Missing Links – Chapter IX

Chapter XI

Doctrines and Traditions of Men

How many doctrines can a Christian man learn, and how many traditions can he observe? The answer my friend is set forth by the councils of men, and there are many blowing in the wind. In Bob Dylan’s song, “Blowing in the Wind”, the answers to all the world’s problems stated in its lyrics were blowing in the wind.

In these latter days, there are many believers in Christendom who fly in the winds of doctrine. They may be searching for truth, intrigue, or simply enjoy church hopping. The numerous denominational, non-denominational, freewill ministerial, philosophically hybridized, theologically engineered, and humanistic doctrines to choose from is like an open buffet with all you can eat for a simple price. Searching for truth in the vast sea of confusion and deception is like searching Wal-Mart for something not made in China or made in the USA.

Since the beginning of Christianity, many false doctrines and traditions have crept into Christendom. Most have been in practice for over a thousand years. The early Apostles warned the followers of Christ that there would be a falling away prior to his return. (2 Th. 2:1-12) The Apostle Peter warned of false teachers making merchandise of the sheep. (2 Pet. 2:1-3) Jesus Christ prophesied that there would be many coming in his name preaching about him and saying that he was indeed the Christ but deceiving many. How? Most teach their own ideological doctrines. (Matt. 24:4-5, 15:8-9, 7:21-23; Is. 29:13)

The Jews that became followers of Jesus Christ had a better understanding of God’s ways than the Gentiles because of the former knowledge given them. The only thing that the Jews were lacking was a true spiritual understanding of the knowledge they possessed prior to the teachings of Christ. They were well adept in the letter of the law but had many shortcomings in the spirit of the law.

Many gentiles believed the Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom of God when it was delivered to them, but had to discard their pagan customs and be instructed in God’s commandments and ways. The biggest problem in the early church was some of the converted Pharisees zealousness in getting their hands on the converted Gentile’s penises to cut off their foreskins. (Acts 15:5) The Apostle Paul had a difficult time convincing them that it was circumcision of the heart and not the flesh that was more important. (Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4, 9:25; Jn. 7:21-24) The legalistic issue in John 7:21-24 was the performing of circumcision (custom/law of Moses) on the Sabbath (commandment) versus the healing of a man on the Sabbath. They condemned the Lord for healing a man and making him whole on the Sabbath, yet they considered it lawful to whack off the foreskin of a male child’s penis. Should the lawful custom of men supersede the doing of a good deed on the Lord’s holy day?

The Gentiles were accustomed to paying tribute to their false gods and keeping the pagan customs of the time. They worshipped the Greek and Roman deities and/or the deities that had been worshipped during Old Testament times. The Babylonian Mystery Religion was widely practiced, and one of its priests was even converted and baptized, but he erred when trying to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:9-24) That Simon, a Samaritan sorcerer, had the same name as the Apostle Peter who rebuked him, and I do not think that he (sorcerer Simon Peter) walked away without the intension to adapt this new religion to his old one. The falling away that the Apostle Paul wrote about was already in progress during those early years of Christianity. (Col. 2:8; Gal. 2:4; 2 Th. 2; Jude 4) Even some of the popular converts can be found flip-flopping and disserting the faith to return to the world. (2 Tim. 4:10)

Barnabas was Paul’s first traveling companion. (Acts 9:26-28) After they returned from Jerusalem, they went to Antioch. (Acts 12:25-13:1) In Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. In the Greek, the word “autos” is the reflexive pronoun for self or selves: she, her, he, him, them, their, they, and it. The conjunction and is translated from the primary particle kai, having a cumulative and/or copulative force: and, also, even, so, then, too, which, ect. The word separate is from the Greek aplorizo meaning: to set off, limit, exclude, or sever as well as appoint, and a compound of the primary particle apo (from, off, or away as in separation) and horizo (bound, mark out, decree, specify). The prime particle gar translated for is often used with other particles to assign reason. Acts 13:2 should be translated: As they gave praise unto the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit brought word that it would separate itself from Barnabas so Saul therefore (without doubt) can work wherever I (the Lord) call him (Paul).

