FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES



To "spiritualize" or not to "spiritualize"....Ah! That is the question!!! (I love Shakespeare, too!)

Is the Bible allegorical, or is it literal? That depends upon which Pastor is telling you as HE believes it to be. And, of course, you MUST BELIEVE WHAT YOUR PASTOR BELIEVES. He is the "expert", isn't he? After all, he went to some kind of school to learn his "trade" (making a living).

Why do you not READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELVES? That's what God TOLD US TO DO! II Timothy 2:15..."STUDY to shew thyself approve unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. (vs.16) But SHUN profane and vain babblings: for the will INCREASE UNTO MORE UNGODLINESS."

But, even interpretation of this scripture depends upon who (which Pastor, or "church") is telling you what HE THINKS it says.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY?? AND WHAT IS GOD TELLING YOU? HOW DO YOU, YOURSELF, INTERPRET WHAT YOU ARE READING AND STUDYING?

If you, yourself, are NOT studying the Bible BY YOURSELF, then it is very INAPPROPRIATE to argue with those who do. Essentially, you are using ANOTHER PERSON'S beliefs (which you have been told) to countermand those who are understanding what GOD is telling them directly. The Holy Spirit is supposed to lead you in learning...otherwise, MEN (and WOMEN) will lead you into false doctrines....see I John 2:27.

Also remember, that COMMENTARIES about the Bible, and FOOTNOTES written with men's opinions (in some Bibles) are NOT THE WORD OF GOD....they are the "word of men" and should not be treated as "Gospel truth". They are, at best, man's opinions.

What is an allegory?

al.le.go.ry ('æl ??g?r i, -?go?r i)

n., pl. -ries.
1. the representation of spiritual, moral, or other abstract meanings through the actions of fictional characters that serve as symbols.
2. an allegorical or figurative narrative, poem, or the like: the allegory of Piers Plowman.
3. emblem (def. 3).
[1350-1400; Middle English < Latin allegoria < Greek allegoría, derivative of allegoreîn to speak so as to imply something other = all- all- + -egorein to speak (see category)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.


12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

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Some would say these verses should be interpreted "literally". REALLY? Taking a LITERAL view of the description of this "man" (Who is meant to be Jesus Christ) makes Him look almost like giant "Sinbad" with white, wooly hair, and with fire coming out of his eyes while clutching a huge sword between his teeth...and trying to balance some huge stars in his hand. But then, God TELLS US the meanings of the "symbols" (in verse 20). We aren't as well-informed about the rest of the symbols in the Book of Revelation. We have to SEARCH, for ourselves, what they mean. The Bible interprets itself when we search for meanings of the "symbols".

God has TOLD US in Revelation chapter 1 that this book is SIGNIFIED, meaning it is given to us in "pictures", "signs" and "visions", and "symbols" that John was given. THEY CANNOT BE LITERAL because GOD SAYS THEY ARE NOT LITERAL. And it is up to us to interpret the "signs" for what they really mean.

He (GOD) also knows how UNRIGHTEOUS all people are, and how they have been so in ALL generations. So, He spoke His messages to us in PARABLES so that ONLY those who were MEANT to understand, would understand them. A superficial, and SPURIOUS (not genuine; false), reading of the Bible gives very little understanding of God's purposes with humanity. Only those who dig, search, pray for understanding, and seek knowledge of the meanings....and have their minds MORE with God than with the world....are those who will understand the parables we are told....see Isaiah 28:10.

This is a GREAT link explaining this MISTAKE that many, if not most, Christians are making today....because they are "going to church" to learn their doctrine and not understanding what God says about it in the Bible. They are learning from "man" and not from God.


http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/spiritual/home_study/parables.htm

[piece containing the article's conclusion]

Conclusion:

This is why theologians, pastors, and Bible scholars, and Bible translators virtually never understand the Scriptures. This is why the Organized Church is “teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men.” That is why Jesus said, “They draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”

One can understand the Scriptures ONLY when one learns to know the Lord up close and personal through daily, diligent, Bible study and prayer after one has been through terrible trouble in their life and recognizes their absolute need for God to run their life. It is then that God opens the mind and heart so one can understand Spiritual truth

One can understand Spiritual truth when one has received God’s Breath of Holiness (mistranslated “Holy Spirit). Until that time, one reads the Bible literally – with sense knowledge – the use of the five senses: sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. They are “soulish” (use the five senses) or “natural.”

“The natural man (the soulish man – one who only uses the five senses) receives NOT the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because Spiritual things are Spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14

Understanding the Scriptures is not related to high intelligence, advanced religious credentials or years studying in the seminary. One can only understand the Scriptures when his heart, eyes, and mind have been opened to truth - by Jesus Christ.

The “Hidden Mysteries” of the Illuminati

It is interesting to note that Satan has not one original thought. Everything he does is a counterfeit of Christ. Even Satan’s followers on earth – led by the Illuminati who worship Lucifer – base their empire and hierarchy on the “Hidden Mysteries.

They deliberately deceive the lower levels in Freemasonry, in the Christian “church” (the pastors and their members are deceived), in the military (even many of the Generals are deceived as to the real truth behind all the wars, and certainly the rank and file military man and woman are deceived), in the area of education (the teachers are deceived), in the field of medicine (the doctors are deceived)

The hierarchy of the Illuminati speaks in code so the general population cannot understand their goals – to rule the world and destroy the vast majority of the population of the world
The goal of the Illuminati and their “Hidden Mysteries” is total destruction, whereas God’s goal for the world is Universal Restoration – through the revelation of God’s Mysteries to all mankind

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The other day, I read of a "Godly Pastor" who said that God has nothing to do with evil. He said that "God never created anything that caused evil for mankind." (that's a near-quote from memory) I've heard similar statements from many "God-fearing" Pastors...and Christians....who SHOULD HAVE READ WHAT THEIR BIBLE SAYS ABOUT IT.

What did God say?

Isaiah 45:7...I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the Lord DO ALL THESE THINGS."

And MAN continues to call God a "liar"!! People learn lies from "man-made" doctrines. Pastors teach them lies. And then they leave their "Sunday" (worship of the "Sun-Day") pews and tell Christians who READ AND STUDY THEIR BIBLES that they know more, or better, than those who learn from God alone.

We can see the great "apostasy", or "falling away" from the truth that God warned us about in II Thessalonians 2:3....the "man of sin" (it is not capitalized, and it does not refer to any "Antichrist" as a single man) is being revealed in those who deny the truth...."antichrist" is anyone who denies the truth as told by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Arlene