��

�� The
Assassination
of
God's
Character
Pacific Union Recorder, 31 December, 1903
"I am instructed to say to our people, Let us follow Christ. We may safely discard
all ideas that are not included in His teachings."
Last Updated � 22 September, 2006
Note: Some passages in this book are repeated in relevant places. This is designed to cater for those who
might like to begin their study at the "Objections" and not at the beginning of the book.
1

Table of Contents
Synopsis...............................................................................................................................................5
Preface................................................................................................................................................. 8
The Object of Satan's Attack............................................................................................................... 9
The Doctrine of Destruction - When Everyone Got it Wrong.......................................................... 13
Perceptions of God's Personality Form Legislation.......................................................................... 24
Forming the Image to the Beast.........................................................................................................27
When is a Sin not a Sin?....................................................................................................................42
Who is Thinking to Change the Law � Thou Shalt Not Kill?........................................................... 48
Is Knowing God's Character a Salvation Issue?................................................................................51
The Reason Why Satan Attacks God's Law......................................................................................54
The Commandments are Binding on All Beings...............................................................................60
The Law of Reaping and Sowing...................................................................................................... 64
The Law of God Given to Humanity.................................................................................................65
The Law � Upheld and Obeyed by Jesus Christ................................................................................65
The Vital Protestant Principle........................................................................................................... 66
Freedom to Worship.......................................................................................................................... 67
Political Freedom to Kill................................................................................................................... 68
Religious Freedom to Kill?............................................................................................................... 70
The Roots of "Just War" Doctrine.....................................................................................................71
Theological Foundations for the Inquisition..................................................................................... 72
Rules and Rewards of "Holy" Wars..................................................................................................78
Why Do Religious Organisations Kill Heretics?...............................................................................87
Character Assassination in Heaven................................................................................................... 89
Character Assassination on Earth......................................................................................................90
Character Comparisons..................................................................................................................... 92
Examine the Fruit of the Character................................................................................................... 93
Christ's Character...............................................................................................................................95
Satan's Character............................................................................................................................... 96
Searching Out the Character of God................................................................................................. 97
Justice and Mercy.............................................................................................................................. 97
Where is the Merciful Justice?........................................................................................................ 105
The Character of Sin........................................................................................................................121
Jesus Corrected Traditional Mosaic Law........................................................................................ 122
Quiz................................................................................................................................................. 128
Wrathful God or Gentle Jesus?........................................................................................................129
Show us the Father.......................................................................................................................... 129
What About the God Portrayed in the Old Testament?...................................................................134
The Pagan Pyramid of Pain............................................................................................................. 146
The Life is in the Blood...................................................................................................................147
Blood Letting...................................................................................................................................149
Human Sacrifice.............................................................................................................................. 162
Child Sacrifices in the Israelite Religion.................................................................................... 164
Did the Israelite's God Require Human Sacrifices? .................................................................. 168
Child Sacrifice in Tribal Cultures...............................................................................................170
Modern-Age Child Sacrifices..................................................................................................... 172
Cannibalism.....................................................................................................................................174
Future Sacrifices � 'God' Says Kill 7th day Sabbath Keeping Children ........................................ 177
Circumcision � Which Covenant?...................................................................................................179
Animal Sacrifices............................................................................................................................ 185
Ellen White Concerning Sacrifices................................................................................................. 207
Prostitution...................................................................................................................................... 210
Marriage.......................................................................................................................................... 217
The Trinity - A Pagan Concept ..................................................................................................... 231
How did Jesus Express His Wrath?.................................................................................................239
God's "Wrath"..................................................................................................................................243
God Defines His Own "Wrath".......................................................................................................244
The Hedge....................................................................................................................................... 245
2

Who is the Destroyer � God or Satan?............................................................................................ 247
Job's Experience..........................................................................................................................247
Modes of Destruction...................................................................................................................... 255
The Flood (Gen 6).......................................................................................................................256
Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19)..................................................................................................261
Desolate Jerusalem..................................................................................................................... 263
Christ's Death, Resurrection and Return.....................................................................................264
The Trinity's Character - Versus - the Father's Character............................................................... 266
Wrath Falls on Humanity................................................................................................................ 271
Ellen White's Definition of the Character of God........................................................................... 272
Christ is the Divine, Greatest Teacher ............................................................................................274
Ellen White Explains The Wrath of God........................................................................................ 277
Ellen White � Sinners are Destroyed by the Wrath of God............................................................ 278
Satan's Work Confused with God's Work....................................................................................... 283
Doing Bad Things with "Good" Motives........................................................................................286
Divine Wrath in The American Civil War (1861�1865).................................................................289
The SDA Pioneer Position on the 6th Commandment....................................................................297
Changes to the 6th Commandment by the SDA Church.................................................................298
The Final Destruction...................................................................................................................... 300
Vengeance is Mine and I Will Repay..............................................................................................304
Who Sends the Plagues?..................................................................................................................308
Who Gets the Blame for the Plagues?.............................................................................................312
Objections........................................................................................................................................319
Kill the Soul - (Matthew 10:28)..................................................................................................319
Eternal Life in the Scriptures - (John 5:39)................................................................................ 319
God Kills and Wounds - (Deuteronomy 32:39)..........................................................................319
Holy Men of God Spake- (2 Peter 1:20, 21)...............................................................................326
Who Decided Which Writings Were Inspired by God?............................................................. 339
Parable of the Vineyard.............................................................................................................. 348
Tempting the Faithful - Harassment of the Wicked .................................................................. 357
God is Angry with the Wicked � (Psalm 7:11)...........................................................................377
God's Strange Act- (Isaiah 28: 21)..............................................................................................383
Christ Executes Judgment - (Jude 1:14, 15)............................................................................... 384
Open or Closed Probation...........................................................................................................387
Buy a Sword - (Luke 22:36)....................................................................................................... 389
You Shalt Surely Kill - (Deuteronomy 13:6-13)........................................................................ 391
God Has a Right to Destroy Heretics � EGW ........................................................................... 394
Korah's Death..............................................................................................................................396
My Fury Upheld Me - Isaiah 63:1-6...........................................................................................405
Samson a Suicide "Bomber?.......................................................................................................407
Kill to Prevent Contamination.................................................................................................... 412
Self-Defence............................................................................................................................... 415
God Will By No Means Clear the Guilty - Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18 ................................ 423
Denying the Sanctuary Doctrine? ..............................................................................................424
My House � Clearing the Temple � Matthew 21:12-13............................................................. 434
The Angel Wants to Kill Balaam � Numbers 22:33...................................................................440
I Make Peace and Create Evil - Isaiah 45:7................................................................................445
The Lord Has Done Evil - Amos 3:6..........................................................................................447
The Sanctuary Services...............................................................................................................448
Jesus called the Syrophenician Woman a Dog - Mark 7:27 ...................................................... 459
Fire From Heaven to Consume the Disrespectful - 2 Kings 1:8-15 .......................................... 461
Cain and Abel's Sacrifices - Genesis 4:3-5................................................................................465
A Time to Kill � Ecclesiastes 3:3............................................................................................... 470
Picking up Sticks on Sabbath � Numbers 15:32-36................................................................... 471
Nadab and Abihu � Ananias and Sapphira................................................................................. 475
God Commanded Genocide - The Amalekites � 1 Samuel 15................................................... 479
The Red Sea Closed on the Egyptians � (Exo 15:4)...................................................................487
Does God Change the Rules to Suit Himself � Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18.......................................... 490
3

They are Enemies of God for your Sake � Romans 11:28......................................................... 493
Every Earthly Support Cut Off........................................................................................................499
The Last Message............................................................................................................................ 501
Satan's Malignity Against Christ and His People....................................................................... 503
Appendix......................................................................................................................................... 511
Baal Worship Involved Cannibalism...............................................................................................511
Statements from Catholic Authorities............................................................................................. 515
To Meet the Bridegroom ................................................................................................................ 532
Questions for Objectors...................................................................................................................537
4

Synopsis
The message of this book, the Assassination of God's Character is that God is loving in
every situation. In all His actions, He applies the Golden Rule of love - i.e. He does to
others, the things He would want done to Himself.
Matthew 7:12
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them."
Jesus came to 'show us the Father' (John 14:8, 9) and by looking to Jesus' character, we
can see that there is no evil, no violence in Him1, no limit to divine love.
There has never been a time when God abandoned the divine principles of love � the
Golden Rule. There is never a situation where God's laws of unselfish love must be put
aside. There is never a situation where God's principles � His love - is not an effective
response. There is never a time when the severity of a situation necessitates that God's
principles of love must be replaced and Satan's principles applied.
God always keeps His own commandments and never instructs anyone to break any of its
princples. 2
The Father's character is not a mixture of good and evil. God's spirit - His pure, loving way
of thinking, is the basis of His character. These principles of absolute and complete
unconditional love are reflected in His law and His government and were demonstrated in
the life of Jesus Christ.
The principle of unselfish love, as seen in the law, was the principle with which Satan has
attempted to find fault.3
God originates life - not death and destruction. Permanent death comes upon sinners as
a consequence of sin which "reigns in your mortal body," when the sin within them
destroys them (Romans 6:12, 23; 7:5; James 1:15; Isaiah 33:11; Ezekiel 28:18; Isaiah
29:5).
1
Just as the prophet Isaiah predicted, there was no violence in the Messiah, (Isa 53:9)
who was the Son of God, so there is no violence in the Father.
2
Matthew 7:12 "Therefore al things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them." Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the
first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets."
3 Ellen White (2 statements), Signs of the Times, 16 Jan, 1896; and 22 Dec, 1914
#1 "Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to
keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If
they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver. Men who are
under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men
can not keep the law of God. Jesus humbled himself, clothing his divinity with humanity,
in order that he might stand as the head and representative of the human family, and by
both precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie to Satan's
charges." #2 "Satan had declared that the law of God was faulty, and that the good of
the universe demanded a change in its requirement. In attacking the law, he thought to
o verthrow the authority of its Author, and gain for himself the supreme allegiance. But
through the plan of salvation, the precepts of the law were to be proved perfect and
immutable, that at last only glory and love might rise to God throughout the universe,
ascribing glory and honor and praise to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the
Lamb forever and ever."
5

It is sin (a selfish spirt/mind) which reigns in the flesh/body, that brings forth permanent
death.4
Isaiah and Ezekiel note this consequence that sin (not God) produces, as does AT Jones,
EJ Waggoner in the 1888 message and it was also related by Jesus which in a vision
which He gave to Ellen White.
Satan has attacked the truth about God's character and has been maligning His character
and His law for over 6,000 years, attempting to credit God with the traits of his own
satanic, evil character. Doctrines are formed AFTER a judgment of God's character.
The EG White 1888 Materials p 526, 527; Manuscript Release #1037; MS 25, 9 Jan, 1890
"The Lord Jesus awakens an interest in man by encouraging him to draw nigh and
become acquainted with His character. 'This is life eternal, that they might know Thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent' [John 17:3]. We do not
contemplate as we should the character of God. 'God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life [John 3:16]. Although Satan has misinterpreted God's purposes,
falsified His character, and caused man to look upon God in a false light, yet
through the ages God's love for man has never ceased."
The 144,000 will 'know their God' i.e they wil know His character (Daniel 11:32). Through
Christ's spirit in their minds, they wil reproduce His character (Rev 12:17; Rev 14:1) and
demonstrate to the universe that unselfish love is the only sane principle of government
and more than sufficient for every situation.
In fact, the experiment with sin will not be concluded until God's character is revealed, in
the person of Christ's saints.
Ellen White, 1 Testimonies for the Church, p 59
"The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were the words
God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy
state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust
us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they
would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God
had loved us, who could wash one another's feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss,
and they worshiped at our feet."
While the wicked demonstrate the violent and selfish principles of Satan's government,
the 144,000 demonstrate their Father's spirit. Just as Jesus refused to defend Himself
and 'reviled not again,' (1 Pet 2:23) so the saints, full of Christ's loving spirit, demonstrate
the same gentleness in their characters. They also, refuse to retaliate or to defend 'self.'
When the wicked rush to harm the saints, it is the saint's non-violent, loving response
th
at convinces the wicked of their sin. T
he wicked realise that the saints are trusting
God with their lives and they confess that love is stronger than violent domination and
selfishness. God's love is demonstrated to be the perfect law for universal government.
4 James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death." Romans 8:2, 3 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could
not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
6

Christ's Object Lessons, p 69, 415
"It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is
enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His
character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At
this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message
illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His
character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the
world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His
goodness, mercy, and truth.When the character of Christ shall
be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim
them as His own..... The last rays of merciful light, the last
message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His
character of love."
7

Preface
The author wishes to impress upon the reader that the material contained in this
book is presented as a personal theoretical opinion, formed by sincere and
prayerful studies concerning the character of God. The author acknowledges that
the reader is free to form their own conclusions. There has been no intention to
insult, denigrate, vilify, or to create dissension or disillusionment with any
particular views in regards to any sacred writings. This material is released as the
presentation of a theory and not to disturb or offend those who might reject the
theory.
The author of this book has not the intention to "throw out the Bible" or to cause
others to discard the perfect principles of Christ's life as found in the Bible. To the
contrary, the author exhorts the reader to dig deeply into the Bible, to search out
the hidden things of God (1 Cor 2:7). The searcher, however, will discover that
there exists disharmony in the Bible, but this disharmony does not suggest that a
fault lies with God or that God has not especially preserved the Bible.
Contradictions exist only because of humanity's inability to understand God's character -
and a limited understanding often results in a stinted portrayal of God's character.
Men who were moved by the spirit of Christ to describe spiritual things - to the best
of their human ability - still failed to understand or describe the true extent and
depth of the loving character of God as seen in Jesus Christ. In their best attempts
to write material to portray the character of God, humanity could not but fail when
they inadvertently put their own concepts of God into their writings. These faulty
concepts appear to be a direct result of their interaction with the surrounding
pagan nations, of which either they conquered and enslaved or were themselves
conquered and taken into foreign captivity. Thus pagan theology many times,
inadvertently influenced the writers of the Bible writings. In contrast, the record of
the life of Jesus Christ did not fail to reveal perfect love �Jesus showed to the
world, the Father's character.
Hebrews 1:1-3
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the
fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3)
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.."
The record of Christ's life and words clarify many confusing statements recorded in
the Bible. The life of Christ is aligned with the standard upon which ALL spirits and
writings must be tested � the 10 commandments � which are the very essence of
the Father's character.
Patriarchs and Prophets p 52
"The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a
transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom."
Ellen White states in the Desire of Ages, p 19
"By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to
angels. He was the Word of God,--God's thought made audible."
Gospel Workers (1892) p 125; Testimonies to Ministers, p 105
"We cannot hold that a position once taken, an idea once advocated, is
n ot, under any circumstances, to be relinquished. T
here is but one who
is infallible,--He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
8

The Object of Satan's Attack
If God's character is the basis of His government; and if God's character is embodied in
the 10 commandment law; and if the 10 commandment law is 'hung' on the two
commandments � love to God and love to humanity � then wouldn't it be logical to expect
Satan to attack God's character which is the basis of His divine law, which is the basis of
His government?
Ellen White, Signs of the Times, 16 January, 1896
"Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam
to keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and
love. If they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver.
Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against
God, in asserting that men can not keep the law of God."
Ellen White, Signs of the Times, 22 December, 1914
"Satan had declared that the law of God was faulty, and that the good of the
universe demanded a change in its requirement. In attacking the law, he
thought to overthrow the authority of its Author, and gain for himself the
su
preme allegiance. But through the plan of salvation, the precepts of the law
were to be proved perfect and immutable, that at last only glory and love
might rise to God throughout the universe, ascribing glory and honor and
praise to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever."
In attacking God's character, Satan has struck at the very government of God's kingdom.
Tradition has a very strong hold on the minds of most Christians and especial y
concerning this subject regarding the origin of death and destruction. 'Come let us reason
together,' (Isa 1:18) and evaluate our beliefs upon the law of God and upon the
testimony/witness of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 8:20) and refuse to base our faith on the human
inspired or even satanical y inspired, traditions of men (Matt 15:9; Rev 12:17).
Traditional views of an angry, wrathful, vengeful god who commands the destruction of
babies and children...... (1 Samuel 15), are so very destructive to the character of the One
True God who begs us to believe that He is love (1 John 4:8, 16) and that His love never
fails, is never exhausted, is never violent, angry, etc (1 Cor 13).
The evidence to support the 'violent character of God' position is simply not present in the
holy, gentle, pure, kind, loving life of Jesus Christ - in whom was no violence (Isa 53:9).
The Son of God came to show us the Father's character (John 14:9) and it contrasts
diametrically with that of the pagan gods throughout the Bible - Moloch, Ashtoreth, Baal.
These pagan gods were those which enimated wrath and caused fearful observance in
their followers. These pagan gods commanded violence and genocide on 'heretics.' Refer
to the stele found of the Moabite King Mesha in his worship of Chemosh which was
inscribed during the time of the Biblical character Jehu. The king boasted that his god
Chemosh told him to 'kill every man, woman, child etc' and to make multiple sacrifices so
that his Moabite people could possess the special land that Chemosh gave them. It is an
interesting comparision with Joshua's experiences as recorded in the Old Testament. (A
table which compares these two religious leaders and the Mesha Stele, appears in a later
section of this book).
Did Jesus do a faulty job of revealing and demonstrating His Father's character? Did He
only show us the 'good,' kind, merciful side of God, and deceive us about the 'bad' nasty,
violent, just side of God's character? Of course not. The Son of God was a perfect and
complete representation of 'the brightness of His Father's glory/character and the express
image of His Father's person' (Heb 1:3)
9

It is sin and Satan � not God- who brings destruction. A rejection of God and His law of
love, results in unavoidable consequences. When God's nature-sustaining laws of love -
which are life-giving - are broken, death and destruction are inevitable.
Satan made accusations against God's character. He set out to prove that force and
selfishness are stronger than passivity and unselfish love � in fact, that they are
necessary laws in any government. Jesus came to prove that Satan's claim was false.
Love did win that battle. Love proved that unselfishness conquers every difficulty - without
using any of the devil's violent weapons.
The weapons that Christ used to overcome Satan are the weapons available to al
humanity when they give their allegiance to God.
2 Corinthians 10:4, 5
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pul ing
down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ."
Ephesians 6:10-18
"Final y, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done al , to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above al , taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shal be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with al
perseverance and supplication for al saints;"
Christians are not to 'wrestle against flesh and blood' but to have faith in the principles of
love and in the character of the Author of Love and to permit Him to defend them.
If God's people are to be prepared to meet their God (Daniel 11:32), they must know their
God � must know His character and be able to distinguish His character from that of
Satan's character - for God's holy, loving character will be 'in their foreheads' (Rev 14:1).
God' people cannot afford to assume the position so often expressed by those who do
NOT know the character of God, which is often stated as:"it doesn't matter to me if God
kills people or if He doesn't. I'll serve Him anyway. It's not a salvation issue."
Such a position is not honouring to God. God asks that we study His character and when
we are drawn to Him, through His loving traits, then we will want to serve Him as we
realise that His law of love is the sanest, most liberating law in the universe. Our
allegiance will not be based on 'blind faith' but on faith in the loving character of God.
God's law � the 10 commandments � is a transcript of His loving character (Patriarchs and
Prophets p 52).
Therefore God's people might need to be especially careful that their position on God's
character, does not actual y accuse God of:
� possessing the same character traits as Satan;
� utilising the same tools/weapons which Satan employs;
� lying through Jesus' words that love is always the fulfilling of the law, when
perhaps sometimes it is necessary to employ violence;
10

� lying that some evil conditions don't neccessitate the setting aside of the 10
commandments, because love simply does not work in extreme cases and
genocides must be commanded;
� not only being the Creator, but also the destroyer;
� not only being the originator of life, but the destroyer of life- not only the destroyer
of death, but also the originator of death; and
� possessing the fruit of the spirit of love (Gal 5:22, 23), but also possessing the fruit
of Satan's spirit (Galatians 5:19-21).
11

What is Character Assassination?
The Free Dictionary by Farlex, gives one definition of character as:
character (n)
The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or
thing from another.
The Free Dictionary by Farlex, defines character assassination as:
character assassination (n).
A vicious personal verbal attack, especially one intended to destroy or damage a
public figure's reputation. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/character
Character assassination. Some call it "Bloodless Murder."
Eugene Harder, pastor of New Hope Community Church writes:
"When was the last time that you were slandered? Can you remember
when someone spread a vicious lie about you? Do you remember how
powerless you felt? Can you recall the anger that welled up with-in you,
that urge to get even? Do you remember how you wanted to buy a full
page ad in the local paper that would proclaim you innocence? Do you
remember how some friends believed the lie and turned their backs on
you? Perhaps you can recollect how the lie was wrapped in a half-truth.
Your enemy took part of a sentence that you spoke and put a twist on it
that you never intended it to have. That twist cast you in a negative light.
Welcome to the world of bloodless murder." (Character Assassination �
Bloodless Murder) http://www.newhope.bc.ca/secure08.htm
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour ." Exodus 20:16
The nineth commandment specifies that it is against God's law of love to malign or
assassinate a person's character.
The third commandment applies the same principle to divinity � to God's character.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD wil not hold
him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. " Exodus 20: 7
The Lord's name represents His character. The law of God is a transcript of God's
character.
12

The Doctrine of Destruction - When Everyone Got it Wrong
Ellen White, Signs of the Times, 5 February, 1894
"At the time when sin had become a science, when the hostility of man was
most violent against heaven, when rebellion struck its roots deep into the
human heart, when vice was consecrated as a part of religion, when Satan
exulted in the idea that he had led men to such a state of evil that God
would destroy the world, Jesus was sent into the world, not to
condemn it, but, amazing grace! to save the world. The unfallen worlds
watched with intense interest to see Jehovah arise and sweep away
the inhabitants of the earth, and Satan boasted that if God did do this,
he would complete his plans and secure for himself the allegiance of
unfallen worlds. H
e had arguments ready by which to
cast blame upon
God, and to spread his rebellion to the world's above; but at this crisis,
instead of destroying the world, God sent his Son to save it. The
apostle caught a glimpse of the plan, and he kindled into inspiration upon
the great theme. Language cannot express his conception, but ever fal s
below the reality. John exclaims: 'Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God;
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.' Before
the coming of Christ to the world evidences abundant had been given that
God loved the human race. But in the gift of Christ to a race so
undeserving was demonstrated the love of God beyond all dispute. This
gift outweighed all else, showed that his love could not be measured.
We have no line to measure it, no plummet by which to sound its depths,
no chain by which to encompass it, no standard with which to compare it.
All we can say is that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.' Jesus said, 'Therefore doth my Father love me, because I
lay down my life.' He gave his life for the sheep. The only-begotten Son
of God accepts all the liabilities that fall upon the transgressor of the
law, vindicates its unchangeable and holy character. The death of
Christ removes every argument that Satan could bring against the
precepts of Jehovah. Satan has declared that men could not enter the
kingdom of heaven unless the law was abolished and a way devised
by which transgressors could be reinstated into the favor of God, and
m
ade heirs of heaven. H
e made the claim that the law must be
changed, that the reins of government must be slackened in heaven,
th
at sin must be tolerated, and sinners pitied and saved in their sins.
But every such plea was cast aside when Christ died as a substitute for the
sinner. He who was made equal with God bore the sin of the
transgressor, and thereby made a channel whereby the love of God could
be communicated to a fallen world, and his grace and power imparted to
those who came to Christ in penitence for their sin."
Ellen White, 6 Testimonies for the Church, p 9, 350
"...And that His word might ever be clear and distinct in their minds, He
proclaimed amid thunder and lightning and with terrible majesty the law
which He had given in Eden and which was the transcript of His character.
And the words were written on tables of stone by the finger of God. Thus
the wil of the infinite God was revealed to a people who were called to
make known to every nation, kindred, and tongue the principles of His
government in heaven and in earth" (p 9).
"True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It
is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of
His character" (p 350).
13

Signs of the Times, 20 January, 1890 p 6
"Christ came to save fallen man, and Satan with fiercest wrath met him on
the field of conflict; for the enemy knew that when divine strength was
added to human weakness, man was armed with power and intel igence,
and could break away from the captivity in which he had bound him.
Satan sought to intercept every ray of light from the throne of God. He
sought to cast his shadow across the earth, that men might lose the
true views of God's character, and that the knowledge of God might
become extinct in the earth. He had caused truth of vital importance to
be so mingled with error that it had lost its significance. The law of
Jehovah was burdened with needless exactions and traditions, and
God was represented as severe, exacting, revengeful, and arbitrary.
He was pictured as one who could take pleasure in the sufferings of his
creatures. The very attributes that belonged to the character of Satan,
the evil one represented as belonging to the character of God. Jesus
came to teach men of the Father, to correctly represent him before
the fallen children of earth. Angels could not fully portray the character
of God, but Christ, who was a living impersonation of God, could not
fail to accomplish the work. The only way in which he could set and
keep men right was to make himself visible and familiar to their eyes. That
men might have salvation he came directly to man, and became a
partaker of his nature."
Signs of the Times, 7 March, 1895, p 4
"The plan of Satan was by his lying philosophies to widen the breach that
existed between God and man. He argued that man could not keep the
law of God, and therefore that God had been obliged to change the
laws which he had made, and had abolished the rule of his
government. Satan's work was to keep the agitation against God in
progress, and keep the question to the front as to whether God was
light and love or not. Satan had charged God with his own attributes,
and thus sowed in the hearts of men the seeds of enmity against
God, for man accepted the statements of him who was a liar from the
beginning. Uniting fal en man with himself, he kept a series of false
theories in regard to God in continual circulation, asserting them to be
truth, in order that he might cover up the truth, and interpose his shadow
between men and the way and the life."
God's Loving Character is Perfectly Reflected in the Life of His Son
and in the Principles of the 10 Commandments
�
but

not always in Human Laws.
There is a strong sense of "deja-vu" in the new anti-terrorist legislation being
passed by the westernised world. In 1376 AD, similar legislation was, with pressure
from the dominant religious system, introduced into certain European
governments. The result was a bloodbath powered by a church/state union. It was
a lengthy, merciless massacre of true Christians. The pattern was set and repeated
throughout the centuries.
It is prophesied that it will happen again � and it is happening again.
14

The religio-political system is almost ready to fire into action:
�
the church assumes it has a right to declare someone a heretic and to punish
(kill) heretics;
�
the churches are banding together and are enticing governments to legislate
religious laws and "biblical" penalties;
�
the church and state will unite to "convert, torture or exterminate" heretics.
Ellen White states in Signs of the Times: 6 May, 1897, p 16
" F
orce i s the last resort of every f alse re
ligion."
Tuesday, 28 Feb, 2006 (p 122) Seventh-day Adventist Adult Teachers' Sabbath School
Bible Study Guide (1st Quarter, 2006)
"Abusive behavior is the conscious choice of a person to exercise power
and control over another. It cannot be explained or excused... Victims are
not responsible for causing the abuser to abuse. Abusers distort and
pervert love, for 'love does not harm'(Rom. 13:10. NIV)."
"Reverend" James Robison, as vice-president of the Religious Roundtable, gave a
sermon to a huge crowd, in which he thunders:
"Let me tell you something else about the character of God. If
necessary, God will raise up a tyrant, a man who might not
have the best ethics, to protect the freedom interests of the
ethical and the godly." Life and Liberty for Al Who Believe, video
at www.theocracywatch.org/audio-video.htm
Should present-day Christians look for an unethical military-type leader as their
Saviour - their Messiah? Wasn't this the same mistake that the Jews made, prior
to Christ's first advent as a baby in Bethlehem?
Should Gentle Jesus be portrayed as an avenging warrior? The apostate
Protestantism movement is already presenting Christ in just this way - as an
avenging warrior; a furious, wrathful god, coming back to the earth in glory, to
destroy those who refuse to obey him. See "The Rise of Dominionism"
http://www.theocracywatch.org/audio-video.htm
A news headline in 2001 reveals that the way for politcial-religious sermons was already
paved through legislative actions.
13 July, 2001: USA: Bill introduced in House to allow political preaching: Rep. Waler
Jones (R-NC) has introduced a bill that would allow priests, pastors, ministers and other
religious leaders to recommend political candidates and parties from the pulpit. IRS
regulations for the past 50 years have prohibited such speech if the congregation is to
retain its non-profit registration. Jones said: 'Everyone in the pulpit should be treated fairly
and equally. And they should have the freedom to help voice and educate their
congregation, their parishioners as to some of the social il s of this nation and what needs
to be done.' http://www.religioustolerance.org/news_01jul.htm
15

In the following material, it is demonstrated that the anti-christ system is using Old
Testament verses from the Christian Bible, to justify their anti-christ doctrine that it
is not a sin to murder heretics.
James 2:10
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of
all."
Jesus predicted there would be a time when supposed "Christians" would kill
God's real people, (whom they supposed were heretics) thinking they were
honouring God. But they did these things because they didn't KNOW the Father,
nor His Son.
John 16:2, 3
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever
killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (3) And these things will they do
unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."
Ch
rist empowered Christians to lo
ve t
heir enemies �
not to kill them !!
Murdering 'heretics' is anti-christ theology.
16

What Has Gone Wrong?
There has been a gross misunderstanding about the One True God. It is a Biblical
principle that 'by beholding, we become changed.' How do we 'behold' or view God?
What is He really like? Into what image wil human characters be transformed as they
focus on their God's character?
It seems that some are keen to by pass this important concept of examining the character
of God, because they are more comfortable to accept the 'status quo' or their parents'
opinions, or their ministers' opinions. But isn't choosing which God to serve even more
important that choosing a marriage partner? Surely, a person would appreciate an
opportunity to examine a prospective partner's character, before agreeing to marry them
in a life-long contract. How much more important is it to determine God's character, which
has a bearing on more than the time of a human life-span, but for eternity.
The investigation of God's character thus demands serious study. Not only does the
decision to worship a particular God have serious consequences for our eternal life, but it
also has major bearing on our present life in this world.
People imitate the character traits of their god, and their characters are shaped in the
same mold of the God they worship. If people believe their god condones and commands
murder, then it is likely that worshippers wil condone the same actions, and will justify
these actions as being "God's will."
Concerning the God of the Christian Bible, it appears that even the characters of the
prophets of the Old Testament, though zealous to serve God, were not immune from
being fashioned after the faulty concept they had of God's character. The failed to see
clearly the loving concept of the Father's character which is the basis of His universal
government. Consider Jeremiah's writing and David's psalm (hymn).
Jeremiah 18:23; 11:20
"Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their
iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee;
deal thus with them in the time of thine anger. But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest
righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto
thee have I revealed my cause. "
Psalm 109: 2-20
"For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they
have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (3) They compassed me about also with
words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (4) For my love they are my
adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. (5) And they have rewarded me evil for good,
and hatred for my love. (6) Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his
right hand. (7) When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer
become sin. (8) Let his days be few; and let another take his office. (9) Let his children be
fatherless, and his wife a widow. (10) Let his children be continual y vagabonds, and beg:
let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch al that
he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. (12) Let there be none to extend mercy
unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. (13) Let his posterity be
cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. (14) Let the iniquity of
his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
(15) Let them be before the LORD continual y, that he may cut off the memory of them
from the earth. (16) Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the
poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart. (17) As he loved
cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
(18) As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his
bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. (19) Let it be unto him as the garment which
covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. (20) Let this be the
reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul."
17

Some Mosiac laws are obviously inspired by God. Such laws are based on the principles
of love for God and for humanity � loving one's neighbour as oneself (e.g. the laws which
are beneficial for health and hygiene), but what about the other Old Testament laws that
advocate death and destruction (supposedly) at the command of the One True God?
These laws are 'very strange' and appear to be based on a very different principle to
unselfish love.
The nature of these 'very strange' Mosaic laws are demonstrated perhaps more clearly
when read in the context of an open letter which was addressed to Dr Laura Schlessinger.
Dr Laura is a US radio personality who offers advice to listeners who call her radio show.
Recently, she stated, (as a Orthodox Jew), that "homosexuality is an abomination
according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance."
While it is understood that the 7th commandment forbids sexual immorality, it does not
condone or command the murder of those who disregard that commandment. However,
the Mosaic law does.
The writer of the open letter to Dr Laura was quick to notice that the death penalty is
applied by the Mosaic laws. The writer also highlighted the fact that the Mosaic laws also
specify and legislate as holy, certain, very unloving behaviours.
The open letter to Dr Laura Schlessinger states:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the
homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus
18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need
some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws
and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bul on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing
odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the
odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.
In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of
mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not to Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I moral y obligated to kill him
myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination -
Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can
you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect
in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have
to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
18

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around
their temple, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How
should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and
blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting
the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn
them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with
their in-laws (Lev.20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can
help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging. (End quote open letter to Dr Laura. Her website is
http://www.drlaura.com/main/ )
This open letter demonstrates the confusion regarding the Father's law of love and the
Mosaic law which also includes the death penalty, and even legalises other unloving acts.
What is the Christian to do in this instance? Study! Compare everything with Jesus Christ.
It must be noted that there are no 'genuine, original manuscripts' or records of the original
laws given by God to Moses, in existence today. Those 'holy' writings which are general y
accepted to have been written by Moses,are now known to have been oral traditions and
oral histories. These traditional beliefs were only committed to writing � as recorded
today in the Bible - in or around the 7th century BC.5
Because of the resulting confusion, it was necessary for humanity to see the character of
God in word, in action, and in person. The One True God sent His only begotten Son into
the world to reveal His true character to those who had been deceived by Satan and
effected by the beliefs of the pagan religions of the nations round about them.
Jesus came to show deluded and deceived humanity what kind of life would please His
Father and He revealed His Father's character perfectly. When Philip asked, "show us
the Father," Jesus replied that "he who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
While exposed to the violence of demon-possessed men and suffering extreme physical
and mental agony, Jesus Christ revealed to us the superior character of the Father.
Luke 23:34
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Perhaps it was likely that Christ's prayer on the cross, also extends to Christians today,
who stil "know not what they do" when they believe the lie that God condones violence
and the breaking of His own law of love.
In order to study the character of God, the next section deals with attempts made by those
who endeavour to justify religious persecution.
5
Recent historical and archaelogical research appears to reveal that by 700 BC most of the Old
Testament was written down although the book of Psalms was recorded in its present form later
- by 586 BC. (Who Wrote the Bible, Robert Beckford, Compass, ABC broadcast on 9 April,
2006; see also "Lost Worlds � the Bible Unearthed" video SBS broadcast three part series 16
July, 23 July, 30 July).
19

The Doctrine of Persecution � A Just War Against Heretics
Dr Jason David BeDuhn, Associate Professor of Religious Studies in Northern Arizona
University has done extensive studies on the formulation of the doctrine of 'Biblical'
persecution. Some extracts from his research appear below and are taken from his book
called Augustine, Manichaeism and the Logic of Persecution p 153-160)
"The term 'Manichaean' has gained currency in public discourse during
the last couple of years, as a characterization of the political rhetoric of
violent confrontation between good and evil. This usage reveals just how
much Manichaeism still serves as the West's heretical shadow, as well as
how poorly this shadow tradition is understood even today. Of course, it
is true that Manichaeism understands the world dualistically, and affirms
the real existence of an absolute evil within it. But far from being militant
crusaders, the Manichaeans were instead one of the most persecuted
religious communities in history. There is no readily apparently
overarching cause or motive for this fact, but only a series of regional
religious conflicts in which Manichaeism always seemed to wind up as
heresy against a stronger and politically-connected orthodoxy, be it
Christian, Zoroastrian, Islamic, or Taoist. In fact, a pattern emerges in
which Manichaeism occupies the place of primary pressre for a
developing state totalitarianism in religious matters: in Persia in the last
third centruy, in Rome briefly a the same time and then resuming in the
late ninth centruy. In each, Manichaeism was used to initially defnine the
unacceptable in society, to try out the methods of discovery and
destruction, before turning the state apparatus against other groups. This
treatment served only to confirm the Manichaean conception of a world
riddled through with evil forces and intentions, ready to wreak violence on
the righteous. These oppressive governments, secure in their purpose,
offered little explicit justification for the steps taken. We must take
advantage of the one case among the many where we have a
considerable body of rationalization from the persecuting side, namely,
the writings of Augustine of Hippo, in an effort to fathom the logic of
persecution and to compare it with the opposing logic of the Manichaeans
themselves in order to better understand why one religious community
felt justified and even compelled in the name of the truth, while the other
rejected persecution as a logical outcome of the very "Manichaean"
discrimination between good and evil in the world. Augustine worked at
one of the most crucial moments in Christian history, and found himself
attempting to bridge the gap between the persecuted Church of the past
....and the persecuting Church that was just starting to emerge in his
lifetime (mostly in the form of imperial legislation that sought to suppress
paganism and rival forms of Christianity.) It would be possible, on the
basis of the Sermon on the Mount and other early Christian teachings, to
assert that God permits the suffering of his saints at the hands of the
wicked without resistance, and without allowing a reciprocal act of
violence. "Resist no evil" as an ethic could form an unbridgeable chasm
between the persecuted and the persecuting churches. God could allow
the wicked to establish their own condemnation through unauthorized
acts of evil, without himself authorizing any violent act. This was
precisely the Manichaean position based exclusively on the New
Testament, but not that of Augustine and others who brought into the
equation the portrayal of God found in the Old Testament. Her God acts
in the world, protecting the righteous, punishing the wicked, chastising
the wayward. Augustine repeatedly quotes Proverbs on the good of
disciplinary chastisement." (continued over page)
20

(Dr BeDuhn continued)
The Old Testament material bridges the gap between the God of the
perseucted and the God of the persecutor, synthesizing a God who can
be both.... In Augustine's early debates with the Donatists, he was able to
cite from the Old Testament violent acts performed with the authorization
of God. But the Donatist Fortunius challenged him to cite even a single
such instance from the New Testament, and Augustine was forced to
admit he could not (Letter 44.9-10)."
Originally Augustine did not believe that he could logically justifiy punishment of the
wicked based on the New Testament writings, however, he finally found justification for
this theology in Acts "where Christ smites Paul on the road to Damascus."
Dr BeDuhn continues:
"For Augustine, the fact that both God in the Old Testament and Christ in
the New can inflict violent punishment on sinners lends sanction to
human institutions of punishment. In his 185th letter, Ausustine asks,
'How then are kings to serve the Lord with fear, except by preventing and
chastising with religious severity all those acts which are done in
opposition ot the commandments of the Lord?... In that he is a man, he
serves Him by living faithfully; but in that he is also king, he serves Him
by enforcing with suitable rigour such laws as ordain what is righteous,
and punish what is the reverse....It is indeed better ... that men should be
led to worship God by teaching, than that they should be driven to it by
fear of punishment or pain; but it does not fol ow that because the former
course produces better men, therefore those who do not yeild to it should
be neglected. For many have found advantage... in being first compelled
by fear of pain, so that they might afterwards be influenced by teaching,
or might fol ow out in act what they had already learned in word... Whilst
those are better who are guided aright by love, those are certainly more
numerous who are corrected by fear.' The Christian persecutor there
acts for the good of the sinner and heretic. Using the example of an
ignorant child playing with snakes, Augustine maintains that restraining
people by force from behavior that harms themselves is a good deed
(Letter 153:4). 'For the person from whom is taken away the freedom
which he abuses in doing wrong is vanquished with benefit to himself
(Letter 138:14). And in a letter to a local governor Augustine insists,
'It is not their death, but their deliverance from error, that we seek to
accomplish by the help of the terror of judges and of laws, whereby
they may be preserved from falling under the penalty of eternal
judgment' (Letter 153:4) With the sanction of Christ's example in
coercing Saul on the road to Damascus, Augustine argues, 'Why
therefore should not the Church use force in compelling her lost sons to
return, if the lost sons compelled others to their destruction?.... Is it not a
part of the care of the shepherd, when any sheep have left the flock, even
though not violently forced away, but led astray by tender words and
coaxing blandishments, to bring them back to the fold of his master when
he has found them, by the fear or even the pain of the whip, if they show
symptoms of resistance? (Letter 185:23)"
21