Shortly after the Jerusalem Council, Paul and Barnabas got into a disagreement about Mark, and then they separated with much strife between them. (Acts 15:36-41) In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he recounts his experience while in Jerusalem. In Gal. 2:13 we find Barnabas carried away with the Jews dissimulation (hypocrisy). When comparing Acts 15:1-7 with Gal. 2:1-13, Barnabas had flip–flopped on his position about the circumcision issue. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians indicates some degree of frustration. (Gal. 3:1, 6:17) Acts 15:39 is the last time scripture has Barnabas associated with the work. He is mentioned in 1 Cor. 9:6 in connection with the privilege of receiving compensation for the work, which thing Paul did not do. (1 Cor. 9:15-18) The only other time he is mentioned is in Col. 4:10. The Greek word dechomai (middle of a primary verb) translated receive has a sense of keeping in suspense when tracing it back to the primary verbs haireomai and airo. The verb dechomai translated receive in Col. 4:10 is also translated take in Lk. 16:6, 7 (dishonestly) and Eph. 6:17 (precaution) and accepted in 2 Cor. 8:17 and 11:4.]

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy his last epistle, he indicates that some of the converts and his close friends have fallen away and returned to the ways of the world. (2 Tim. 4:6-11) When reading the passage correctly, Crescens and Titus have also forsaken (deserted) Paul and departed. All three people in this statement had deserted Paul but went three different directions. The second Epistle written to Timothy was when Paul was imprisoned in Rome. (2 Tim. 1:15-17) Paul wrote the Epistle to Titus, who he had left in Crete, while he (Paul) was still free to travel. (Titus 1:5, 3:12)

“[ Revision 2020 addition: Is it highly possible that this young Titus (late teens to early 20’s) latter became emperor of Rome? Paul was beheaded by Nero in 67 AD. Titus (Roman emperor) was born 40 AD and became emperor in 79. Nero died in 68, then Galba 68-69, Otho Jan. – April 69, Vitellius July – Dec. 69, Vespasian (Titus’ father) 69 – 79, Titus 79 – 81 (3 yrs.), then Domitian (Titus’ younger brother) 81 – 96. Vespasian’s family home was Dalmatia! In 70 AD, the then General Titus (the Prince) destroyed Jerusalem while crushing the Jewish (not Christian) rebellion. Could he have simply found the last living Apostle, John, and only placed him in (on) the isle of Patmos as a relocation for protective custody? (Rev. 1:9 & Dan. 9:26) Who supplied John with the materials and seclusion to receive and write the Revelation? Titus was considered as the most just and gentle emperor during the first century. (Christian kindness and charity?) Do the Math! There are two books from the Lost Scriptures that didn’t make it into the New Testament called The Letter of Barnabas and Pseudo-Titus. The Barnabas Letter promotes everything non-Jewish, even worship on Sunday. Barnabas was a Levite! (Acts 4:36) It seems that Barnabas was like many politicians or ministers today that flip-flop on the issues or principles and will say most anything to get a vote or convert. (Gal. 3:1; Eph. 4:14; Rom. 16:17-18) The Pseudo-Titus Letter promotes strict celibacy, even within marriage. That teaching probably pissed many fiancés and husbands off. It was contrary to the teachings of Paul. (1 Cor. 7:1-17; Col. 3:18; Eph. 5:22)]

Most Church historians will acknowledge that the Church went through a dark period with little recorded history at the close of the first century AD. History reveals Christianity again at the end of the second and beginning of the third century after Constantine had acknowledged Christianity as the official religion of the empire, but there were two very distinct groups. Some were Sabbath keeping Christians, but the majority was keeping Sunday and many other pagan traditions. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians (4:8-12) is evidence of that. The weak and beggarly elements that they were returning to was their former pagan traditions, not Jewish traditions. The Galatians were a religious people, and their pagan deities had numerous festivals and customs. It was those they were returning to! I suppose there were some false apostles who discovered the best way to sell a new religion was to repackage the old one by altering its manufactures’ instructions and sell it as new and improved.

