My focus is upon the carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and pathogenic (disease-causing) components embedded in the flesh of these carnivorous scavengers and “filter-feeders” of the sea. No one needs these deadly ingredients in their diets. Many of the shellfish varieties named above, show up in major news releases year after year as being infected with deadly viruses, bacterial agents and chemical contaminants. These factors only heighten the biblical warnings God gave us about foods to be avoided… We need to remember that shellfish such as crabs and lobsters are flesh-eaters; they are not picky eaters. They will eat the decomposed flesh of diseased carcasses just as quickly as they will eat the flesh of living prey, and there is plenty of decomposed material on the bottom of the sea. This is how their bodies collect all the toxins, contaminants and waste products brought to them by the globe-circling currents of the sea.”

Dear friend, you must decide how long you still want to eat any of these things and if you still want to feed your family and children with these things. This decision will not affect your faith, but, as previously stated you and or your children might end up getting to heaven sooner than you expected! Then you can explain to God yourself, why you blatantly disregarded His warnings about these types of meat, especially after you received new knowledge regarding this.

Please read the following verse:

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at: but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30)

Were you ignorant about the eating of pork and shellfish? God overlooked your ignorance. But NOW He commands you to repent, as well as any continued blatant disregarding of His warnings about you and your families’ health.   

May Jesus Christ truly and completely free you not only from this, but also from satan’s onslaught on your and your family’s bodies and lives.

tiaan gildenhuys