Augustine believed that he had justified the church's use of punishment by claiming that
Jesus has inflicted punishment on Saul on the road to Damascus. One must consider
whether Saul's reaction through exposure to the glory of Christ does in fact, constitute
persecution by Christ. The words of Jesus reveal that Christ was not using force or
coercion against Saul, but that He was in fact, revealing to Saul, that Saul was
persecuting Him instead.
Acts 9:3-6
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about
him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6)
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."
Saul's reaction to the 'glorious light' was an indication of what occurs to a sinful human
being when they are exposed to the presence of divinity. Christ did not 'smite' Saul and
cause his blindness. Blindness came upon Saul because he, a sinner, had glimpsed the
unveiled glory of the Son of God. Verse 18 describes the return of Saul's eyesight as
"scales" falling from his eyes when Ananias prayed for him.
Acts 9:18
"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
In love, Christ healed Saul from this afl iction at the very moment that Saul exercised faith
in Him. This is comparable to the experience which occurred to three of the disciples on
the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James and John were witnesses to the event where
God the Father visibly communicated with His Son. The Son's face and body became
visibly bright when the Father came near to Christ. Note the disciples' reaction to being
exposed to divine glory � and note Christ's compassionate response to their affliction.
Matthew 17:2, 5-8
"And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment
was white as the light.... (5) ... behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a
voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
hear ye him. (6) And when the disciples heard it, they fel on their face, and were sore
afraid. (7) And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (8) And
when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."
Perhaps the disciples also were blinded by divine glory until Jesus touched them, just as
Ananias touched Saul to effect his healing.
Augustine's theology of "justified' persecution (or just punishment,) included the infliction
of the death penalty. Dr BeDuhn continues:
"Augustine's initial attempts to justify capital punishment as a form of
restraint on the sinner, preventing worse sin, is inherently incoherent
within Christianity unti the later development of a purgatory concept to
accommodate it.... Augustine assumes that when God causes calamity to
befall the faithful, it is a matter of punishing unrecognized fault, serving a
useful reminder to vigilance, or testing one's faith (ContraFaustum 22:20).
If God wilfully permits the persecution of his saints for his larger
purposes, then certainly he permits the persecution of the wicked and
perverse by the saints to the same ends. And if God's sense of justice is
served by the suffering of all those who have inherited Adam's sin, then
certainly he accepts his saints as the agents of this justice on those who
reject forgiveness and by their recalcitrance threaten all. Building on
Romans 13, he asserts that all political authority is approved by God..."
(continued)
22

(Dr BeDuhn continued)
"Augustine inadvertently provides the classic Nuremburg defense, that
one remains innocent when obeying a command given by one in a
position of sufficient authority, regardless of how it relates to any human
standard of good or evil. By the same logic every action � be it that of a
Gandhi or that of a Hitler � is vindicated as acts of God's will, insofar as
they were successsfully enacted in a world under God's absolute
control...."
"In rejecting such a God, the Manichaeans reject the justification of
persecution, either as promoted by God as a means to god ends, or
permitted by him as a chastiement of his chosen ones. Persecution, like
al acts of violence, can only be instigated by evil. God does not allow
persecution, but works tirelessly to free his saints from it... The logic of
dualism entails the idea that God is not the only force to contend with,
that God does not control all events in the universe, that not every
existent thing or possiblity of action mut be rationalized wihin a unified
supreme will. For the Manichaeans, therefore, there was a perfect logic
to suffering and persecution: the world was a battlefield between good
and evil, the individual was part of a voluntary mission to wage this war,
the composition of the human body as a mixture of good and evil meant
that many individuals could be turned to the enemy and when they were
they would ignorantly persecute their fellow soul. Thus persecution is the
natural state of this world. The good by definition suffers. The leaders of
religion especial y draw down upon themselves the hostility of the forces
of evil." Dr Jason David BeDuhn, Associate Professor in Religious
Studies at Northern Arizona University. All preceeding quoatations taken
from Augustine, Manichaeism and the Logic of Persecution p 153-160)
http://www.nau.edu/human/religion/beduhn/Augustine,%20Manichaeism,
%20and%20the%20Logic%20of%20persecution.pdf
It can be seen, that against this historical background, the doctrine of "justifable"
persecution - giving sanction to the murder of 'heretics' - is deeply established in the
Roman Catholic church through the writings of Augustine.
Not surprisingly, many other Christian denominations, following in the steps of Rome,
have also accepted this doctrine � on Augustine's assumptions - as being 'Biblically"
established.
23

Perceptions of God's Personality Form Legislation
Reported by Lauren Smith at The Wall of Separation, Official Weblog of AU.org
(Americans United)
September 15, 2006
Extracts from the original article appear below.
God And Politics In America: What Baylor Researchers Found
A new report released by the Baylor University Institute for Studies of
Religion has revealed some intriguing details about religion and politics in
the United States. The study, titled "American Piety in the 21st Century," is
considered to be most comprehensive and insightful undertakings in the
field to date. The survey of over 1,700 adults went beyond previous
studies that tracked how many Americans believe in God or how
religious affiliation affects the outcome of elections. Using questions
never before posited to the American public, the Baylor University
researchers wanted to find out h
ow Americans pe
rceive G
od's
p
ersonality and how different p
erceptions in
fluence political
leaning....Fully one-third of Americans identify as Evangelical
Protestants. The proportions of American Catholics and Mainline
Protestants are nearly equal, with shares of 21 percent and 22
percent of the population, respectively. Those identifying as Jewish
(2.5 percent), Black Protestant (5 percent) "Other" (4.9 percent) and
unaffiliated (10.8 percent) round out America's religious make-up.
The report offers some interesting insight on those who don't identify with
any particular denomination. The researchers say traditional ways of
classifying religious affiliation are often problematic because "unaffiliated"
can be incorrectly interpreted as "not religious." Previous surveys which
claimed 14 percent of the population is unaffiliated, says the Baylor report,
"have over-counted the religiously unaffiliated by 10 million Americans."
Interestingly, nearly 63 percent of the respondents who identified as
"unaffiliated" do, in fact, state that they believe in God or some higher
power. Those three or four percentage points are significant, the
researchers say, because one's belief in and perception of God
has a direct impact on political leaning. Part two of the report
introduces a concept barely, if ever, studied before. Participants were
asked to characterize how involved God is in "worldly and personal affairs"
and to what extent God is "angered by human sins" and
demonstrates "punishing, severe and wrathful characteristics."
Based on respondents' answers, America's "Four Gods" were classified as
benevolent and involved (23 percent), authoritative and involved (31
percent), distant and disengaged (24 percent) and critical and disengaged
(16 percent). Five percent identified as Atheist. The findings, when applied
to political trends, reveal fascinating details about theology's influence on
American politics."
The report revealed that most of these people would likely support legislation or a
constitutional amendment which reflected their views about God's personality.
http://blog.au.org/2006/09/god_and_politic.html
24

According to the preceding article, the churches do not unite on doctrine - but on
th
eir perceptions o
f God's character. Doctrines are not formed until AFTER the
churches unite in their judgments of God's character. The motivating factor that
causes the churches to unify, is NOT the Sunday law; it is the perception or belief
that God requires the saints to enforce worship on those who do not to worship in
the way dictated by the majority. It is this incorrect perception of God's character,
that causes the image of the beast to be formed � a religious power that employs a
political power to legislate and enforce compliance with its religious laws.
This is in keeping with Revelation 14 and Ellen White's prophecy in the Great Controversy
and the last chapter of Christ's Object Lessons6, that the final contest will demonstrate the
character of the Father in the 144,000 which will be contrasted with the character of Satan
manifested in his followers.
The demonstration before the universe wil cause al to differentiate between the spirit of
God and the spirit of Satan. Freedom of choice wil contrast with voilent domination. Such
opposing character traits spring from the spirit dwelling within the person.The 144 000 will
be filled with the unselfish love of God, evidenced in the law of liberty which reigns in their
bodies through Jesus Christ. (His name (character/spirit) is in their foreheads Rev 14:1).
In stark contrast, the wicked will demonstrate with acts of violent domination that the
selfish spirit dwel ing within them is satanic. When the image to the beast if fully formed,
this satanic spirit will be manifest toward 'heritics' who have been empowered by the
grace of God, to 'love their enemies' (Matt 5:44).

"The 144,000 wil 'know their God' i.e. they will know His character (Daniel 11:32).
Through Christ's spirit in their minds, they will reproduce His character (Rev 12:17; Rev
14:1) and demonstrate to the universe that unselfish love is the only sane principle of
government and more than sufficient for every situation.
In fact, the experiment with sin will not be concluded until God's character is revealed, in
the person of Christ's saints.
Ellen White, 1 Testimonies for the Church, p 59
"The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were the words
God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy
state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust
us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they
would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God
had loved us, who could wash one another's feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss,
and they worshiped at our feet."
While the wicked demonstrate the violent and selfish principles of Satan's government,
the 144,000 demonstrate their Father's spirit. Just as Jesus refused to defend Himself
and 'reviled not again,' (1 Pet 2:23), but trusted in the Father's love, so the saints, full of
Christ's loving spirit, demonstrate the same gentleness in their characters. They also, will
refuse to retaliate or to defend 'self,' but wil trust in their heavenly Father's love.
When the wicked rush to harm the saints, it is the saint's non-violent, loving response
th
at convinces the wicked of their sin. T
he wicked realise that the saints are trusting
God with their lives and they confess that love is stronger than violent domination and
selfishness. God's love is demonstrated to be the perfect law for universal government.
6
Christ's Object Lessons: To Meet the Bridegroom (Wise/Foolish Virgins) see appendix
25

Forming the Image to the Beast
The fol owing extract is taken from MaranathaMedia website:
"Many Christian & Jewish Leaders Call for Return to Commandments. A
large group of Christian and Jewish leaders are calling for a return to the 10
Commandments. On May 7 2006, many churches wil celebrate the eternal
law of God. see Ten Commandment Day Web site This is an interesting
observation for Seventh-day Adventists. We appreciate that many Christian
churches want to keep the 10 Commandments but it seems strange after
many have preached for so long that the law was nailed to the cross. How
can the law of God be eternal and nailed to the cross at the same time? It
will be interesting to see if this group, The Ten Commandment Commission,
will seek to pressure government to recognise the ten commandments in
line with the (Ellen White's) prediction of Great Controversy page 445.
'When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points
of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to
enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant
America wil have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the
infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.'"
http://www.maranathamedia.com.au/start/index.php?option=com_cont
ent&task=view&id=75&Itemid=2
For those familiar with the typical movements which introduce theocratic or dictatorial rule,
the fol owing information from the USA might be of some interest.
The fol owing information is available from the link http://www.theocracywatch.org/audio-
video.htm (first video selection at top of page).
On 29 April, 2005, Joan Bokaer, representing an organisation called Theocracy Watch,
spoke on the subject of Dominionism. The programme was sponsored by New York
Open Centre and CUNY Graduate Centre. Joan Bokaer's presentation focuses on "the
theocratic wing of the Christian right and how their beliefs are impacting our lives."
Highlights of the lecture and website appear below:
There are powerful political movements in USA today, which are endeavouring to
'reconstruct America' into a theocratic society.
Congressman Christopher Shays (Republican of Connecticut) 'the party of Lincoln has
become the party of theocracy' (New York Times, 24 March 2005)."
�
Pat Robertson stated: "With the apathy that exists today, a well organized minority
can influence the selection of candidates to an astonishing degree (The
Milennium, 1990).... "We want to see a majority of the Republican party in the
hands of pro-family Christians"... (Denver Post, 26 October, 1992).
�
Rousas Rushdoony, the 'father' of the Christian Reconstructionist Movement
(1916-2001) in The Institutes of Biblical Law (1973) called on Christ's elect
people to subdue all things and all nations to Christ and His law-word."
�
Rousas Rushdooney's son-in-law, Gary North � a prolific Christian Reconstruction
writer; founder of the Institute for Christian Economics. He wrote in Christianity
and Civilization, (Spring, 1982) regarding religious liberty. "So let us be blunt
about it: we must use the doctrine of religious liberty to gain independence for
Christian schools until we train up a generation of people who know that there is no
religious neutrality, no neutral law, no neutral education, and no neutral civil
government. Then they will get busy in constructing a Bible-based social,
political and religious order which finally denies the religious liberty of the
enemies of God" http://www.theocracywatch.org/biblical_law2.htm#Biblical
27

�
Sara Diamond, sociologist, in Z Magazine, Feb 1995 states that, "Dominion
Theology is the belief that Christians alone are Biblical y mandated to occupy all
secular Institutions until Christ returns..."
�
Dominionist author, Gorge Grant (1985) "The army of God is to conquer the earth,
to subdue it, to rule over it, to exercise dominion....(Bringing in the Sheaves, p
98); "Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy
responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have dominion in civil
structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we
are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is
dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World
conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win
the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything
less... Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land -- of
men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the
Kingdom of Christ (pp. 50-51) The Changing of the Guard, Biblical Principles
for Political Action " cited in Dominion Theology: Blessing or Curse? by Thomas
Ice, published in 1988 by H. Wayne House and Thomas Ice. pp. 412)
�
Gary DeMar and Peter Leithart, in The Reduction of Christianity (1990:335) states:
"The reign of Christ ... is meant to subdue every enemy of righteousness."
�
George W Bush as quoted in a fund-raising letter, Traditional Values Coalition,
March 2005, "We need common sense judges who understand that our rights are
derived from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench."
�
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia published an article in First Things, a
journal of religion and public life, in May, 2002. Scalia states:
"....Government...derives its moral authority from God. It is the minister of God
with powers to "avenge" to "execute wrath" including even wrath by the sword
(which is unmistakenly [sic] a reference to the death penalty)..."Indeed, it seems
to me that the more Christian a country is, the less likely it is to regard the
death penalty as immoral."
�
Joan Bokaer responds to Judge Scalia's statement with: "Once we have a
government that believes it derives its authority from God, then we become a
theocracy. Well, once you see government as the minister of god, you have to ask
the obvious question. Whose god? Is it Scalia's god? ...or the Dalai Lama?... And
what about people who don't believe in God? What happens to them...?"
�
From a Unitarian Universalist Minister in Austin, Texas, written for the Unitarian
Universalist World, January/February, 2004:
"In Texas, where I live, the state has refused to grant the Ethical Society in
Austin a church tax exemption because its members don't believe in God.
The state maintains that defining God as a concept won't do, that to qualify
as a church the society's members must believe in God as a being. The
case has been through two appeals, and the state's attorneys have now
taken it to the Texas Supreme Court. If the state wins, the ruling wil affect
every Unitarian Universalist church in the state-not to mention Buddhists,
Taoists, and Hindus. Austin has the largest Hindu temple in North America,
and Hindus are quite clear that Brahman is in no sense a being, and that all
his personified images-as Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, or the Divine Mother
Durga and her manifestations-are all imaginative creations, not beings."
http://www.theocracywatch.org/relig_inst.htm
Thomas Ice was a Christian Reconstructionist for 12 years, but then
resigned, unable to agree with the theology. After his resignation, Ice wrote
a book called "Dominion Theology: Blessing or Curse?" (1988) which
28

discusses the principles of Christian reconstruction. Ice states, "Christian
Reconstructionists propose to institute a theocratic government in America"
(p 74)...Non-Christians cannot rule themselves and must be excluded from
a government under God's law (p 71)."
�
Enforcing Biblical Law - Journalist Frederick Clarkson reports on the views of
Rev. Joseph Morecraft, pastor of the Reconstructionist Chalcedon Presbyterian
Church in Marietta, Georgia: "In his book, and especially when speaking at the
1993 Biblical World View and Christian Education Conference, Morecraft discussed
with relish the police power of the state. His belief in the persecution of
nonbelievers and those who are insufficiently orthodox is crystal clear.
Morecraft described democracy as "mob rule," and stated that the purpose of
"civil government" is to "terrorize evil doers. . . to be an avenger!" he shouted,
"To bring down the wrath of God to bear on all those who practice
evil!" "And how do you terrorize an evil doer?" he asked. "You enforce
Biblical law!" The purpose of government, he said, is "to protect the church of
Jesus Christ," and, "Nobody has the right to worship on this planet any other God
than Jehovah. And therefore the state does not have the responsibility to defend
anybody's pseudo-right to worship an idol!" "There ain't no such thing" as religious
pluralism, he declared. Further, "There has never been such a condition in the
history of mankind. There is no such place now. There never will be."
http://www.theocracywatch.org/biblical_law2.htm
�
Co-authors Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowel , in America's Providential History
(1989:27), declare: "A government controlled and funded welfare system is
unbiblical (p 27). Scripture makes it clear that God is the provider, not the state" (p
187).
�
Thomas Ice (1988: 73): "What would a reconstructed America look like? The only
legitimate functions of the state are: restraining civil evil; punishing evil; protecting
the law abiding; defending the nation.
�
The Republican Party of Texas confirms that the United States is a Christian nation
(Preamble 2004).
�
The Texas Republican platform supports the abolition of: the bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms; position of Surgeon-General; Environmental Protection
Agency, Department of Energy; Housing and Urban Development; Health and
Human Services, Department of Education, Commerce and Labour. They also call
for the de-funding or abolition of the National Endowment of the Arts and Public
Broadcasting System (p19)
� Texas Republican platform p 8 states: " Our party pledges to exert its influence to ..
dispel the 'myth' of the separation of church and state....
29

What happens to funding for social programmes, social education, protection of the
environment? What happens to social funding and education?"
�
Thomas Ice in "Dominion Theology, Blessing or Curse? answers:
"Tax rates would be much less... due to a shift in welfare burden away
from government to... the church" (p 74).
�
Joan Bokaer asks the question and answers it herself:
"Where do churches get their money? A member's tithe. They give 10
percent of their income to the church."
�
Thomas Ice explains,
"The tithe, not taxes, would finance most social welfare (p 77).
�
President George Bush stated, in his Faith-Based Initiative speech,
"I believe the United States is beginning to fit the model of a reconstructed
America....We want to fund programs that save Americans one soul at a time."
President George W. Bush, January, 2004, in a speech in New Orleans.
http://www.theocracywatch.org/faith_base.htm
�
Paul Weyrich, established the Free Congress Foundation in 1977. Meetings are
still held every Wednesday are so influential, that a high ranking member of the
White House is in attendance at every meeting. In its 2001 manifesto, the
Foundation proclaimed:
"We will not try to reform the existing institutions. We only intend to
weaken them, and eventually destroy them."
�
A particular concern for Christians might be seen in Thomas Ice explanation of the
centrality of Biblical law:
"Only through ... Old Testament civil law can America and the whole
world - be saved from destruction" (p 15).
Joan Bokaer clarifies Ice's statement:
"Old Testment civil law means Biblical law which includes using the
death penalty for people who sin against the 10 commandments."7
Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican: the Associated Press in July 2003:
"I favor the death penalty for abortionists."
�
Joan Bokaer "People who identify with - they call themselves 'the
culture of life' - are the strongest proponents of the death penalty and
guns."
"Kevin Martin is a very aggressive crusader against indecency and some
people associate that word with pornography, but it's real y much broader -
it is about imposing Biblical law on the rest of society and he was
7 Ellen White: 5 Testimonies for the Church, p 137 "The test will surely come. Thirty-six years
ago I was shown that what is now transpiring would take place, that the observance of an
institution of the papacy would be enforced upon the people by a Sunday law, while the
sanctified rest day of Jehovah would be trampled underfoot." See also Great Controversy, p
448.
30

recently appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission. The
5 people on that commission were given enormous power on February 16th
when the House of Representatives passed the Broadcast Indecency Act. It
authorizes the FCC to fine broadcasts up to $500,000 for indecency
violations. And so great is the chil cast by this act that 66 affiliates of CBS
pul ed 'Saving Private Ryan' off the air - an academy award winning film.
Why? Because they used the Lord's name in vain."
"It's about Biblical law...."
"Indecency police are a major part of theocratic states... Taliban is
proclaimed as the Ministry for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of
Vice."
�
The Treaty of Tripoli signed in 1797, Article 11 (which was ratified by Congress)
states: "...the government of the Unites States of America is not in any sense
founded on the Christian religion..."
�
The Republican Party of Texas boldly proclaims its mission:"The Republican Party
of Texas confirms that the United States is a Christian nation (Preamble 2004)."
�
Since the Republican Party has majorities in both houses of Congress, they set the
agendas, chair the committees, and decide which bills wil and won't come up for a
vote. http://www.theocracywatch.org/
�
The Reconstructionists consider the Puritans society as a pattern for the new
Reconstructed America.
Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell, entitled America's Providential History,
(1989:p 84), states, "The primary strength of the Puritans was their 'spirit of
dominion.' They recognized the scriptural mandate requiring Godly rule, and
zealously set out to establish that in all aspects of society."
31

In Australia, recent events are a reminder that it is not only in the USA that the way
is being paved to afflict God's people.
1. (1996) Terrorist Martin Byrant was said to have gone on a shooting spree in Port
Arthur leaving 35 people dead. The event ushered in "Gun control legislation"
Australia wide - which de-arms the country's citizens and makes them incapable of
any real resistance;
2. (2002) Accepting the authority of an international criminal court. Australia ratified
the Rome Statute for the ICC, becoming the 75th State Party. Previously, the
Federal Cabinet decided Australia should ratify the International Criminal Court,
with a condition giving special protection to Australians. The declaration provides
that Australians cannot be tried by the Court without a warrant from the Australian
government. On 11 June 2002, Prime Minister Howard announced Cabinet's
decision to approve the bill on ICC ratification, and this was fol owed by two weeks
of

heated

debate

within

Parliament.
http://www.iccnow.org/publications/update/iccupdate29.pdf It appears that an
Australian could be charged with a crime under international law, be taken to the
World Court in Rome, and tried before a closed court. His own country might not
assist him other than to refuse to give a warrant to the ICC. If a warrant is granted,
what might be the probable outcome of an atheist being tried in a court where the
jury are strict Catholics or Muslims? Could an impartial jury be found in such a
case? (Consider Australia's response to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. USA, Britian,
Spain, France, Germany, Argentina demand their citizens be sent home from the
UN prison, but Australia leaves its citizen there);
3. (2003) Death penalty legislation promoted. The death penalty in Australia ceased
for all states for murder in 1973 and for treason in 1985. In 2003, Mr Howard
suggested that the states might find it prudent to commence debate on the benefits
of re-introducing the death penalty for treason (A person who committed a terrorist
act against their own country would be guilty of treason).
http://www.nswccl.org.au/unswccl/issues/dp090803.php
(Sydney Morning
Herald 9/8/03);
4. (2005) Anti-terrorist legislation to control citizens' movements and activities - when
no offence has been committed - eg. stop and search laws;
5. (2005) Preventative Detention Legislation to detain citizens on suspicion only -
with no offence having been committed - for up to 2 weeks without a court order
and without a charge;
6. (2005) Social conditioning - anti-terrorist "dob in" advertising campaigns � likely of
causing the public to be fearful and suffer apprehension;
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jan2003/adve-j15.shtml
7. (2006) Increased military powers have been granted in recent legislation. (Soldiers
given more reasons to shoot to kill on home soil, 9 January, 2006
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/troops-shoottokill-powers-
extended/2006/01/08/1136655089477.html
8. (2006) The Smart Card - Federal cabinet is considering the issue of a smart card.
The Australia Card was rejected 2 decades ago, but Treasurer Costello claims the
war on terrorism has changed Australians' attitudes (Sydney Morning Herald, 29
March 2006 "Smart-card-would-trump-Australia-Card). Democrats Senator
Natasha Stott Despoja stated, "It might not be called an Australia Card, or a
national identity card, but it is even more dangerous than the proposal we debated
in the 1980s." She was concerned the proposed smart card "will become a
national identity card by stealth" .http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/parliament-
rubberstamps-howards-eavesdropping-laws/2006/03/30/1143441281193.html
32

It seems clear that the death penalty will soon be considered "necessary" in
Australia to cope with terrorists.
The death penalty might likely be legislated on the grounds that "it's not wrong � it
is not a sin - to murder heretics or terrorists.
It is prophesied that "heretics" will be eventually be considered treasonous (or
terrorists) to their country, because it will be proclaimed that 7th day Sabbath-
keepers are causing the wrath of God to come on the earth and to cause natural
disasters that will decimate the countries of the world.
Ellen White, Review and Herald 18 March, 1884 p8
"In churches and in large gatherings in the open air, ministers wil urge upon the people
the necessity of keeping the first day of the week. There are calamities on sea and land:
and these calamities will increase, one disaster following close upon another; and the little
band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers will be pointed out as the ones who are bringing
the wrath of God upon the world by their disregard of Sunday."
The world will be unified against the One True, non-violent God and those who
uphold His holy law of love.
The law that claims that it's not a sin to murder heretics � will be the law that is
passed to destroy God's 7th day Sabbath-keeping people. If you are a Sabbath-
keeper, who believes that God's commandments are binding, then it might well be
that this legislation is designed to murder you!!
The 10 commandments were written on two tables of stone. The first four
commandments explained how humanity are to reveal love and praise to their
Creator. The last six commandments clarified how individuals are to related to
each other in love.
In the looming crisis of the last days, God's people will be tested on a specific
commandment from the first table of stone � the Sabbath commandment. The
Sabbath demonstrates our allegiance and acceptance of a specific God's authority.
Perhaps God's people wil also be especially tested on commandments which were
written on the second table of stone. Certainly their characters will demonstrate that they
keep ALL the commandments of God. However, the 6th commandment which states,
"Thou shalt not kill" might also especial y identify the followers of God for they, like Christ
wil be abused, persecuted and perhaps murdered, but there wil be "no violence in them"
for they have their Father's spirit in their minds (Revelation 14:1, 5). It was demonstrated
to the universe (by the Son's life) there was no violence in the Father's mind � for there
was no violence in the Son's mind and consequently, no violence in His character (Isaiah
53:9; John 1:47). Christ's mind, thoughts and character represented the Father's mind,
thoughts and character perfectly (John 14:9). Christ's end time disciples will reflect the
loving, unselfish character of Jesus perfectly also (John 13:35; 15:13; 1 John 3:11, 12; 1
John 3:24; 1 John 4:7, 12)
Christ's Object Lessons, p 069
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When
the character of Christ shal be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He wil come to
claim them as His own.
At the root of this issue is the question of God's character.
33

Theological foundations for the Inquisition
(Robert C Jones, Copyright 1998).
http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/inq/inqcont.htm#Theological%20foundation
s%20for%20the%20Inquisition
"The proponents of the Inquisition (and, amazingly, apologists since the
Inquisition ended in 1834), point to both Biblical and theological
sources for its justification. The biblical passages most often quoted
by the early Inquisitors were from Mosaic Law, in the Old Testament.
This is, of course, somewhat questionable theology, as Mosaic Law
regarding, say, dietary restrictions were completely ignored by the Church
from the 1st century on, yet suddenly (in the 13th century), Mosaic Law
seemed to be a perfectly reasonable justification for burning
thousands of people at the stake! Key passages are quoted below
(edited for brevity):
(From Deuteronomy 13 NIV) "If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams,
appears among you...and he says, "Let us follow other gods"...That
prophet or dreamer must be put to death...You must purge the evil
from among you.
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or
your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship
other gods"...do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not
spare him or shield him...You must certainly put him to death. Your hand
must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of al the
people. Stone him to death...Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and
no one among you wil do such an evil thing again.
If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you
to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people
of their town astray...then you must inquire, probe and investigate it
thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable
thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all
who live in that town. Destroy it completely, both its people and its
livestock.
Gather al the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and
completely burn the town and al its plunder as a whole burnt offering to
the LORD your God. It is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt."
(From Exodus 22:18 NIV) "Do not allow a sorceress to live."
Many of the elements found in the aforementioned extracts from
Mosaic Law would later be closely emulated by the Inquisition" (End
quote Robert C Jones).
34

According to the Biblical record, the Jewish nation was required to follow instruction for
the treatment of heretics, as given in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible - authored
by Moses). The Torah commanded that heretics should be executed - stoned to death.
The King James Version of these commands fol ow:
Deuteronomy 13:6-11
"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom,
or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve
other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; (7) Namely, of the gods of
the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one
end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (8) Thou shalt not consent unto him,
nor hearken unto him; neither shal thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither
shalt thou conceal him: (9) But thou shalt surely kil him; thine hand shal be first upon him
to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. (10) And thou shalt stone
him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD
thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (11)
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shal do no more any such wickedness as this is
among you."
The Jewish nation of the first century appears to have acted in accordance with the Torah
by exterminating heretics who taught what they considered was "another god."
At His trial before Caiaphas, Jesus proclaimed clearly that He was the "Messiah - the Son
of God." Christ's testimony, (that He was the Son of God) was used as evidence to
condemn Him. It was Christ's claim to be of divine origin, which contradicted the Jewish
conception of God.
The Jews insisted that Christ was NOT the "true" Messiah - the Son of God. Instead of
holding to the Old Testament prophecies which predicted the origin, location and ministry
of their Messiah, the Jewish nation appeared to treasure many traditional beliefs which
surrounded His appearance. i.e. He was expected to be a military leader and to signal
His arrival by miraculously descending/floating down from the temple roof. According to
their erroneous understanding of God, the Jewish nation believed that Christ had
endeavoured to introduce "another god." Thus the Torah commanded that Christ should
die.
35

Modern Sanction of the "Killing" Principles of the Torah
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1136361024759&pagename=JPost%2FJP
Article%2FShowFull
Yaakov Katz, THE JERUSALEM POST 6 January, 2006
Extremists boast they cursed Sharon
"Far-right activists took credit Thursday for the severe deterioration in Ariel
Sharon's health, claiming that a pulsa denura - Aramaic for "lashes of fire" -
death curse they instigated against the prime minister in July was the real
catalyst behind his current state of health.
'I take ful responsibility for what happened," far-right activist Baruch Ben-
Yosef, one of the participants at the July pulsa denura, told The Jerusalem
Post. "Our pulsa denura kicked in. Nothing could kill Sharon and he said his
ancestors lived until they over 100 years old but we got him with the pulsa
denura.' .... the group broke out in song and dance and celebrated the prime
minister's fall throughout the night...it was not a coincidence that Sharon fell
gravely il the same day as Kahane's murder. 'There is a judge in this
world,' Ben-Gvir said. "[Prime minister] Yitzhak Rabin was killed on the fifth
anniversary of Meir Kahane's murder and Sharon fel il on the anniversary of
Binyamin Kahane's murder." ...Head of the National Jewish Front Baruch
Marzel called on the public to stop crying for the prime minister. .... I have no
intention to pray for him....Josef Dayan said that while he could not say for
certain that the death curse caused the stroke, he was sure that Sharon's
crime in evacuating the Gaza Strip settlements contributed to the
deterioration in his health. 'This is a great day for Israel since that evil man is
gone.' Dayan said. 'I am convinced that God heard the prayers of the
children in Gush Katif. When those kids were thrown from their homes they
prayed and God heard their prayers.'"
Matthew 5:44
"But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you."
36

Catechism of the council of Trent on the Fifth (sic) Commandment,
"thou shall not kill":"[T]o the civil authorities... is entrusted power of life
and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the
guilty and protect the innocent. The just use of this power, far from
involving the crime of murder, is an act of paramount obedience to this
Commandment which prohibits murder. The end of the Commandment- is
the preservation and security of human life. Now the punishments
inflicted by the civil authority, which is the legitimate avenger of crime,
naturally tend to this end, since they give security to life by repressing
outrage and violence. Hence these words of David: In the morning I put to
death all the wicked of the land, that I might cut off all the workers of
iniquity from the city of the Lord."
K
illing In A J ust War "In like manner, the soldier is guiltless who, actuated
not by motives of ambition or cruelty, but by a pure desire of serving the
interests of his country, takes away the life of an enemy in a just war."
[This catechism was prepared in response to a decree of the council in
1563]. For more on the Council of Trent (1545-1563) see the Catholic
Encyclopedia of 1913.] 8
3. Catechism of Pope St. Pius the Tenth:
Q: "Are there cases in which it is lawful to kill?
A: It is lawful to kill when fighting in a just war; when carrying out by order of the
Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime; and, finally, in
cases of necessary and lawful defense of one's own life against an unjust
aggressor." [Published in 1905. See the catholic encyclopedia on Pope Pius X.]
Statements by Pope John Paul II on the Sept. 11 attacks
Question: "Is there anything in scripture that indicates the authority of government
includes punishing the guilty or protecting the innocent?"
Pope John Paul II's Answer:
"Rom. 13:3-4 "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish
to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its
approval; for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you
should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant
of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. " NRSV, see NAB http://landru.i-link-
2.net/shnyves/wlegitimate_defense.htm
Old and New Testament verses are used by the Pope to justify murdering
"heretics." Such verses allege that God commanded the Israelites to "murder the
idolatrous Canaanites" - to murder men, women, children and infants.
Full scale mass murder was organised for the sleepy Protestants in the St. Bartholomew's
massacre - at midnight. A massacre also targeted Protestants in the Spanish Inquisition.
Jews and others were murdered by the Nazi regime. A massacre is prophesied in the
"time of trouble" when the Sunday law is legislated. Satan instigated all these massacres
and HE will be the instigator of the coming massacre. The end time massacre is predicted
to be more intense than the massacres inflicted on the "heretics" all through history
(Daniel 12:1).
8 The late Desmond Doss, recipient of the USA's highest military award, the "Medal of
Honour," didn't think that God's 6th commandment could be broken whether in war or
whether in peace. God miraculously and repeatedly protected Mr Doss in World War 2.
www.desmonddoss.com
37

In contrast with all these evil massacres � where demon-possessed people
murdered others not of their faith (heretics) � isn't it almost beyond comprehension
to believe that God is said to have instigated the massacre of the "Canaanite
heretics" at the hands of the holy Israelites?
� Did the Catholic religion - the anti-christ system - invent a righteous doctrine -
that it is lawful to murder those who are not of their faith? Remember, the church
bases their doctrine (that it is NOT a sin to kill heretics) on the belief that God
commanded the Israelites to kill the Canaanite heretics.
� Was the Catholic system correct to claim that God authorised His people then
and still authorises His people now, to do horrendous acts of murder and to
break His law?
� Has the Catholic system been blessed with special inspiration about God's
character?
Or, is something wrong here?
� Is it possible that the One True God is as equally as horrific as the demonic god?
� Is murdering babies � a loving character trait? A fruit of the spirit of God?
Of what crimes are Christians accusing God?
These are serious charges:
� to call God a commandment breaker; and
� to accuse God - that His character is as evil as Satan's.
These accusations would fall easily from the lips of Satan. Why should
professed Christians repeat such blasphemy about their God?
Many religions justify barbaric acts by saying that "God" told them to carry out the
massacres. For example, the Islamic book, the Koran, also justifies barbaric acts
with the same theology. Mohammed commanded his followers to destroy heretics
� (defined by Islam as those who don't agree with the Islamic religion).
The Old Testament Israelite religion justified their murder of "heretics" by saying
that their "God" commanded them to do it. This is the same justification that the
Catholic Church and the Islamic religion professes to possess today!
Consider: If Satanic agencies told the Catholic system to murder heretics during
the Dark Ages, is it logical to believe that God ordered the Israelites to murder
heretics in the Old Testament?
Are the characters of God and Satan so similar that they perform the
same works � or have human being simply confused their
characters?
38

It appears there is Biblical evidence to suggest that human beings are simply confused,
and that for centuries humanity has confused the characters of the One True God and
Satan.
Walther Zimmerli (1907�1984) was Professor of Old Testament at the University of
G�ttingen, Germany, and considered by many as one of the most important biblical
scholars of the twentieth century. Among his many publications in English are Ezekiel, 2
vols. (Hermeneia; Fortress Press, 1979/1983), I Am Yahweh (1982), The Old Testament
and the World (1976), and The Law and the Prophets (1965). In The Law and the
Prophets, Zimmerli writes:
"In this connection Hosea attacks with particular passion the priests who
should have been the true guardians of the knowledge of God, and who
have especial y failed in this duty (Hosea iv. 4 ff.). They have allowed to
pass unnoticed the very real exchange of Yahweh, the God of Israel,
for the baals of Canaan. This was no longer the same threat which had
occurred in Elijah's time, it was something much more dangerous. While
the worship of Yahweh remained outwardly correct, in reality he had
come to be regarded as a nature deity like the Canaanite Baal. From
him men sought the fertility of the soil and of marriage; he was
worshipped with the forms of nature religion and with sacral prostitution,
as men worshipped the Baals. Y
ahweh became Baal. The name of
one of David's warriors, which is recorded in I Chronicles 12:5 as
Bealiah (Yahweh is Baal) demonstrates exactly this programmatic
assertion. Thus without knowing it, Israel had begun to misunderstand
the very nature of its God, because the professional guardians of a true
knowledge of him were asleep." (Walther Zimmerli, The Law and the
Prophets, Basil Blackwell 1965 p.70)
Wikipedia Encyclopedia states:
"1 Chronicles 12:5 gives us the name Bealiah (more accurately b`'aly�)
meaning 'Yahweh is Ba`al'."
39

The Politics of Satan's Character
The fol owing information can be found at http://www.theocracywatch.org/satan2.htm
"If the Religious Right gains dominion over society, we will al have to deal with
Satan because he plays such a dominant role in their belief system. Anyone who
is not born-again is vulnerable to Satan, for they are lacking the protective shield
of Christ. The world is clearly divided into "good" and "evil", "Christ" and "Satan."
R.J. Rushdoony, the man who is considered the father of Reconstructionism
cal ed on his followers to "administer justice upon al disobedience in every area
of life where we encounter it. To deny the cultural mandate is to deny Christ and
to surrender the world to the devil" (The Institutes of Biblical Law, 1973).
Dr. Elaine Pagels, professor of History of Religion at Princeton University wrote a
book titled The Origins of Satan. She explains in an interview with Ellen Kushner
on WGBH, Boston Public Radio, what can happen when a society has a 'good
vs. evil' world view:
"Every group and tribe has had ways of feeling superior to every other. I
mean, every anthropologist knows that, but what's really different here is
that you have a moral view - 'we are good, and you are evil."
And what happens then," Pagels continues, "as was put into the mouth of Jesus
in the Gospel of John: whoever kills you will think he's doing service to God. So
that if a conflict between us and them turns into a moral conflict, so we're God's
people, they are Satan's people, we can do anything we like with them. I think of
that when I hear the term "ethnic cleansing." It's like there's dirt there. You know,
it's a good thing to get rid of dirt."
Falwell sees "a day when God will unleash his wrath and judgment upon
unbelievers. He will crush them beneath his thumb." (Nuclear War and the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ, 1983.) While Falwel himself does not seem like
a violent man, at what point will violence toward "unbelievers" be seen as "doing
service to God" by his followers?
In New York magazine, August, 1986, Robertson made the following statement:
"The people who have come into institutions [today - 1986] are primarily termites.
They are destroying institutions that have been built by Christians, whether it is
universities, governments, our own traditions that we have. The termites are in
charge now, and that is not the way it ought to be, and the time has come for a
godly fumigation."
Supreme Court Justice Scalia writes: [Government] "is the minister of God with
powers to 'revenge', execute wrath ..." Scalia hints in his article in First Things,
May, 2002, that the death penalty should be expanded. Scalia's comments are
particularly disturbing in the context of the Religious Right gaining dominion over
society.
The Reverend Timothy LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, authors of the best sel ing Left
Behind series, describe in Glorious Appearing, the latest book of their series, the
violence that Jesus wil show non-believers upon His return:
"Men and women soldiers and horses seemed to explode where they
stood," Dr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins write. "It was as if the very words of
the Lord had superheated their blood, causing it to burst through their
veins and skin.' The authors add, "Even as they struggled, their own flesh
dissolved, their eyes melted and their tongues disintegrated."
40