During the second century of Christianity, Rome persecuted all Christians. Theological discrimination was not a problem! All Christians had the equal right to be tossed into the lion’s pit, burned at the stake, beheaded, or nailed to a pole. Be assured, that no matter what, those who fearlessly profess the name of Jesus Christ in the face of death are worthy of the Lamb. (Rev. 12:11) There were numerous sects with various doctrines within both main groups. Some were outright pagan but called themselves Christian. Religion is much the same now as then. Today, it is big business!

Major Corporations have a CEO and a Board of Directors. The Board meets to establish corporate policy and the CEO administers it. The Board may sometimes give the CEO infallible control of running the company. The current Universal Church (Catholic) is like a corporation. Its Board of Directors is the Council of Cardinals, the CEO is the Papacy, and the Pope is a mortal man that gets voted into the position. Its Board meetings are Ecclesiastical Councils that determine canon law for the church. From 325 AD to 1962 there have been 21 Catholic Councils. The first four approved doctrines that are a direct violation of the first four commandments. (Dan. 7:25)

Council of Nicaea (325 AD) This was the first council and was convened by Constantine. The time and day for keeping the Passover was changed. The idea and philosophy of the trinity doctrine was introduced, although not widely accepted. Constantine had made Sunday the official day of rest a civil law in 321 AD.

Council of Laodicea (364 AD) This council issued the famous decree that Christians should not Judaize by keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath, which is the fourth commandment. If Christians were found Judaizing, they were to be excommunicated and cut off from Christ. [How can men cut off from Christ those who are keeping his holy commandments? In their minds – killing them! (Dan. 7:24, 11:32-35; 2 Th. 2:3-12; Rev. 3:16-19, 12:11-17, 14:12, 16:8-9; Matt. 24:9-13, 15:7-9, 22:37-40; Jn. 14:14-15; Ex. 20:1-17; Is. 58:13-14, 66:23)]

Council of Constantinople (381 AD) This council adopted the final formula for the trinity doctrine that was later incorporated into the Athanasian Creed. From the time that the concept was first introduced there had been much controversy over the godhead and the nature of Christ. The Holy Spirit was given a separate entity status (personage) in order to make the God in Three Persons formula plausible. [The triad godhead in the Babylonian Mystery Religion was Ishtar, Sin, and Shemesh. Ishtar, the Goddess of fertility and rebirth could not be replaced with Mary Mother of God because it would have been too obvious. To whom are we to pray? (Mt. 6:5-13, Lk. 1:28, 42-43)]  

Council of Nicaea (787 AD) This council was called by the Empress Irene, which ordered the restoration of images in the church, but declared that they should only be venerated, not worshipped. [Look up the definitions in the English dictionary for venerate, veneration, and worship. Is there any difference? There is a possibly that just a little bit more difference exists between George I and George II than those words!]

These four councils established doctrines by majority vote that violates the first four commandments that Jesus Christ summed up into one when asked the trick question: Which is the great commandment in the law? (Matt. 22:33-40) The lust for power, authority, and the murder that ensued while enforcing the council’s dictates violates all of God’s Ten Commandments, not just the first four. The history of the eastern and western orthodox churches, the ecclesiastical councils, and some of the philosophical theology in support of the doctrines and traditions approved can be found in most any Encyclopedia. 

Constantine the Great became sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire in 324 AD after Licinius, ruler over the eastern division, was murdered. His father, Constantius I, had ruled jointly with Galerius and Maximianus, and was killed in battle in 306. Afterwards, the army proclaimed Constantine as Caesar, and Galerius was then forced to recognize the title. Constantine’s position was further strengthened by his marriage to Fausta, who was the daughter of Maximianus. In 310, Maximianus tried to oust the young emperor and was murdered.

