(April 22, 2004)
I was surprised to from my sister recently. Surprised also that she has an interest in Christianity. I hope that this interest is genuine and not just for personal gain, i.e. good feelings. She got me thinking along the following lines.
One of the prime responsibilities of a Christian is to change his beliefs in order to conform to Jesus' teachings and the teachings of the Bible. See the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1-13. One should know when the teachings of a preacher or minister come in conflict with the Holy scriptures. One should not be gullible or sway easily from one belief to another. This takes dedicated effort, study and prayer and time in order to prove all things and to keep what is right or good. It helps to have good truthful teachers, preachers and ministers. Broad is the way that leads to destruction.
Jesus said He would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. This is the only sign that He gave to this evil generation to prove that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Mainstream christianity, the broad road, teaches a Friday burial and a Sunday morning resurrection. This accounts for only two nights and one day, kindergarten arithmetic. Do the ministers that you listen to believe Jesus? True Christians believe Jesus not corrupt teachers. He was buried around sunset. Three days and three nights, 72 hours, latter means that He was resurrected around sunset. The tomb was empty Sunday morning because He resurrected on Saturday at the end of the day at sunset. Therefore He was buried on a Wednesday at the end of the day at sunset. Using kindergarten arithmetic this adds up to three days and three nights. If you don t believe this you are calling Jesus a liar and you have no savior.
For a more thorough description of the Biblical proof of this sign see The Good News magazine article entitled Good Friday - Easter Sunday: It Didn't Happen That Way! in the March-April 2004 issue. http://gnmagazine.org/issues/current/easter.html
You might find this message cold or heartless. I find it hot with truth and meaning and a sound warning.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16 "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 (NASB)
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:11 (NASB)
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:14-15 (NASB)
And Jesus answered and said to them, See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will mislead many. Matthew 24:4-5 (NASB) They say that Jesus is the Christ.
Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14 For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NASB)
Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:39-42 (NASB)
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NASB)
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8
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