At what point do Reconstructionists, who advocate the death penalty for
unrepentant homosexuals, abortionists, and blasphemers convince others
that it is time to eliminate those characterized as Satan? The goal of
Reconstructionism is to do away with sin. How can you do away with sin
without eliminating Satan?
Fred Clarkson notes:
"the potential for bloodthirsty episodes on the order of the Salem
witchcraft trials or the Spanish Inquisition is inadvertently revealed by
Reconstructionist theologian Rev. Ray Sutton, who claims that the
Reconstructed Biblical theocracies would be 'happy' places, to which
people would flock because 'capital punishment is one of the best
evangelistic tools of a society.'" (What is Christian Reconstructionism?:
The Public Eye)
From Nicholas Kristoff of the New York Times, July 17, 2004:
No, I don't think the readers of "Glorious Appearing" will ram planes into
buildings. But we did imprison thousands of Muslims here and abroad
after 9/11, and ordinary Americans joined in the torture of prisoners at
Abu Ghraib in part because of a lack of empathy for the prisoners. It's
harder to feel empathy for such people if we regard them as infidels and
expect Jesus to dissolve their tongues and eyes any day now. While this
scenario seems extreme and impossible in our pluralistic, democratic
society, if the Religious Right succeeds in dominating all of our major
institutions including the Presidency, Congress, Courts and media, this
country will become a very different kind of place. Historical y, such forces
tend to rise up and look for scapegoats when the economy is in trouble. In
this century our democracy survived a major economic depression intact,
but we didn't have such a large, politically organized culture focused on
Satan at that time." Capital crimes in a theocracy, Theocracy Alert, July
27, 2005 http://www.theocracywatch.org/satan2.htm (end website quotes)
41

When is a Sin not a Sin?
Popular Answer: When God commands you to sin!
Question: Why is breaking the commandments of God (when God
commands you to sin), not classed as a sin?
Popular Answer: Because God gives an indulgence which "neutralises"
the sin.
It appears that when God commands someone (a saint) to do a sinful
act, then the action is no longer classified as a sin. If God commands a
certain person to break His law, He ensures this action is not recorded
as a sin because He issues a pardoning indulgence to cover the sinful
act.
This doctrine is centuries old. In 1376, it was woven into the
Directorium Inquisitorum, (Handbook for the Spanish Inquisition);
confirmed at the Council of Trent (1545-1563); and not renounced at the
Vatican 2 Council (1962-1965). Plenary indulgences are given to
inquisitors � those who kill heretics.
The Biblical Answer: "...but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
(Romans 5:13) "for by the law is the knowledge of sin".... " (Romans
3:20) ... "sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)"...the law
shall not pass away..." (Matt 5:18).
Isaiah states, "To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not
according to THIS word, it is because there is no light in them."
The only time that sin can not be imputed to a person, is if there is no
law or no knowledge of the law. God takes into consideration of those
who sin in ignorance as compared with those who chose to sin in
outright rebellion. However, there IS a law (thou shalt not kill/murder)
and sin IS ALWAYS imputed to intentional, informed lawbreakers.
Romans 6:1,2
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may
abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein?"
6 Redemption p 663 (Ellen White)
"Christ gave no ecclesiastical right to forgive sin, nor to sell
indulgences, that men may sin without incurring the displeasure of
God."
42

Are Christians expected to believe that:
� Breaking God's law is not really breaking God's law if
God commands it?
� G
od authorises "chosen" special people to break His
law (i.e. gives them an indulgence), which frees them
from the death penalty attached to law-breaking?
� Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death" does not
apply to the "chosen" people?
This logic is similar to the theology which says:
"We don't have to keep the law now. The law was done away
with at the cross. We are no longer under law but under grace."
This theology also begs the question, "Why would God command
some "chosen" people to break His law without penalty, and yet order
the destruction of others (heretics) who also break the same law?" -
Please consider these thoughts regarding the Biblical account where
God directs the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites.
Foundational Theology
The belief that an organisation has the divine right to force their
religious beliefs upon unwilling others, is an attack on the basic human
right of freedom to worship. It also forms the theological foundation of
the doctrine that k illing heretics is not a sin .
The evidence suggests that the principles underlying the "Doctrine of Just Persecution"
and "Just Wars" are common to many world religions and alarmingly, it appears that
world politicians are fol owing in the persecutory footsteps of Rome also.
In the film Fahrenheit 911 by Michael Moore, actual footage is seen of USA President
George W Bush making the following comment regarding American soldiers killed in the
"Free the Iraqis War." His remarks brought a loud ovation from the American audience.
He said:
"They died in a just war for defending freedom and they wil not have
died in vain."
Dick Cheyney's remark, from the same film was even more revealing. Was he advocating
a ju
st war when regarding the 'enemy,' he stated,
"The struggle wil only end with their complete and permanent
destruction" ?
According to the laws of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, kil ing heretics, is never
just (justified).
43

In his commmentary from the film Fahrenheit 9-11, Michael Moore quotes satirical author
George Orwel who clearly portrays the desired outcome of murdering 'heretics' is
survival of the heirarchial structure. Orwell states:
"It's not a matter of whether the war is not real or if it is. Victory is not
possible. The war is not meant to be won. It is meant to be continuous.
A heriarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and
ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever
have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep
society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group
against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eur-
Asia or East Asia but to keep the very structure of society intact."
Judging from recent media reports, the prophesies in the books of Daniel and Revelation
as further expanded by Ellen White in the Great Controversy, appear to be presently
occuring. The image is rapidly being made to the beast.
Ellen White, Great Controversy, 1911 p 580
"The Roman Catholic Church, with al its ramifications throughout the
world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed to
serve the interests, of the papal see."
While the Roman Catholic Church organisation is not named or identified in the following
presentations, they certainly appear to support the concept of a vast organisation being
controlled by a mysterious, central power:
�
Michael Moore's film - "Fahrenheit 9/11";
�
Alex Jones' videos - "911 The Road to Tyranny"; "Police State 1 & 2," (2002);
"Masters of Terror";
�
Mike Ruppert's video � "The Truth and Lies of 9-11";
�
Linda Thompson � "Waco � the Big Lie"; "America Under Seige"; Military Takeover of
America;
�
The USS Liberty;
�
"Katanga � the Untold Story"
Ellen White, Great Controversy, 1911 p 580
"Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed
to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their
nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the
church as above al other. Though they may take the oath pledging their
loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome,
absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests."
The Catholic World, August 1871, vol. xii , pp. 58089 (published in USA at the time of the
First Vatican Council)
"Each individual must receive the faith and law from the Church with
unquestioning submission and obedience of the intellect and the will.....
We have no right to ask reasons of the Church, any more than of Almighty
God.... We are to take with unquestioning docility whatever instruction the
Church gives us."
The Protestant principle maintains that individuals be free to worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences before God.
Acts 5:29
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than
men."
Roman Catholicism requires that individuals relinquish private moral responsibility in
44

matters of faith. The principle of transferring responsibility for private faith (answering to
one's own conscience) to a human mediator, is also found in cults. 9
The Code of Canon Law, which originated from Vatican II Council (1962-1965) reasserts
the same principle:
"The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound by
Christian obedience to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of
Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or determine as leaders of the
Church" (James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, Donald E. Heintschel, eds.,
The Code of Canon Law, Paulist Press, 1985, Canon 212, Section 1).
What is the ultimate purpose of being required to 'trust and obey' the 'sacred pastors'?
Ian Johnston, The Scotsman, 6 May, 2006
"BELIEVING that God created the universe in six days is a form of
superstitious paganism, the Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno
claimed yesterday....Brother Consolmagno, who was due to give a speech
at the Glasgow Science Centre last night, entitled 'Why the Pope has an
Astronomer', said the idea of papal infallibility had been a "PR
disaster". What it actually meant was that, on matters of faith,
fo
llowers should accept s omebody has got to be the boss, the final
a uthority.
It's
not like he has a magic power, that God whispers the
truth in his ear,' he said."
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=674042006
Great Controversy, 1911 p 581
"Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church
may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances
may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and
state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this
country is assured. God's word has given warning of the impending danger;
let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes
of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is
silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in
legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men."
9 For a concise and very interesting overview of cult-members mentality, readers
might wish to read, "Imperfect Company, Power And Control In An Australian
Christian Cult by David Mil ikan, published by William Heinemann Australia (1991)
45

Common Faith � One God
Recently, it appears that the major world religions are also in agreement as over one
important, common principle � they all agree that they worship "one god."
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote an 18 page letter to USA president George
W Bush which emphasised the "one god" principle as being the possible commonality on
which to establish discussions for world peace. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that
Ahmadinejad said:
'My basic question is this: Is there no better way to interact with the rest of
the world? Today there are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds of
mil ions of Muslims, and mil ions of people who follow the teachings of
Moses. All divine religions share and respect one word, and that is
monotheism, or belief in a single God and no other in the world.' While it
offered no specific proposal, the letter did seek to identify a common
ground for starting discussions based on the principles of monotheism. 'It
would be a big mistake if the United States dismissed it or if they only
consider it as a philosophical, religious, historical letter," Nasser Hadian, a
political science professor at Tehran University, said. "It would be a good
idea if President Bush responds to it. It can open up some space.'"
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/ahmadinejad-gives-bush-lecture-on-
christian-values/2006/05/10/1146940617555.html
Roman Catholic and the new Protestantism theology also are grounded on monotheism �
the 'one god' theology � the trinity. It appears that al 'one god' religions are recognised as
valid forms of worship of the same god according to the former Pope John Paul 2nd.
Texe Marrs states:
"After many centuries of historic Catholic tradition, with the popes and the
Vatican proclaiming `There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church,'
dramatic changes are now taking place. Pope John Paul 2nd has taken
the mark of the Hindu god Shiva, in his forehead. He has al owed the
Dalai Lama of Tibet to place a statue of Buddha on the altar of a Catholic
basilica. The Pope has also accepted Allah, the false god of the Muslims,
as one and the same with the Christian God and embraced the Jews as
`Elder Brothers.' Bewildered and confused, many traditional Catholics are
now asking, `Is the Pope Catholic?'" (Texe Marrs, video, "Is the Pope
Catholic?"-from Better Life Productions, PO Box W322, West Kempsey
NSW 2440; phone [02] 65678118).
On the video, Pope, John Paul 2nd, was seen to publicly bless the religions of Hindu,
Shinto, Muslim, Judaism and even Voodooism. All these religions deny that Christ, the
Messiah, is the Son of (their) god.
1 John 2:22, 23
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the
Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."
The pope's expressed world-religion unifying but 'uncatholic' sentiments in his book,
Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p 77:
"All religions on the face of the earth are al seeds of the word of God."
46

Statement by Texe Marrs:
"Do Moslems, Christians, and others worship the same God? American
Christian leaders either hedged or else expressed mild dismay recently
when President George W. Bush, visiting England, told reporters at a
televised news conference that Moslems and Christians worship the
same God. "I believe we worship the same God," the London-Telegraph
newspaper, (Nov. 24, 2003) quoted Bush as saying."
http://www.texemarrs.com/012004/same_god.htm)
Formerly, the Christian world generally label ed religions that don't honour the God of the
Bible as "pagan" religions, and considered that these religions honoured false gods -
however, the vast majority of the world's Christian religions today appear to be adopting
the worship of the same false god through their belief in one of the "valid" forms of the
trinity doctrine. The trinity also denies the literal Father/Son relationship prior to the son's
incarnation in Bethlehem.
Can the world expect, in the light of Bible prophecy, that all religious organisations
(whether Christian or pagan) which are now united in worship of 'the one god,' join
together in "fellowship of the eucharist?"
�
The Roman Catholic Catechism declares that the RC Church is founded on the
doctrine of the trinity;
�
The conglomerate organisation of the World Council of Churches confesses to
worship the god of the trinity - the god of the eucharist;
�
Pope John Paul 2nd asserts that the world's religions are all seeds of the word of
god (the trinity god), including pagan religions.
Can you see the shadowy plan to introduce a compulsory Sunday law? According to
prophecy, eventually the international legislation wil endeavour to force all to accept
submission to the authority of the anti-christ system. The legislation wil be based on
(supposedly) BIBLICAL LAW � i.e. OLD TESTAMENT LAW and will no doubt be
accompanied by violent Old Testament punishments and penalties (death).
Ellen White, Great Controversy, 1911 p 580
"Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those
who are disobedient to the church?"
47

Wh
o is Thinking to Change the Law � Thou Shalt Not Kill?

Daniel 7:25
"And he (antichrist power) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear
out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
John 16:2
"Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service."
Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi (Retired Professor of Theology, Andrew's University) states:
"By

teaching that th
ose who die fighting for the cause of Allah will
have their sins forgiven and are admitted into the pleasure of
Paradise, the Koran has inspired Muslims throughout the centuries
to fight unto death for the cause of Allah."
www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html
Directorium Inquisitorum (Handbook of the Spanish Inquisition, written 1376, reprinted
1584) dedicated to Pope Gregory XIII, (translated by J. P. Callender, 1838):
"He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy
teaches.... A heretic merits the pains of fire.... By the Gospel, the
canons, civil law, and custom, heretics must be burned...Inquisitors
enjoy the benefits of a plenary indulgence [a full papal forgiveness
of sin] at all times in life, and in death."
http://www.rulersofevil.com/chap8.html
Statement made by a nun at a Catholic girls' school near Los Angeles, 1965:
"Anybody who is not a Catholic is a heretic! And God doesn't want
heretics on the earth because they try to destroy the Holy Mother
Church! It is not a sin to kill heretics, because it is God's way of
removing them from the earth." (Alberto Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest,
in Four Horsemen p 4; 5 published by Chick Publications Inc; Ontario:
1985).10
Alberto Rivera comments on the foregoing (nun's) statement:
"The young Catholic adults of today who were exposed to
programming technique back in the 1960's have had these seeds
planted in their minds in preparation for the 'final purification'" (Alberto
Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest, in Four Horsemen p 4; published by Chick
Publications Inc; Ontario: 1985).
10(Alberto Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest, in The Four Horsemen p 4; 5; published by Chick Publications
Inc; Ontario: 1985). Vatican 2 council � "Pedro Arrupe, the Superior General of the Society of
Jesus stated, "It is time for the new and final purification of the Church in preparation for the New
Age kingdom." Rivera notes that Arrupe used 'purification' as a key word to describe purging (or
extermination) of all those who are unfaithful to the pope.
48

Also, according to Alberto Rivera, the evidence that the Roman Catholic church considers
it lawful to kill heretics is found in the letters printed upon the crucifix used in worship
services.
"The Bible tells us the words put on the cross of Christ at the crucifixion
said: "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews" (John 19:19), but on the
Roman Catholic crucifix, it reads: I.N.R.I. Webster's Dictionary says
I.N.R.I. Means: Iesus Naarenus, Rex Iudaedrum. But in the Extreme
Oath of the Jesuits, it has special meaning. In classical Latin, I.N.R.I
means: 'Iustom, Necar, Reges, Impios.'..... Translated into English ...
I.N.R.I....means, 'It is just to exterminate or annihilate impious or
heretical kings, governments or rulers.'" Alberto Rivera cites the
source, "The engineer Corps of Hell," by Edwin A. Sherman, p 118 �
1883 (Under Ceremony of Induction and Extreme Oath of the Jesuits),
Library of Congress catalog card # 66-43354. Double Cross, p 7,
published by Chick Publications Inc; Ontario: 1981).
Alberto Rivera claims that Jesuits make an oath to exterminate "heretics" (i.e those who
reject the Catholic faith).
Ellen White, Great Controversy, 1911 p 580
"Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those who are
disobedient to the church?"
The Catholic Encyclopedia
"The severity of the anathema in the Old Testament is explained by the
necessity there was of preserving the Jewish people and protecting them
against the idolatry professed by the neighbouring pagans. "
www.newadvent.org/cathen/01455e.htm
The Catholic church appears to official y agree that the idolatrous Canaanites were of
necessity destroyed (genocided) to protect the purity of the true religion of the Israelites.
The church will likely use the same logic to recommend that 'heretics' who won't accept
legislated Sunday laws, should like-wise be destroyed.
The Catholic Church organisation claims that the 6th commandment (cal ed
the 5th commandment) is not broken by kil ing people who are "workers of
iniquity" i.e. heretics.
If you agree with this 'just perseuction' doctrine, you might be agreeing to
your own death sentence.
History repeatedly testifies that when dominant religious organisations
have held theology that condones law-breaking, and socio-political
power was available to them, then aggressive measures have been
employed against non-believers (heretics).
Aggression has been applied to effect a change in religious beliefs and
practice - to bring non-conformers (heretics) "into line" with the
existing orthodox beliefs � or to kill the objectors.
49

Murder is Murder!
Alan Reynolds (senior fellow with the Cato Institute)
"Dictators and aspiring dictators are angry with the United States for limiting their
lust for power and land. They may try to cloak their ambitions and their brutality in
religious garb, but they are lying. Religion cannot justify atrocities against the
U
nited States any more than it justifies thuggery in Northern Ireland. Mu

rder is
m
urder. There is nothing religious about it. " http://www.cato.org/dailys/09-18-
01.html
God is not a murderer! Is murder holy?
Jesus said that Satan was "a murderer from the beginning"! (John 8:44)
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants fight," (John 18:36).
Those who follow Christ's faithful example will also be strangers and pilgrims on
the earth (Hebrews 11:13) and will not fight!
John Robinson, the Puritan pastor, gave timely advice to the first Pilgrims who were
preparing to embark for "the New World" (America) in search of religious liberty. Ellen
White repeated Pastor Robinson's impressive words in the Great Controversy.
Great Controversy, p.291, 292
"Brethren, we are now erelong to part asunder, and the Lord knoweth whether I shall live
ever to see your faces more. But whether the Lord hath appointed it or not, I ch
arge you
b efore God and His blessed angels to
follow me no farther than I have followed
Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready
to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth of my ministry; for I am very confident
the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His holy word."--Martyn, vol 5 p
70."
Look to Jesus - the Author and Finisher of our Faith. See how His character reveals
the Father's character perfectly. If we are not sure that God is not a murderer, then
we are not prepared to stand in defence of His character in the testing times about
to break upon us.
50

Is Knowing God's Character a Salvation Issue?
Is God real y loving? Under all circumstances? Does He keep His own 10 commandment
law - in every circumstance? Or are there times when God commands His chosen people
to break the moral code � for example � the 6th commandment.? Does God ever
command people to kill others?
Jesus said, "This is life eternal that you might KNOW HIM the only true God and Jesus
Christ, Whom He has sent." John 17:3.
We can't guess about this vital subject. We must know the CHARACTER of the Father �
the One True God � as a pre-requisite to inheriting eternal life. By beholding the lovely
character of the Father through Jesus, our own characters may become changed (2 Cor
3:18) fitting us to become law-abiding citizens of heaven. It is the development of a
Christ-like character � a commandment keeping character - that fits humanity to inherit
eternal life (Rev 12:17; Rev 14:1).
The 144 000 will have "the Father's name in their foreheads" (Rev 14:1). That means that
the Father's character of love wil be evident in the lives of His people. e.g. Demonstrated
by their love � love for their enemies particularly.
How do we know the character of the Father when no one has seen God at any time?
John 1:17, 18
"For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ. 18 No
man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared him."
Jesus was sent to show us the Father (John 14: 8, 9) in al the ful ness of the Godhead
bodily (Col 2:9). Did Jesus do a poor job of reflecting His Father's character for us? Did
He keep a few evil character traits hidden from view while He was on earth? Was Jesus
lying about the Father's character - causing us to think that the Father is nicer than He is
in reality?
Satan, masquerading as a beautiful winged serpent, deceived Eve into thinking that it
would be desirable to KNOW good AND evil (Gen 3:5). The essence of paganism
honours a god who is both good and evil. I don't believe that Jesus Christ reflects the
character of a "blended" God at all. He is not a mixture of good and evil, black and white,
violence and gentleness. He is altogether loving - under all circumstances. In Him there
is no shadow of turning (James 1:17). His character is the same, yesterday, to day and
forever (Heb 13:8). God's character does not change (Mal 3:6). He never commands
human beings to destroy others in violation of his own commandments � despite the
horrors that well-intentioned men (in their honest, but stinted attempts to
understand God), have attributed to His holy and sanctified character.
It follows logically that if humanity has a skewed and imperfect perception of God's
character, then humanity will not understand the depth of His love, nor the process of His
"wrath." Preconceived ideas are powerful influences and these also apply to our
perceptions of God's love and wrath.
The Biblical record reveals that the Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations. God
forbade the Israelites to form close associations with pagan nations, with the intention of
preventing contamination of the worship of the One True God with perceptions of pagan
gods.
51

By giving this direction for separation from the Canaanites, God endeavoured to set a
protective boundary around His people. This safeguard was to prevent the Hebrews from
misunderstanding the law-abiding character of the One True God and confusing it with the
evil and violent character of pagan deities. This direction was ignored by the ancient
Hebrew people. Through associations with pagan nations, the Israelites understanding of
God's character became contaminated with characteristics of pagan gods. So there was
the perception that God's character contained both good and evil traits � a blended
character. In His mercy, God did not reject the Hebrew people for this error in their
understanding � but God's long-suffering did not make their gross misunderstanding of
His character a correct representation of it.
The tragic situation is that this faulty representation of God's character is recorded in
many places of the Bible. While God has preserved the truth about His character in the
Bible, this truth needs to be searched for (Jer 29:11-14) and weighed against the
testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17) who is the True Witness (Rev 3:14), whose life perfectly
fulfilled the 10 commandments (Isaiah 8:20). The 10 commandment law is the Royal law
(James 2:8) also cal ed the law of liberty (James 1:25) - the great standard against which
all lives are to be judged (James 2:12).
This study does not attempt to "destroy faith in the Bible." On the contrary, the author
believes that the Bible does contain the precious words of truth, but it also contains
elements of human reasoning which also cast negative aspersions on God's character.
These negative traits are founded on human misconceptions of God's character and have
their origins in pagan beliefs.
How can the genuine representations be determined from the misconceptions? By
aligning each character trait portrayed in the Bible, with the great standard of judgment;
which is - the Father's character as seen in the life of Jesus Christ (John 14:5-10) and
which was written for humanity by the finger of God in the stone tablets of the 10
commandments; and which is also written in the hearts of the believer (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
and will appear in the foreheads (minds) of the 144 000 (Rev 14:1)
Some might raise the objection that al Scripture is inspired and that none of its
expressions should be scrutinised for pagan influence. They might quote:
2 Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
2 Peter 1:19-21
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as
unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Revelation 19:13
"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of
God."
Jesus Christ is the True Word of God, free of al pagan influence.
Please refer to the section of this study titled "Objections" where these valid concerns are
investigated in more detail.
52

The true Christian's faith must not be bound to outward items such as icons, crosses,
rosary beads, idols of worship. The Christian's faith must be placed only in the pure,
righteous character of Jesus Christ. But how does one put faith in Jesus Christ if they are
unsure of His character? Can they trust a mysterious, vacillating character, who tel s His
people (in a powerful demonstration of fire and smoke) to keep His 10 commandment law
of love, yet when in a fit of anger, breaks His own laws and commands others to do
likewise? (Psalm 106:23; Isaiah 13:9; Ezekiel 21:31; Rev 14:10).
If this is an accurate portrayal of God (which is found in the Bible), then He is a very
unstable character indeed. But the One True God is not unstable, nor does His pure
character ever change to absorb evil (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; James 1:17).
Humanity is challenged to understand the intense purity of the love of God. The Bible
reveals this difficulty in the many instances where God is portrayed as having evil
character traits, but the fault lies with the inability of the human understanding,
expression and portrayal of God � not with God Himself. God is love (1 John 4:8,16; 1
Cor 13:4-7) and in Him there is no evil at all.
1 John 1:5
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is
light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Deuteronomy 32:3, 4
"Because I wil publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He
is the Rock, his work is perfect: for al his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without
iniquity, just and right is he."
1 John 3:5
"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
1 John 3:4
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the
law."
53

The Reason Why Satan Attacks God's Law
Jesus explained why knowledge concerning the importance of the 10 commandments
were vital to salvation.
Matthew 22:36-40
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
(38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the
law and the prophets."
Matthew 19:16-22
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I
may have eternal life? (17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is
none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(18) He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19) Honour thy
father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (20) The young man
saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (21) Jesus
said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (22) But when the young
man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
If the rich man had in fact, kept ALL the commandments from his youth, why wasn't that
sufficient to ensure his salvation?
Jesus emphasised that the 10 commandments could be summed up in two
commandments � love to God and love to humanity. The underlying principle of love is
unselfishness, and the rich man's lack of love for God and his fellowman was
demonstrated by his disappointing and selfish response to Christ's invitation.
Christ demonstrated that it was not the keeping of the letter of the law that achieved
entrance to heaven, but the possession of the spirit of God � the new mind � the new
character of unselfish love. The rich man possessed a legalistic religion � which was
based on righteousness by works, not righteousness by faith which works through love
(Galatians 5:6).
Christ's conversation with the rich man reveals that any work or action that is not
motivated by unselfish love:
�
does not have its origin in love;
�
cannot be in harmony with the spirit of Jesus;
�
cannot produce the fruit of the spirit of love ;and
�
is not in accordance with God's character, law or government
54

Is Violence a Fruit of the Spirit of Christ?
Matthew 5:44-48
"But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45)
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if
ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the
publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect."
Galatians 5:22, 23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Paul infers that there IS a law against the opposites to the fruit of the spirit. The opposite
of peace is war, bitterness. The opposite to gentleness is violence. These evil fruits are
against the law of God's unselfish love.

Isaiah 53:9 (Prophecy concerning Jesus, the Messiah)
"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by al means...."
John W. Ritenbaugh, in the Sixth Commandment (part 1) makes the following
comments:
1 Peter 2:21-23
"For even hereunto were ye cal ed: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
"This shows shows Christ's example, even when He had the love, wisdom,
and discernment to judge righteous judgment and correctly put His enemies
in their place. So strong was Jesus' commitment to these principles that,
even when His life was on the line, and His enemies reviled Him intensely,
He did not respond in kind. He set us an example to do likewise. Perhaps
the key statement is He 'committed Himself to Him who judges rightly.' His
response was an act of faith in God's awareness of His situation and God's
perfect ability not merely to act but to act in exactly the right way for the
good of all. The reality of God's sovereignty over His creation led to Jesus'
minute-by-minute faithful submission. If vengeance belongs to God, then
men, especially those who have pledged their lives to be subject to His
government, have no right to take it to themselves. Very frequently, it takes
real strength of character, bolstered by faith, to help and serve someone
who has directly tried to harm us. God's instructions to us are clear:
' Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink;
for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome
by evil, but overcome evil with good' (Romans 12:20-21). 'Enemy' does not
mean one we hate, but one who is bitter toward us. If we hate others, we
are right back in the spirit of murder. Paul is stating a critical universal
principle: Over time, kindness removes enmity, but seeking revenge
increases it. Booker T. Washington said, 'The best way to destroy an
enemy is to make him a friend.'" (end quote: John W. Ritenbaugh)
55

Upon their conversion, the disciples and the apostles realised the importance of keeping
the spirit of the law, by being fil ed with the loving, unselfish mind/spirit of Christ.
1 John 4:6-5:3
"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (7) Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
(8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the
love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another. (12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13) Hereby know we that we
dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (14) And we have seen
and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (15) Whosoever
shal confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (16) And
we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this
world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first
loved us. (20) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
(21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also. (5:1)
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (2) By this we know that we love
the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous."
God empowers His followers with divine, unselfish love. Being unselfish (keeping the
commandments), is therefore not difficult (grievous).
1 John 2:3-11
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
him.11 (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby
know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so
to walk, even as he walked. (7) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an
old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word
which ye have heard from the beginning. (8) Again, a new commandment I write unto you,
which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true
light now shineth. (9) He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in
darkness even until now. (10) He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and
there is none occasion of stumbling in him. (11) But he that hateth his brother is in
darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because
that darkness hath blinded his eyes."
11 Jesus testified that Satan is a commandment-breaker. In John 8:44 "Ye are of your
father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
56

Galatians 5:25- 6:2
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (6:1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken
in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.(6:2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ."
2 Thesalonians 3:14-15
"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company
with him, that he may be ashamed.(15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish
him as a brother."
1 Peter 3:4, 8-11
"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.... Finally,
be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be
courteous: (9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (10) For
he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek
peace, and ensue it."
Paul also focused on the theme that God's character is pure, unselfish love. The principle
of love was manifested by His Son whom He sanctified (John 10:36). How did the Father
sanctify His Son? Christ was enabled to keep the 10 commandments perfectly by abiding
in His Father's love (John 14:10, 11).
Paul wrote to Timothy giving his personal testimony as evidence of God's love and its
application in his life.
1 Timothy 1:5-15
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (6) From which some having swerved have turned
aside unto vain jangling; (7) Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither
what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (8)
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawful y; (9) Knowing this, that the law is
not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for
sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers, (10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is
contrary to sound doctrine; (11) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God,
which was committed to my trust. (12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13) Who was
before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did
it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus. (15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
After listing his worst crimes, which he committed 'ignorantly and in unbelief,' Paul states
that he is the chief of sinners.
Paul admitted that he had been a blasphemer, a persecutor and that his actions were
injurious. In fact, his actions might also include being an accomplice to those who
performed the crimes which he expressed earlier � manslayers and menstealers.
57

Paul states that these evil acts are 'contrary to sound doctrines.' Sound doctrines are
based on unselfish love � demonstrated by the keeping the 10 commandments. And
Paul lists the sound doctrines which he identifies as the 10 commandments � for he refers
to stealing, adultery, honouring parents, murder,
Paul's previous sinful actions had been performed in ignorance, yet, because they
contradicted the law of love spelled out in the 10 commandments, he still identified those
actions as sin.
Paul caused many of God's people to be imprisoned and killed, however Paul believed
that his horrific actions were in fact, honourable. He believed that he was 'doing God
service,' yet, his enthusiastic persecution of the early Christians, was an amazing
fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy.
John 16:2
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service."
When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, the proud pharisee's zealous actions
were exposed to him as unlawful and hence sinful. Paul was shocked and horrified to find
that he, a man of great education and learning, could have been so utterly wrong about a
particular religious doctrine. He who taught the law, was himself a lawbreaker.
Paul's interview with Jesus provoked a radical change in his thinking processes. He
began to realise the futility of legalism and forcefulness in matters of religion. He
perceived that the law of God is founded on the principle of love. Love alone offers
freedom of choice. This vital principle of love - "upon which hang al the law and the
prophets," was constantly displayed in Christ's character (Matt 22:40). Christ never
compel ed anyone to worship Him or to accept Him as the Messiah or Saviour.
As Paul freely consented to 'have the mind of Jesus' (Philippians 2:5), his behaviour
became non-violent. The 'fruit' of his character began to resemble the fruit of Jesus'
character.
Paul listed Christ's character traits to the Galatians, calling them 'the fruit of the spirit' (of
Christ) � love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance (Gal 5:22, 23).
Is it possible, that the ancient Israelites, like Paul, were also wrong in their legalistic
perception of righteousness? Did they also ignorantly, believe incorrectly
concerning God's character and law?
In his epistle to the Corinthian church members, Paul made a comparison between
legalism and faith � between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law of love - as it
exists and was seen in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:7,8). Then he exposed the origin of
their sad error.
2 Corinthians 3:14
"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in
the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. (15) But even unto this
day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless when it shall turn
to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away."
Paul revealed that the Jewish leaders had failed to recognise the principle upon which
God's law is based, is love. Instead, their perception of God was hindered by an inability
to perceive that the spirit of the law is a summary of God's character. The law defines
true, unselfish love.
58

As did Paul, could it be possible that the ancient Israelites also firmly believed that they
were 'doing God service' by exterminating (murdering) Canaanite pagans and 'heretics'?
It seems to be a logical conclusion in light of Paul's statement about 'a veil being on their
hearts' which can only be taken away by Christ.
In many of his writings, Paul continued to repeat his theme that the law of God, which
Jesus the Messiah demonstrated, defines His character. It is the character, the spirit, the
mind of Christ which holds the key to humanity's salvation � not law-keeping (works)
which is motivated by selfishness.
Romans 13:8-10
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfil ed
the law. (9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not
steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other
commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law."
1 Timothy 1:5
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:"
Colossians 3:14
"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
1 Corinthians 13:13
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
Thoughts to Ponder
God's character � His identity � is expressed in unselfishness love in every sphere, every
situation, every circumstance. Satan claimed that the principle of unselfish love could not
succeed in a sinful world. The attack against the law of God is an attack against God
Himself. Jesus proved that the devil's accusations against His Father were false and
vindicated His Father's character, His law and His government.
Question
Since Christ proved Satan's accusations to be false, why should Christians set aside
Christ's great victory and echo the same satanic accusation against God's character by
suggesting that there are some occasions where unselfish love fails; that there are
circumstances which require a violent response and even necessitate murder? Why do
they claim that God's law can be set aside, 'if God commands it?'
If God put aside His own law � in only one emergency � He would be admitting that
Satan's accusations against His divine character, law and government were valid.
Romans 8:35-39
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake
we are kil ed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shal be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
59

The Commandments are Binding on All Beings
The apostles and disciples gave clear instructions that God's character is not a blend of
"good and evil." They conclude that evil is the breaking of God's 10 commandment law of
love. Sin is breaking the law of unselfish love. God does not EVER break His own 10
commandment law, neither does He ever instruct others to break His law and to behave in
selfish ways (James 1:3; Matt 6:13; 1 Tim 5:22; 2 John 1:11). If God did endeavour to
make others participate in sin, God Himself would be incriminated in their sins (Matt 5:19).
Matthew 5:19 (Jesus said:)
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men
so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shal do and
teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
For God to lead others into temptation, would be to act in direct opposition to how Jesus
spoke, when He asked according to the Father's wil , in the Lord's prayer - "lead us not
into temptation" (Matt 6:13).
Jesus demonstrated the Father's character before the universe (John 14:9, 10) so we may
KNOW the Father's character. It is not a mystery that God is perfectly good and a perfect
law-keeper of His own law. It is the transcript of His character. The law represents God's
identity. We can never accept the suggestion that "God can break His own law" for Jesus
never proclaimed such blasphemy.
There is a religious system in existence today which proclaims that God's laws are
binding, except in special circumstances. This system claims that there are times
when God's laws can be broken without incurring a penalty. In this system, a person can
purchase special "divine" permission to sin � to sin legal y i.e. without having to pay a
penalty. Sin stops being sin � for that special instance. This "divine" permission is called
an indulgence. The system declares that no condemnation can be given to a person who
has purchased an indulgence and who then, voluntarily commits sin � adultery, murder,
stealing � and breaks God's holy law.
The theology which states that the 10 commandments can be "legally" broken and that sin
can be committed without penalty, is not restricted to one particular religious system.
Many Christian systems maintain that the theology which sanctions "the transgression of
the law" is woefully incorrect, but they do not recognise this disguised doctrine within
their own religious organisation and in their own thinking. The doctrine is well
disguised. Consider the following:
From the beginning of the universe, God's 10 commandments were binding on all created
beings. All through history, the righteous have obeyed the commandments of God.
Though they were murdered for holding their strong position on keeping God's
commandments, the martyrs "loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev 12:11). In the
soon-coming confrontation with the anti-christ power, the righteous wil obey God's
commandments in the face of the death penalty (Rev 13:15). If we love Jesus, we will
keep His commandments (John 14:15) as He kept His Father's commandments.
Yes, even the Son of the Most High God obeyed His Father's commandments � unto the
point of death.
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shal abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
60

Did Christ only keep His Father's commandments when He was a human being? Or did
He keep His Father's commandments when He was the Son of God leading and directing
the Hebrew people in the Promised Land? Did Christ break His Father's commandments
then and command the Hebrew people to do likewise? (Numbers 31; Deut 21:10-14)
1 Peter 2:21-23
"For even hereunto were ye cal ed: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
Is it possible then, to logically suppose that there was any being in the universe who could
be exempt from keeping God's commandments � when the Father and Son did not
sanction commandment-breaking Themselves and did not demonstrate commandment-
breaking Themselves, even under the most horrendous pressure placed upon them
during Christ's torture and death?
Is it logical to accept the supposition that God instructed His prophets to write (into the
Bible) that there were some people who were:
� permitted to intentionally break God's commandments? (Numbers 31:17; Jud 21:11)
� encouraged by God Himself to break His commandments?
� commanded by God Himself to break God's 10 commandments � without suffering the
penalty of sin which is death (Romans 6:23)?
Consider:
� Did God create a privileged people who were exempt from keeping His
commandments?
� Did God Himself command the "chosen" people to become commandment-breakers -
� after He told them n
ot to break his law under pain of death at Mt Sinai? (Exo 20)
� Did God temporarily alter the definition of sin in His dealings with the "chosen" people,
so that sin was NOT the transgression of the law? (1 John 3:4)
� Did God create His "chosen" people especial y to cooperate with Satan in his work of
commandment-breaking (John 8:44)?
� Did God offer special exemptions to the "chosen" people which granted them freedom
to break God's law without incurring the penalty of sin � which is death (Rom 6:23)?
Of course God did not legalise sin for any being in all the universe. To accept
this accusation against God is blasphemous. It attacks the very seat of the
government of God! The belief that God permits, encourages and commands
His creatures to break His commandments and to do so without incurring the
penalty of death � is to support a doctrine invented by anti-christ.
Such a belief is the doctrine of indulgences, disguised in Christian clothes. This is
the doctrine of "cheap grace." It is the doctrine the promotes the concept of "sin until
Jesus comes and stil be saved."
It is a doctrine that calls God a liar! The serpent whispers, "'thou shalt NOT surely die' if
you break God's commandments" (Gen 3:4; Rom 6:23). It is a doctrine that declares that
the wages of committing knowingly intentional, unrepented sin are not death in every
instance - and that the 10 commandments are not binding in all dispensations. It is a
doctrine straight from the insane and evil mind of anti-christ. It is a doctrine of death.
61