 Maxentius, son of Maximianus, sought revenge and was killed in battle in 312 AD. It was just prior to that battle that Constantine was supposed to have seen in the sky a flaming cross bearing the legend “in hoc signo vinces” or “in this sign conquer”. [Can anyone believe that this was a sign from God? Does it remind you of anything else sinister?] The legend purportedly led to Constantine’s Christianity. He is considered one of the ablest rulers of the Roman Empire, although his reign was beset by much political and religious intrigue. His many reprehensible murders included his wife, Fausta, and his own son, Crispus. He did protect the empire’s new religion, which was the officially recognized form of Christianity by empowering the Catholic Church, but he did not officially become a Christian until his deathbed conversion in 337 AD.

Due to the theological conflicts within Christendom, Constantine ordered and directed the first Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The eastern churches in Asia and western churches in Greece, Italy and Spain had already adapted Sunday as the Christian day of worship and rest. [Sunday was revered as the day of the sun in Sun god worship. (Gen. 1:3-5; Eze. 8:16)] After Constantine had recognized Christianity as the empire’s official religion and made Sunday the official day of rest (excluding agriculture) a civil law, the official church could legally persecute Christians keeping the Lord’s Sabbath.

Any Christian sect that did not adhere to the Roman Church’s newly established authority was declared heretic. The true flock began fleeing to the wilderness. (Rev. 12) When the poor Sabbath keeping Waldenses emerged during the 12^th to 15^th centuries with their copies of scriptures from the Bible, the papal bull to exterminate them was issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1487. [Ironic name for such a supposedly holy, but murderous man.] Their copies of individual books of scripture and even their complete Bibles were burned, and then they were killed in a variety of tortuous ways. The Gutenberg printing press wasn’t invented 1440.

The councils of men that have been held throughout the centuries set the church’s doctrines, traditions, regulations, and canon law by majority vote. In the Council of Trent, third session 1562-63, Papal supremacy was recognized, and the church was purified (forgiven) of her past abuses (sins) by the council’s reforms. Vatican Council I (1869-1870) passed the Pope’s infallibility in matters of faith and morals. [Thus, saith the Pope: “Thou shalt…”] Can a man or a church forgive its own sins? What height has the Papacy elevated itself? (Rev. 18:7; Dan 11:32-39) The Council of Cardinals and Papacy are in the image of the Roman Beast (Senate and Emperor).

There are several pagan traditions that were transformed into Christian traditions. One is Easter, which was a celebration to the Babylonian goddess of fertility – Ashtar. The English spelling is derived from Eostra, the Teutonic goddess of spring. [The three are pronounced the same.] The pagan festival fell near to the day of Passover following the spring equinox, which was adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The early Eastern Church celebrated Passover on Nisan 14, the sacred calendar’s first month that began on the first new moon nearest the spring equinox, but the Western Church had adopted the Babylonian weekend feast of Ashtar. Any encyclopedia has the history!

The pagan tradition goes back to the Old Testament days. The Israelites often turned to the goddess of fertility, or Queen of Heaven, and this was an abomination to God. (Jer. 44:17-28) Easter morning’s sunrise service can be found in Eze. 8:16 and the baking of hot cross buns in Jer. 7:18. The only place in the entire Bible you will find the word Easter in the Authorized King James Version is Acts 12:4. The word is translated from the Greek word pascha, which is translated Passover in every other place in the whole New Testament. I don’t know why the translators used Easter in this single verse. Maybe the answer is in 2 Th. 2:3-11.

Jesus Christ is our Passover. The Passover Feast is the time we should keep the remembrance of his sacrifice. (1 Cor. 5:7-8, 11:20-29) Unworthily is translated from anaxios, which means irreverently.  Is it reverent to substitute the time and tradition of Passover with a pagan one? The precious blood Christ shed for the redemption of sin should not be polluted with a fertility celebration with rabbits and colored eggs. I’ve raised both rabbits and chickens, but I’ve never seen a rabbit lay an egg. The Easter tradition also states that Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and resurrected Sunday morning. If my math is correct, that totals to 1.5 days (36 hrs.). Jesus said he would be in the grave three days and three nights (72 hrs). (Matt. 12:39-40) Doesn’t that tradition call Jesus a lair? Ever wonder why there are three woes in the book of Revelation?