Matthew 5:17-19
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shal in no wise pass from the law, til all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shal break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be cal ed the least
in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Christ's words in Matthew 5:17-19 are self-condemnatory � if Christ commanded the
Israelites to murder the wicked nations in Canaan. Christ Himself would be implicated in
the commandment-breaking sins that He commanded (taught) the Israelites to perform.
If a Christian believes that Christ ordered the Israelites to commit genocide, infanticide
and to plunder the wicked Canaanites' possessions, one must ask the question: Could
not Christ have reacted to the situation in a different manner � a manner that permitted
Him and the Israelites to keep His Father's commandments? Or was breaking the
commandments � to murder and steal � the only possible solution to the "Canaanite
problem?" If Christians teach and believe this fal acy- that Christ commanded murder - it
is necessary also to accept that Satan must have been right in His claims against God's
government � for it would prove that even God Himself couldn't keep His own law.
Commandment-breaking is not sanctioned by the Father, nor was it sanctioned by the
Son's words as recorded in the gospels. If any writing, speech or doctrine appears to
state otherwise, it can be exposed as being tainted by the spirit of Satan who was a
commandment breaker from the beginning.
When a person purchases an indulgence (a permit to commit sin), they are blessed (by
spiritual leaders) as they intentionally and with pre-meditation, break the 10
commandments. Compare this situation with that of the ancient Hebrew's culture when it
was professed that the nation was under the direct rule of God � in a theocratic society. 12
The Israelites were "blessed" with gold, silver, cattle and slaves when they wil ingly and
intentional y broke God's 10 commandments and plundered their neighbours' land. Does
the One True God bless those who willingly and knowingly break His commandments?
In "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2) we can establish
our faith in the character of the Father. We are instructed to look to Christ - not to
Moses, the prophets, Joshua, Solomon, or David, but to turn our eyes upon Jesus. The
Old Testament prophets and those men who were inspired to write the Bible
demonstrated only a partial knowledge of the Father's character, but God, knowing the
honest intention of their hearts, "counted it to them for righteousness" (Rom 4:5).
We don't need perfect knowledge of spiritual things before God will accept the imperfect
gifts of our hearts. It is the heart that God values and God honoured the Bible writers
because of the submission of their hearts to Him. Jesus described a similar situation to
His disciples, concerning partial knowledge of the truth, when He lovingly stated in:
John 16:12
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."
Humanity is only saved by faith in Jesus' testimony (Eph 2:8). Christ's ability to "show us
the Father" - to show us His loving character, is the key to our conversion experience. By
beholding and accepting the perfect love of Jesus, we are saved by faith and changed
into the likeness of His perfect character .
Nothing else draws believers but the love of the Father and the Son.
12 The Moabites and Egyptians were likewise "blessed" with slaves and wealth under a
theocracy.
62

1 John 4:9
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
1 John 3:1
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be cal ed
the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
A question introduced this section of the book:
Question:
Is knowing the character of God a salvation issue?
Answer:
Yes. Knowing and trusting in the consistent, unchanging, loving character of God is a
salvation issue. It is, in fact, the most important issue upon which our salvation is based.
The just shall live by faith � faith in God's loving character and His law abiding
government as demonstrated by His loving, commandment keeping Son, Jesus Christ.
(Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11;Hebrews 10:38; Revelation 14:12).
As this study progresses, some foundational truths must be kept in mind:
� the commandments are binding upon ALL beings at ALL times
� the true, perfect description of the Father's character is ONLY demonstrated in the life
of the Son of God;
� the character of God is often imperfectly represented by well-meaning human beings,
but they are not condemned by God for advocating errors based on insufficient
knowledge.
John 1:18
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared him."
Hebrews 1:1, 2
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by
the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of al things, by whom also he made the worlds."
63

The Law of Reaping and Sowing
Galatians 6:7,8
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Isaiah 59:1-3, 6-8
"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and y our s ins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (3) For y our h
ands
are defiled with blood, and y our fi
ngers with iniquity; y our l
ips have spoken lies,
y our to
ngue hath muttered perverseness. (6).... th
eir w
orks are works of iniquity,
and the act of v iolence is in th
eir h
ands. (7) T
heir fe
et run to evil, and th
ey m
ake
haste to shed innocent blood: th
eir th
oughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and
destruction are in th
eir p
aths. (8) The way of peace they know not; and there is no
judgment (margin: right) in their goings: th
ey have made th
em crooked paths:
whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace."
These texts state that:
� It is not God who initiates His separation from His people;
� It is not God who originates acts of violence, lies, murder, shedding innocent blood and
destruction;
� Unrepentant sinners choose to separate from God;
� Unrepentant sinners perform acts of violence and destruction and shed innocent blood;
� Violence, lies, murder, shedding innocent blood and destruction are works of iniquity;
� Unrepentant sinners do not experience peace
Murder is the breaking of the 6th commandment. Murder is a fruit of the satanic and carnal
mind - not a fruit of the spirit of God. It does not originate from the of the pure divine
mind. It originates from Satan.
John 8:44
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
What humanity sows, they will reap as a consequence of their own actions and
choices (Gal 6:7, 8).
Romans 12:19-21
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I wil repay, saith the Lord. (20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
(21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Isaiah 55:9
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
64

The Law of God Given to Humanity
Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
"Thou shalt not kill."
Webster's Dictionary
"Kill: To kill does not necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life. A
man may kill another by accident or in self-defense, without the imputation
of guilt. To murder is to kil with malicious forethought and intention. To
assassinate is to murder suddenly and by stealth. The sheriff may kil
without murdering; the duelist murders, but does not assassinate his
antagonist; the assassin kills and murders."
Some theologians maintain that the command "Thou shalt not kill," would more accurately
have been translated "thou shalt not murder." If this is the case, then the problem
remains: - how could the Israelites, supposedly under God's express direction, kill
(execute) their fellow human beings? Such an execution would have to be performed in
love, without any selfish feelings, without any anger. Jesus said "Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13.
A converted, loving and selfless executioner would rather lay down his life for the person
on "death row" as did the Lord Jesus Himself, rather than take life. (Consider the stand
taken by Seventh-day Adventist Christian, Private Desmond Doss. He refused to carry a
weapon or to take life at any time, while tending to the wounded repeatedly under heavy
fire, despite being stationed in "the hell-hole of the Pacific" during the Second World War.
Private Doss repeatedly demonstrated his wil ingness to lay down his life for his friends
and for "the enemy" also.(see www.desmonddoss.com )
The Law � Upheld and Obeyed by Jesus Christ
Matthew 5:21-22
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kil ; and whosoever
shal kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shal be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shal say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say,
Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Matthew 5:17-19
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shal in no wise pass from the law, til al be fulfil ed. (19) Whosoever therefore shal break
one of these least commandments, and shal teach men so, he shall be cal ed the least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shal do and teach them, the same shal be called
great in the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus said that anyone who teaches men to break God's commandments will be cal ed
the least in the kingdom of Heaven.
But in the Old Testament, the accusation is made that God Himself ordered the Israelites
to break His law by kil ing heretics and pagans! Jesus said desire, to destroy a person's
enemies, was evidence of the wrong spirit (Luke 9:55) and the breaking of the 6th
commandment! Would Christians unknowingly accuse the Father, God Himself of having
the 'wrong spirit' and of breaking His own holy law (Matthew 5:22)?
What was Jesus example of dealing with those who hated Him and who declared
themselves to be His enemies? Whose example did Jesus say Christians would follow
when they fol owed His advice?
65

Matthew 5:44-45
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may
be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Love your
enemies."
Matthew 19:17-19
"And he said unto him, Why cal est thou me good? there is none good but one, that is,
God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (18) He saith unto him,
Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19) Honour thy father and thy mother: and,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
And the Law Upheld by Paul (the Apostle to the Gentiles)
Romans 13:9, 10
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other
commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law."
Remember, who thinks they can change God's law?
Daniel 7:25
"And he (antichrist power/king) shall speak great words against the most High, and
shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and
they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
John 16:2
"Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service."
The Vital Protestant Principle
Great Controversy, p.291
"When first constrained to separate from the English Church, the Puritans had joined
themselves together by a solemn covenant, as the Lord's free people, "to walk
together in all His ways made known or to be made known to them." --J. Brown, The
Pilgrim Fathers, page 74. Here was the true spirit of reform, the vital principle of
Protestantism.":
The true spirit of reform, the vital principle of Protestantism, is the determination to
worship God and follow His teachings as He leads. This principle is the foundation of
religious freedom whereby an individual exercises freedom to worship according to the
dictates of private conscience.
66

Freedom to Worship
God's government is based on love and freedom of choice. God forces no-one to worship
Him, for true fellowship is based on love and wil ing service. The gospel and the plan of
salvation is based on the premise that God honours an individual's choice to choose
whom they will worship. We can be certain that these statements are true by examining
the life of Jesus Christ, for Christ came to "show us the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus said:
� "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me" (Mark 8:34);
� "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15);
� "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me....And a stranger will
they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (John
10:27);
� "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are
sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matt.23.37)
� "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John.14.27)
� "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I wil give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-
30)
Concerning interactions with others, Christ emphasised love and respect for the
individual� not the application of force and coercion to achieve obedience and worship.
� "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despiteful y use you, and persecute you;"
(Matthew 5:44)
� "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him
that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy
cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him
that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to
you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do
good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to
them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners,
to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the
Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not,
and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shal be forgiven" (Luke 6:27-38)
� "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground
without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not
therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31).
� Paul added, "And be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God, for Christ's sake has forgiven you"(Ephesians 4:32).
� "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)
67

Political Freedom to Kill
While God's government offers individuals freedom of choice, some political regimes rise
to power using opposing principles. Such regimes restrict basic individual freedoms, use
coercion and assume the "right to kil " any individuals who disagree with their philosophy
e.g. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's Bolshevik's Revolution.
TimeWatch � Lenin's Secret Files; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, video, 1998)
"After the attempt on his (Lenin's) life, the Communist government
officially declared the 'Red Terror.' Industrialists, landed gentry, priests,
lawyers, even their relatives were al rounded up. Years later communist
propaganda was stil maintaining they were all agents of foreign powers.
Some were tried by revolutionary tribunals, but several hundred others
were taken to cells of the secret police and shot dead. It was then that
the regime of the one party state becomes really decisively also a terror
dictatorship and Lenin himself approves of this while he is recuperating.
During this bloodbath, Lenin was recuperating at Gorki. He thought the
Red Terror hadn't gone far enough. (Lenin said) 'Our regime is incredibly
mild - more like milk pudding than iron.' Lenin believed that in
circumstances such as war or revolution which is a form of armed
struggle, the use of terror was justified. That was why Lenin had
studied the history of the French Revolution and defended the Jacobean
terror. In December 1917, Lenin wrote an article 'How to Organise a
Socialist Competition' in which he made the case for imprisoning and
shooting the enemies of socialism. He believed that as a political
means, terror, executions, hostage-taking etc were justified and
without any limitations. These were part of the Bolshevik' party's
doctrine" (end quote BBC: 1998).
Apparently, taken from Lenin's same article, he pens the following:
"The rich and the rogues are two sides of the same coin, they are the two
principal categories of parasites which capitalism fostered; they are the
principal enemies of socialism. These enemies must be placed under the
special surveillance of the entire people; they must be ruthlessly
punished for the slightest violation of the laws and regulations of
socialist society. Any display of weakness, hesitation or sentimentality
in this respect would be an immense crime against
socialism....Variety is a guarantee of effectiveness here, a pledge of
success in achieving the single common aim--to clean the land of Russia
of all vermin, of fleas--the rogues, of bugs--the rich, and so on and so
forth. In one place half a score of rich, a dozen rogues, half a dozen
workers who shirk their work ... will be put in prison. In another place
they wil be put to cleaning latrines. In a third place they will be provided
with "yellow tickets" after they have served their time, so that everyone
shal keep an eye on them, as harmful persons, until they reform. In a
fourth place, one out of every ten idlers wil be shot on the spot. In a fifth
place mixed methods may be adopted, and by probational release, for
example, the rich, the bourgeois intel ectuals, the rogues and rowdies who
are corrigible wil be given an opportunity to reform quickly. The more
variety there will be, the better and richer will be our general experience,
the more certain and rapid will be the success of socialism, and the easier
wil it be for practice to devise--for only practice can devise--the best
methods and means of struggle"
(Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, 24-27 December ,1917)
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/dec/25.htm
68

The SBS video series, "The Celts," in episode 5 entitled "Legend and Reality," the
narrator makes the following statements:
"Oliver Cromwell was even more determined to bring the entire population
of Ireland to the Protestant faith. He had under his command the finest
army in Europe. It marched on the town of Drogheda and fired in one
day, 200 cannon bal s on the town's defences. All male, Irish combatants
were put to the sword and Cromwell justified his actions by claiming this
was a righteous judgment of God upon these barbarous wretches. The
wal s of Drogheda offered no protection."
From their website, the BBC Company -UK (The British Broadcasting Company
UK) states that:
"Oliver Cromwell rose from the middle ranks of English society to be Lord
Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, the only non-royal ever to hold
that position. He played a leading role in bringing Charles I to trial and to
execution; he undertook the most complete and the most brutal military
conquest ever undertaken by the English over their neighbours; he
championed a degree of religious freedom otherwise unknown in England
before the last one hundred years; but the experiment he led collapsed
within two years of his death, and his corpse dangled from a gibbet at
Tyburn. He was - and remains - one of the most contentious figures in
world history....For Cromwel had been converted to a strong puritan
faith, and he found living within a church still full of 'popish' ceremonies
unbearable. He yearned to be where the gospel was proclaimed and
preached unadorned. He stayed and became more radical in his
religion - he regularly preached at an illegal religious assembly and he
referred in a letter to the Bishop as 'the enemies of God His Truth'. When
the chance came, he stood for Parliament, and was returned on the
interest of a Puritan caucus, for the town of Cambridge."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/monarchs_leaders/cromwel _01.shtml
Oliver Cromwell zealously accepted the Puritan faith and through the support of the
Puritan caucus became a politician and a daring soldier with command of the strongest
army in Europe. Cromwell's history reveals that under his direction, the three vital aspects
of religion, political power and military means were combined. This powerful position
enabled the "Protestant" Cromwell to wage several brutal, supposedly 'just wars' on
Roman Catholic 'heretics.'
Cromwel 's battle plans and His logic for invading Ireland and Scotland, seem comparable
to those of Joshua's upon entering the Promised Land.
�
Cromwel ordered that all male 'combatant' residents of conquered towns were to
be kil ed, justifying this murderous action by claiming the inhabitants were
'barbarous wretches.' Joshua claimed the Canaanites 'cup of iniquity was ful ' also
and this fact justified their extermination;
�
Cromwel 's 'benevolent despotism was acceptable to a weary nation and went
uncontested.' Joshua also reigned as military and spiritual leader (despot) over
Israel;
�
Cromwel 'muzzled the press' in a manner very much as is done today, to ensure
only 'positive' PR was conveyed to the masses. Perhaps the Biblical reports of
Joshua's exploits might also have been prepared to produce 'positive PR.'
Protestants might benefit by asking themselves the question: Was Cromwell's persecution
of Catholic 'heretics' justified? Can the brutal deaths of the 'heretics' be justified in the
name of Jesus, the One who told His followers to love their enemies?
More information about Cromwel 's historical achievements can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/cromwel _oliver.shtml
69

Religious Freedom to Kill?
Just as some political regimes assume the "right" and the "freedom to kill" those who
disapprove of their political philosophy, so some religious organisations believe they too,
have a "God-given right" to impact an individual's worship choices - to the point of killing
individuals who might prove resistant to that organisation's doctrines.
Such professedly Christian organisations do not accept the crucial truth that individuals
possess the divinely-given right to choose which deity they will worship. When this
basic truth is denied, coercion and varying degrees of force are considered the right of
religious organisations to use against objectors.
Whether the "right to kill" philosophy occurs in the political or the religious arena is
irrelevant � the underlying principle (of assuming a right to "control and kil ") is alarmingly
common to both types of systems.
A global situation which threatens humanity's personal religious freedom, is predicted to
take place very close to the end of time.
Revelation 13:15-17
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast
should be killed. (16) And he causeth all, both smal and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (17) And that no man
might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of
his name."

Jesus prophesied that some religious people, in the spirit of the beast power, would
kill true Christians.
John 16:2
"Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever kil eth you will think that he doeth God service."
Matthew 10:16,17; 24:8
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves.(17) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to
the councils, and they wil scourge you in their synagogues.... (24:8) All these are the
beginning of sorrows. (9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill
you: and ye shal be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (10) And then shall many be
offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another."
Webster's Dictionary
Heretic: One who holds to a heresy; one who believes some
doctrine contrary to the established faith or prevailing religion.
The belief that an organisation has the divine right to force their religious beliefs upon
unwilling others, is an attack on the basic human right of freedom to worship. It also
forms the theological foundation of the doctrine that killing heretics is not a sin.
History repeatedly testifies that when dominant religious organisations have held such
theology, and socio-political power was available to them, then aggressive measures
have been employed against the non-believer (heretic). Aggression has been applied to
effect a change in religious beliefs and practice - to bring non-conformers (heretics) "into
line" with the existing orthodox beliefs � or to kil the objectors.
Robert C. Jones
(http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/inq/inqcont.htm#Theological%20foundations%20fo
r%20the%20Inquisition Copyright 1998) writes about the theological foundations which
were used to justify kil ing of heretics during the Inquisition.
70

The Roots of "Just War" Doctrine
The fol owing article The Roots of Just War Doctrine is found at Catholic Answers (San
Diego: Catholic Answers, 2001) and reveals the logic behind justifying war based on the
Old Testament writings. The entire article, which is a primer only, can be found at where
this extract originates: http://www.catholic.com/library/Just_war_Doctrine_1.asp
"In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us "blessed are the peacemakers" (Matt.
5:9). Elsewhere in the Sermon on the Mount he tells us "if any one strikes
you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). From such
verses some have concluded that Christianity is a pacifist religion and that
violence is never permitted. But the same Jesus elsewhere acknowledges
the legitimate use of force, telling the apostles, "let him who has no sword
sel his mantle and buy one" (Luke 22:36). How are these passages to be
reconciled? In broad terms, Christians must not love violence. They must
promote peace whenever possible and be slow to resort to the use of arms.
But they must not be afraid to do so when it is called for. Evil must not be
al owed to remain unchecked. Added weight is given to this realization
when one recognizes that Scripture -- al of Scripture -- is inspired by God
(2 Tim. 3:16). This means that the Old Testament is just as inspired as the
New Testament and thus an expression of the wil of Christ. The Old
Testament acknowledges frankly that there is "a time to kil " (Eccles. 3:3).
At various times in the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to
defend their nation by force of arms. Yet it was always with the recognition
that peace is the goal to be worked for. Thus the psalmist exclaims, "how
good and pleasant it is when brothers dwel in unity!" (Ps. 133:1). Peace is
the goal, but when it cannot be achieved without force, force must be used.
In the same way, the New Testament sets forth the goal of peace but
acknowledges the legitimate use of force. It does so by John the Baptist's
acknowledgment that Roman soldiers, whose job it was to enforce the Pax
Romana, or "Peace of Rome," could keep their jobs (Luke 3:14) and by
Paul's observation that the state "does not bear the sword in vain" but is
"God's servant for your good" (Rom. 13:4). As long as Christianity
remained a minority religion in the Roman Empire, it was not forced to put
these insights together into a formal theory of when warfare could be used.
But as Christianity grew predominant, more attention had to be devoted to
this subject. By the time of Augustine (A.D. 354-430) the need for a theory
of when warfare was just was keen, and Augustine provided one,
crystallizing biblical principles into what is now known as just war doctrine.
In the intervening centuries the theory has been refined, but its framework
remains as he gave it" (Catholic Answers, Just War Doctrine, San Diego:
Catholic Answers, 1979-2005).
The Catholic Answers article above appears to suggest that Christians ought to dislike
using violence, but that in order to keep peace, they should employ violence. There does
not appear to be any other option offered as a solution to the problem, other than to
respond with violence. What about faith in God to protect His people? Wouldn't that be
an alternative to violence?
71

Theological Foundations for the Inquisition
"The proponents of the Inquisition (and, amazingly, apologists since the Inquisition ended
in 1834), point to both Biblical and theological sources for its justification. The biblical
passages most often quoted by the early Inquisitors were from Mosaic Law, in the Old
Testament. This is, of course, somewhat questionable theology, as Mosaic Law
regarding, say, dietary restrictions were completely ignored by the Church from the 1st
century on, yet suddenly (in the 13th century), Mosaic Law seemed to be a perfectly
reasonable justification for burning thousands of people at the stake! Key passages are
quoted below (edited for brevity):
(From Deuteronomy 13 NIV) "If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears
among you...and he says, "Let us follow other gods"...That prophet or dreamer
must be put to death...You must purge the evil from among you.
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your
closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods"...do
not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield
him...You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting
him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death...Then all
Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you wil do such an evil thing
again.
If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in
that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town
astray...then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is
true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you,
you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. Destroy it
completely, both its people and its livestock.
Gather al the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and
completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD
your God. It is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt."
(From Exodus 22:18 NIV) "Do not allow a sorceress to live."
(Robert C Jones continued)
"Many of the elements found in the aforementioned extracts from Mosaic Law would later
be closely emulated by the Inquisition, including:
� "Purging" of "prophets and dreamers" (the charge that lead to the death of Joan of
Arc)
� Family members in the Inquisition were encouraged to testify against each other
� Putting to death heretics as an example to others
� The guidance to "inquire, probe and investigate" towns that have gone astray could
be a job description for later Inquisitors!
� Destruction of whole towns, to wipe out heresy
It was much more difficult for the proponents of the Inquisition to find New Testament
justification for their acts. The most often quoted New Testament verse is from John 15:
(John 15:6 NIV) "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown
away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."
72

(Robert C Jones continued)
"The methods of the Inquisition were also given blessing from the most renowned
Catholic theologians of the time, as the fol owing startling passages from Saint Thomas
Aquinas' (1225? � 1274 A.D.) massive theological work Summa Theologica show.
Aquinas, a Dominican monk, is generally considered to be the greatest Catholic
theologian since Augustine in the 4/5th centuries � and Aquinas talks of the extermination
of heretics:
"P(2b)-Q(11)-A(3) ...Wherefore if forgers of money and other evil-doers are
forthwith condemned to death by the secular authority, much more reason is there
for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only
excommunicated but even put to death.
On the part of the Church, however, there is mercy which looks to the conversion
of the wanderer, wherefore she condemns not at once, but "after the first and
second admonition," as the Apostle directs: after that, if he is yet stubborn, the
Church no longer hoping for his conversion, looks to the salvation of others, by
excommunicating him and separating him from the Church, and furthermore
delivers him to the secular tribunal to be exterminated thereby from the world
by death...Arius was but one spark in Alexandria, but as that spark was not at
once put out, the whole earth was laid waste by its flame." ("Summa Theologica -
Vol. 3 - The Second Part Of The Second Part (Part I)" by Thomas Aquinas, p. 150).
end quote Robert C Jones, Copyright 1998.
http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/inq/inqcont.htm#Theological%20foundations
%20for%20the%20Inquisition
The Catholic Encylopedia.
"To understand the word anathema", says Vigouroux, "we should first go back to the real
meaning of herem of which it is the equivalent. Herem comes from the word haram, to cut
off, to separate, to curse, and indicates that which is cursed and condemned to be cut off
or exterminated, whether a person or a thing, and in consequence, that which man is
forbidden to make use of." This is the sense of anathema in the following passage from
Deut., vii, 26: "Neither shalt thou bring anything of the idol into thy house, lest thou
become an anathema like it. Thou shalt detest it as dung, and shalt utterly abhor it as
uncleanness and filth, because it is an anathema." Nations, individuals, animals, and
inanimate objects may become anathema, i.e. cursed and devoted to destruction. It was
thus that the people inhabiting the Promised Land were anathematized as Moses says
(Deuteronomy 7:1, 2): "When . . . the Lord thy God shall have delivered them to thee, thou
shalt utterly destroy them." When a people was anathematized by the Lord, they were to
be entirely exterminated. Saul was rejected by God for having spared Agag, King of the
Amalecites, amid the greater part of the booty (I K. xv, 9-23). Anyone who spared
anything belonging to a man who had been declared anathema, became himself
anathema. There is the story of Achan who had charge of the spoils of Jericho: "The
anathema is in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thy enemies till he
be destroyed out of thee that is defiled with this wickedness." Achan, with his family amid
herds, was stoned to death. Sometimes it is cities that are anathematized. When the
anathema is rigorous al the inhabitants are to be exterminated, the city burned, and
permission denied ever to rebuild it, and its riches offered to Jehovah. This was the fate of
Jericho (Joshua 6:17). If it is less strict, all the inhabitants are to be put to death, but the
herds may be divided among the victors (Joshua 8:27). The obligation of killing all
inhabitants occasionally admits of exceptions in the case of young girls who remain
captives in the hands of the conquerors (Numbers 31:18). The severity of the anathema
in the Old Testament is explained by the necessity there was of preserving the
Jewish people and protecting them against the idolatry professed by the
neighbouring pagans. (end quote) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01455e.htm
73

Some quotations from the Islamic holy book reveal similar sentiments toward heretics.
The Koran (Qur'an)
Sura (chapter) 2:216
"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing
which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and
ye know not ."
Sura 9:5
"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye
find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of
war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then
open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful ."
Sura 2:190.
"Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loveth
not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from
where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter"
Sura 8:12,13
"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness
to the believers. I will instil terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite ye above their
necks and smite all their fingertips off them. This because they contended against
God and His Apostle. If any contend against God and his Apostle, God is strict in
punishment... O ye who believe! When ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array, never
turn your backs to them. If any do turn his back to them on such a day-unless it be in
a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own) - he draws on himself the wrath
of God, and his abode is hell, - an evil refuge (indeed)! It is not ye who slew them; it
was God."
Sura 61:4,11-13
"Truly God loves those who fight in His cause in battle array, as if they were a solid
cemented structure ... that ye believe in God and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your
utmost) in the cause of God, with your property and your persons. That will be best for
you, if ye but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to gardens
[Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in gardens of eternity.
That is indeed the supreme achievement. And another (favor will He bestow), which ye do
love-help from God and a speedy victory. So give the glad tidings to the believers."
The Sydney Morning Herald,(internet edition) reported that outspoken Melbourne
Muslim cleric Abu Bakr was arrested on 8 November 2005 for belonging to a terrorist
group. Some quotes from the news report are:
Bakr defended Muslims fighting against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
and said anyone who fought in the name of Allah would be forgiven their sins.... He
also said Muslims faced a problem in Australia as to whether to obey Australian or Islamic
laws....."There are two laws, there is Australian law, there is Islamic law," Bakr
said....On other religions, he said: "I am not only against the Jew. I am against
anyone who try to harm my religion." http://smh.com.au/news/national/muslim-
cleric-arrested-in-raids/2005/11/08/1131212033239.html
12 July, 2001: A state-run Ugandan newspaper reported that people in northeastern
Congo have kil ed more than 800 suspected witches, during June and July. Diseases are
common in the area; some of the the public accused "witches" of spreading disease. [The
term "witch" in Africa normal y means a person accused of evil sorcery. The same word in
North America normally means a Wiccan or other Neopagan. The two terms are
unrelated.] http://www.religioustolerance.org/news_01jul.htm
74

The Roman Catholic Religion
Directorium Inquisitorum was written in 1376 by the church's Inquisitor General, Nicolas
Eymeric. T
he D
irectorium Inquisitorum b
ecame the handbook of procedure for the
Spanish Inquisition for over a century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at
Barcelona in 1503 and one in Rome in 1578.
"The Directorium Inquisitorum defined witchcraft, and described means for
discovering witches. In compiling the book, Eymeric used many of the
magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerors.....In
addition to describing common magical practices, Eymeric also described
means of extracting a confession which included primitive psychological
manipulation

as

wel

as

outright
torture."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Eymeric
Here follows a summary of the Directorium Inquisitorum (translated by J. P.
Cal ender, 1838):
"He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy teaches...
. A heretic merits the pains of fire.... By the Gospel, the canons, civil
law, and custom, heretics must be burned.... For the suspicion alone of
heresy, purgation is demanded.... Magistrates who refuse to take the oath
for defense of the faith shall be suspected of heresy.... Wars may be
commenced by the authority of the Church.... Indulgences for the
remission of all sin belong to those who signed with the cross for the
persecution of heretics.... Every individual may kill a heretic. Persons
who betray heretics shall be rewarded.... Heretics may be forced to
profess the Roman faith.... A heretic, as he sins in all places, may
everywhere be judged.... Heretics must be sought after, and be
corrected or exterminated....Heretics enjoy no privileges in law or
equity.... The goods of heretics are to be considered as confiscated from
the perpetration of the crime... The pope can enact new articles of faith....
Definitions of popes and councils are to be received as infallible...
.Inquisitors may torture witnesses to obtain the truth.... It is laudable
to torture those of every class who are guilty of heresy.... The Pope
has power over infidels.... The Church may make war with infidels....
Those who are strongly suspected are to be reputed as heretics.... He
who does not inform against heretics shall be deemed as suspected....
Inquisitors may allow heretics to witness against heretics, but not for
them.... Inquisitors must not publish the names of informers, witnesses,
and accusers.... Penitent heretics may be condemned to perpetual
imprisonment.... Inquisitors may provide for their own expenditures, and
the salaries of their officers, from the property of heretics.... Inquisitors
enjoy the benefits of a plenary indulgence [a full papal forgiveness of
sin] at al times in life, and in death." (F.Tupper Saussy, Rulers of Evil,)
http://www.rulersofevil.com/chap8.html
The Catholic Church has never renounced its past practice of kil ing people that it
considers to be heretics. On the contrary, the Office of the Inquisition stil exists. It is part
of the Roman Curia (the group of men who govern the Catholic Church). In 1965, its
name was changed to "The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith". It is headed by
Cardinal

Ratzinger
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm
then select "Profile." (Note: Cardinal Ratzinger is currently the present Pope -2005).
75

Catechism of the council of Trent on the Fifth (sic) Commandment, "thou
shal not kill":"[T]o the civil authorities... is entrusted power of life and death,
by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect
the innocent. The just use of this power, far from involving the crime of
murder, is an act of paramount obedience to this Commandment which
prohibits murder. The end of the Commandment- is the preservation
and security of human life. Now the punishments inflicted by the civil
authority, which is the legitimate avenger of crime, natural y tend to this end,
since they give security to life by repressing outrage and violence. Hence
these words of David: In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the
land, that I might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the
Lord."
K
illing In A J ust War
"In like manner, the soldier is guiltless who, actuated not by motives of
ambition or cruelty, but by a pure desire of serving the interests of his
country, takes away the life of an enemy in a just war." [This catechism was
prepared in response to a decree of the council in 1563. For more on the
Council of Trent (1545-1563) see the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.]
Catholic Answers, "Just War Doctrine" (San Diego: Catholic Answers, 1979-
2005) "Even with the smartest of smart munitions, it is not possible to ensure
that no non-combatants will be harmed in wartime. As tragic as it is, col ateral
damage to innocents is an inescapable consequence of war. Catholic
theology recognizes this. It applies to such situations a well-established
principle known as the law of double-effect. According to this law it is
permissible to undertake an action which has two effects, one good and one
evil,

provided

that

certain

conditions

are

met."
http://www.catholic.com/library/Just_war_Doctrine_1.asp
3. Catechism of Pope St. Pius the Tenth:
Q: "Are there cases in which it is lawful to kill?
A: It is lawful to kill when fighting in a just war; when carrying out by
order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a
crime; and, finally, in cases of necessary and lawful defense of one's own
life against an unjust aggressor." [Published in 1905. See the catholic
encyclopedia on Pope Pius X.]
The Bible
Exodus 15:3
"Yahweh is a man of war."
If God is a man of war, it is most certainly NOT a "man of war" to which humanity is
accustomed.
Leviticus 20:13
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed
an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Did the One True God order Moses to instruct non-homosexual sinful human beings to
murder their homosexual relatives? Did Jesus ever require such a penalty for sexual sin?
The following article highlights the problems which "killer-god" mentality and its
accompanying doctrines cause. The article appears on Adventist4Truth website:
http://www.adventist4truth.com/index2.php?NewsPages=court_says_bible_hate_lit
LifeSite Daily News
76

Monday February 10, 2003
Court Agrees with Human Rights Tribunal That Bible = Hate Literature
Christian Leader Warns Ruling Shows Danger of Proposed Changes to Hate Laws
REGINA, February 10, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a ruling given virtually no media
coverage, the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatchewan, ruled that a man who placed
references to Bible verses on homosexuality into a newspaper ad was guilty of inciting
hatred. The December 11, 2002 decision was in response to an appeal of a 2001
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (HRC) ruling which ordered both the
Saskatoon StarPhoenix newspaper and Hugh Owens of Regina to pay $1,500 to three
homosexual activists for publishing an ad in the Saskatoon newspaper quoting bible
verses regarding homosexuality.
The purpose of the ad was to indicate that the Bible says no to homosexual behaviour.
The advertisement displayed references to four Bible passages:
Romans 1, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, on the left side. An
equal sign (=) was situated in the middle, with a symbol on the right side. The symbol was
comprised of two males holding hands with the universal symbol of a red circle with a
diagonal bar superimposed over top.
Justice J. Barclay rejected the appeal ruling: "In my view, the Board was correct in
concluding that the advertisement can objectively be seen as exposing homosexuals to
hatred or ridicule. When the use of the circle and slash is combined with the passages of
the Bible, it exposes homosexuals to detestation, vilification and disgrace. In other words,
the Biblical passage (sic) which suggest that if a man lies with a man they must be put to
death exposes homosexuals to hatred."
Janet Epp Buckingham, Legal Counsel for the Evangelical Fel owship of Canada told
LifeSite that "The ruling that a verse from the Bible can be considered to expose
homosexuals to hatred shows the danger for Scripture if Bil C-250 passes." Bil , C-250,
proposed by homosexual activist MP Svend Robinson would see "sexual orientation"
added to hate crime law as a prohibited ground of discrimination.
See the ruling online at: http://www.canlii.org/sk/cas/skqb/2002/2002skqb506.html
Homosexual Rights Trump Religious Rights Provincial Rights Court Rules
http://www.lsn.ca/ldn/2001/june/010619.html
For more information on Bill C-250 see:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/oct/02102801.html
In direct contrast to the Mosiac law (which supposedly required the stoning of
homosexuals and sexual sinners), Jesus revealed a compassionate response; a loving
acceptance - conspicuously devoid of any condemnation. Christ did not condone sexual
sin � or any sin, but He loved sinners and His love prompted repentance and restoration.
Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:.... I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly"
(John 10:5, 10).
77

Rules and Rewards of "Holy" Wars
H
oly Warriors Curse Heretics (th
ose who disagree with their theology)
From the Koran
Sura 9:29-31
"Fight those who believe not in God nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden which hath
been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if
they are) of the people of the Book [Christians and Jews], until they pay the jizya [tribute]
with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. The Jews call Uzair [Ezra] a son of
God, and the Christians call Christ the Son of God ... God's curse be on them."
The Roman Catholic Religion
Pope John Paul II issued a new edition of Roman Catholic Canon Law in 1983. According
to Canon 1311, The Catholic Church has the right to coerce members of "the Christian
faithful" who fail to comply with Canon Law. According to Roman Catholic declaration,
heresy is disagreement with Catholic doctrine. This is considered a crime. The Council of
Trent (1545-1563), and other Catholic Church councils, declare that anyone who
disagrees with any of the church's doctrinal statements is anathematised.
When a heretic is anathematised (cursed) by the Pope, he is classified and sentenced as
a guilty criminal. The "Catholic Encyclopedia" claims that the ritual of declaring an
anathema is intended to terrify the offender and cause him to repent (recant his
opposing beliefs and to accept the doctrine of the Catholic church). For more information
concerning heretics and their treatment at the hands of the Roman Catholic church, read
ex-nun Mary Ann Collins' article cal ed "Hunting Heretics" on
http://www.catholicconcerns.com/Heretics.html
Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy11:27, 2; 30:19
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you
this day: (28) And a curse, if ye wil not obey the commandments of the LORD your God,
but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which
ye have not known....I cal heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and
thy seed may live."
Genesis 12:3
"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall
all families of the earth be blessed."
Numbers 5:20-22
"But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and
some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: (21) Then the priest shal charge
the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD
make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy
thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; (22) And this water that causeth the curse shall
go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman
shal say, Amen, amen."
As admitted in the Catholic Encyclopedia, fear is used to "terrify the criminal," so
too fear was employed to terrify the Israelites into abiding by the principles of their
national religion. The application of fear is a constant factor in all coercive
religions.
78

H
oly Warriors Punish Heretics N
ow -
(God punishes them later)
The Koran
Sura 5:36-38
"The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Apostle, and strive with
might and main for mischief through the land is execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting
off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land. That is their
disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the hereafter, except for
those who repent before they fall into your power. In that case, know that God is oft-
forgiving, most merciful. O ye who believe! Do your duty to God. Seek the means of
approach unto Him, and strive with might and main in His cause, that ye may prosper."
The Roman Catholic Religion
The anathemas (curses) regarding "heretics" declared at the Council of Trent (1545-1563)
have never been revoked. In fact, the declarations of the Council of Trent were confirmed
by both the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the official "Catechism of the
Catholic Church" (1992) authorised by Pope John Paul 2nd. Refer to Mary Ann Collins
(former nun), articles at http://www.catholicconcerns.com/Trent.html
The Catholic Church has never renounced its "right" to punish "heretics." The Office of
the Inquisition still exists as "The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." The office
underwent a name change in 1965. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is part
of the Roman Curia (a group of men who govern the Catholic Church). It was previously
headed by Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now (2005) Pope Benedict XVI.
On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII issued a papal bull defining the dogma of the
Assumption of Mary. He concluded that it is forbidden for any person to oppose his
declaration and that any person who attempted to oppose the dogma would incur the
wrath of God and the wrath of the Apostles Peter and Paul.(Read encyclical at
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/P12MUNIF.HTM)
For more information
concerning heretics and their treatment at the hands of the Roman Catholic church, read
ex-nun Mary Ann Collins' article cal ed "Hunting Heretics" on
http://www.catholicconcerns.com/Heretics.html
The Catholic Encyclopedia
"A Council of Tours desires that after three warnings there be recited in chorus Psalm
cvii against the usurper of the goods of the Church, that he may fal into the curse of
Judas, and "that he may be not only excommunicated, but anathematized, and that he
may be stricken by the sword of Heaven."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01455e.htm
Statements by Pope John Paul II on the Sept. 11 attacks
http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/wlegitimate_defense.htm

"Is there anything in scripture that indicates the authority of government
includes punishing the guilty or protecting the innocent?"

"Rom. 13:3-4 "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you
wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you wil
receive its approval; for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is
wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain!
It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. " NRSV, see NAB
79

Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy 20:13.
"And when Yahweh thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every
male thereof with the edge of the sword."
Deuteronomy 13:6-13
"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom,
or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve
other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; (7) Namely, of the gods of
the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one
end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (8) Thou shalt not consent unto
him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare,
neither shalt thou conceal him: (9) But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first
upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. (10) And thou
shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from
the LORD thy God..."
Psalm 137:9
"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."
Judges 2:13-15
"And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. (14) And the anger of the
LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that
spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they
could not any longer stand before their enemies. (15) Whithersoever they went out, the
hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD
had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed."
Revelation 9:20; 14:9,10
"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the
works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver,
and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: (14:9) And
the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup
of his indignation; and he shal be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."
"Fire and brimstone" sermons were often employed to utilise the fear of "burning
forever in hell" to terrify congregations into obeying religious traditions, but:
Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:.... I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly"
(John 10:5, 10).
80

Holy Warriors Do Not Sin when Killing Heretics
The Koran (Sura 9:5)
"When the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye
find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every
stratagem (of war). But if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice
regular charity become Moslem], then open the way for them."
Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi (Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University)
"Rather, the issue is the teachings of the Koran which cal for the
suppression and extermination of those who practice a different religion..."By
teaching that those who die fighting for the cause of Allah will have their
sins forgiven and are admitted into the pleasure of Paradise, the Koran
has inspired Muslims throughout the centuries to fight unto death for the
cause of Allah." www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html )
The Roman Catholic Religion
Statement made by a nun at a Catholic girls' school near Los Angeles, 1965:
"Anybody who is not a Catholic is a heretic! And God doesn't want heretics on the earth
because they try to destroy the Holy Mother Church! It is not a sin to kill heretics,
because it is God's way of removing them from the earth." The young Catholic adults
of today who were exposed to programming technique back in the 1960's have had these
seeds planted in their minds in preparation for the "final purification" (Alberto Rivera, ex-
Jesuit priest, in Four Horsemen p 4; published by Chick Publications Inc; Ontario: 1985).
Directorium Inquisitorum (written 1376, reprinted 1584) dedicated to Pope Gregory XIII,
(translated by J. P. Cal ender, 1838):
"He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy teaches.... A
heretic merits the pains of fire.... By the Gospel, the canons, civil law, and
custom, heretics must be burned...Inquisitors enjoy the benefits of a
plenary indulgence [a full papal forgiveness of sin] at all times in life, and
in death." http://www.rulersofevil.com/chap8.html
Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy 12:2, 3
"Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shal possess served
their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: (3)
And ye shal overthrow their altars, and break their pil ars, and burn their groves with fire;
and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them
out of that place."
Joshua 24:19-21
"And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is
a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. (20) If ye
forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and
consume you, after that he hath done you good. (21) And the people said unto Joshua,
Nay; but we wil serve the LORD."
Following this declaration, the Israelites began to destroy many Canaanites. Killing
idolaters was clearly not considered to be a sinful act; in fact, the opposite view
was taken. It was considered a sin � NOT to destroy idolaters. The surrounding
nations were slaughtered mercilessly (Deut 13:8; Isa 13:18) men, women, little
children, infants, animals. Some kings went further "and all the women therein that
were with child he ripped up" (2 Kings 15:16; Hosea 13:16). These violent practices
were also engaged in by the heathen nations (Amos 1:3). Did the heathen nations
"murder in sin," while the Israelites "murdered in righteousness?"
81

Holy Warriors Organise a Holy Army
The Koran
"A most compelling proof that Muhammad taught his followers to advance the cause of
Allah by the use of the sword, is provided by the example of his immediate successors,
known as Califs. They fol owed his intense fanaticism in waging relentless wars of
conquests against Christians, Jews, and pagans. In a relatively short time they carved an
enormous empire for themselves. At the height of their power, the Muslims' territories
stretched from northern Africa and southern Europe in the West to the borders of modern
India and China in the East. Their battle cry was: 'Before you is paradise, and behind you
are death and hell.'" http://www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html

The Roman Catholic Church
The Jesuit Extreme Oath is taken by key Jesuits. Following the Vatican 2 Council (1962-
1965), the Jesuit Generals and the members of the Congregation of the Holy Office (the
office of the Inquisition) pledged to wage war secretly or openly, on al "heretics" (Alberto
Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest, quoted in the Four Horsemen p 5,6; published by Chick
Publications Inc; Ontario: 1985).
Foxe's Book of Martyrs, p 333-337 (concerning the Irish Massacre in 1641)
"The great design was that ... all the protestants without exception should
be murdered. The day fixed for this horrid massacre was the 23rd of
October, 1641.... The conspirators were in arms all over the kingdom
early in the morning of the day appointed, and every protestant that fell
into their way was murdered ... no age, no sex, no condition were
spared.... The whole country was one common scene of butchery, and
many thousands perished, in a short time, by sword, famine, fire, water,
and every species of cruel death that rage and malice could invent
....When an estimate was afterward made of the number who were
sacrificed ... it amounted to 150,000."
Old Testament - The Bible
Numbers 26:1-2
"And it came to pass after the plague, that Yahweh spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar
the son of Aaron the priest, saying, Take the sum of al the congregation of the children of
Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their father's house, all that are able
to go to war in Israel."
Jesus said,
"My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom
not from hence" (John 18:36).
82

Holy Warriors Demand Holy Tribute
The Koran
Sura 9:29-31
"Fight those who believe not in God ... nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they
are) of the people of the Book [Christians and Jews], until they pay the jizya [tribute] with
wil ing submission, and feel themselves subdued...".
The Roman Catholic Religion
Pope John Paul II issued a new edition of Roman Catholic Canon Law in 1983. Canon
#1312 says that offences can be punished by depriving people of spiritual goods (such as
the sacraments) and temporal goods (such as property, freedom, and other things relating
to life in this world). "Code of Canon Law," page 409, Canons 1311 and 1312., beginning
of Book VI. http://www.rulersofevil.com/chap8.html
Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy 20:10-13.
"When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it
shal be, if it make thee an answer of peace, and open its gates unto thee, then it shall be,
that al the people that are found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall
serve thee."
Joshua 9:20,21
"This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the
oath which we sware unto them. (21) And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but
let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes
had promised them."
Judges 1:30
"Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but
the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries."
2 Corinthians 9:7
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
83

Holy Warriors Gain Expanded Territory/Holy Land
The Koran
http://www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html
"A most compelling proof that Muhammad taught his followers to advance the cause
of Allah by the use of the sword, is provided by the example of his immediate successors,
known as Califs. They fol owed his intense fanaticism in waging relentless wars of
conquests against Christians, Jews, and pagans. In a relatively short time they carved an
enormous empire for themselves. At the height of their power, the Muslims' territories
stretched from northern Africa and southern Europe in the West to the borders of modern
India and China in the East. Their battle cry was: 'Before you is paradise, and behind you
are death and hell.'"

The Roman Catholic Religion
In 337 AD, Pope Stephen 2 was given the city of Rome and a limited amount of the
surrounding land by King Pepin, whom they had deceived into thinking that St. Peter
himself wrote a letter (brought down from heaven) especial y for him The letter instructed
King Pepin to fight for the Pope against the barbarians. After King Pepin died the Pope
claimed that Pepin had given the Vatican al of Italy. Under Pope Hadrian 1, the Catholic
leaders forged another document cal ed The "Donations of Constantine," which claimed
that Constantine had made the popes heir to the entire Roman Empire. Pepin's
successor, King Charlemagne believed the lie and other kings and emperors also
accepted that the church was the rightful successor to the empire, both spiritually and
politically. (Alberto Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest, quoted in the Four Horsemen p 12,13
published by Chick Publications Inc; Ontario: 1985).
Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy 18:9; 19:1,2;25:19
"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not
learn to do after the abominations of those nations .(19:1) When the LORD thy God hath
cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them,
and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; (20) Thou shalt separate three cities for
thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. (25:19)
Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies
round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to
possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou
shalt not forget it."
84

Holy Warriors Win the Women (Concubines)
From the Koran
Sura 33:50
"O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers,
and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom God
has assigned to thee ... For the believers (at large), We know that We have appointed
for them as to their wives and the captives whom their right hands possess..."
Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi (Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University) comments
on this text from the Koran - Sura 33:50:
"One of the benefits of fighting for the cause of Islam is the permission to
take captured women as concubines, in addition to several legitimate
wives.... The notion that God would assign captured women as
concubines to Muslim believers who fight for His cause, hardly reflect
high moral standards of the Islam faith. Polygamy and servile
concubinage have destroyed the dignity of women and the beauty of the
home. In this areas the infinite superiority of Christianity is clearly
evident."(http://www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html )
Note: The Old Testament Israelites must not have practised "Christian principles" as Dr
Bacchiocchi outlines above, because the Israelite warriors were authorised supposedly by
God to take many thousands of concubines as captives after being victorious against the
pagan nations in war. These women were not necessarily kept permanently, but could be
"divorced" or sent away (Deut 21:10-14; Judges 21:12; Numbers 31:18; Ezra 9, 10).
The Roman Catholic Religion
To investigate the ritualised abuse of women in the Catholic church, refer to "the Nun's
Story" by ex-nun, Sister Charlotte. Audio file available from www.adventist4truth.com
Old Testament - The Bible
Judges 21:10-12
"And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and
commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of
the sword, with the women and the children. (11) And this is the thing that ye shal do, Ye
shal utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man. (12) And they
found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known
no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is
in the land of Canaan."
Numbers 31:17, 18, 32, 35, 40, 41
"Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kil every woman that hath
known man by lying with him. (18) But all the women children, that have not known a man
by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.....(32) And the booty, being the rest of the
prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand
and five thousand sheep...(35) And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that
had not known man by lying with him. (40) And the persons were sixteen thousand; of
which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons. (41) And Moses gave the tribute,
which was the LORD'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded
Moses."
85

Deuteronomy 21:10-14
"When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath
delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, (11) And seest among
the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to
thy wife; (12) Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shal shave her
head, and pare her nails; (13) And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her,
and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and
after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. (14)
And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will;
but thou shalt not sell her at al for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her,
because thou hast humbled her."
Jesus
In stark contrast to the treatment of women by organised religions, Jesus treated women
� even those who were "sinners" (outcasts of society e.g. prostitutes) - with respect and
offered them freedom.
Mark 2:16
"And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said
unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?"
John 8:3-11
"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when
they had set her in the midst, (4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in
adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be
stoned: but what sayest thou? (6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to
accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though
he heard them not. (7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said
unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And
again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (9) And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even
unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (10) When
Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman,
where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man,
Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
Mark 14:3-9
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a
woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the
box, and poured it on his head. (4) And there were some that had indignation within
themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? (5) For it might have
been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they
murmured against her. (6) And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath
wrought a good work on me. (7) For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever
ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. (8) She hath done what she
could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. (9) Verily I say unto you,
Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she
hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
86

Why Do Religious Organisations Kill Heretics?
History testifies the world-wide phenomenom, practiced both in the past and in the
present, to kill those who do not agree with the policies or doctrines of those in power.
In his commmentary from the film Fahrenheit 9-11, Michael Moore quotes satirical author
George Orwell who clearly portrays the object of murdering 'heretics' is survival of the
heirarchial structure. Orwell states:
"It's not a matter of whether the war is not real or if it is. Victory is not
possible. The war is not meant to be won. It is meant to be
continuous. A heriarchical society is only possible on the basis of
poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different
past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always
planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged
by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the
victory over either Eur-Asia or East Asia but to keep the very structure
of society intact."
According to the laws of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, kil ing heretics, is not
just (justified).
Founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey outlined in The Satanic Bible:
"Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek"
(Barrett, 2001:343).
Dissenters (heretics) interfere with the ability of organisations to achieve certain
goals. Therefore dissenters are "removed."
The Koran
Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University.
Muhammad said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say,
'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has
the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me
except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah (either to punish him
or to forgive him.)" (4:196 ). The order is clear. Muslims had to fight people
until they became Muslims. http://www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html
The Roman Catholic Religion
Mary Ann Col ins, ex-nun states:
"Augustine lived from 354 to 430 A.D. He had a vision of an ideal society, with the
Roman Catholic Church at its center, governing all aspects of human life. His
ideal society required conformity in belief and practice. Augustine taught that
it was right and necessary for the Catholic Church to make this happen, even if
it meant coercing people to comply. This laid the theological foundation for
persecuting "heretics" and for the Inquisition. [Note 1 Paul Johnson, "A History
of Christianity" (New York: Touchstone, Simon & Schuster, 1995), pages 112-119.
Paul Johnson is a Catholic and a prominent historian. Bruce L. Shelley, "Church
History in Plain Language," Updated 2nd Edition (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1995), page 128.)]
For over a thousand years, the Roman Catholic Church hunted down "heretics" and
killed them. Some of these "heretics" were people with strange beliefs. But, as we
shal see later, many of them were Bible-believing Christians (Mary Ann Collins, ex-
nun) http://www.catholicconcerns.com/Heretics.html
87

Old Testament - The Bible
Deuteronomy 12:1-4; 13:6-10
"These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shal observe to do in the land, which
the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the
earth. (2) Ye shal utterly destroy al the places, wherein the nations which ye shall
possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every
green tree: (3) And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their
groves with fire; and ye shal hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the
names of them out of that place. (4) Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God." (13:6)
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom,
or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and
serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; (7) Namely, of the
gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from
the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (8) Thou shalt not consent
unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare,
neither shalt thou conceal him: (9) But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first
upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. (10) And thou
shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from
the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of
bondage."
The ten commandments state, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me" (Exodus 20:3).
The Mosiac "rules" stated that no worship, other than of Yahweh, was permitted on pain of
death (Deut 13:6-10). Violent threats of suffering the death penalty � not freedom of
choice � dictated the worship services in the Israelite nation when they settled in the
Promised Land, just as despotic governments likewise enforce today. While this law is in
effect, there is no freedom to worship as one choses on an individual basis. In the ancient
Jewish system, the death penalty � not the appealing love of Yahweh - encouraged
worshippers to abide by the state religion.
The Israelites' misconception of the gospel is clearly revealed - they thought God would
be pleased with coerced worship, which is a form of legalism (works). The Israelites knew
that to worship a pagan god meant execution by stoning. Is it possible that Yahweh's
worshippers had any concept of the loving character of God? Is it possible that they
could offer Him worship based on their loving response to Him, whose character they
thought was violent and ful of wrath?
In the first century Jewish nation, the Roman government consented to the church
leaders' demands and processed the execution of Jesus. Jesus was crucified as a
heretic because He would not accept the traditionally held doctrines of the Jewish religion
as being sacred. The Jewish leaders declared, "Crucify Him.... We have no king but
Caesar" (Matthew 15:13,14; John 19:15). They declared, that in the interests of national
security, it would not be considered sinful to murder Jesus.
John 11:50
"Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that
the whole nation perish not."
Present Day Examples
In the film Fahrenheit 9/11, USA President George W Bush commented on the death of
American soldiers in the Iraqi War. A loud ovation followed his remark.
"They died in a just war for defending freedom and they wil not have died in vain."
Dick Cheyney's remark, from the same film was even more revealing. Was he advocating
a ju
st war when regarding the 'enemy,' he stated,
"The struggle will only end with their complete and permanent destruction" ?
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Character Assassination in Heaven
The Father is the Sovereign of universe. The Son of God has always existed in the Father
(Heb 7:9), but at some point in eternity, He was begotten or brought forth from the Father
(Pro 8:22-30; 30:4; John 1:3; Heb 1:1-8) and although He was as equally as divine as His
Father (Heb 1:8; Ps 2:7), by faith Christ voluntarily accepted His position and freely chose
to remained 2nd in authority to His Father (1 Cor 15:27, 28: John 14:28). Christ never
wanted to grasp equality with His Father (Phil 2:6), despite also being omnipotent (i.e. as
equally as powerful as the Father) (Matt 20:28; John 5:26,27).
However, a created being, an angel named Lucifer, did want to grasp equality with the
Father and Son. He rebel ed (Rev 12:7; Isa 14:14) and set about to undermine the divine
government by distorting the truth about God's character and His holy law. In short, he
invited the sinister strategy of character assassination and set about to discredit the pure
and holy name of God.
Lucifer told the angels convincing lies about the character of the Father. So convincing
were these lies, that eventually one third of God's angels sided with Lucifer and lost their
place in heaven (Rev 12:14). His strategy of character assassination had been only
partial y-successful with the angels. God's law of love and freedom demanded a second
trial or chance so that no doubt about the truth of God's character would be left in the
universe. Satan set about improving the strategy which today appears to have become a
raging success.
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Character Assassination on Earth
Signs of the Times 18 September,1893 p1
"Satan is continually seeking to influence human minds by his subtle arts. His is a master
mind, given of God, but prostituted with all its noble capabilities to oppose and to make of
no effect the counsels of the Most High. He had an advanced experience in his
connection with the God of heaven, and he wields his knowledge of the attributes of God
in such a way as to misinterpret the divine character. Satan was an apostate, and al who
follow in the way of apostasy wil work in the same lines of evil. There was a time when
Satan was in harmony with God, and it was his joy to execute the divine commands. His
heart was filled with love and joy in serving his Creator, until he began to think that his
wisdom was not derived from God, but was inherent in himself, and that he was as worthy
as was God to receive honor and power. When he found that he could not be as God, he
was filled with rebellion, and would not submit his will to the wil of God."
Banished from heaven, Lucifer then set about tempting beings on unfal en worlds (Job
1:6,7; Heb 11:3; 1:2) Eventually Lucifer focused the same deceptive strategy on humanity
with greater success than he experienced in heaven with the angels. The question of
doubt was placed into Eve's heart, when at the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the
serpent said,"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shal be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3:5) The insinuation was
made, that IF God was so loving, He wouldn't ban them from eating from the very tree that
would give them wisdom equal to God's wisdom.
Genesis 3:6
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did
eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
Deceived into a faulty understanding of God's loving character, Eve reasoned that God
must want to keep her and her husband in ignorant subjection. Eve first wondered, then
doubted if God was completely loving. She then believed God was not as loving as she
had originally thought. That misinformation caused her tragic downfal .
So Lucifer's strategy of assassination of God's character, worked perfectly on one third of
the unfal en angels and then on sinless humanity. Satan had successfully used the
character assassination strategy to cause two different creations to commit mutiny against
God.
Is it likely that such a successful strategy would be discarded by Lucifer or might we be
reasonably sure that Lucifer has "honed it to perfection" over six thousand years? Isn't it
logical to think that character assassination would be the main strategy that Satan would
use in his war to dethrone God?
According to two prominent Seventh-day Adventist evangelists, AT Jones and EJ
Waggoner, Satan indeed used character misrepresentation to war against God.
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AT Jones, 14 The Spirit of Christ as Manifested in His Work for the Salvation of
Man, page 14 para 17
"The deception of man led him to put self in the place of God, and
the mind and word of Satan in the place of the mind and word of
God. This led to the perversion of man's ideas concerning God, and
the receiving of Satan's ideas and suggestions as the true ideas
concerning God. It led to the setting of God in a totally false light in
the estimation of man. It led mankind to look upon God as a hard
master, a despotic governor, and a stern, impassive, unmerciful
judge. Over and over, the Lord set forth His Word to the contrary.
To Moses He declared Himself to be "merciful and gracious, long-
suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." In His law He
set forth His character as "LOVE." Yet, for all this, mankind still
followed perverted ideas of God.....He (the Son) emptied Himself that
the Father might appear in Him. And when He emptied Himself, the
Father did appear in Him. He was 'God manifest in the flesh,' 'God with
us.' But He did all this that men might know the Father as He really is."
EJ Waggoner, ch 24 The Unconquerable Life, p24 para 3
"Satan, the ruler of the darkness of this world, had done his utmost
to deceive men as to the true character of God. He had made the
world believe that God was like men--cruel, vindictive, and
passionate. Even the Jews, the people whom God had chosen to be
the bearers of His light to the world, had departed from God, and
while professedly separate from the heathen, were enveloped in
heathen darkness. Then Christ came, and "The people which sat in
darkness saw a great light, and to them which sat in the region and
shadow of death, to them did light spring up." Matt. 4:16. His name was
Emanuel, God with us. "God was in Christ." God refuted the
falsehoods of Satan, not by loud arguments, but simply by living His
life among men, so that all might see it. He demonstrated the power of
the life of God, and the possibility of its being manifested in men."
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Character Comparisons
In this study, we will examine the characters of three beings: God the Father; Jesus Christ
and Satan. Then we will examine how the character assassination strategy has been
hidden in traditional Christian beliefs.
Jesus said it is vital y important to know the Father's character for it is the basis of His
government and al citizens must agree to abide within the boundaries of His law of love
under every situation; however if people choose to abide by the rules of a selfish
government, this choice will separate them from all the protection with which God desires
to shelter them.
John 17:3
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent."
So what is the Father's character like? It is not a mystery. Jesus said we need to know
what God is like. But how do we know God?
Philip asked the same question.
John 14:6-11
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me. (7) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and
from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us
the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with
you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the
Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am
in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
but the Father that dwel eth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the
Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."
In other words, Jesus appears to be saying, "if you can't see that I'm the divine Son of
God by my character, then at least believe it because of the good works you see me
doing. Those works reflect the Father's character."
The works of Jesus demonstrated exactly the Father's character or spirit. But did you
notice that Jesus tel s Philip that he doesn't even know Christ's character? And then
Christ shares with Philip the very basic strategy for detecting someone's character. Christ
instructs Philip to study His (Christ's) works � His character of unstoppable love, in action.
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Examine the Fruit of the Character
Matthew 7:18-20
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
While we are told that we wil know a person's character by their actions, we are not to
exceed that determination and mete out or execute our judgement on that person.
Matthew 7:1
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
"God commands us to judge--to consider a matter in the light of His definition
of right and wrong--but it is not our place to decide a sentence or to carry it
out. To do so presumes authority not granted to us." (David C. Grabbe,
Does Scripture Al ow for Self-Defense? Read-on-line at:
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fa/Library.showResource/CT/RA/k/776 )
For our on protection, and the protection of others who follow Christ, we are told to
examine the fruit of a person's character, however, we are not commanded to be judge,
jury and executioner of that person.
The basic strategy to determine character is to compare someone's fruit � the works of
their character, but with what should the works of their character � or fruit � be compared?
Would it be safe to compare someone's fruit with what the head elder is doing? With what
the town prostitute is doing?
What do we compare someone's works to, if we want to determine their character? We
can compare the character, "their long-term fruit," with the principles of the 10
commandments.
Signs of Times, 27 March, 1884, p 12
"The character is revealed by the works, not by occasional good deeds and occasional
misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts."
Paul outlines the fruits of wickedness first in Romans 1:28-2:1
Romans 1:28-2:1
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with al
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; ful of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, .30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without
understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. .2:1 Therefore thou
art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest
another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
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2 Timothy 3:1-7
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into
houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Paul contrast the two types of character 'fruit' in Galatians 5:19- 23
Galatians 5:19 -23
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Where do we see perfect fruit? Where do we see the principles of the 10 commandments
lived out perfectly?
Christ's strategy can be applied to examine the characters of some men in the Bible.
Consider the works of the flesh/fruits of the spirit in the lives of Moses. David. Samson.
There were some serious and deliberate sins that needed to be repented of in all these
men's lives.
Consider the works of the flesh/fruits of the spirit in the lives of Abraham,Samuel, Elijah,
Jacob. These men showed areas of weakness when under pressure.
Or what about Daniel, Joseph, Stephen, and Enoch? The Bible records no sins against
any of these men. These men showed a Christlike character even under persecution or
death threats, nevertheless, they still had sin in their characters at some stage, for Paul
tells us that: .
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory (character) of God."
All these men in the Bible, were NOT reflecting the true character of the Father ful y, at
least they weren't prior to their complete conversion. The more clearly they discerned the
love of God, the more Christ-like their characters became. Their works became the works
of Christ, Who dwelt in them by faith � and it was Christ alone who motivated the good
works that these men produced. It was Christ "in them" who did the works � which gives
no human being opportunity to boast that their own works might save them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them."
All good works are produced by having "Christ in us" the hope of glory (Col 1:27).
Therefore in order to see clearly the Father's character, we must look to the ONLY ONE
who demonstrated the Father's character perfectly - Christ � for He did no sin.
94

Christ's Character
What is Christ's character like?
Exodus 34:6-7
"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping
mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that wil by no
means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the
children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
1 Peter 2:21-23
"For even hereunto were ye cal ed: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."
Matthew 5:43-44
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Isaiah 53:9
"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
2 Peter 1:4-8
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to
patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Review and Herald, 22 September 1859 #14 p 141 para 18
"Sir, here is the principle, the point at issue. Christ and Satan are as
opposite in character as light and darkness. They have never made any
treaty of peace. Satan wages perpetual war with Christ, and when
Christ's fol owers unite with Satan's disciples, it shows that there is
treachery somewhere. If the children of Beelzebub patronize Christian
institutions, and sustain them, it is to seduce them; for it is certain that
Christ has not changed, neither has Satan improved, except in slyness
and cunning."
Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p 758
"Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed
to the angels or to the unfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothed
himself with deception that even holy beings had not understood his
principles. They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion."
95

Satan's Character
Ezekiel 28:13-16
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the
sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the
emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (14) Thou art the anointed cherub
that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast
walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways
from the day that thou wast created, til iniquity was found in thee. (16) By the multitude
of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast
sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy
thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire."
Isaiah 14:12-16
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to
the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will
ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (14) I will ascend above the heights
of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to
the sides of the pit. (16) They that see thee shal narrowly look upon thee, and consider
thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms."
From the two, well-known preceding Bible passages, it can be seen that Satan's character
is powerful, but self-centred, violent and abusive to others.
According to David V Barrett in "The New Believers � Sects, 'Cults' and Alternative
Religions" (2001:343), Satan's character is described in "The Satanic Bible" by its author
Anton LaVey.
Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco in 1966. Barrett (2001:343)
reveals that LaVey's aim was to make carnal desires a proper object of celebration and in
support of this statement, Barrett quotes from Burton H. Wolfe's Introduction to LaVey's
book: "Satanism is a blatantly selfish, brutal religion."
As cited in Barrett's book (ibid, 2001:343) taken from the Satanic Bible, LaVey lists nine
Satanic statements, including:
�
Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!
�
Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on
ingrates!
�
Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!
�
Satan represents all of the so-cal ed sins, as they all lead to physical, mental or
emotional gratification! (exclaimation marks in original).
The founder of the Church of Satan also pagan religious rituals with immorality, typical of
the practices demonstrated in many blended religions which promote the worship a god
who has both good and evil character traits. Barrett writes:
"LaVey was often photographed performing rituals over a 'living altar' -
a naked woman."
Conclusion
Through reflection on the characters of Christ and Satan, it might logically be assumed
that all selfish and violent, brutal acts are inspired Satan; and in stark contrast, al
unselfish and kind, gentle acts are motivated by the spirit of God.
96

Searching Out the Character of God
God is a single divine Being. He has a physical body and a mind (spirit). It is generally
admitted, even by Seventh-day Adventist theologians, that there is no definite Biblical
evidence to support the doctrine that the One True God is a trinity.
The One True God (John 17:3) is a title that describes a Being different from angels,
humanity and animals. God, translated from the Hebrew word "elohiym" and the Greek
word "theos" means deity or divine Being. There are two divine Beings in existence
revealed in the Bible. The Father is the source of all life. The Son of God's life arose from
the Father � as His only begotten Son in the ages of eternity past. Both Father and Son
have the same loving, selfless character. Biblically, this "same thinking" of the divine
beings is called the "holy spirit of God" and it is ministered to human minds through holy
angels. For an indepth study on the doctrine of the trinity and the Bible truth, download
the book Identifying the Unknown God at www.themeofthebible.com
Some Christians believe that the Father and Son (and Holy Spirit- 3rd Person of the
godhead/trinity) are wrathful, "divine killers." But the life of Jesus Christ reveals that the
divine character is one of ultimate, perfect love � unselfishness and of life-giving.
God's character is a perfect combination of justice and mercy. Some suppose, however
that God's justice is His angry retaliation on sinners � His vengeance, wrath and
punishment for the breaking of His law.
A study on the Biblical concept of God's justice reveals that this is not a correct
understanding.
Justice and Mercy
Justice /Jus�tice/ (?), n. [F., fr. L. justitia, fr. justus just. See Just, a.]
1. The quality of being just; conformity to the principles of righteousness and
rectitude (straightness) in all things; strict performance of moral obligations;
practical conformity to human or divine law; integrity in the dealings of men with
each other; rectitude; equity; uprightness.
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Ps. ixxxix. 11.
2. Conformity to truth and reality in expressing opinions and in conduct; fair
representation of facts respecting merit or demerit; honesty; fidelity; impartiality;
as, the justice of a description or of a judgment; historical justice.
3. The rendering to every one his due or right; just treatment; requital of desert;
merited reward or punishment; that which is due to one's conduct or motives.
4. Agreeableness to right; equity; justness; as, the justice of a claim.
5. A person duly commissioned to hold courts, or to try and decide controversies
and administer justice.
Justice /Jus�tice/ (?), v. t. To administer justice to. [Obs.] Bacon.
Conforming or conformable to rectitude or justice; not doing wrong to any;
violating no right or obligation; upright; righteous; honest; true; -- said both of
persons and things.
There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Eccl. vii. 20.
Just balances, just weights, . . . shal ye have. Lev. xix. 36.
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How should man be just with God? Job ix. 2.
2. Not transgressing the requirement of truth and propriety; conformed to the
truth of things, to reason, or to a proper standard; exact; normal;
reasonable; regular; due; as, a just statement; a just inference.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon - grace
#05485:
5485 charis khar'-ece
from <5463>; ; n f
AV-grace 130, favour 6, thanks 4, thank 4, thank + <2192> 3, pleasure 2, misc 7; 156
1) grace
1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of
speech
2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls,
turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith,
knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3) what is due to grace
3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit
3b1) a gift of grace
3b2) benefit, bounty
4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
01344:- justified
1344 dikaioo dik-ah-yo'-o
from <1342>; ; v
AV-justify 37, be freed 1, be righteous 1, justifier 1; 40
1) to render righteous or such he ought to be
2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to
be considered
3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
In keeping with the dictionary definitions just stated, justice and mercy might be defined in
theological terms as:
Justice = God's character; His loving and righteous way of treating others selflessly �
which is the keeping of the law (justification � to be considered such as he ought to be)
Mercy = God's protection from sinning and evil � power to keep the law � 'Christ in
you." (sanctification - the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence
upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian
faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
)
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
God is faithful to forgive and just to cleanse. In this verse are demonstrated the
concepts of justification and sanctification. God is just and merciful in that He fulfils His
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promise to forgive (justification) and to save (sanctification) those who give Him their
allegiance.
Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am
the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for
in these things I delight, saith the LORD."
God delights in judgment, but He has no delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel
33:11). Therefore, judgment in this verse, is not referring to the destruction of the wicked.
Psalm 89.14
"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy
face."
In the Hebrew use of parallels, this verse aligns justice and mercy with judgment and
truth. The plan of salvation both fulfils the law (provides power and grace to live a
sanctified life) and extends mercy (forgiveness of sins).
Micah.6.8
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
To do justly - to keep the 10 commandments which are the basis of loving behaviour; the
fulfilment of the character of God in Christ's humanity; a pure life in Christ.
To love mercy - to empower others to live a sanctified life by pointing them to Jesus
instead of condemning their law-breaking.
Jesus set a perfect example of doing justly and loving mercy in His dealings with the
woman taken in adultery.
The Woman Taken in Adultery
John 8:3-11
"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when
they had set her in the midst, (4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in
adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be
stoned: but what sayest thou? (6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to
accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though
he heard them not. (7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said
unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And
again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (9) And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even
unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (10) When
Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman,
where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man,
Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
The lady taken in adultery had clearly broken the 7th commandment. She had been
"caught" in remarkable circumstances � "set up" or "framed" as it might be termed today.
The Pharisees arranged the adulterous liason with the purpose of trapping Jesus into
disallowing/breaking the law of Moses which was held in high esteem by the Jewish
people, or into breaking the Roman law � for which He would be condemned also for
taking matters into His own hands i.e. ordering a death penalty without the permission of
the Roman governmental authority.
In the case of adultery, the law of Moses required that death penalty (by stoning) be
applied.
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Deuteronomy 22:21
"Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her
city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought fol y in Israel, to
play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."
Leviticus 20:10
"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."
The law of Moses also required that there be at least two witnesses to testify against the
accused before the person/s could be convicted and condemned to death. "At the mouth
of two witnesses," the death sentence could be legal y executed.
Deuteronomy 17:6
"At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put
to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death."
The Mosiac law also stated that the witnesses had to be the first to "throw the stones"
which would inflict death on the guilty person.
Deuteronomy 17:7
"The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the
hands of al the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you."
In three separate articles, Ellen White comments on the experience of the woman taken in
adultery and Jesus' reaction. She reveals the "scenes behind the scenes."
1. R
eview and Herald, 6 September,1906
"On one occasion those who were guilty of many secret sins, brought to
Christ a woman who had been taken in sin. They thought that he would
pronounce judgment against her, and then they could accuse him of
taking judgment into his own hands. While they were presenting the case,
Christ was busy writing on the sand. He said nothing, and when they
pressed him for a decision, he was in no hurry to pronounce judgment.
One after another came near to him to see what he was writing, and there
in the sand they saw the record of their own sins. Then Christ said to
them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." But not
a stone was cast, and they went away, leaving the woman with him. He
said to her, "Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned
thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." Christ answered, "Neither do I condemn
thee: go, and sin no more." The Lord Jesus beheld the whole plot and the
arrogance of the ones who had arranged it, who were worthy of
condemnation and punishment, and when they saw that he knew their
lives, they left and went out, having failed in their desire to bring about the
condemnation of Christ."
2. Si
gns of the Times, 21 April, 1898
"While among men, Christ pronounced sentence upon rabbis, rulers,
Pharisees, and Sadducees, because of their hypocrisy, their rejection of
light. Looking at them searchingly, He said, "He that is without sin among
you, let him first cast a stone." But He addressed the woman who was
guilty of sin in words of tenderest compassion. He knew all about the
character of the sin committed; but He traced upon the ground the sins
of her accusers, who had laid their net for the woman, that thus they might
find occasion for condemning Christ." (continued over page)
100

(Ellen White continued in Signs of the Times, 21 April, 1898 )
"Their curiosity led them near to Christ, to see what He had written in the
sand; but they did not care to look more than once, and one by one they
hastily left His presence. Those who had acted a part in bringing this
poor woman before Him were far more guilty than she, and Christ
k new it. The guilty persons expected that before they could take
themselves away, Christ would single them out, and expose them
and their deep-laid plot before the gathered throng. These professors
were spiritual y blind. Maxims and traditions were cherished by them, and
obedience to God's requirements was regarded as a thing of naught.
Christ was grieved with them. He looked upon them with anger, being
grieved at the hardness of their heart. He could detect every phase of
their hypocrisy, and their great sin brought from His divine lips a scathing
rebuke."
3. Mi
nistry of Healing p 88
"Their pretended reverence veiled a deep-laid plot for His ruin. Should
Jesus acquit the woman, He might be charged with despising the law of
Moses. Should He declare her worthy of death, He could be accused to
the Romans as one who assumed authority belonging only to them.
Jesus looked upon the scene--the trembling victim in her shame, the hard-
faced dignitaries, devoid of even human pity. His spirit of stainless purity
shrank from the spectacle. Giving no sign that He had heard the question,
He stooped and, fixing His eyes upon the ground, began to write in the
dust. Impatient at His delay and apparent indifference the accusers drew
nearer, urging the matter upon His attention. But as their eyes, fol owing
those of Jesus, fell upon the pavement at His feet, their voices were
silenced. There, traced before them, were the guilty secrets of their own
lives. Rising, and fixing His eyes upon the plotting elders, Jesus said, 'He
that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.' Verse 7.
And, stooping down, He continued writing. He had not set aside the
Mosaic law nor infringed upon the authority of Rome. The accusers were
defeated. Now, their robes of pretended holiness torn from them, they
stood, guilty and condemned, in the presence of infinite purity.
Trembling lest the hidden iniquity of their lives should be laid open to the
multitude, with bowed heads and downcast eyes they stole away, leaving
their victim with the pitying Saviour. Jesus arose and, looking upon the
woman, said, "Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned
thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I
condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Verses 10, 11. (page 89) The
woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words, "He that is
without sin among you, let him first cast a stone," had come to her as a
death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the Saviour's face, but
silently awaited her doom. In astonishment she saw her accusers depart
speechless and confounded; then those words of hope fel upon her ear,
'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.' Her heart was melted,
and, casting herself at the feet of Jesus, she sobbed out her grateful
love and with bitter tears confessed her sins. This was to her the
beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace, devoted to God. In
the uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater miracle
than in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the
spiritual malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent
woman became one of His most steadfast followers. With self-
sacrificing love and devotion she showed her gratitude for His
forgiving mercy. (continued over page)
(Ellen White continued in Ministry of Healing p 88)
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For this erring woman the world had only contempt and scorn, but the
Sinless One pitied her weakness and reached to her a helping hand.
While the hypocritical Pharisees denounced, Jesus bade her, 'Go,
and sin no more.' Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. The
greater the sinner's guilt, the more he needs the Saviour. His heart of
divine love and sympathy is drawn out most of all for the one who is
the most hopelessly entangled in the snares of the enemy. With His
own blood He has signed the emancipation papers of the race. (page
90) Jesus does not desire those who have been purchased at such a cost
to become the sport of the enemy's temptations. He does not desire us to
be overcome and perish. He who curbed the lions in their den, and walked
with His faithful witnesses amid the fiery flames, is just as ready to work in
our behalf to subdue every evil in our nature. Today He is standing at
the altar of mercy, presenting before God the prayers of those who
desire His help. He turns no weeping, contrite one away. Freely will
He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. He
does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every
trembling soul take courage. Whosoever wil , may take hold of God's
strength, and make peace with Him, and He wil make peace. The souls
that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and the strife of
tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ unites
them to His own divine-human nature. They stand besides the great Sin
Bearer in the light proceeding from the throne of God. The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanses 'from al sin.' 1 John 1:7. 'Who shal lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.'
Romans 8:33, 34."
Ellen White described some necessary details in the instance of the woman being caught
in the very act of adultery:
�
Christ knew the woman was guilty of committing adultery as charged;
�
Christ knew the despair in the woman's heart and her guilty hopelessness;
�
Christ knew the penalty under the Mosiac law for committing adultery was "stoning
to death;"
�
Christ knew the Mosiac law specified that at least two witnesses were required to
condemn the woman to death;
�
Christ knew that more than two witnesses were present to legal y condemn the
woman;
�
Christ knew that, under Mosiac law, the witnesses who had brought the charge
against the woman, had to be the first to throw the stones at her;
�
Christ also knew the "hidden" testimonies of the lives of the witnesses � how they
had schemed to engineer the adulterous crime and to murderously use the woman
in their plan to trap Him;
Christ realised that the entire situation was a "set up;" planned by those who wanted to
kill Him. More than wanting to have the woman stoned, her "witnesses" wanted Christ to
utter something that they could use to condemn Him.
Christ informed the witnesses to "cast the first stone" at the woman � if they were sinless.
If the witnesses had cast a stone, resulting in the death of the guilty woman, they would
have been breaking Roman law and answerable to the government for that infringement �
which was definitely not in their best interests. No doubt the witnesses had fully
considered this outcome earlier and weighed the consequences.
102