Jesus Christ was not crucified on a Friday! Days were reckoned from sunset to sunset. Passover is the 14^th of Nisan and it is eaten at sunset beginning the 14^th. The day that follows the 14^th is the 15^th and at sunset begins the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The 15^th of Nisan also begins the first annual holy convocation (high day) or annual Sabbath. (Jn. 19:31; Lev. 23) Both weekly and annual Sabbaths were commonly called Sabbath. Christ’s body was taken and placed in the tomb just prior to sunset on the 14^th. When the sun was set, the annual Sabbath (high day) began, which also began the 15^th. (Lk. 23:52-56) The Sabbath that the women rested on the day after Passover was the annual Sabbath, not the weekly Seventh Day Sabbath. Passover week is eight days, Passover Day plus The Seven Days of Unleavened Bread. (Nisan 14 thru 21)

It was early, just before sunrise on the first day of the week (Sunday) that the tomb was first found empty. Christ was already risen! Let’s back up three days and three nights and trust what our Lord tells us in his written word. Passover began at sunset on what we call Tuesday evening, which biblically begins the week’s fourth day – Wednesday. That night was what is called the Lord’s Supper. After Christ instituted the wine and bread as a memorial and washed the disciples’ feet, they went to the garden where Jesus was betrayed. It was our Tuesday midnight to Wednesday afternoon that Christ was ridiculed, mocked, beaten, interrogated, tortured, and then crucified. He was placed in the tomb prior to sunset Wednesday evening, which began the annual Sabbath on Nisan 15. COUNT: Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset (day one), Thursday sunset to Friday sunset (day two), and Friday sunset to Saturday sunset (day three). Christ rose from the grave late Saturday afternoon or early evening. Why was the tomb found empty early Sunday morning? He had already risen!

Passover can fall on any day of the week from year to year. The term sabbath day in Lk. 23:56 is plural. There was the annual Sabbath on Thursday and weekly Sabbath on Saturday. The women could not do the customary service to Jesus’ body on Thursday because it was the High Day, nor Friday because of the fact there was no admittance allowed. The Jews had the Romans post guards. (Matt. 27:62-66) That is how those high priests and ruling Pharisees kept their annual (High Day) Sabbath.

Christmas is another pagan tradition that Christianity has adopted. You can read its complete history in any encyclopedia. The shepherds tending their flocks by night would have been in the spring/summertime. Winter rains in the region is what brings about green grass in the spring. By the end of summer and early autumn, the grass is dry and if tall enough usually cut as hay for winter forage. During the winter months, sheep and goats were kept in lower rooms, barns, or caves. Although a Christmas tree is found in Jer. 10:1-4, man has philosophized with various doctrines a humanistic defense of the Christmas tradition, but none are scriptural. It is difficult for man to change generations of tradition. But the Lord will! (Is. 66:23)

If Christ really wanted us to celebrate his birthday, the scriptures would give us a clear clue as to when he was born. The most accepted year is 5 BC. What was the month and date? Have you ever searched for something while it was right under your nose the entire time? Luke begins his first letter with the parents of John the Baptist. (1:5-25) Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months; then, Luke directs his narrative to Mary. Verse 26 begins with the angel Gabriel going to Nazareth in the sixth month. This is a sacred calendar month, not the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, which is a fact stated in verse 36. Elisabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy ironically happened to be in the sixth month of the sacred calendar when Gabriel visited Mary! Carefully read the first chapter of Luke. He wrote to a friend who was a high official of Rome and would not have duplicated the same fact in such as a confusing manner most preachers preach. (Lk. 1:1-4)