If the witnesses refused to cast stones at the woman, they could stil assert to the Romans
that Christ had set Himself up as a revolutionist and that He had authorised them to break
the Roman law and stone the guilty woman. Such a statement alone, would have placed
Christ's life in extreme danger and His immediate arrest would have been certain.
Despite the threat to His own life, Christ refused to condemn the woman whom He knew
to be guilty. Why didn't Christ condemn her for her sinfulness? Why did He make a
merciful judgment? Why didn't He cast the first stone at the adulteress in conformity to
the Mosiac law and trust the consequences with the Roman government to His Father's
protection?
Some suppose that Christ would have condemned the woman according to the law of
Moses, except that He could not condemn her because the guilty man was not present to
testify against her. This certainly was not the case. There were many witnesses who
were ready to condemn the woman whom they announced was "caught in the very act" of
adultery (John 8:4). One can only wonder how the male adulterer escaped being
captured by the many witnesses who apprehended the guilty woman.
The Mosaic law specified that only two witnesses were necessary to condemn
lawbreakers to death; the adulterer, the male involved in the immoral act, did not need to
be "caught" in order for the woman to be condemned.
Deuteronomy 22:20, 21
"But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: (21) Then
they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city
shal stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play
the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."
When a woman committed adultery in secret and it was not witnessed, she might escape
detection and death, unless she became pregnant. (e.g. David and Bathsheba,
recorded in 2 Samuel 11). Because men do not become pregnant, there is often no
evidence to convict the other party of his adulterous crime, however, pregnancy
announced to everyone that the woman had committed adultery and unwed pregnancy
was considered sufficient evidence to convict the woman. Enforcing the death decree for
adultery was already standard practice in Abrahamic times, prior to the introduction of the
Mosiac law. (e.g. Tamar became pregnant after she committed adultery [prostitution] with
her father-in-law Judah - Gen 38).
To secure a conviction against an adulteress, the adulterous male partner does not have
to be apprehended or convicted in order for the woman to be condemned to die. The
practice of stoning adulteresses still occurs in fundamentalist Islamic countries today e.g.
Nigeria, Bauchi, Afghanistan, Sudan
www.web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr440012004
;
http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_adul1.htm
Christ � the only pure and sinless witness, could have testified against the guilty woman.
He could have joined the other witnesses whose testimony was intended to secure the
woman's death sentence.
But Jesus did not refuse to pass judgment in the woman's case. He judged her, but He
did not condemn her; He justified her. He gave her justice � He forgave her. He took her
place and suffered for her sin. Jesus gave the woman mercy. His mercy � His grace -
empowered her to "go and sin no more." He gave her power to live a sanctified life.
There was "no condemnation" in the woman because at that instant � as soon as she was
forgiven, she was, by the mercy of God, "in Christ Jesus" and empowered to "sin no
more." She was empowered to live a sanctified life by Christ's grace - His mercy.
Romans 8:1
103

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Through His treatment of the woman taken in adultery, Jesus revealed that contrary to the
law of Moses, adulterers and adulteresses are to be the recipients of the converted
Christian's mercy - not their condemnation.
Did the apostles follow the example of Jesus?
Paul's advice to the Corinthians imitates the example of Jesus, rather than the Mosiac
law. Consider Paul's response to the treatment of a male member of the church, who had
sexual relations with his mother or step-mother. The Mosiac law insisted on the death
penalty, while Paul instructed the Christians to disfellowship the offender and to separate
from the guilty party.
Leviticus 20:11
"And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both
of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
1 Corinthians 5:1, 2, 9,11
"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not
so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. (2) And ye
are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be
taken away from among you. (9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with
fornicators: (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator...."
104

Where is the Merciful Justice?
Recent events demonstrate that similar principles and punishments for immoral behaviour
are advocated by both the Islamic Law (Sharia) and Mosaic Law. Some examples of
punitive actions common to both religions are:
�
cutting off hands
�
stoning to death
�
damaging an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
Mosiac Law
Deuteronomy 25:11,12
"When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to
deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand,
and taketh him by the secrets: (12) Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not
pity her."
Leviticus 24:19, 20
"And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to
him; (20) Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish
in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
Deuteronomy 22:23, 24
"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city,
and lie with her; (24) Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye
shal stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in
the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put
away evil from among you."
Taliban Regime
1996-NOV: Afghanistan: Under the previous Taliban regime, a woman, Nurbibi, 40, and a
man Turylai, 38, were stoned to death in a public assembly using palm-sized stones.
They were found guilty of non-marital sex. Turylai was dead within ten minutes, but
Nurbibi had to be finished off by dropping a large rock on her head. Mr. Wali, head of the
Office for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prohibition of Vice expressed satisfaction with
the execution: "...I am very happy, because it means that the rule of Islam is being
implemented." These executions (as well as hand amputations for convicted thieves)
are regarded as religious occasions and are not normally viewed by non-Muslims.
"Afghanistan Execution for Adultery," New York Times News Service, 1996-NOV-06;
�
2002-MAR: Nigeria: Safiya Hussaini, 33, was convicted of adultery. She was
sentenced to be buried up to her neck in sand and to be stoned to death.
However, her sentence was deferred until her 13-month-old daughter has finished
nursing. She appealed her conviction. Her cousin, a Mr. Abubakar al egedly
confessed to police that he had sex with her three times. However, the judge
dismissed the testimony of the three policemen who witnessed Abubakar's
confession, because a minimum of four witnesses are required under Sharia law.
Hussaini's lawyers claimed that she also could not be convicted because of the
four witness rule. The prosecution argued that witnesses were not required in her
case; adultery had obviously taken place because she had become pregnant. Her
defense team finally argued that, under Islamic law, the interval between
conception and birth can be up to seven years! Only two years previous to the birth
of her daughter, she was still married to her husband. The lawyers argued that her
husband could possibly have been the father. Commenting on the conviction,
Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, the attorney general of Sokoto State, said: "Society is
injured by her act. The danger is that it will teach other women to do the
105

same thing." 9 Mansur Ibrahim Said, Dean of the Law Faculty at Dakar University
in Sokoto said that a dultery is "a n abomination abhorred by God a
nd society
because of the example it gives and because it creates bastards to be
rejected by society." "Law professor backs Nigerian stoning," AfricaWoman, at:
http://www.africawoman.net/politics/sharialaw.html
�
2002-MAR: Nigeria: A woman, Amina Lawal Kurami, from the smal village of
Kurami in Katsina in norther Nigeria was sentenced to death for adultery. The
sentence was delayed for eight months (one source said 2 years) until she has
finished breast feeding her infant. Nigerian Justice Minister, Kanu Agabi, declared
this and other Sharia punishments discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.
This is the first time that the national government has made its position clear. (Dan
Isaacs, "Nigeria in crisis over Sharia law," BBC News, 2002-MAR-26, at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/ ). She appealed the conviction, on the basis that
the offence occurred before Sharia law came into effect. Her lawyers also claimed
that she had no legal representation in her original court trial before a village court.
The appeal was rejected by the Islamic High Court in Funtua in Katsina state.
Dozens of spectators cheered and shouted "God is great". Her execution will
be delayed until at least 2004-JAN until her daughter has finished
breastfeeding. The federal government is planning to help Kurami appeal her
sentence to the Nigerian Supreme Court. This case may ignite a major legal battle
between the state and federal governments. 12 (Her case was eventual y
dismissed. Jim Fisher-Thompson, "U.S. Women Protest Stoning Verdict by
Nigerian Court. Activists decry 'barbaric' aspect of Sharia law." U.S. Department of
State, International Information Programs at:
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/af/a2082903.htm).
James Arlandson comments regarding a chapter from the Qur'an (Holy Book of Islam):
The law of retaliation (lex talionis) is carried over to Islam.
Sura 5:45 And We ordained therein for them: Life for life, eye for eye, nose for
nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth and wounds equal for equal. But if anyone
remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shal be for him an expiation. And
whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are the
Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers . . .).
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles_print.php?article_id=4671
A Qisas [law of retaliation] punishment means causing injury to the offender
similar to the injury caused to the victim. For example, in August 2000, the
Saudi Arabian media reported that Abdel Moti Abdel Rahman Mohammad, a
37-year-old-Egyptian national was subjected to forcible surgical removal of his
left eye at King Fahd Hospital in Medina. The operation was carried out as a
judicial punishment of Qisas after he was found guilty of disfiguring Shahata
Ajami Mahmoud, a 53-year-old Egyptian, by throwing acid at his face and
damaging his left eye.
In 2003, in Saudi Arabia a man had two teeth extracted under the law of
retaliation.
In 2005, an Iranian court orders a man's eye to be removed for throwing
acid on another man and blinding him in both eyes. Etemaad says the
accused, identified only as Vahid, was 16 when he threw a bottle of acid at
another man during a fight in a vegetable market in 1993. The top opened �
Vahid insists accidentally � and blinded his victim in both eyes. A court said
the crime should be judged as qisas, a category for which the Koran stipulates
specific punishments, in this case an eye for an eye. The paper said the
sentence was to pour acid on Vahid's eyes, but an appeals court ruled it
should be done surgically so as not to harm other parts of his face.
Eye and teeth removal come directly from the Quran, the eternal word of
106

Allah, which must be imposed on humankind for its own good. Therefore,
how can traditional and Quran-believing Muslims reform unless they
leave behind their sacred book?
(http://www.americanthinker.com/articles_print.php?article_id=4671)
(The American Thinker, James M. Arlandson, 24 July 2005)
Translations of Sura 5:38
AS Abdel Haleem (The Qur'an, Oxford UP, 2004) translates Sura 5:38 as fol ows:
"Sura 5:38 Cut off the hands of thieves, whether they are male or female, as
punishment for what they have done--a deterrent from God: God is almighty
and wise. 39 But if anyone repents after his wrongdoing and makes amends,
God wil accept his repentance: God is most forgiving and merciful. (Haleem)"
The standard verb "to cut" (q-T-c) is used, and the object of the cutting is "their
hands." For this crime, early Islam punishes both male and female thieves.
Evidently, the purpose is to purify the Islamic community and to deter future
thieves. Verse 39 is included because it seems that Muhammad is providing a
way of repentance before the penalty is exacted. But traditional Islam says the
opposite. The bloody penalty is carried out, which helps the thief to purify
his or her heart, and then he or she is in better state to repent (James
Arlandson)
http://answeringislam.org/Authors/Arlandson/hands_off.htm
R
eport published 5 May 2006 b y Jerome Taylor
Iraqi police 'killed 14-year-old boy for being homosexual.' "Human rights
groups have condemned the 'barbaric' murder of a 14-year-old boy, who, according
to witnesses, was shot on his doorstep by Iraqi police for the apparent crime of
being gay. Ahmed Khalil was shot at point-blank range after being accosted by men
in police uniforms, according to his neighbours in the al-Dura area of Baghdad."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article362151.ece
Was the Jewish punishment for adultery more 'holy' � more loving � than that punishment
dispensed by the Islamic police? Is death by stoning somehow more 'holy' than death by
gunshot? What would Jesus have done to the 14 year old boy who was accused of sexual
sin? Remember the woman taken in the act of adultery? Jesus Himself refused to
condemn her � but freely forgave her � and she responded to His love with repentance.
Would Jesus have been any less compassionate to the Islamic 'gay' youth, than He was
to that adulterous woman?
It is generally accept that the Jewish/Mosaic God is the same God that Christians
worship. Generally it is rejected by Christians, that they worship the same god as
worshipped by Islam. However, the divine laws (Mosaic and Quran) � both called the
infal ible, unchangeable Word of God - demonstrate the characters of both deities are
very similar. Both gods are retributional and extremely violent.
Is it possible that the law of Moses adequately and clearly represented the character of
the One True God? If so, which god's character does the Islamic law demonstrate? Why
was the demonstration of the Father's character which Jesus perfectly displayed, of such
a very different nature to both the Mosaic and Quran laws?
107

The One True God is Mercifully Just
The Father is merciful and just.
Exodus 20:6
"And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."
God supplies the power (the mercy, the grace) to enable those who have a desire to live
righteous lives, to do so - in Christ.
Isaiah 30:18
"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 judgment:
blessed are all they that wait for him."
The Lord is a God of right principles. His perfectly loving and pure character is revealed
in the 10 commandments. He lives a sanctified life and because His is loving, He extends
His power of mercy to empower all who seek to imitate His character and live sanctified
lives.
God's mercy (compassionate treatment) empowers the sinner to overcome sin. To be
justified "by" Christ means there is "no condemnation" for past sins. To be sanctified
through Christ's life, is to be empowered to cease from sinning by having "Christ in us."
Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Titus 3:7
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life."
On the Day of Atonement, if the priest entered the Most Holy Place in order to seek mercy
(power to be free of sin) on behalf of the Israelites, he also faced justice (forgiveness of
sins). The outcome was cal ed judgment. If the high priest who entered into the presence
of God had not confessed and put away his sins (i.e if he did not want to separate from
his sins), he would be slain by the same Presence that offered him mercy (power over his
sins). What would then, have caused the death of the High Priest?
God had not changed. God was ready to extend justice (forgiveness for sin 1 John 1:9)
and mercy (power to overcome sin 1 John 1:9). It was the spiritual condition of the high
priest that determined the outcome of His encounter as He entered into God's presence.
To those who permit God to purify their minds from sin today, will be safely able to meet
Him on Judgment Day, "face to face" - their characters already having been purified by
God's indwelling presence. However, God's presence wil be to unrepentant sinners, as
a "consuming fire."
AT Jones, Review and Herald Jan, 24 & 31, 1899.
'Yet, what every one must understand is this: the only way that God does,
or can, separate anybody from sin is by that very consuming fire of his
presence. The only way, therefore, in which you and I can ever be so
separated from sin as to meet God as he is, in the flaming fire that he is,
in that great day, is to meet him TODAY as he is, in the consuming fire
that he is. The only way that we can be prepared to meet him at his
coming in that great day is to meet him in his coming today. For there is
a coming to men now , as really as to the world in that great day. 'I will
not leave you comfortless: I will COME TO YOU.' John 14:18."
(AT Jones continued)
"But do not forget that whether he comes to you or to me now, or
108

whether he comes to other people in that great day, he comes only as a
consuming fire.

Listen: 'If any man hear my voice, and open the door,'-- what does
he say?--'I will come in to him.' Good. Thank the Lord! And 'he is a
consuming fire;' and when he comes in to you, that coming will
consume all the sin in you, so that when he comes in the clouds of
heaven in flaming fire, you can meet him in joy in the consuming fire that
he is.

Then do you hear his voice? "Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO
HIM." Do you hear his voice? Then swing open wide the door, and keep
it everlastingly open. Bid him welcome, in the consuming fire that he is:
and that flaming fire of his presence will consume sin in all your being,
and so will thoroughly cleanse and prepare you to meet him in flaming
fire in that great day.

When I meet him today 'in a flaming fire,' when I welcome him
today 'a consuming fire' in me, shall I be afraid to meet him in flaming fire
in that day-- No; I shall be accustomed to it; and knowing what a blessed
thing it is to become familiar with meeting him as 'a consuming fire,'
knowing what a blessing that has brought to me today, I shall be
delighted to meet him on that other day, when he shall be revealed from
heaven in flaming fire. 'Our God is a consuming fire.' Bless the Lord!

'Who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall stand when he
appeareth? for he is like a refiner's FIRE.' Good. Then when I meet him
now, in the consuming fire that he is, I meet him in a fire that is refining,
that purifies. 'And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they
may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.' That is separation
from sin; that is purification from sin. And that sets us where we offer an
offering unto the Lord in righteousness: we become the servants of
righteousness unto holiness, that we may meet the Lord. So, then, bless
the Lord that he is a consuming fire,-- that he is as a refiner's fire."
Psalm 85:10
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
The Father's character has always been, and will remain, unchangeably holy just and
good. He is always just and merciful.
Exodus 34:7 ; Numbers 14:18
"Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will
by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and
upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
109

A
dam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible- E
xodus 34:7:
Verse 7. That will by no means clear the guilty: This last clause is rather
difficult; literally translated it signifies, in clearing he will not clear. But the
Samaritan, reading lo, to him, instead of the negative lo, not, renders the clause
thus: With whom the innocent shall be innocent; i.e., an innocent or holy person
shall never be treated as if he were a transgressor, by this just and holy God.
The Arabic version has it, He justifies and is not justified; and the Septuagint is
nearly as our English text, , and he doth not purify the
guilty. The Alexandrian copy of the Septuagint, edited by Dr. Grabe, has
, and the guilty he will not cleanse with a
purification-offering. The Coptic is to the same purpose. The Vulgate is a
paraphrase: nul usque apud te per se innocens est, "and no person is innocent
by or of himself before thee." This gives a sound theologic sense, stating a great
truth, That no man can make an atonement for his own sins, or purify his
own heart; and that al have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Certainly, when the wicked reject the justice (forgiveness) and the mercy of Christ (His
indwelling power to live a sanctified life), they wil be without divine protection when Christ
appears the second and third times on the earth. There is no human vengeance in God -
it is the condition of the person which determines their level of safety in His Presence.
2 Corinthians 1:3
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the
God of al comfort."
God's spirit (his unselfish way of thinking � His principles of righteousness) was the
original spirit given to humanity, but which was rejected and replaced when Adam sinned.
When Adam sinned, he lost the ability to be righteous and just. He lost the mind of
righteousness � the spirit of God �and was powerless to live a just and righteous
(sanctified) life. He received condemnation and his power of choice was negated. He
became compelled to do Satan's bidding for he was then filled with Satans selfish spirit.
But, Christ, in justice and mercy, restored the freedom of choice to the human race.
Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
As a result of Adam's sin, death was imminent and would have occurred immediately,
except that the Father and Son intervened (in justice � to forgive; and in mercy � to
empower) which prevented the extinction of the human race (Zech 6:13).
As a result of Adam's sinful choice, ALL human children, would UNJUSTLY inherit a
defective body � sinful flesh- as their birthright. In merciful response to that unjust
situation, God put enmity between Satan and humanity. God's action offered the human
race another opportunity to choose whom they would serve (Genesis 3:15). The divine
solution was a combination of God's justice and mercy.
Though the race was permitted to continue, a faulty, sinful flesh that was naturally
responsive to selfish thinking, would be inherited by each child of Adam as a
consequence of his (Adam's sin). By the virtues of the Second Adam, two spiritual
natures would "war" for dominance within in the person. The choice over which "spirit"
would be dominant would be left to the individual, however whichever power the human
being individually chose to serve, that being would be their master. The principle of
Romans 6:16 would take effect.
110

Romans 6:16
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to
whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
Due to their inheritance, the whole race, through Adam, came under the condemnation of
the law (Romans 5:12-21). It could not be otherwise, for because of Adam's sin, humanity
was effectively programmed or "spiritual y wired" to sin. However, the Father's character
is one of justice. The Father knew that it is not a righteous principle � it was not just or
righteous for children pay the penalty for the iniquity of the parents' sin (Ezekiel 18).
Because the Father was just (righteous), He extended mercy (empowerment) to the
human race. The Father's just and merciful character was ultimately demonstrated
through the gift of His Son. Humanity was given the opportunity to receive "a new heart,"
"a new spirit," (Ezekiel 36:26, 27), "the spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9). The spirit of God,
(His pure unselfish way of thinking) effects the re-creation of humanity.
Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Justice (forgiveness) + Mercy (power) = Sanctified life (Holy Christian character)
Stated in the negative, it is also true that there IS condemnation for those which are NOT
in Christ Jesus, who DO walk after the flesh, but NOT after the spirit of God.
John 3:19
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
Those who refuse to accept the principles of the law of God, also refuse the life of Christ.
They remain condemned because of their evil deeds (John 3:18). This is frustrated
justice. God made full provision for their forgiveness, but they refused it. There is no
change in God's behaviour. Such a sad result is the choice of the persons who refuse
such great salvation..
John 3:17-21 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus)
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through
him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should
be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God."
111

Those who refuse to accept Christ's life, refuse the justice and mercy of God. They refuse
divine forgiveness and empowerment to live a sinless life. Jesus revealed that God's
justice is always combined with His mercy. The "merciless" god is Satan.13
So Whose works do we study to determine the Father's character? Christ's works and
His alone, perfectly reveal the Father's character. The 144000 wil have this type of
character also, for Christ will abide in them and live His life in them. The Father's name
(character) is in their foreheads. Christ is "in them" (Rev 14:1-5; Jn 14:10, 11; Col 1:27).
Consider again Paul's contrast of the two types of character 'fruit' in Galatians 5:19- 23.
Galatians 5:19 -23
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
The Bible avers that there are no evil, carnal fruits or character traits in the Father nor in
His Son. The Father is pure and holy. How then could the Father's character exhibit
wrath and hatred with commands to destroy? These character traits come from the fruit
from the carnal, human evil nature, not the pure, loving divine nature of God.
13 Regarding Revelation 14:10
"The same shal drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture
into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." When the plagues are
"poured out without mixture" it refers to being poured out "without mercy." Divine mercy
provides protection from sin. It is the empowerment to not be hurt by sin. God is not
the One doing the hurting. The wicked people have already rejected God's
protective mercy and during the plagues, they have no protection, except of
their own devisings. The plagues are to be poured out without God's protection, but
God does not cause the plagues. Sadly the wicked have not given their allegiance to God
and so He is not authorised to "interfere" in their lives any longer. The wicked have
rejected Christ as their Lord and Master and have chosen Satan instead - they are given
"into his hand" and are found without protection from Satan's wrath and from the purifyig
presence of God. The cause of the plagues are discussed in another section of this book.
112

NOTE:
The author of this book has not the intention to "throw out the Bible" or to cause
others to discard the perfect principles of Christ's life as found in the Bible. To the
contrary, the author exhorts the reader to dig deeply into the Bible, to search out
the hidden things of God (1 Cor 2:7). The searcher, however, will discover that
there exists disharmony in the Bible, but this disharmony does not suggest that a
fault lies with God or that God has not especially preserved the Bible.
Contradictions exists only because of humanity's inability to understand God's
character and their limited understanding which often results in a stinted portrayal
of God's character.
Men who were moved by the spirit of Christ to describe spiritual things - to the best
of their human ability - still failed to understand or describe the true extent and
depth of the loving character of God as seen in Jesus Christ. In their best attempts
to write material to portray the character of God, humanity could not but fail when
they inadvertently put their own concepts of God into their writings. In contrast,
the record of the life of Jesus Christ did not fail to reveal perfect love �Jesus
showed to the world, the Father's character.
The record of Christ's life and words clarify many confusing statements recorded in
the Bible. The life of Christ is aligned with the standard upon which ALL spirits and
writings must be tested � the 10 commandments � which are the very essence of
the Father's character.
Patriarchs and Prophets p 52
"The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a
transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom."
113

Sorting the Confusion
This table might help to distinguish the character traits of the Father, Christ and Satan.
Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Total Selflessness - Love
Self (at times with the
Total Selfishness -Lust
appearance of selfless) �
the end justifies the means
Righteousness
God does not tempt man
Wickedness
1 Cor 1:30
(James 1:13); God
2 Thess 2:8
provides a way out of
(Christ Jesus, who of God is temptation (1 Cor 10:13) /
made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness)
God tempted Abraham
(Gen 22:1); God tempted
David to number Israel (2
Sam 24:1)
Truth
God of truth -no iniquity-
Deception
John 14:6
(Duet 32:4);
Gen 3:1, 13
(I am the way, the truth and Some Bible writers state
John 8:44
the life)
"the Lord" did a certain act
while other Bible writers
claim Satan or his agent
did it
Peaceful, Non-Violent
God of Peace (Rom 15:33;
Warring/Violent
Isaiah 53:9
16:20; Phil 4:9; 1 Thess
Ezek 28:16
5:23; Heb 13:20; Isa 53:9)
(because He hath done no (Gen 6:11-13)
John 8:44
violence)
Matt 26:52 (al they that take
the sword shall perish with God of War (Exo 15:3; Num
the sword)
1:3; Duet 7:16; 1 Samuel
15:3)
Inviting
Inviting "Why will ye die?
Forceful
Matt 11:28
Turn and live" (Ezekiel
Rev 13:16
18:31,32)
Luke 9:42
Kill non-compliants (Lev
20:2; 24:23; Numbers
15:33-36; Duet 13;10;
21:21- son)
114

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Honesty
God can't lie (Titus 1:2)
Lies
Isa 53:9
impossible for God to lie
John 8:44
(Heb 6:18)
(no guile in His mouth)
God sends lying spirit to
deceive (1 Kings 22:22,23;
2 Chron 18:21,22)
Life-Giver
Life-giving Creator God
Murderer
John 1:4
(Gen 1)
John 8:44
(In Him was life)
Killer God of destruction -
(flood � Gen 6:17); Sodom
(Gen 19:24) consume all
the people (Duet 7:16; 1
Samuel 15:3)
Kindness
God

of

great
Unkind, Nasty
Eph 4:32-5:1
kindness(Nehemiah 9:17);
John 8:44
God is kind (Luke 6:35-36);
God delights in loving-
kindness (Jer 9:24)
Orders the killing of entire
races, men married
women, male babies
(Ezekiel 9:5,6; Num 31:17;
1 Samuel 15:3)
Protecting
Saves Daniel from lions
Destroying
Matt 23:37
(Dan 6:22)
Apol yon= destroyer
(as a hen gathers her God permits babies to be
Rev 9:11
chickens)
killed in Bethlehem and
elsewhere (Jer 31:15; Matt
Psa 103:4
2:18; Jer 9:25; 1 Chron
(Who redeemeth thy life from 21:12-15; 1 Samuel 15:3)
destruction;)
Wicked cause their own
wounding (Deut 32:39)
God causes wounding
(Psalm 64:7) If ye forsake
the LORD, and serve
strange gods, then he will
turn and do you hurt, and
consume you... (Joshua
24:20)
115

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Gentleness
God crowneth thee with
Harshness
2 Cor 10:1
lovingkindness and tender
mercies (Psa 103:4)
(the meekness and
Luke 9:42
gentleness of Christ)
God pours out plagues
without mercy; covenant of
2 Chron 33:6
peace with a double-
murderer (Rev 14:10,
Phinehas -Numbers 25:12);
Lord will punish with the
sword & famine (Jer 11:22)
Law Keeping
Thou shalt not kill (Exo
Law Breaking
John 15:10
20:13). Respect foreigners,
Ezekiel 28:15
widows, orphans; be non-
(kept Father's law)
violent (Exo 22:21-24)
John 8:44
Christ says don't even get God commands law-
(father of lies)
angry (Mat 5:22)
breakers be stoned,
pagans be killed, rape
permitted, robbery and
genocide (Duet 13:10;
21:10-14; Josh 11:19, 20;
Numbers 31; 1 Sam 15:3)
Patient / Long-suffering
The God of patience
Impatient / Short-tempered
2 Peter 1:6
(Romans 15:5; 1 Cor 13:4);
Rev 12:12
God is long-suffering (Exo
Matt 18:22
34:6)
(great wrath, short time)
(forgive seventy times Wrathful God (Rev 14:10,
seven)
11; Ps 78:31; Exo 22:24)
God is set to destroy the
Israelites for worshipping
the Golden Calf after only
40 days (Exo 32:10)
Freedom of choice
God says, "Choose life"
Compel ing
John 6:37; Rev 22:17
(Duet 30:19)
Rev 13:16-17
(Whosoever will may come) God says "Comply or die"
pick up sticks on Sabbath
be killed (Num 15:32-36)
Self-Control
Fruit of the Spirit is self-
Self-Indulgence
Luke 4:2-4
control (Gal 5:22)
Luke 4:5-7
(40 days without food)
God gets wrathful, angry,
furious and acts without
mercy (Exo 32:10; Rev
14:10,11)
116

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Delights in Doing Good
God doesn't delight in the
Delights in Causing Pain
(Acts 10:38; 1 Cor 13:6)
death of the wicked (Eze
(Jer 32:35; Proverbs 2:12-14)
18:23)
God delights in destroying
the wicked (Deut 28:63)
Forgiving Sin
Who forgiveth all thine
Tempting to Sin
But that ye may know that
iniquities Psalm 103:3
.
the Son of man hath power
Being forty days tempted of
on earth to forgive sins,
And Joshua said unto the
the devil (Luke 4:2)
(Matt 9:6)
people, Ye cannot serve
the LORD: for he is an holy
Jesus said unto her, Neither God; he is a jealous God;
do I condemn thee: go, and he will not forgive your
sin no more (John 8:11)
transgressions nor your
sins (Joshua 24:19)
Righteous Anger
God is slow to anger
Unrighteous Anger
Isa 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22
(Nehemiah 9:17)
1 Peter 5:8
(Christ did no violence; had God's fury rested on the
(roaring lion)
no guile in His mouth; reviled Israelites and His sword
not again)
was after them (Eze 5:12-
14)
Goodness
God delights in loving-
Evil
kindness and no iniquity is
in Him (Exo 34:6; Jer 2:5)
Acts 10:38
Eze 28:15
God orders the killing of
1 Tim 6:13
entire races, men, married
women, male babies
(Ezekiel 9:5,6; Num 31:17;1
Sam 15:2,3; Exo 32:27) just
as Pharaoh (Exo 1:22) and
Herod (Matt 2:16) did.
Faithful
God is faithful (1 Cor 1:9)
Disloyal
Rev 1:5
God makes a covenant
Isa 14:13-14
with Israel (Exo 24:7) /God
(Jesus Christ, who is the wants to break covenant
Rev 12:3
faithful witness)
and make a covenant with
(rebellion in heaven)
Moses instead (Exo 32:10)
Temperance
David was a man after
Indulgence to Excess
2 Peter 1:4-8
God's heart (1 Sam 13:14)
Matt 4:8; Gal 5:21;
David broke God's law
Isa 14:14, 15
(Deut 17:17) and took
multiple wives (2 Sam
(aimed to usurp God
5:13); David orders his
but brought to hel )
wife's 5 innocent sons to
die for political reasons (2
Sam 21:8,9 )
117

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Helps Pagans
Help pagans-2 Kings 6:18-23
Kills Pagans
Matt 15:25 - 28
John 8:44
Kill pagans -1 Sam 15:18,19
Joy Over Redeemed Christ's joy over sinners'
Malignity
Sinners
repentance - (Heb 12:2) no
(wanting to hurt others)
pleasure in wicked's death
(Ezek 33:11)
Isa 14:14
Heb 12:2
Pleasure over death of two
Rom 1:29
wicked people (Numbers
25:6-13)
Consistent
God wasn't angry when
Rebellious, Inconsistent
James 1:17
Moses, Solomon and
Dan 7:25
Nehemiah numbered Israel
(Num 1:1-4; 3:40; 26
(change times and laws)
2 Chron 2:17; Neh 7:7).
God was angry when David
numbered Israel (2 Sam
24).
Merciful
"the Lord is very pitiful,
Heartless
and of tender mercy,"
Romans 1:31
Matt 5:7
"love mercy" (James 5:11;
Micah 6:8)
"Lord sends a curse on
you (Mal 2:2) "O LORD,
hath dashed in pieces the
enemy" (Exo 15:6).
Purity
God gave a moral law - 10
Immorality
1 Peter 2:22
Commandments (Exo 20:1-
Romans 1:29
17) death penalty for
breaking one law
God tells Israelites to rape,
steal, and murder pagans
(Deut 21:10-14; Num 31)
Meekness
Still small voice (1 Kings
Pride
2 Cor 10:1
19:12)
Isa 14:13, 14
Thunderings from Mt Sinai;
(Exo 20:18) God questions
Job
118

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Sinless
"Thou art of purer eyes
Sinful
Jesus willingly interacted
than to behold evil, and Satan is the god of this world
(mixed) with sinners but did canst not look on iniquity:" and the originator of al sin.
not participate in their sinful Habakkuk 1:13
acts Matt 9:11; Heb 4:15.
2 Cor 4:4; John 8:44
He was in the world, not of
"The eyes of the LORD are
the world (John 3:17).
in every place, beholding
the evil and the good." Pro
15:3
Heals
Sun of Righteousness �
Causes disease
Mark 6:56; Matt 4:24; Matt healing in His wings (Mal
Job 2:4-7
8:16 (healed all that were 4:2); I am the Lord thy God
sick, cast out demons); Matt that healeth thee (Exo
14:14; Mark 1:34; Mark 6:5; 15:26) healeth all thy
Luke 4:40
diseases (Psa 103:3)
The Lord made David's
child sick ( 2 Sam 12:15) "If
any man defile the temple
of God, him shall God
destroy" (1 Cor 3:17).
Just and Fair
The son shall not bear the
Just and Unfair
"And, behold, I come quickly; iniquity of the father,
Isa 59:4, 14
and my reward is with me, to neither shall the father "God" told David that He sent
give every man according as bear the iniquity of the
a 3 year drought because
his work shal be." (Rev
son; do justice (Psa 89:14; Saul broke a promise to the
22:12)
Ezekiel 18:19, 20; 45:10;
Micah 6:8)
Gibeonites. To atone for this
broken promise, David
required Saul's 7 sons to be
The Lord will punish
executed and their bodies
children for their parents'
"hung up before" the Lord,
sins (Ex 20:5;Ex 34:7; Num
before "God" sent rain
14:18; Deut 5:9; Jer 32:18)
(2 Sam 21:1-9)
119