The sixth month of the sacred calendar is Elud (Aug. – Sept.) When Mary had come to full term nine months later, Jesus was born in the third month of Sivan (May – June) the following year. (Lk. 2:5-7) On the eighth day, after purification of separation, he was brought to the local Levitical priest, circumcised and named. (Lk. 2:21-23; Lev. 12:2-7) The festival of Pentecost (Firstfruits or Weeks) is in the month of Sivan. (Lev. 23:10-22) Was Jesus was born on Pentecost? Christ is the Firstfruits of salvation! (1 Cor. 15:20-23) Most likely, Jesus was born seven days prior to Pentecost just as he ascended to heaven seven days prior to Pentecost. Was he circumcised on the annual Sabbath of Pentecost? (Jn. 7:21-23) Let’s do the math in Lev. 23:15-18, Lk. 24:46-53; Acts 1:3-5 and 2:1. Pentecost counts seven Sabbaths after Passover and adds one day. [7 x 7 + 1 = 50] Christ was crucified on a Wednesday late afternoon, in the grave three whole days, and then resurrected on a Saturday (Sabbath) late afternoon. He ascended to heaven after spending forty days with the disciples. Pentecost was not many days hence. The counting of seven Sabbaths following Christ’s crucifixion on a Wednesday (Passover) began three days later – Saturday, which was the day he arose and the first Sabbath following Passover. [3 + 40 + 7 = 50]

 Sivan (May – June) is about the middle of our solar year because the summer solstice is June 21. Jesus was born sometime in the late spring 5 BC. Mathematically, his birth date would be between 5.25 BC and 5.5 BC. Recall the math in Chapter VI in the Seventy Weeks Prophecy? Nisan is the first and Sivan the third month on the sacred calendar, a lunar type, which can vary as much as 28 days with today’s solar calendar. Jesus was crucified one to four months short of his 34^th birthday. [30 (yrs. old when He was baptized) + 3.5 (yrs. of ministry) = 33.5]

John the Baptist was born late Chislev (Nov – Dec). Should we start celebrating his birthday on the 25^th of December? [If so, say Merry John-the-baptist-mas] You could research the year 5 BC, cross reference the Jewish lunar to the Julian solar,  correct it by the Gregorian and find Jesus’ birthday on today’s calendar. Should we bake him a cake and sing happy birthday?

In Revelation 18, merchants will weep and mourn over Babylon’s fall because no one will buy their merchandise anymore. If we were to not keep Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, nor buy any of their associated merchandise, plus not buy the other relics, trinkets, statues, candles, rosaries, pictures, incense, crucifixes, and other graven images we like to display, what would their manufacturers and retailers do? It is better to have God IN our hearts and minds instead of ON our walls and bodies. After Christ returned to the right hand of God, he has been putting up with man’s crap for almost two of His days. [2008 − 29 AD = 1979 years] The Lord has three woes ready for man’s almost two millennial days (1,979 and counting years) of denials and/or contradictions. (Mk. 14:30; Job 33:14; Num. 20:11; Ex. 34:23; Acts 10:16; Jude 12)

I would like to introduce a new and different doctrine. I call it Comprehensive Scriptural Investigation – Doctrine of Definitions or CSI – DOD. The only thing this doctrine teaches is a method of studying the Word of God. You will need to acquire the King James Version of the Bible, The Strong’s Concordance of the Bible, and a Standard English Dictionary (international edition) as your weapons of mass learning. [Do not worry about the DOE, FBI, ATF, and/or the state police. They shouldn’t invade your study, burn you down, or take your children if someone from the Vatican calls Homeland Security on you, and the CIA has little or no interest in truth.] Look up the Greek and Hebrew definitions of key verbs and nouns as you study. Dissect entire passages with definitions if they seem confusing. Study all the passages related to words such as soul, spirit, body, salvation, grace, Sabbath, and any other word as a subject of interest. With sincere study and prayer, God will reveal his mystery. (Rev. 10:7)

Coming out of Babylon will be the most difficult thing that God’s children will ever have to do. If we truly love the Lord, we will do as he tells us and keep his commandments. (Jn. 14:15, 15:10, Ex. 20) We know the fourth commandment is to remember and keep the Sabbath. If the commandments were nailed to the cross, as some do teach, can we commit murder, adultery, theft, or covet? People say, “It doesn’t make any difference which day we keep.” That isn’t what Jesus said! Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mk. 2:27-28) Who made the first day of the week (Sunday) a worship day? Not being sure, which day would you bet on? How difficult would it be to just switch days? (1 Jn. 5:3) People say, “Thank God it’s Friday!” Why? Saturday is indeed the Sabbath Day of rest. Are they ready to rest? Maybe, but I am reasonably sure that most are only ready to just party – party – party. At least they’re too hung-over to sun worship!