Character of God
Blended Character
Character of Satan
Seen in Jesus' Character
Good/Evil Seen
Seen in Pagan Gods
in Many Religions
Protects and values
It never came into the heart
Child sacrifices part of
children
of God to ask for burnt
worship ceremonies
Matthew 18:6; 19:14 "But
sacrificing of children on
Matt 17:15; 2 Chr 33:6;
whoso shal offend one of
high places. It is an
Eze 16:20, 21
these little ones which
abomination, to cause
believe in me, it were better Judah to sin. Jer 7:31; "And he caused his children
for him that a millstone were Jer 32:35
to pass through the fire ...
hanged about his neck, and
also he observed times, and
that he were drowned in the
used enchantments, and
"And he (God) said, Take
depth of the sea.... Suffer the
used witchcraft, and dealt
now thy son, thine only
little children to come unto
with a familiar spirit, and with
son Isaac...and get thee
me and forbid them not."
wizards: he wrought much
into the land of Moriah; evil in the sight of the LORD,
and offer him there for a
to provoke him to anger."
burnt offering upon one of
the mountains which I will
tell thee of." Genesis 22:2
Happy shall he be, that
taketh and dasheth thy
little ones against the
stones. Psa 137:9
The Light of the World What fellowship has The Power of Darkness
light with darkness?
John 8:12
Christ with Belial?
Colossians 1:13
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, .
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
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The Character of Sin
James describes the natural progression of sin, which leads to death.
James 1:15
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death."
1 John 3:4
"Sin is the transgression of the law."
Sin originates from lust � selfishness. The cherished thoughts of lust (or selfishness) then
produce sinful actions � the transgression of the law of unselfishness � the 10
commandments.
Does sin ever stop being sin? Can an action that is declared sinful, ever be legitimised or
legalised? Can sin (which is breaking of God's 10 commandment law) ever become
righteous (in harmony with God's law)? i.e. Can sin become non-sinful because the time
frame changes?
Some suppose that the Exodus Hebrew people were given special permission to break
God's laws. eg. They were instructed by "the Lord" to kil their pagan enemies and plunder
their goods (Duet 24; Numbers 41). However, the Hebrews were given the 10
commandments by God to form the basis of a righteous government and civil system.
This would have created a theocracy, where the One True God directed the affairs of true
believers in every aspect of their lives � government, religion, civil, health, interactions
with other nations � all based on His divine, unselfish loving principles.
Did the Hebrew people live under a true theocracy? Were the 10 commandment rules
respected in their community? Were the words of Jesus, which demonstrated with perfect
accuracy the character of the Father � complete love � the basis of the Hebrew's
government and civil system?
In the old Testament, Christ was endeavouring to win the hearts of the ancient Hebrew
people by encouraging them to observe the 10 commandments - but repeatedly the
people turned away from fol owing Christ's principles and chose instead to worship false,
pagan gods, according to pagan principles.
Even a casual glance at the sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes (Matt 5) and Jesus'
sermons reveal that the principles of the Hebrew government were not built on the same
principles as those Jesus expounded.
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Jesus Corrected Traditional Mosaic Law
Deuteronomy 18:18, 19
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them al that I shall command him. (19) And
it shal come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall
speak in my name, I will require it of him."
In reality, as all true prophets did, Moses pointed the people to Christ as the Messiah, the
Son of God, and to His words which are "spirit and life" (John 6:63). However, it became
apparent during Jesus' life on earth, that the Scriptures, while still containing the words of
God, had also gained some 'traditional extras.'
Jesus declared that He had not come to do away with the law and the prophets but to
fulfill their predictions of Him as the Messiah (Matt 5:17). Jesus upheld the divinely
inspired passages of the Old Testament. He taught His disciples to anchor their faith in
Him, by comparing the circumstances of His life and death, with the Old Testament
messianic prophecies (Luke 24:13-31). These prophetic truths were emphasised
repeatedly by Christ (Matt 5:17;7:12;11:13;22:40; Luke 16:16; 24:44). Jesus set the
correct pattern of Bible study with His disciples on the road to Emmaus. He rebuked them
gently for not believing all that the prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah (Luke
24:25-27). They continued His example in their teaching and preaching (Acts 24:14;
28:23; Rom 3:21).
However, several times Jesus corrected traditional beliefs, some which were presented
in the Old Testament, but which became confused as the Pharisees added to the laws,
their own interpretations. For instance, on the subject of:
� swearing oaths: In the Old Testament, taking oaths (swearing by God's name) was
commanded (Deut 6:13); but Jesus forbade making oaths. He instructed that His
followers should say "yes" or "no. " (Lev 5:4,5; Num 5:21; 30:2; Matt 5:33-37);
� divorce and remarriage: Jesus reminded the Pharisees that divorce was not the
divine plan for humanity prior to the entrance of sin, but that Moses had permitted it
because of the rebel ious, selfish characters of their Jewish ancestors (Deut.24.1-3;
Matt 5:31-32);
� stoning adulterers: Jesus prevented this Old Testament statute from being performed
on at least one occasion. He refused to condemn the adulteress, but instead delivered
her from her accusers and pardoned her sin (Lev 20:10; Duet 22:21-24; John 8:4-11);
� taking revenge for damage: "An eye for an eye." Moses introduced this law in an
endeavour to prevent the Israelites making an "over-payment of revenge" for damage
sustained to their persons or property. However, Jesus maintained that even this law,
was far removed from the divine law of loving kindness and forgiveness. Christ taught
His fol owers to reflect the divine character and to love their enemies and do good to
those who were abusive to them (Exo 21:23-25; Matt 5:38, 39);
� being taken to court: Jesus counselled the people not to resist the legal action, but to
peaceably comply with the demands (Matt 5:40);
� love your neighbours but hate your enemies: Jesus encouraged people to love their
enemies; pray for those who abused them and to turn the other cheek (Matt 5:38, 39);
� gift-giving to the temple � This tradition formulated by the Pharisees made of none
effect the commandment of God. Jesus condemned this tradition which prevented the
true honouring (supporting) of their father and mother (Matt 8:4; 15:3-9).
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It is not suggested that all of the Mosaic law was condemned by Jesus. Christ endorsed
the 10 commandment laws; supporting the ministry with tithes and offerings; and certain
health laws; etc., but many laws were also corrupted as people used traditions as a
means of breaking the 10 commandments (e.g. Matt 8:4; 15:5) These traditions, which
concealed the breaking of the law of love, Christ exposed.
There was a genuine need for Christ to bring clarity to the people concerning the books of
Moses (the Talmud) and the traditions that surrounded them. The 10 commandments,
which reveal the character of the Father, were confused with volumes of oral traditions
and rituals.
It is more than probable that the copyists/editors of the Old Testament, while having some
knowledge of the One True God, were also strongly influenced by their exposure to pagan
religions. This knowledge was acquired from their culture which included 270 years in
polytheistic Egypt; intermarrying with heathen nations and assuming their worship
practices; their tribal � possibly racist - mentality and behaviour. It appears that this
incorrect knowledge was at times, wrongly applied to the character of the Hebrew God
also.
Paul Tobin's research gives further support to this the that pagan religions influenced the
Israelites perceptions of the God of the Israelites. Taken from his website at
http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/moses.html#1, we find the fol owing startling
information which is sourced from Barthel, What the Bible Really Says: p119
Riedel et.al., The Book of the Bible: p34 :
"Everyone is familiar with Moses receiving the ten commandments in two
stone tablets from God in Mount Sinai. However, this story is originally
Babylonian. One of the most well known ancient code of law was the
Code of Hammurabi, so name after the Amorite king Hammurabi who
lived around 1700 BC. On the great Babylonian stone monument, known
as the stele of Hammurabi, a drawing inscribed on it shows the great
Amorite King receiving the tablets of the law from the sun god, Shamash.
The similarity does not end here. On the stele too is inscribed the laws
that made up the Code of Hammurabi. The general similarity between the
code and The "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus chapters 21 to 23) and the
legal codes of the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy cannot be denied.
The Mosaic laws were obviously written under the influence of the
Babylonian code. [3] In some cases even the wordings are uncannily
close to one another. For example take this one from the code on the
principle of an-eye-for-an-eye:
'If a citizen shall put out the eye of another, then let his own eye be put
out....If a citizen shall knock out the teeth of another who is higher in rank,
then let his own teeth be knocked out.'
This closely parallel's one of the Lord's commands in Exodus:
Exodus 21:23-24
'And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, '
Here is another example, the code gives the fol owing principle:
'If a citizen steals the son of another citizen, he shall be put to death.'
The principle and wording is closely fol owed in the verse below from
Deuteronomy:
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Deuteronomy 24:7
'If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of
Israel...then that thief shall die..'
The similarities are too obvious to ignore. Which religion reflects the character of God?
Only the religion of Jesus, who stated that His religion was based on "loving our enemies,"
not on the opposite premise which justifies a pay-back system which returns violence for
violence (Matthew 5:44).
Consider also Paul's comments in 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 2 Corinthians 4:6
2 Corinthians 3:12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as
Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to
the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day
remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which
veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is
upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. 18 But we al , with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. .4.1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us that the Old Testament writers saw spiritual things through a veil, but that
Jesus revealed the truth ful y, so that now they could see the light of the knowledge of the
glory (character) of God through the testimony of His Son. This is not to say that God
put a veil on the Old Testament writers eyes. God did not cause the veil to be
placed on Old Testament eyes.
It was the pagan influences of the evil and satanic religions surrounding them which
reduced the Old Testament writers' ability to appreciate the pureness of the love of God.
The Israelites displayed a collective mindset of an angry god who had to be appeased.
Their beliefs and misconceptions regarding the quality of God's character, caused the
veiling of truth to their own eyes. Paul states that 'when it shall turn to the Lord, the
veil shall be taken away." This concept harmonises with Jeremiah 29:11-14 � 'ye shall
seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.'
Paul emphasises that the knowledge which comes from understanding the spirit of Christ
(i.e. His glory or character, mind, thoughts) provides liberty -freedom of choice � for
humanity - not force or coercion. (2 Corinthians 3:17) The spirit of coercion does not
originate from God, for He does not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). The spirit of
fear and coercion therefore, must originate with Satan.
Walther Zimmerli (1907�1984) was Professor of Old Testament at the University of
G�ttingen, Germany, and and considered by many as one of the most important biblical
scholars of the twentieth century. Among his many publications in English are Ezekiel, 2
vols. (Hermeneia; Fortress Press, 1979/1983), I Am Yahweh (1982), The Old Testament
and the World (1976), and The Law and the Prophets (1965). In The Law and the
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Prophets, Zimmerli writes:
"In this connection Hosea attacks with particular passion the priests who
should have been the true guardians of the knowledge of God, and who
have especial y failed in this duty (Hosea iv. 4 ff.). They have allowed to
pass unnoticed the very real exchange of Yahweh, the God of Israel,
for the baals of Canaan. This was no longer the same threat which had
occurred in Elijah's time, it was something much more dangerous. While
the worship of Yahweh remained outwardly correct, in reality he had
come to be regarded as a nature deity like the Canaanite Baal. From
him men sought the fertility of the soil and of marriage; he was
worshipped with the forms of nature religion and with sacral prostitution,
as men worshipped the Baals. Ya
hweh became Baal. The name of one
of David's warriors, which is recorded in I Chronicles 12:5 as Bealiah
(Yahweh is Baal) demonstrates exactly this programmatic assertion.
Thus without knowing it, Israel had begun to misunderstand the very
nature of its God, because the professional guardians of a true
knowledge of him were asleep." (Walther Zimmerli, The Law and the
Prophets, Basil Blackwell 1965 p.70)
Columbia University Press Encyclopedia at Answers.com presents the folllowing
information concerning Baal, a pagan god who is acknowledged at an idol which
represented Satan as he attempts to imitate the Creator � the One True God.
Baal (b'l) , plural Baalim (b'lm) [Semitic,=master, lord], name used
throughout the Bible for the chief deity or for deities of Canaan. The term
was originally an epithet applied to the storm god Hadad. Technically,
Baal was subordinate to El. Baal is attested in the Ebla texts (first half of
2d mil ennium B.C.). By the time of the Ugarit tablets (14th cent. B.C.),
Baal had become the ruler of the universe. The Ugarit tablets make him
chief of the Canaanite pantheon. He is the source of life and fertility, the
mightiest hero, the lord of war, and the defeater of the god Yam. There
were many temples of Baal in Canaan, and the name Baal was often
added to that of a locality, e.g. Baal-peor, Baal-hazor, Baal-hermon. The
Baal cult penetrated Israel and at times led to syncretism. In the Psalms,
Yahweh is depicted as Baal and his dwelling is on Mt. Zaphon (Zion), the
locale of Baal in Canaanite mythology. The practice of sacred prostitution
seems to have been associated with the worship of Baal in Palestine and
the cult was vehemently denounced by the prophets, especially Hosea
and Jeremiah. The abhorrence in which the cult was held probably
explains the substitution of Ish-bosheth for Esh-baal, of Jerubbesheth for
Jerubbaal (a name of Gideon), and of Mephibosheth for Merib-baal. The
substituted term probably means "shame." The same abhorrence is
evident the use of the pejorative name Baal-zebub (see also Satan). The
Baal of 1 Chronicles is probably the same as Ramah 2. As cognates of
Baal in other Semitic languages there are Bel (in Babylonian religion) and
the last elements in the Tyrian names Jezebel, Hasdrubal, and Hannibal."
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=29l33c32f48kr?tname=
baal&curtab=2222_1&hl=bealiah&sbid=lc05b
Wikipedia Encyclopedia, Baal:
"After Gideon's death, according to Judges 8.33, the Israelites went astray
and started to worship the Ba`al�m (the Ba`als) especial y Ba`al Berith 'Lord
of the Covenant'. A few verses later (Judge 9.4) the story turns to al the
citizens of Shechem � actual y kol-ba`al� skem another case of normal
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use of ba`al not applied to a deity. These citizens of Shechem support
Abimelech's attempt to become king by giving him 70 shekels from the
House of Ba`al Berith. It is hard to disassociate this Lord of the Covenant
who is worshipped in Shechem from the covenant at Shechem described
earlier in Joshua 24.25 in which the people agree to worship Yahweh. It is
especially hard to do so when Judges 9.46 relates that all "the holders of
the tower of Shechem" (kol-ba`al� midgal-skem) enter b�t 'l br�t 'the
House of El Berith', that is, 'the House of God of the Covenant'. Was Ba`al
then here just a title for El? Or did the covenant of Shechem perhaps
originally not involve El at al but some some other god who bore the title
Ba`al? Or were there different viewpoints about Yahweh, some seeing him
as an aspect of Hadad, some as an aspect of El, some with other
theories? Again there is no clear answer. We also find Eshbaal (one of
Saul's sons) and Beeliada (a son of David). The last name also appears
as Eliada. This might show that at some period Ba`al and El were used
interchangeably even in the same name applied to the same person. More
likely a later hand has cleaned up the text. Editors did play around with
some names, sometimes substuting the form bosheth 'abomination' for
ba`al in names, whence the forms Ishbosheth instead of Eshbaal and
Mephibosheth which is rendered Meribaal in 1 Chronicles 9.40. 1
Chronicles 12:5 gives us the name Bealiah (more accurately b`'aly�)
meaning 'Yahweh is Ba`al'."
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, presents information concerrning Baal,
from the research of AH Sayce.
"Temples of Baal at Samaria and Jerusalem are mentioned in 1Ki 1:18;
where they had been erected at the time when the Ahab dynasty
endeavored to fuse Israelites and Jews and Phoenicians into a single
people under the same national Phoenician god. Altars on which incense
was burned to Baal were set up in all the streets of Jerusalem according
to Jeremiah (11:13), apparently on the flat roofs of the houses (Jer 32:29);
and the temple of Baal contained an image of the god in the shape of a
pil ar or Bethel (2Ki 10:26,27). In the reign of Ahab, Baal was served in
Israel by 450 priests (1Ki 18:19), as well as by prophets (2Ki 10:19), and
his worshippers wore special vestments when his ritual was performed
(2Ki 10:22). The ordinary offering made to the god consisted of incense
(Jer 7:9) and burnt sacrifices; on extraordinary occasions the victim was
human (Jer 19:5). At times the priests worked themselves into a state of
ecstasy, and dancing round the altar slashed themselves with knives
(1Kings 18:26,28), like certain dervish orders in modern Islam."
AH Sayce demonstrates the two-tone, blended character of the pagan deity, Baal:
"As the Sun-god, Baal was worshipped under two aspects, beneficent and
destructive. On the one hand he gave light and warmth to his worshippers; on
the other hand the fierce heats of summer destroyed the vegetation he had
himself brought into being. Hence, human victims were sacrificed to him in
order to appease his anger in time of plague or other trouble, the victim being
usually the first-born of the sacrificer and being burnt alive. In the Old
Testament this is euphemistically termed "passing" the victim "through the
fire" (2Ki 16:3; 21:6). The forms under which Baal was worshipped were
necessarily as numerous as the communities which worshipped him. Each
locality had its own Baal or divine "Lord" who frequently took his name from
the city or place to which he belonged. Hence, there was a Baal-Zur, "Baal of
Tyre"; Baal-hermon, "Baal of Hermon" (Jud 3:3); Baal-Lebanon, "Baal of
Lebanon"; Baal-Tarz, "Baal of Tarsus." At other times the title was attached to
the name of an individual god; thus we have Bel-Merodach, "the Lord
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Merodach" (or "Bel is Merodach") at Babylon, Baal-Melkarth at Tyre, Baal-gad
(Jos 11:17) in the north of Palestine. Occasionally the second element was
noun as in Baal-Shemaim, "lord of heaven," Baalzebub (2Ki 1:2), "Lord of
flies," Baal-Hamman, usually interpreted "Lord of heat," but more probably
"Lord of the sunpillar," the tutelary deity of Carthage. All these various forms
of the Sun-god were col ectively known as the Baalim or "Baals" who took
their place by the side of the female Ashtaroth and Ashtrim. At Carthage the
female consort of Baal was termed Pene-Baal, "the face" or "reflection of
Baal."
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=29l33c32f48kr?tname=baal
&curtab=2222_1&hl=bealiah&sbid=lc05b
It is obvious that, prior to the time that the Old Testament writings were written down by
scribes in the time the Babylonian captivity (Ezra and Nehemiah), the Israelites were very
knowledgeable about the religion of pagan worship, having participating in worship rituals
and ceremonies to Baal.
In that pagan context, is it surprising that the 'blended' character traits of 'the baals' was
transferred unto the character of the One True God?
The fol owing quiz demonstrates the severity of the problem and how the Jewish nation
could easily become confused about the true character of God.
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Quiz
1. Who passed over the houses of Egypt and killed the firstborn just prior to the Exodus?
Answer (Lord- Exo 12: 29); (the destroyer - Exo 12: 23) Rev 9:11 Apollyon = destroyer
1. Who moved King David to number Israel?
Answer: (God - 2 Sam 24:1); (Satan - 1 Chron 21:1)
2. Did David sin when he numbered Israel?
Answer: (No -1 Kings 15:5); (Yes � 2 Sam 24:10)
3. Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?
Answer: (God - Exod 7:3; 12: 23) -; (Pharaoh - Exodus 8:32)
5. Who tore the kingdom from King Saul?
Answer:(Lord -1Sam 15:28);(Saul -1Chron 10:4,wicked snare themselves Psa 9:15,16)
6. Who sends deception to humanity?
Answer: (God sends strong delusion � 2 Thes 2:11); (Satan father of lies -John 8 :44)
(Titus 1:2 God cannot lie; Heb 6:18 impossible for God to lie )
7. Who destroyed the Israelites when they murmured against God, wanting to eat flesh?
Answer: (the Lord - Num 11:33); (the destroyer - 1 Cor 10:10); Rev 9:11 Apollyon
8. Who sent fire down from heaven and destroyed Job's sheep?
Answer: (Lord - Job 1:16); (Job's sheep were in Satan's hand Job 1:12).
9. Who sent an angel as a lying spirit and to be a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets?
Answer: (God sends lying spirit 1 Kings 22:19-23); (God is not man that He should lie
Numbers 23:19); (God cannot lie - Titus 1:2); (impossible for God to lie - Heb 6:18).
10.Who is the God of war?
Answer: (God - Exod 15:3); -; (David can't build temple � man of war 1 Chron 28:3); ,
but David was a man after God's own heart? 1 Sam 13:14) (dragon makes war in
heaven and earth Rev 12:7; 17); (wars and fighting come from lust -James 4:1,2)
11.Who repented of the evil that he thought to do against His people?
Answer: (God Exo 32:14); (Love thinks no evil 1 Cor 13:5, God is love 1 John 4:8,16)
12.What is the wrath of God?
Answer: (Ezek 22:31; Rev 14:10 fiery destruction); (Ps 78:49 God sent evil angels).
13.Who directed men to kil , plunder, rape women, shave their heads and then discard
/divorce them if they weren't pleasing to them?
Answer: (God - Duet 21:10-14; Num 31); (God divorced Israel Jer 3:8); (Not to marry
pagans Ezra 9:12); (not to take captives Joshua 10:40); (Isa 14:12 could take captives)
(no divorce, except for fornication Matt 5:32)
14.Who thinks evil? Who creates evil (calamity)?
Answer: (God - 2 Kings 10:30 had murder of Ahab in his heart; Commends Jehu for
destroying his family). (God creates evil - Isa 45:7); (Antediluvians thought evil
continual y Gen 6:5); (as a man thinks in heart so is he -Pro 23:7) (good tree, good fruit
Matt 7:16-20); (evil thoughts defile Matt 15:19-20); (my thoughts are not your thoughts
Isa 55:8); (God's thoughts of peace, not evil Jer 29:11); - (God is love 1 John 4:16 ;4:8,
Love thinks no evil 1 Cor 13:5).
15.Which God commanded children be offered as burnt offerings on high places?
Answer: (God Gen 22:2); (Satan � masquerading as the pagan gods Molech &
Chemosh Lev 18:21; 20:2-5; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:10).
16.Does God forgive sins?
Answer: (Yes. "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities" - Psalm 103:3). (No. "Ye cannot
serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your
transgressions nor your sins -Joshua 24:19)
17. Who commanded and delights in receiving blood sacrifices?
Answer: (God - Exo 5:3; Exo 20:24; Deut 15:15); (Not God - Jer 7:21-23); (Molech,
Chemosh � 1 Kings 11:6-8)
18. Who delights in the punishment and death of the wicked?
Answer: (God - Deut 28:63; not God - Ezekiel 18:23)
2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them."
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Wrathful God or Gentle Jesus?
There appears to be a conflict of character portrayal in the Bible, between "gentle Jesus"
shown in the New Testament and with the wrathful, angry and violent God of the Old
Testament. But as believers in the One True God, we know the that spirit of God was the
same in both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. There was not a different
god in the Old Testament than there was in the New Testament. Yet there appears to be
sharp disharmony between the divine character of the Old Testament and the divine
character of the New Testament. Can these contradictions be reconciled?
Some Protestant denominations hold to the belief that only the New Testament (and not
the Old Testament) applies to today's Christians. It is reasoned that the Old Testament
Israelites had to achieve salvation through their obedience to God's various laws and
statutes - or suffer God's wrath, but today's Christians are lucky � they can live under
grace. This trinitarian theology also rationalises the contradiction that there appears to be
a wrathful God of the Old Testament who is incompatible with the non-violent and gentle
Jesus of the New Testament.
However, Seventh-day Adventists, along with some other Protestant denominations,
claim to accept the entire Bible as "profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction" (*see
footnote) etc, but these denominations have difficulty explaining the character of the God
as portrayed in the Old Testament. Many believers choose to label the apparently
wrathful and violent God of the Old Testament as another "mystery" aspect of their
trinitarian god. Some prefer not to discuss these worrying parts of God's character since
they can't explain the contradictions. Others suggest that the New Testament, (through
the life of Jesus) exemplifies God's character of mercy, while the Old Testament God
demonstrates His character of justice.
Show us the Father
John 1:17, 18
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No
one has ever seen God..."
Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judaea who consented to Christ's execution, asked the
famous question, "What is truth?" (John 128:38).
Jesus had already given the answer. He stated that He � alone - was the truth.
John 14:6
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me."
The truth, in its fullness, did not come to humanity through Moses, but through Jesus
Christ. The Son of God was the first and only person who revealed the Father to the
world. This revelation was through His loving, pure and holy character. Through Christ's
character, the Father became "understandable" to humanity. Humanity could finally "see"
the character of God, through the character of Jesus Christ, His Son.
The Old Testament prophets had only a limited knowledge of the character of God. Paul
stated that it was a veiled knowledge, but that if they accepted Christ's testimony of the
Father's character, the veil would be removed from their eyes.
2 Corinthians 3:13-16
"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not
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stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: (14) But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which veil is done away in Christ. (15) But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the
veil is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shal be
taken away."
John refers to the same principle of knowing the Father's character, when he states that
truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (18) No man
hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he
hath declared him."
John states states that "no man hath seen God at anytime."
Certainly no sinful human being has seen the invisible, holy God. Sinful humanity cannot
see God in His unveiled glory and live. But there is another meaning to this text. John's
statement relates 'seeing' to 'knowing.' i.e. no man had "known" God's character in
previous Old Testament times, but Jesus Christ revealed, or made Him known to
humanity.
The meaning of 'to see' and its figurative interpretation 'to know' or 'understand' is
demonstrated in the English language when the statement is made, "Oh, I see what you
mean."
There is evidence that in the Hebrew language, "to see" also carries the figurative
connotation of "to know" or "to understand."
Strong's Hebrew Concordance
#7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications,
direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X
certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X
joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X
be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
The Greek expression "to see," which is used in John 1:18, has a similar meaning.
# 3708 horao hor-ah'-o properly, to stare at (compare 3700), i.e. (by implication) to discern
clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively,
to appear:--behold, perceive, see, take heed. see GREEK for 3700
The importance of this figurative usage of "see" as it pertains to 'knowing' is demonstrated
in the New Testament.
John 14:7-9
"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye
know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it
sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Show us the Father?"
Christ was not proclaiming that those people who had seen His outward, bodily form as
Jesus of Nazareth, had also literally 'seen' the Father's bodily form. Instead, He was
asserting that those who 'saw' or 'understood' the Son's character, would 'see' or 'know'
the Father's character. Those who could not recognise the essential and complete purity
of the Son's character, would stil be blind regaring the Father's pure, loving character.
130

Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, gives other examples by John.
"John 1:18. [No man hath seen God at any time] Moses and others heard
his voice, and saw the cloud and the fire, which were the symbols of his
presence; but such a manifestation of God as had now taken place, in the
person of Jesus Christ, had never before been exhibited to the world. It is
likely that the word seen, here, is put for known, as in John 3:32; 1 John
3:2, 6, and 3 John 1:11; and this sense the latter clause of the verse
seems to require:- No man, how highly soever favoured, hath fully known
God, at any time, in any nation or age; the only begotten Son, (See Clarke
on John 1:14) who is in the bosom of the Father, who was intimately
acquainted with all the counsels of the Most High, he hath declared him."
Moses requested that he be permitted to see the glory of God. God's response to his
request again emphasises that it was the character of God that was revealed to Moses,
not the physical, visible form of the Father.
Exodus 33:18-23
"And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. (19) And he said, I will make all my
goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and
wil be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and wil show mercy on whom I will show
mercy. (20) And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and
live. (21) And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a
rock: (22) And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift
of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: (23) And I will take away
mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
The context of these verses clarifies the fact that the "face" of God referred to the "glory"
of God, because Moses had requested to see God's glory. The obvious conclusion is that
sinful humanity are not able to observe the visible, unveiled glorious presence of God, but
they are equipped to comprehend His loving character.
Ephesians 3:17-19
"That Christ may dwel in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and
depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that
ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
'All the fulness of God'
This term refers to the spirit (mind) of Christ, which develops in humanity, the loving
character of God.
131

All the Fullness of God
Colossians 2:9
"For in him dwelleth al the ful ness of the Godhead bodily."
If Christ came to reveal the whole character of the Father perfectly � in every detail, then
where are the examples of anger, wrath and violence found in the Old Testament God? If
Christ did not reveal the complete character of the Father, then the accusation is made
that Christ must have lied to Philip. In John 14:8 -11, Philip requested, 'Show us the
Father." Christ gently reassured Philip that His own life revealed the Father's character
so clearly that if anyone had seen Christ, they had seen the character of the Father
perfectly.
However, it can be seen from the following New Testament verse that the Father's
character doesn't change. Furthermore, the God of the Old Testament doesn't change
either. And Paul tells the Jews that the character of Jesus Christ does not change.
James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Malachi 3:6:
"For I am the LORD, I change not..."
Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."
From the quiz questions, it is obvious that there are seeming contradictions in many Bible
texts. In one Bible text it is declared that "God" performed a certain act, but in another
place, it is reported that another person or being performed that action. In one text, a
certain action is declared to be lawful. In another text the same action is strongly
condemned. Which texts are trustworthy to reveal sin? How do we determine which
reports are inspired by God and will be safe for us to adopt?
Isaiah 8:20
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them."
� Who was accused of breaking the Mosaic law? (Matt 15:2)
� Who fulfil ed the law? (Matt 5:17)
� Who kept His Father's law perfectly? (John 15:10)
� Who said the law would remain until heaven and earth passed away? (Matt 5:18)
� Who is the Logos, "the Word of God made audible?" (John 1:1-3)
� Who is the True Witness? (Rev 3:14)
� Who is the Light of the world? (John 8:12)
� Who is the Spirit of Truth? (John 14:17;15:26;16:13);
� Who is the "Way, the Truth and the Life?"(John 14:6)
� Who is the "Author and Finisher" of the Christian's faith? (Hebrews 12:2)
� Who has the testimony (character) of Jesus in them? (Rev 12:17)
� Who has their Father's name (character) in their foreheads? (Rev;14:1-5)
� Who has Christ in them, the hope of glory? (Col 1:27)
� Whose glory do we behold to become changed? (2 Cor 3:18)
� Who do we have to come to the Father through? (John 14:16)
Do we accept our interpretation of the law and the testimony in preference to
Jesus' life, or do we accept the law and the testimony A
S IT IS IN
J
ESUS'
life?
132

Ellen White declares that Christians certainly should accept the law as it is in Jesus' life
and words � His testimony.
Special Testimonies on Education, (1897) p 206, (Ellen White)
"The religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver, it never makes him coarse
or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard-hearted. On the contrary, it
refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, by
bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God's ideal for his children is higher than
the highest human thought can reach. The living God has given in his holy law a
transcript of his character. The greatest teacher the world has ever known is Jesus
Christ. And what is the standard he has given for all who believe in him to reach? -
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As God
is perfect in his high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere.
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of
continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain, which includes
everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and
constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character. (See 2 Tim. 3: 14-
17; Rom. 15:4; Col. 2:8-10.)"
Do we try to add parts of other men's testimonies onto the witness of Jesus' life, or
do we reject anything that clearly was not part of Jesus' character? In order to
have the faith of Jesus, we need to line up everything � including Scripture - with
the character of Christ Jesus, the Son of God.
Ellen White makes special comments on this theme.
Pamphlet: Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity,16 January, 1907, p 22
"While respecting authority and laboring in accordance with wisely-laid plans, every
worker is amenable to the Great Teacher for the proper exercise of his God-given
judgment and of his right to look to the God of heaven for wisdom and guidance. God is
Commander and Ruler over all. We have a personal Saviour, and we are not to
exchange His Word for the word of any man. In the Scriptures the Lord has given
in
struction for every worker. T
he words of the Master-Worker should be diligently
studied; for they are spirit and life. Laborers who are striving to work in harmony with
this instruction, are under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and need not
always, before they make any advance move, first ask permission of some one else. No
precise lines are to be laid down. Let the Holy Spirit direct the workers. As they keep
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, the gifts of grace will increase by
wise use."
Spalding Megan Collection, p 109
"Self-cultured, self-control ed, under discipline in the school of Christ, having a living
connection with the great Teacher, they will have an intelligent knowledge of practical
religion, and keeping their own souls in the love of God, they will know how to exercise
the grace of patience and Christlike forbearance. The patience, love, long forbearance,
and tender sympathies are called into activity. They will discern that they have a most
important field in the Lord's vineyard to cultivate. They must lift up their hearts unto God in
sincere prayer. Be thou my pattern, and then by beholding Jesus they will do the
works of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he
seeth the Father do. So with the sons and daughters of God: they steadfastly and
teachably look to Jesus, doing nothing in their own way, and after their own will
and pleasure;
b
ut that which they have in the lessons of Christ seen him, their
pattern, do-they do also. Thus they represent to the students under their instruction at
all times and upon all occasions the character of Jesus Christ.
133

What About the God Portrayed in the Old Testament?
The God of the Old Testament is portrayed as a wrathful, angry and warlike God (Exo
15:3) who is credited with:
� commanding (legalising) the Israelites to commit genocide on the nations of Canaan
through warfare (Deut 3:18; 10:39, 40);
� commanding (legalising) the violent murder of infants (Deut 21:10-14; 2:31-34;3:6);
� commanding (legalising) the violent murder of "all that breathed" (Joshua 10:40;11:11,
14,15)
� commanding (legalising) the murder of Israelite Sabbath-breakers (Num 15:35,36);
� commanding (legalising) the murder of secretive pagan worshippers, including the
Israelite's own wife & children (Deut 13:6-10)
� commanding (legalising) the kidnapping of virgins for sexual use (Deut 21:10-14;
Numbers 31);
� commanding (legalising) the divorce of kidnapped virgins after their desirability and
"usefulness" had expired (Deut 21:10-14);
� commanding (legalising) the pil age of pagan cities (Joshua 8:27;28:7; Deut 2:35; 3:7);
� being pleased to have children offered as burnt offerings (Judges 11:32-40; Gen 22:2);
� enjoying bloodshed of animals as a sweet savour (Exo 29:18,25,41; Lev 1:9,13,17;
2:2,9,12;3:5,16; 4:31; 6:15,21;8:21,28;17:6; Number 29:13,36);
� commanding (endorsing) the maiming of animals (Joshua 11:9)
� condoning (legalising) polygamy (polygany) (Exo 21:10,11)
� consenting to the practice of torture (Joshua 10:24,25).
Do these character traits inspire worship of such a being? Do they draw worshippers by
love? Against what standard are these Old Testament writings to be tested?
Isaiah 8:20
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them."

Unto the law and to the testimony.
Question:
Unto WHICH law (legislation) and unto WHOSE testimony should prophets words be
compared?
Answer:
Unto the 10 commandment law, by which all flesh shall be judged (James 2:8; 12; 1:25)
Unto the testimony of Jesus Christ � the True Witness (Rev 3:14; 12:17). The testimony
of Jesus IS the spirit of prophecy today (Rev 19:10), just as it was revealed to the
prophets in the Old Testament.
However, Paul maintains that the (pre-Jesus Christ) Old Testament prophets saw (the
truth about God's character), through a "veil." And in the New Testament "love" chapter,
Paul maintains that in the post-Christian era, dedicated Christians still only see God's
character "through a glass darkly."
1 Corinthians13:12
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but
then shal I know even as also I am known."
134

The New Testament writers had the benefit of seeing Christ's character of love in action,
but Paul states that they still found it hard to understand or to know DIVINE love.
Paul maintained that at some future time, he would know God's character more clearly.
Then, he would see Him "face to face." Paul confessed that he didn't understand the
depth of the love of the character of God, despite having the gift of prophecy and penning
at least 14 books of the New Testament. Would we expect the Old Testament writers
to have a more thorough knowledge of God than did Paul?
Just as Paul anticipated that he would eventually learn more of the depth of the love of
God, similarly, the 144000, in the time just prior to the return of Christ, will also know more
of God's character and even display God's character to the demon-possessed world. The
Father's character (name) will be in their foreheads (Rev 14:1). Their minds will think the
same thoughts of love as does their Father in heaven. Those who "endure unto the end"
wil be people who know their God (Daniel 11:32) and are thus empowered to keep His
loving commandments (Rev 12:17) because they are filled with the spirit of Christ. His
love motivates them to live as Christ lived (Col 1:27; Phil 2:5; 1 Cor 2:16), demonstrating
unselfish love for God and for all humanity (1 John 5:2,3).
Christ said that He came to reveal the character of the Father (John 14:8,9) and that God
is love (1 John 4:8,16). Jesus said that if He was lifted up, He would DRAW al men unto
Him (John 12:32) � not force, coerce or terrify them into following Him.
Jesus prophesied that those who believed they knew God (but really didn't know Him)
would persecute and murder others, thinking that they were doing God's service.
John 16:2,3
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things wil they do unto you,
because they have not known the Father, nor me."
Jesus words reflect the history of the Old Testament record. The zealous Israelites
thought they did God a service by kil ing the 'sinful' races in the land of Canaan. Yes, the
residents of the land of Canaan were wicked, but were the Israelites actual y commanded
by God to murder them?
As stated previously in this article, it appears that the main Old Testament
writers were influenced by their contact with pagan religions (215-270 years in Egypt;
intermarrying with heathen and assuming their worship practices and their tribal -
possibly racist - mentality and behaviour) and that this incorrect religious knowledge was
wrongly applied to the Hebrew God also- much as it stil is today. Consider Paul's
comments.
2 Corinthians 3:12 � 4:6
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as
Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to
the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day
remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which
veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is
upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. 18 But we al , with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 4.1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
135

which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
In New Testament times, Jesus came to "show us the Father" (John 14:8-10). This was
necessary for He proclaimed that the world didn't know His Father's character.
John 17:25
"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these
have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and wil
declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Jesus also reminded the Jewish leaders that they didn't know His Father either. He
pursued this further, making the connection that, by not knowing the Father's character,
they could not be His children. Christ spoke very strongly, informing the Jewish leaders,
that they neither knew His Father and neither was God their father, but that the devil was
their father (John 8:19, 42).
The Jews had severely misrepresented the Father's character. Christ said they
represented the devil's character. The fact is incontrovertible that the Jews did NOT have
a proper or correct understanding of God's character. Jesus worked within the realm of
the Jewish understanding as can be evidenced in several of his addresses and parables.
Jesus said there were some truths He could not even tell His disciples, "for they could not
bear them yet" (John 16:12).
Consider the pagan environment to which the Old Testament writers were exposed.
Moses wrote Genesis-Deuteronomy & Job; Joshua and another unknown author in the
Judgeship of Othniel wrote Joshua; the author of Judges is unknown; Ruth's authorship
is unknown, but supposedly it was written after David's reign; the books of 1&2 Samuel -
were partly written by Samuel, but the majority was penned by Abiathar; 1&2 Kings were
authored by Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the Shilonite, Shemaiah the prophet, Iddo the
prophet, Isaiah the prophet, and Jehu. The Chronicles, were penned by unknown
author/s, but thought to be Ezra. What was common to these writers is that they
wrote from an environment where intermixing of religions continued - from Moses
through the reign of David, Solomon, and the minor prophets eg Ezra organised a
"mass annulment" for the Hebrews, where their foreign wives and children were sent back
to their pagan countries.
It is often stated in this period that "E
very man did what was right in his o
wn e
yes"
(Judges 17:6; 21:25) and they tended to put those characteristics (of what they thought
was right) onto the One True God.
These passages were written before Christ came to reveal the Father's character, and
Jesus told the Jews that they didn't know His Father, yet they knew the Old Testament
scriptures and could quote them better than we could today. Memorisation of the Torah
was part of their education. How could they NOT know the character of the Father if His
true character was revealed in those writings? But Jesus said that they didn't know the
Father, in fact, He states that the whole world didn't know His Father. (John 17:25)
136

Jesus corrected the Israelites' understanding of the Mosaic law. Many times, especially in
Matt 5, Jesus states, "Moses (or the elders) say ....., but I say unto you" and then He
added very different concepts to those traditional y expressed by he elders and Christ
expanded on the principle underlying the laws given by Moses.
Was there very much chance that the Old Testament people would understand the
character of God any better than the Jewish leaders whom Christ revealed had no
knowledge of His Father's character? It would be very unlikely indeed. And Paul claims
that their understanding was very limited indeed. (2 Cor 3:12-4:6)
Among the most obvious misconceptions that the Israelite nation in Old Testament times
believed, was the notion that "the Lord God commanded" that THEY would be the active
agents in destroying the inhabitants of the Promised Land, through their own military
force, (but with some divine assistance).
After his childhood upbringing in Egypt, Moses, thinking to do right, also erred in this way.
Patriarchs and Prophets, p 245, 247
"The elders of Israel were taught by angels that the time for their deliverance was near,
and that Moses was the man whom God would employ to accomplish this work. Angels
instructed Moses also that Jehovah had chosen him to break the bondage of His people.
He, supposing that they were to obtain their freedom by force of arms, expected to lead
the Hebrew host against the armies of Egypt, and having this in view, he guarded his
affections, lest in his attachment to his foster mother or to Pharaoh he would not be free to
do the wil of God. In slaying the Egyptian, Moses had fallen into the same error so often
committed by his fathers, of taking into their own hands the work that God had promised
to do. It was not God's will to deliver His people by warfare, as Moses thought, but by His
own mighty power, that the glory might be ascribed to Him alone. Yet even this rash act
was overruled by God to accomplish His purposes. Moses was not prepared for his great
work. He had yet to learn the same lesson of faith that Abraham and Jacob had been
taught--not to rely upon human strength or wisdom, but upon the power of God for the
fulfillment of His promises."
The Hebrews of the Exodus might have reasoned, as did the Egyptians in their pagan
religion, that if they performed the necessary blood sacrifices, then God would bless them
in battle. It was a religion of salvation by works. However, this was not God's religion, but
the religion of the true God mixed with pagan theology. It was not a divine strategy, but
a faulty human strategy to think that humanity was authorised to offer human sacrifices
(Judges 11:30), murder infants, pillage, and enslave other human beings (Deut 21:10-14).
It seems inconsistent and strange that the Israelites "took matters into their own violent
hands" because Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 3:22, "Ye shal not fear them: for the LORD
your God he shal fight for you." How would God fight for the Israelites?
Exodus 23:27
I wil send <07971>(8762) my fear <terror - 0367> before<06440> thee, and wil destroy<
to move noisily, confuse, make a noise - 02000>(8804) all the people<05971> to whom
thou shalt come<0935>(8799), and I wil make<05414>(8804) all thine
enemies<0341>(8802) turn their backs<06203> unto thee. (backs: Heb. neck)
God said he would cause a loud noise which would confuse the idolaters who would flee,
deserting their land, leaving it to the Israelites to possess.
Exodus 23:28
"And I will send hornets before thee, which shal drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and
the Hittite, from before thee."
137

No bloodshed was necessary. Certainly the Jews were not required to take human life to
possess the land. To the contrary, the Israelites were given opportunity to witness to
the pagan nations, of the love and righteousness of God as contained in the 10
commandments.
Isaiah 60:2,3
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the
LORD shal arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
This passage of Old Testament Scripture prophesied that the coming Messiah
would demonstrate the Father's loving character (glory) to the world. If Israel
chose, they could reflect that Light of love to the Gentiles. However instead of
witnessing to the love and mercy of God, the Israelites instead chose to imitate the
violence of their pagan neighbours and became a warlike, pillaging people. By so
doing, they dreadfully misrepresented the character of the One True God whom they
professed to serve and obey. Yet, there are Old Testament scriptures where the truth
about God's character is seen to transcend the pagan mentality of a wrathful, vengeful
god.
The misrepresentation of God's character became so serious that God caused the
sanctuary services to cease even before Christ laid down His life on Calvary.
Ellen White, PH048.042.003;( Living by Principle, 1898)
"Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were
given. The Israelites were in captivity, the temple had been destroyed, their temple
services suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial
system. They had made the outward forms all-important, while they had lost the spirit of
true worship. Their services were corrupted with the traditions and practises of
heathenism; and in the performance of the sacrificial rites they did not look beyond the
shadow to the substance. They did not discern Christ, the true offering for the sins of men.
The Lord wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services in
the temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum total of
their religion. Their principles and practise must be purged from heathenism. The
ritual service ceased, in order that the heart might be revived. The outward glory was
removed, that the spiritual might be revealed" (Unpublished Testimony).
Jeremiah 36:26,27
"A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away
the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit
within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do
them."
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you an expected end.12 Then shal ye call upon me, and ye shall go
and pray unto me, and I wil hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the
LORD."
Ezekiel 18:31
"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make
you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no
pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves,
and live ye."
138

Summary:
1. The Old Testament writers, though inspired, did not know the depth of the loving
character of God, but could only see "as through a veil" (2 Cor 3:15);
2. The Jewish leaders, despite memorising the Torah (the Old Testament writings) also
did not know the depth of the loving character of God (John 8:19,44)
3. The disciples of Jesus didn't understand the depth of the loving character of God; (Luke
9:55) and Jesus couldn't tell them many things at that stage of their spiritual
development (John 16:12);
4. Paul, who under divine inspiration wrote 14 books of the New Testament, admits that
even he didn't know the depths of the loving character of God, but could only "see
through a glass darkly (1 Cor 13:12)."
If Jesus couldn't tell the disciples "many things which they could not bear" because their
spiritual condition was not mature enough, this situation was also likely the case with the
Old Testament writers who did not have the benefit of the daily physical presence of
Jesus to demonstrate His love to them.
It is not "destroying faith in the Bible" to understand that human beings wrote what they
perceived to be the truth about God's character. It is not casting doubt on God's ability to
transmit truth through erring human beings, or on the motivation or devotion of the writers
of the Old Testament. These people wrote to the best of their ability and understanding,
but God reveals only as much truth as the human being can assimilate at any given time .
ALL writings, whether inside or outside the Bible, need to be tested by the life and words
of Jesus Christ.
Christ's life was a living example of His Father's character in action - the perfect keeping
of the 10 commandments. Christ's life was the supreme demonstration of the Father's
love in action - in all the fullness of the Godhead (divinity) bodily. We can safely trust
Jesus to display the character of His Father without hiding any 'evil' aspects from us. He
is pure love, and in Him there is no shadow of turning (James 1:17). He is not a good/evil
god. . God is goodness. God is mercy. God is love. (1 John 4:8,16). Will we believe the
law of the Father, lived out in Jesus' life? Will we believe the testimony of Jesus � the
Son of God?
God has promised that His people can and will know His character, but they must put self
and tradition completely aside and search for truth AS IT IS IN JESUS.
Jeremiah 29:13, 14
"And ye shal seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with al your heart. (14)
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD."
139