Most Christian doctrines teach that if you don’t get saved in this life, you will die and spend eternal life in everlasting hell fire. The Bible does not teach that! It makes God out to be a tyrant, and God has more mercy than that. Others teach a heaven and hell with a purgatory halfway house with some method of working through purgatory to get out of hell, then into heaven. It is all crap! Every human being that has ever lived and died is dead (sleeping – REST IN PEACE) but will be resurrected. The first resurrection is of the elect to eternal life because the second death has no power, but the second resurrection is to judgment, and the second death will have power. (Rev. 20) If you are not found written in its book of life, you will surely die the second death. It will not be painless! There will be the gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 13:37-43) Eternal life should be the most important thing for man to consider, and not just something easily tossed to the wind

[2020/2021 Revision Addition]

Just in case you may be interested in the day when Jesus Christ was born in the flesh in 5 BC, you will have to trust in some things the Lord said in John 7:21-23 and elsewhere in the Bible. This is the only place in the Gospels that circumcision was used in defense of some of the things He did on the sabbath day He was Lord of. The Religious Right of today are not any different from those of yesteryears. Jesus rebuked them for their hypocrisy, doctrines, and traditions on many things throughout the Gospels; however, in this case I believe He used a very personal experience of Biblical proportions.

Jesus was born in the mid to late spring of the year. Jesus said that He was Lord, even of the sabbath day. (Mark 2:28) Wouldn’t it be logical that He would be born on the same day of the week as His Ascension Day? He picked up His life again (resurrected) on a weekly sabbath day. It was his custom to preach on the sabbath days. (Luke 4:16,31, 6:1-10) If John the Baptist’s custom was to preach and baptize on the sabbath days also, then Jesus would have been baptized on a sabbath day too! It was also the custom of the Apostles to preach the good news on the sabbath days as well. (Acts 13:14,27,42,44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4) 

 According to the Biblical Circumcision Law (Leviticus 12:1-4), Jesus would have been born seven days prior to His circumcision. The sabbath can be either the weekly or one of the annual seven. If Jesus would have returned to the Father on the same sabbath dayas He was born, the only Sabbath that His circumcision could consistently be on from year to year is Pentecost, the third annual sabbath of the year and always on the first day of the week – Sunday. Weekly and the seven annual sabbaths were all normally called sabbaths, even the High Day – first annual sabbath of the new sacred calendar year which began in the spring.

Jesus’ birthday would be the weekly Sabbath Day seven days prior to His circumcision. He ascended back to His Father seven days prior to Pentecost. Therefore, His birthday would consistently be seven days prior to Pentecost from year to year. This year, Pentecost is May 31, 2020. Carefully read Lev. 23:5-6 and 15-16. This year Jesus’ birthday would be May 23^rd and it will fall on the sixth weekly sabbath day after Passover which is seven days before Pentecost (the one and only annual Sabbath always on a Sunday) every year for all eternity. Read Lev. 12:1-4, Luke 2:21-24 and Acts 1:1-5 and do the Math! [7 + 33 = 40] Forty is a significate number in scripture! I hear Christians say that Christmas should be every day! I think and believe we should keep the Lord’s birthday every week! It is His weekly sabbath and commandment! Just something else to think about. If you truly love the Lord, prove it! (John 14:15,21, 15:10; Matt 5:19, 19:17; Rev. 12:17, 14:12, 22:14; 1John 5:2-3; 2John 6)

In 2020, Jesus’ earthly birthday in the flesh was sabbath day May 23^rd. In 2021, it was May 15^th.  In 2022, it will be the sixth weekly sabbath after Passover. NOT EASTER!

LOLGB+