How Did the Israelites Perceive the God they Worshipped?
The Israelites thought they were keeping the law of the One True God. They believed
they were worshipping the One True God. Were they?
It is announced in The Origins and Emergence of Semetic Alphabet Script, that James
Harris & Dann Hone (in subsection Expanding the Old Negev Corpus), discovered a
script which is called Old Negev, that they demonstrate to be script used by the Israelites
from 1200 BC � 600 BC. This time frame begins at the conventionally accepted time of
Moses and extends to the period of Babylonian captivity. The script was also used by the
Kenites and the Midianites. Harris and Hone state:
With a collection of over one hundred and thirty inscriptions this study has
opened a small window to the early (pre-Exile) history of Canaanite
peoples of the Negev. And since twenty-five percent of the inscriptions
contain names of the God of Israel (Yah, El/Yah, Yahu, and Yahh) it
seems fair to say that these Canaanite speakers had a covenant
relationship

with

Yahweh.
http://www.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Origins.html
Notice that it was not just the Israelites who had a covenant relationship with Yahweh; but
"these Canaanite speakers" which includes the Midianites and the Kenites.
The Hebrews worshipped a deity whom they called "Yahweh" or even "Yah" (Jehovah, is
an incorrect transliteration - Psalm 68:4). Previously their forefathers knew this deity as
"El" or "El Shaddai" - which is translated as the Almighty. (Exodus 6:3) Notice the
symbolism of the ancient Negev for El � (God) which appear to depict a rod with a crook
and a bull or cow's head, with horns. These are interesting representations, for the
sacred hooked rod was carried by the Pharaoh and represented the phal us of the Apis
bul . The Pharaoh also wore the uraeus - crown � which featured a serpent poised and
projecting from the centre of the head-piece. The symbol of the sun god was also
represented in the ureaus, forming the combination of the fire-serpent god of fertility. As
demonstrated in the Negev script for "El" the staff is featured and also perhaps the horns
of the Apis Bull. http://www.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Names.html)
Returning to the article, The Origins and Emergence of Semetic Alphabet Script, it is
reported that in a study of 100 "Yahweh" ancient inscriptions, 13 inscriptions were
translated for publication in an article entitled The Names of God. Some of the
translations and the researchers' comments follow:
"A search of Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions by I. Beit-Arieh, and B. Sass, has
uncovered several inscriptions of the pan Canaanite name of God (El) in
the Sinai dating between the 17th century BCE to the 15th century BCE.
Mine L, inscriptions, Sinai No. 377 and 378, also #'s 350, and 363, have
been identified to have the name El in reasonable clarity.... El was the
widely recognized God of all the Canaanite people and his name is
coupled with Yah in some Proto-Canaanite inscriptions. But the name
of Yah has not yet been found in the Sinai, or has it just gone
unrecognized?"http://www.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Names.html)
140

One reason that there was no trace that "Yahweh" was worshipped in the Sinai desert �
when they were said to have been wandering there for 40 years, might be because the
Israelites were in Arabia � the Biblical site of Mt Sinai (Gal 4:25)� and evidence strongly
suggests that the worship of that deity, perhaps in the form of the Egyptian Apis bull, was
worshipped there http://www.arkdiscovery.com/mt_sinai_found_part_2.htm
There is another interesting "Yahweh"inscription and analysis made in The Origins and
Emergence of Semetic Alphabet Script.
"Lexical Analysis: b-m-h,= Bamah (a high place dedicated to religious worship)
b-z, spoil (booty); b-h-'-l-h, () [hiphil imperative verb with prefix -notice position
above the line]= bring up by;; d-k, ()= the door; b-t, () = the house [of]; y-h.= ()
Yah (Yahweh). Translation: "Bamah (place of worship), spoil bring up by the
door of the house of Yah." Or, "Bring thou up spoil by the door of the house of
Yah." http://www.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Names.html)
From the language used in the preceding inscription, it might be assumed that the
call is being made to bring up the spoils of war to the high place so that the
captives can be sacrificed to the God worshipped there � Yah.
1 Kings 3:2; 20:23
"Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the
name of the LORD, until those days .... (23) And the servants of the king of Syria said
unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let
us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shal be stronger than they."
The Syrians considered that the Israelites worshipped the 'gods of the hills' because they
were knowledgeable of their practice of making sacrifices 'in the high places.'
Comparisons are made with the inscription on the Mesha stele where King Mesha of the
Moabites records the events leading to the vanqishing of his enemies. Mesha describes
how he takes all the prisoners and cattle from a battle and sacrifices them to his god
Chemosh as a thank offering. Similarities are seen also in Saul's reply to Samuel (in 1
Samuel 15:14) where Saul attempted to justify why he had did not kill all the cattle and the
pagan king, after his victory over the Amalekites. Saul protested that he was planning on
making sacrifices to the Lord with the spoils of the war. This was certainly done at other
times too, by the Israelites (Judges 11:30, 31; 1 Chronicles 26:27; Leviticus 27:29;
Numbers 31).
In a section on the same webpage, entitled, How The Peoples of the Negev Perceived
Yahweh, subsection "An Ancient Script and Language of the Negev:" a startling
description and interpretation of a "Yah" inscription fol ows:
"The persona of Yah is associated with radiance, as from the sun and the
head of the radiant Serpent. The glory of the radiant serpent was to be
extended to his people so that their countenances would shine as they
141

become a holy nation (a sanctified people). It is possible that the serpent
(as an icon of Yahweh) would have survived in greater numbers had it not
been for the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah. The serpent symbolizes
Yah as the healer, and God of the storms, rain, sun, and Prince of Life.
Yah was the disciplinarian, judge, protector, deliverer, teacher, purifier,
and Father of his covenant people"
http://www.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Names.html).
According to the research just presented, it appears that many of the people of the Negev
perceived their god Yahweh to be the same god as was worshipped in ancient Egypt �
the fire-serpent god!
Is it possible that the ancient Hebrews believed that Yahweh's character was two-tone -
the same as pagan gods � having a character that was both good and evil?
This disturbing theory, that the Hebrews unknowingly worshipped a type of "Baal" who
delighted in blood sacrifices, is actually given further support by the findings of Alexander
Hyslop in The Two Babylons.
Hyslop traces the history of Baal worship from Egypt, to the Israelites.
"Cannibalism was practised by the priests in ritualised child sacrifices in
Egypt as the worship of the pagan "father of the gods" the fire-serpent
god - Bol-Khan. "He devoured his sons as soon as they were born." It
was "through fire worship," that the worshippers sought "cleansing and
regenerating (of) the souls of men." The same system of worship in
Rome, termed the same god, "Vulcan. There is reason to believe that the
same practice obtained in our own land in the times of the Druids. We
know that they offered human sacrifices to their bloody gods. We have
evidence that they made "their children pass through the fire to
Moloch," and that makes it highly probable that they also offered them in
sacrifice; for, from Jeremiah 32:35, compared with Jeremiah 19:5 we find
that these two things were parts of one and the same system." The Two
Babylons, Alexander Hyslop, Chapter 7, Section 1, "The Great Red
Dragon." http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/twobaby/twobaby.html
Walther Zimmerli (1907�1984) was Professor of Old Testament at the University of
G�ttingen, Germany, and one of the most important biblical scholars of the twentieth
century. Among his many publications in English are Ezekiel, 2 vols. (Hermeneia;
Fortress Press, 1979/1983), I Am Yahweh (1982), The Old Testament and the World
(1976), and The Law and the Prophets (1965). In The Law and the Prophets, Zimmerli
writes:
"In this connection Hosea attacks with particular passion the priests who
should have been the true guardians of the knowledge of God, and who have
especially failed in this duty (Hosea iv. 4 ff.). They have allowed to pass
unnoticed the very real exchange of Yahweh, the God of Israel, for the
baals of Canaan. This was no longer the same threat which had occurred in
Elijah's time, it was something much more dangerous. While the worship of
Yahweh remained outwardly correct, in reality he had come to be
regarded as a nature deity like the Canaanite Baal. From him men sought
the fertility of the soil and of marriage; he was worshipped with the forms of
nature religion and with sacral prostitution, as men worshipped the Baals.
Y
ahweh became Baal. The name of one of David's warriors, which is
recorded in I Chronicles 12:5 as Bealiah (Yahweh is Baal) demonstrates
exactly this programmatic assertion. Thus without knowing it, Israel had
begun to misunderstand the very nature of its God, because the
professional guardians of a true knowledge of him were asleep" (Walther
Zimmerli, The Law and the Prophets, Basil Blackwel 1965 p.70).
142

Wikipedia Encyclopedia states:
"We also find Eshbaal (one of Saul's sons) and Beeliada (a son of David).
The last name also appears as Eliada. This might show that at some
period Ba`al and El were used interchangeably even in the same name
applied to the same person. More likely a later hand has cleaned up the
text. Editors did play around with some names, sometimes substuting the
form bosheth 'abomination' for ba`al in names, whence the forms
Ishbosheth instead of Eshbaal and Mephibosheth which is rendered
Meribaal in 1 Chronicles 9.40. 1 Chronicles 12:5 gives us the name
Bealiah (more accurately b`'aly�) meaning 'Yahweh is
Ba`al'."http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=29l33c32f48kr?tn
ame=baal&curtab=2222_1&hl=bealiah&sbid=lc05b
To study this subject further � the name of Yahweh and His mistaken identity � the
following sources might prove helpful or at least interesting:
Yah (Lah), the Other Egyptian Moon God
Yah was sometimes depicted as a new moon, who's angles seemed to appear as the The
Secondly; the references on Yah as an Egyptian moon god are slim.
www.touregypt.net/featurestories/yah.htm
"Two painted inscriptions "Yahweh of Samaria/the guardian and his Asherah" on
fragments of the type of large terracotta pot that archaeologists cal a pithos were found in
the site of a caravanserai of the 8th century BC at Kuntil et Ajrud (in Hebrew Horvat
Teman) in the Negev. They have raised great speculation. Other gods appear in the
Kuntil et Ajrud graffiti-- along with the title Baal. There are accompanying drawings (not a
Hebrew custom) and an oasis is a center of the religious cross-fertilization cal ed
syncretism. However, from a site west of Hebron, identified as Biblical Makkedah, a
furtively excavated inscription reads "Blessed be Uriyahu by Yahweh and by his asherah;
from his enemies he saved him!" (Berlinerblau) Although forbidden by Hebrews, the cult
of goddesses lasted during the Roman occupation in Israel in the hidden form of temple
prostitution, until emperor Constantine closed those houses after converting to Christianity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asherah#Asherah_and_other_gods ;
http://www.geocities.com/levelwater/mathlies15.html ;
http://jesus-messiah.com/studies/sacred-name.html ; and
http://www.control-z.com/page s/25_reasons.html#08
It is beginning to appear that the original religion might have been handed down to Moses
on Mt Sinai, but became corrupted with pagan beliefs and practices and a "convenient" or
artificial record of many history events were placed in the Hebrew scrolls, perhaps for
political purposes. Then again, there might be some other explanation.
However, the earliest time that the Mosiac law was found "written down" was when it was
found by the priest Hilkiah, in the days of King Josiah as recorded in 2 Kings 22 and 23.
The newly found law gave great power to the priests at a time when the king was young
and impressionable.
143

In his introduction of At Test of Time � The Bible � From Myth to History, David Rohl
(1995:7) asks,
"What lies behind this jaundiced opinion of the Bible as history? Peeling
away al the layers of scholarly debate which have tended to obscure the
issue over the years, we are left with one fundamental problem for those
who would advocate using the Bible as a source for history;
archaeological excavations in Egypt and THE LEVANT, ongoing for the
best part of the last two centuries, have produced no tangible evidence to
demonstrate the historical veracity of the early biblical narratives. Direct
material support for the traditional history of the Israelite nation, as handed
down in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings
and Chronicles, is virtually non-existent. It is as if the Israelites had
somehow failed to leave their archaeological footprints in the ancient
lands of the Bible. Moses and the Israelites simply picked up their
belongings, left Egypt in the reign of Ramesses 2 (thirteenth century BC)
and walked into Sinai to miraculously disappear from history for around
four hundred years before resurfacing in the campaign inscriptions of the
ninth century kings of Assyria. Where did they go? According to the
Bible, they went to settle in Palestine where they were eventually to forge
nationhood under the charismatic kings of the United Monarchy period �
Saul, David and Solomon. But virtual y nothing resembling this epic
adventure is to be found in the archaeological record of Palestine. For
that matter, their centuries-long Sojourn in the land of the pharaohs has
also left absolutely no trace in the Nile val ey or its delta. Small wonder
then that specialists in biblical criticism and their colleagues, the Levantine
archaeologists prefer to see the stories of the Old Testament as 'traditions'
rather than genuine 'history.'"
David Rhol considers that the chief difficulty with the lack of Israelite evidence, is faulty
Egpytian chronology. Rhol claims that, when the chronology is calculated correctly and
events reconfigured, the Israelites history begins to appear in various unexpected places.
Independent evidence seems to be mounting in support of Rohl's claim.
Regardless of whether the Bible is found to be historically accurate or not, the
principles of unselfishness which Jesus taught, and the prophecies which
accurately predicted His messiahship,14 can still give Christians confidence that
God is still continuing to direct His people personally � in their minds � through the
law of love, the 10 commandments from the Old Testament which Jesus quoted
and through prophecy.
14 Many Messianic prophecies were made by Daniel and Isaiah and the minor prophets, during
the period of Babylonian captivity. It is generally accepted that such writings were not
subject to the intense editing of the Torah and the finding of the book of Isaiah with the
Dead Sea scrolls confirm that little change has occurred since the books were originally
written. Still, these writings themselves do not date back to the times of Moses.
144

The Unstable House of Paganism
Just as a builder forms a solid foundation for a house, so Truth is vital in the formation of
faith.
There is a foundational truth that will establish faith in the One True God.
John proclaims this truth (1 John 4:8, 16).
"God is love."
Similarly, there is a false foundational belief - that God is both love AND evil.
Through long revered but pagan doctrines, Satan has deceived many Christians into
accepting the lie that the One True God is really a two-tone god - but the "good and evil"
god is NOT the One True God.
Theories built on the false foundational concept that God's character is two-tone,
(demonstrating both good and evil traits), though appearing to be of minor consequence,
are extremely dangerous. False doctrines, if accepted, are capable of sending one down
a tangent path that leads to the worship of very "strange gods" indeed.
Pagan religions of the past, largely assumed that God became "very wroth" when people
did not obey Him and that He would mercilessly punish them for their failures. It was also
believed that worshippers could DO something to avoid His destructive punishment, so
frightened worshippers invented cruel traditions and rituals as a means of appeasing their
terrifying deity. Many religions promote similar pagan beliefs today through their
doctrines.
It is a pagan concept that god is pleased if the disobedient suffer pain and death as their
deserved punishment � even if the sinners willingly inflict their own punishment to cause
intentional suffering. Jesus certainly never taught His disciples to injure themselves,
although He warned that others would afflict evil on them. So where did this unChrist-like
concept of causing suffering to appease an angry god originate?
The attack on God's character came once again, from Satan. He distorted the truth about
God and His holy character - the True Source of al life.
Sub-Section � Pagan Rituals
In the next thirteen sections, rituals and practices which accompany pagan worship
wil be examined. Fol owing each section, examples wil be given of how pagan
practices were practised by pagans, often by the Israelites and some which are stil
practised by modern religions.
145

pain
torture
eating flesh
cannibalism
drinking blood
blood letting
circumcision
animal sacrifice
child sacrifice
human sacrifice
"the life is in the blood"
The Good and Evil God
The Pagan Pyramid of Pain
146

Satan deceived many people into believing that "the life is in the blood" and that by
"the shedding of blood," - shedding an innocent victim's blood - atonement can be
made for sin. This concept is the basis of many Satanic doctrines and practices
that distort the character of the One True God and the truth about the atonement
which Jesus Christ purchased for humanity � with His LIFE (His character).
The Life is in the Blood
Leviticus 17:11
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to
make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the
soul."
Hebrews 9:22
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood
is no remission."
It is interesting to note that under Mosiac law, a person's sins could be forgiven and
atonement made WITHOUT the shedding of blood, if a person was too poor to afford
an animal sacrifice.
Leviticus 5:11-13
"But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned
shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall
put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. (12)
Then shal he bring it to the priest, and the priest shal take his handful of it, even a
memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the
LORD: it is a sin offering. (13) And the priest shall make an atonement for him as
touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shal be forgiven him: and the
remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering." (Meat as used here, means food, not
flesh).
Is the forgiveness of God dependent upon a person's financial status - on whether they
can afford to pay for a religious ceremony eg. an animal sacrifice or perhaps a Catholic
mass?
Surely it is Christ's spotless character (His holy spirt), that redeems humanity - not a
religious ritual!
Where did the confusion arise?
According to The Open Bible (King James Version), "It is Written Heritage Edition," the
Biblical Cyclopedic Index defines blood as "life force" (p 67, 68). The Cycolpedic Index
lists the Biblical usage of the word 'blood' and includes the fol owing references:
�
the individual soul � Exekiel 33:8;
�
the essence of life � Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11, 14;
�
the sacredness of life � Genesis 9:5,6
It is interesting to note that Genesis 2:7 states that when God breathed into Adam's
nostrils "the breath of life" (lives) that "man became a living soul." When God created
Adam, He gave him the 'essence of life' through His breath. It was through the righteous
spirit/breath (not the blood) that God transferred His life-giving spirit � or the essence of
His righteous life � to Adam.
In confirmation of this principle, the New Testament gospel assures Christians that their
new life "is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2, 10) by the renewing of their mind" by the
renewing of their spirit.
147

Romans 8:9
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, wil of God."
The gospel assures Christians that "their life is in Christ." Their life-force is
dependent upon Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:3, 4
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life,
shal appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
Sinners are save by Christ's victorious life � His character. Christ lived a pure life until
He took His last breath. There were no "magical powers" in the death of Christ or in His
blood. The power to overcome sin, was in Christ's perfectly loving life.
When Christ became a human being, 'made in the likeness of sinful flesh,' He took
mortality (death) into His own body. Christ conquered sin and death, because He was
faithful unto death. His character was entirely sinless, despite the hindrance of His sinful,
human body.
Romans 8:2-4
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin
and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit."
Sin brings death. Christ's life - a demonstration of the Father's character, brings life.
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
Romans 5.18-19
"Therefore as by the offence of one j
udgment c ame upon all men to condemnation;
even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification
of life. (19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
The power over sin was in H
is life � the sinless character He developed in
accordance with His Father's law.
Satan wants to claim Christ's death as his own satanic victory, but the victory that
Christ gained was the development of a perfectly loving and obedient character. Christ
continued to live His mortal, human life according to God's loving law, despite Satan's
murderous efforts to prevent it.
Because humanity failed to perceive the true victory Christ gained (or would gain) for
humanity, their deception deepened. It began to be considered that blood was sacred
because of the magical and purifying powers of life which it possessed. As a result
"precious and sacred" blood began to be used as an offering to appease 'wrathful" gods.
148

Blood Letting
Dr Terry Watkins (from Dial-a-Truth Ministries) in his article "Tatoo- the Mark of Blood
demonstrates not only the satanic origin of tatoos, but also of the importance of blood-
letting in pagan religious rituals (http://www.av1611.org/tattoos/blood.html).
Extracts from Dr Watkins' article appear below:
TATTOO: THE BLOODY TRUTH
"One of the oldest and most common satanic practices is cutting of the
flesh or blood-letting. The term "blood-letting" originates from the word
"let" � "to allow to pass, go or come"; hence "blood-letting" literally
means to allow the blood to come, or pass.
Throughout history the cutting of the flesh and blood-letting are rituals performed
to unleash demonic and supernatural powers. Because the "life of the flesh is in
the blood" [Leviticus 17:11], the blood is highly valued in the occult as the "power
source". And by releasing or letting the blood or the "power source" � supernatural
power is unleashed.
The Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, writes of the power of the
blood and it's connection to Satanism and the occult."
"BLOOD (occult; Satanism). The vitalizing or life-giving agent used in the
sacrament of the BLACK MASS. Blood is believed to provide power and life
and therefore plays a central part in ritualistic sacrifices."
(George A. Mather and Larry A. Nichols, Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and
the Occult, p.40)
The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft, says of the blood-letting ritual, "Blood that is
let is believed to unleash power". By the way, some modern tattoo artists perform rituals
during their tattoo procedure in order to unleash supernatural power. Some even lick the
flowing blood bubbling from the tattoo.
"blood: Cal ed the "river of life", blood is identified with the soul and is the
vehicle that carries the vital energy of the universe through the body. In magic,
blood is revered and feared for the miraculous power it possesses and confers.
Blood that is let is believed to unleash power." (Guiley, Rosemary Ellen,
The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft, second edition, p. 26)
The Word of God in 1 Kings 18 gives a detailed and perverse example of blood-letting by
Satanists (aka prophets of Baal) attempting to unleash supernatural power and ignite the
fire for the sacrifice.
Dr Watkins continues to examine the Scriptures which link demon-possession with the
"tell-tale" sign of blood-letting. (Matt 5:5; Luke 8:27 )
"Under the definition of "Satanism", the highly-acclaimed, Encyclopedia of
American Religions, lists among the activities performed by Satanists is "blood
letting":
"In this branch of Satanism,. . . one can expect to find those
individuals engaged in grave robbery, sexual assaults and the ritual
blood letting." (Melton, Gordon, Encyclopedia of American
Religions, 3rd Edition, Gale Research Ltd., 1989, p. 145)
149

In article in The Independent newspaper, acknowledges the pathway from blood-
letting to satanism found on web sites aimed toward children.
"The Association of Teachers and Lecturers said the popularity of
children's programmes and books featuring witchcraft could
encourage children to search for sinister material on the internet.
Researchers for the union found websites promoting satanism, blood-
letting and wicca (witch). . . One website found by the union
describes in detail how to carry out blood-letting and blood
drinking. (Buffy 'prompting pupils to access the occult", Ben Russel ,
Education Correspondent, The Independent, April 22, 2000,
www.cesnur.org/testi/buffy_001.htm )
Dr Watkins quotes from Dr WD Hambly to reveal the true origins of blood-letting rites.
By far, the most extensive work ever published on tattoos was Dr. W.D.
Hambly's, The History of Tattooing And It's Significance. Author Steve Gilbert, in
his popular Tattoo History: A Source Book, writes, "Hambly concluded that
historical y tattooing had originated in connection with ancient rites of
scarification and bloodletting. . ."
"Hambly concluded that historically tattooing had originated in connection
with ancient rites of scarification and bloodletting which were associated
with religious practices intended to put the human soul in harmony with
supernatural forces and ensure continuity between this life and the next."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 158)
Sacred Texts, CD ROM chapter 3, Rival Pantheons and Representative Deities
"Inspiration was derived by drinking blood as well as by drinking
intoxicating liquors--the mead of the gods. Indian magicians who
drink the blood of the goat sacrificed to the goddess Kali, are
believed to be temporarily possessed by her spirit, and thus enabled
to prophesy. Malayan exorcists still expel demons while they suck
the blood from a decapitated fowl. Similar customs were prevalent in
Ancient Greece. A woman who drank the blood of a sacrificed lamb
or bull uttered prophetic sayings."
B.A. Robinson, in Parallels between Christianity and Ancient Pagan Religions writes:
"In Attis, a bull was slaughtered while on a perforated platform. The animal's
blood flowed down over an initiate who stood in a pit under the platform.
The believer was then considered to have been 'born again.' Poor people
could only afford a sheep, and so were literally washed in the blood of the
lamb. This practice was interpreted symbolically by Christians."
Scottish classicist and anthropologist, Sir James George Frazer (1854�1941), in The
Golden Bough (1922), records how pagans performed ritualistic 'blood baptism.'
"In the baptism the devotee, crowned with gold and wreathed with fillets,
descended into a pit, the mouth of which was covered with a wooden
grating. A bul , adorned with garlands of flowers, its forehead glittering with
gold leaf, was then driven on to the grating and there stabbed to death with
a consecrated spear. Its hot reeking blood poured in torrents through the
apertures, and was received with devout eagerness by the worshipper on
every part of his person and garments, till he emerged from the pit,
drenched, dripping, and scarlet from head to foot, to receive the homage,
nay the adoration, of his fellows as one who had been born again to eternal
life and had washed away his sins in the blood of the bull. For some time
afterwards the fiction of a new birth was kept up by dieting him on milk like
a new-born babe. The regeneration of the worshipper took place at the
same time as the regeneration of his god, namely at the vernal equinox."
150

Sir Frazer reveals that the shedding of blood, for the purpose of the forgiveness of
sins, also took place at Rome, on Vatican Hill.
"At Rome the new birth and the remission of sins by the shedding of bul 's
blood appear to have been carried out above all at the sanctuary of the
Phrygian goddess on the Vatican Hil , at or near the spot where the great
basilica of St. Peter's now stands; for many inscriptions relating to the rites
were found when the church was being enlarged in 1608 or 1609. From the
Vatican as a centre this barbarous system of superstition seems to
have spread to other parts of the Roman empire. Inscriptions found in Gaul
and Germany prove that provincial sanctuaries model ed their ritual on that
of the Vatican. From the same source we learn that the testicles as wel as
the blood of the bul played an important part in the ceremonies. Probably
they were regarded as a powerful charm to promote fertility and hasten the
new birth." http://www.bartleby.com/196/81.html
During the fertility celebrations which took place on the Day of Blood, Sir Frazer writes
that the priests used swords to slash their bodies and to cause blood to flow. He says:
"Wrought up to the highest pitch of religious excitement they dashed the
severed portions of themselves against the image of the cruel goddess.
These broken instruments of fertility were afterwards reverently wrapt up
and buried in the earth or in subterranean chambers sacred to Cybele,
where, like the offering of blood, they may have been deemed instrumental
in recal ing Attis to life and hastening the general resurrection of nature,
which was then bursting into leaf and blossom in the vernal sunshine."
Sir Frazer gives a staggering revelation that, prior to their 'baptism' in the blood of the
Attis bull, devotees would perform a violent act to honour their god. Candidates went
beyond the rite of circumcision and would amputate his own testicles. Frazer writes:
"For man after man, his veins throbbing with the music, his eyes fascinated
by the sight of the streaming blood, flung his garments from him, leaped
forth with a shout, and seizing one of the swords which stood ready for the
purpose, castrated himself on the spot. Then he ran through the city,
holding the bloody pieces in his hand, till he threw them into one of the
houses which he passed in his mad career. The household thus honoured
had to furnish him with a suit of female attire and female ornaments, which
he wore for the rest of his life. When the tumult of emotion had subsided,
and the man had come to himself again, the irrevocable sacrifice must
often have been fol owed by passionate sorrow and lifelong regret."
Does Christ condone such blood-letting worship ceremonies to a pagan god? The
majority of Christians would consider that to be preposterous suggestion. Then why do
Christians consider that Christ would be honoured by blood-letting ceremonies as
persented in the Bible?
Would it make a difference if the same violent sacrifices which were used to honour
pagan fertility gods, were instead made to honour the Father?

The author of this book does not consider that God is honoured by any blood-letting
rituals. The One True God is honoured by the fruits of the spirit in the life and character
of the believer. God sees Christ 'in' His people and their service to Him and to others is
motivated by love, not from violence.
151

The Israelites and Blood
The Israelites practised blood-letting in periods of their worship of the Canaanite pagan
deities.
1 Kings 18:28 (Priests of Baal on Mt Carmel)
"And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets,
till the blood gushed out upon them."
Demon-possessed Israelites "cut themselves" drawing blood, even in the New Testament.
Mark 5:6
"And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and
cutting himself with stones."
How did pagan concepts become entrenched in Israelite worship?
Jewish philosopher Abarbanel offers his opinion, which appears on Jewish Veg website .
He (Abarbanel) cited a Midrash that indicated that the Jews had become
accustomed to sacrifices in Egypt. To wean them from these idolatrous
practices, God tolerated the sacrifices but commanded that they be
offered in one central sanctuary: Thereupon the Holy One, blessed be
He, said "Let them at all times offer their sacrifices before Me in the
Tabernacle, and they will be weaned from idolatry, and thus be saved."
(Rabbi J. H. Hertz, The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, p. 562) Rabbi J. H.
Hertz, the late chief rabbi of England, stated that if Moses had not
instituted sacrifices, which were admitted by all to have been the universal
expression of religious homage, his mission would have failed and
Judaism would have disappeared. With the destruction of the Temple, the
rabbis state that prayer and good deeds took the place of sacrifice"
http://www.jewishveg.com/faq03.html
Whether Abarbanel's opinion is correct or incorrect, it is revealed in the Bible that Moses
and Paul both placed considerable emphasis on the value of "the blood."
Leviticus 17:11
"For the life (#5315) of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to
make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the
soul (#5315)."
Strong's Hebrew Concordance (#5315)
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily
or mental):--any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire, X (dis-)
contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy),
lust, man, me, mind, mortal y, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-)self,
them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) wil , X would have it. see
HEBREW for 05314
American Standard Version
11For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the
(1)
altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh
atonement by reason of the life.

(1)
(1) Heb soul
152

The Emphasised Bible by JB Rotherham
11For as for the life of the flesh, in the blood, it is, therefore have, I, given it
unto you upon the altar, to put a propitiatory-covering over your lives,--for
the blood, it is, which, by virtue of the life, maketh propitiation.
The life of Adam was breathed into him by the Son of God. The Son of God did not pour
blood into Adam's nostrils, but breath.
Genesis 2:7
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
If God breathed the breath of life (a righteous spirit) into humanity, why did blood
become so important to the Israelites - seen as the symbol of life � instead of the symbol
being the breath/spirit?
Quite possibly it appears that the Israelites also believed "the blood" contained the life
principle � also referred to as "the soul" - as the surrounding pagan nations also believed.
The Hebrew word "nephesh" (#5315) which is translated "life" but it also means soul,
mind, self, character, breath, living being, desire, passion etc. ...
Darby Translation Notes
Leviticus 17:11:
soul (e-3) Or 'life;' 'life' and 'soul' are the same word everywhere here. for (f-24) Lit. 'in
souls.' see Note, ch. 6.30. soul. (g-37) Or 'that maketh atonement by the soul (or life).'
If the Hebrew word nephesh (#5315 Strong's Hebrew Concordance) were translated
consistently where it applies in the sentence above, it might be paraphrased as:
"I wil set my face against that life that eateth blood; for the LIFE ( nephesh) of the flesh is
in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your
LIVES (naphshotheychem) for it is the blood (because it is the LIFE, (nephesh) that
maketh an atonement for the life (bannephesh, for the life).
Moses' statement appears to have implied that the blood contains the life principle or the
very soul that makes a being alive as opposed to dead.
Pagan theology is compatible with the Mosaic concept just reviewed (Dr Terry Watkins,
Dial-aTruth

Ministries,
Tatoos

�

the

Bloody

Truth
http://www.av1611.org/tattoos/blood.html).
Paul also appears to note the value of sacrificial blood.
Hebrew 9:22
"And almost al things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is
no remission."
Why does Paul state that blood has to be shed for the remission of sin (in almost all
cases?)
Because death is the consequence for sin. God orginates life, but sin (separation from
God) brings death.
Romans 6:23
"The wages of sin is death � but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
153

EJ Waggoner (commenting on) Romans, p 99, 100
"Romans 8:6. 'The sting of death is sin.' 1Cor. 15:56. There could be no
death if there were no sin. Sin carries death in its bosom. So it was not an
arbitrary act on the part of God that death came upon men because of
sin. It could not possibly be otherwise. Note the justice here. Death passed
upon all men, 'for that al have sinned.' 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The
son shal not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the
iniquity of the son;' (Ezekiel 18:20). And this is also a necessary
consequence of the fact that sin contains death in it, and that death can not
come in any way than by sin. (100) Everything that came through Adam's fall
is undone in Christ; or, better stil , all that was lost in Adam is restored in
Christ."
154

Roman Catholic Doctrine on the Blood
It appears that the Israelites might have reasoned that if the blood contains the vital
principle of life, then death is the state of being devoid of blood - the principle of life.
Similarly, Catholic/Christian religions teach the "precious blood of Jesus" saves humanity.
Catholic Encyclopedia on CD-ROM
"Precious Blood: The blood of our Divine Saviour. Jesus, at the Last
Supper, ascribes to it the same life-giving power that belongs to His flesh
(see EUCHARIST). The Apostles, St. Peter (1 Peter 1:2, 19), St. John (1
John 1:7; Apocalypse 1:5 etc.), and above all St. Paul (Romans 3:25;
Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:10) regard it as synonymous with Jesus's (sic)
Passion and Death, the source of redemption. The Precious Blood is
therefore a part of the Sacred Humanity and hypostatically united to
the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.... The blood shed during
the triduum of the Passion therefore reunited to the body of Christ at the
Resurrection, with the possible exception of a few particles which
instantly lost their union to the Word and became holy relics to be
venerated but not adored....Viewed as a part of the Sacred Humanity
hypostatically united to the Word, the Precious Blood deserves
latreutical worship or adoration. It may also like the Heart or the
Wounds from which it flowed, be singled out for special honour, in a way
that special honour was rendered it from the beginning by St. Paul and
the Fathers who so eloquently praised its redeeming virtue and rested on
it the Christian spirit of self-sacrifice."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12372c.htm
The Blood and Death Verses
1 Peter 1:19
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
Revelation 1:5
"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..."
Isaiah 53:10, 11
"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul
(#5315 nephesh) an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shal prolong His days...
(11) He shall see the travail of His soul [nephesh], and shall be satisfied: by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. "
Romans 5:8
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us."
1 Corinthians 15:3
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures;"
Matthew 20:28
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his
life a ransom for many."
John 10:17
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
(18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself."
155

What Saved Humanity � the Death or the Life of Christ?
Jesus "shed His blood." "Shed His blood" means that He died. Many people have "shed
their blood" also and died, some in heroic circumstances, but their deaths did not effect
the rest of humanity to any great degree, but Christ's death spanned the chasm that sin
had caused between God and the human race. How did this occur?
Sin Caused a Spiritual Separation
Isaiah 59:2
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his
face from you, that he wil not hear."
In the Garden of Gethsemane and again at His death, Christ endured this separation.
Ellen White terms it "His Father's frown."
Signs of the Times, 14 August, 1879 p 3
"Could mortals view the amazement and sorrow of the angels as they watched in silent
grief the Father separating His beams of light, love and glory, from his Son, they
would better understand how offensive is sin in His sight. As the Son of God in the
Garden of Gethsemane bowed in the attitude of prayer, the agony of his spirit forced
from His pores sweat like great drops of blood. It was here that the horror of great
darkness surrounded Him. The sins of the world were upon Him. He was suffering
in man's stead, as a transgressor of His Father's law. Here was the scene of
temptation. The divine light of God was receding from His vision, and He was
passing into the hands of the powers of darkness. In the agony of His soul He lay
prostrate on the cold earth. He was realizing His Father's frown. The cup of suffering
Christ had taken from the lips of guilty man, and proposed to drink it Himself, and, in its
place, give to man the cup of blessing. The wrath that would have fallen upon man,
was now falling upon Christ....204 The sins of a lost world were upon Him and
overwhelming Him. It was a sense of His Father's frown, in consequence of sin,
which rent His heart with such piercing agony and forced from His brow great drops of
blood, which, rolling down His pale cheeks, fell to the ground, moistening the earth."
Ellen White demonstrated the Father's wrath or His frown, was the act of turning away.
Why did the Father turn away from His sinless Son? Because the Father had pledged to
accept Christ as the representative of the human race - the representative of all the vile
and unrepentant human sinners that ever existed.
When the Father "turned His face away" from His Son, divine protection was removed
from Christ, leaving Him exposed and vulnerable to the attacks of Satan and his agents.
While Satan's abuse was forseen, such violent treatment was not designed as part of the
plan of salvation.
Both Father and Son agreed that Christ would to die to redeem (justify) the human race
and this would require a spiritual separation, but the torture that Satan originated was not
an extra requirement of the plan of salvation.
Desire of Ages, p 753
"The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme
anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So
great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt."
156

2 Testimonies for the Church, p .206, 207
"The sword of justice was now to awake against His (the Father's) dear Son. He was
betrayed by a kiss into the hands of His enemies, and hurried to the judgment hall of an
earthly court, there to be derided and condemned to death by sinful mortals. There the
glorious Son of God was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities." He bore insult, mockery, and shameful abuse, until "His visage was so marred
more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." (207) Who can
comprehend the love here displayed! The angelic host beheld with wonder and with grief
Him who had been the Majesty of heaven, and who had worn the crown of glory, now
wearing the crown of thorns, a bleeding victim to the rage of an infuriated mob, fired to
insane madness by the wrath of Satan. Behold the patient Sufferer! Upon His head is the
thorny crown. His lifeblood flows from every lacerated vein. All this in consequence of sin!"
Notice that Ellen White qualifies "the sword of justice" as the suffering inflicted on Christ
by Satan and the demon-possessed mob. God was not directing Satan to attack His
Son. From her description, it is abundantly obvious that torturous 'justice' does not
proceed from the Father. The prophet's account also accurately depicts justice as the
consequences of sin, which inevitably occur in the absence of divine protection.
Why is this suffering called justice? It is justice because the wicked have freely chosen to
give their allegiance to Satan, and it is justice that they must thereafter serve their chosen
god and endure his satanic wrath� unprotected and without hope of deliverance.
In this sense, Christ suffered the justice of God. God permitted His Son to be treated as
sinners deserve, in order that we might be treated as His Son deserved.
Review and Herald 21 March, 1893 p 6
"The world's Redeemer was treated as we deserve to be treated, in order that we might
be treated as he deserved to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins upon his
own divine soul, that we might receive his imputed righteousness. He was condemned for
our sins, in which he had no share, that we might be justified by his righteousness, in
which we had no share. The world's Redeemer gave himself for us. Who was he?--The
Majesty of heaven, pouring out his blood upon the altar of justice for the sins of
guilty man."
Ellen White stated in Desire of Ages, p 693, that when the Father's "turned away" from His
Son in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ began to die. Blood began to ooze from His
skin because of His spiritual despair.
When the wicked bear the consequences of their own sins in the judgment, they will suffer
similar physical and spiritual atrocities also inflicted by demon-possessed mobs � but not
to the extent to which Christ suffered for the wicked wil be suffering the consequences of
their own sins, while Christ suffered for all humanity.
When Jesus "shed His blood" (died) "for the remission of our sins," He gave humanity the
benefit of His pure, holy Life � His unselfish character. Christ represented the human
race in both His life and His death.
Without the perfect, sinless LIFE (character) of Christ, humanity could not be sanctified.
Without His DEATH, humanity could not have been justified. The manner of Christ's
death � as a human sacrifice/ritualistic murder � did not achieve salvation, but it did signal
the end of the test - "it is finished" (John 19:30).
Christ was faithful to His Father's loving law � unto death. The "redeemed" will also pass
through the same test and will prove "faithful unto death" (James 1:12; Rev 2:10).
157

Christ's Blood Shed for the Remission of Sins
If there is really no remission of sins without the ritualistic shedding of blood (Leviticus
17:11; Hebrews 9:22), why did Jesus state something similar?
Matthew 26:28
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins."
In making this statement, Jesus made a covenant of agreement. Christ employed the
language and culture familiar to the Hebrews � and to the Gentiles/pagans also.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:28
"It answers to the Hebrew berith, which often signifies, not only the
covenant or agreement, but also the sacrifice which was slain on the
occasion, by the blood of which the covenant was ratified; and the
contracting parties professed to subject themselves to such a death as
that of the victim, in case of violating their engagements. An oath of this
kind, on slaying the covenant sacrifice, was usual in ancient times:
so in Homer, when a covenant was made between the Greeks and
the Trojans, and the throats of lambs were cut, and their blood
poured out, the following form of adjuration was used by the
contracting parties."
Barnes' New Testament Notes
"Anciently, covenants or contracts were ratified by slaying an animal; by
the shedding of its blood; imprecating similar vengeance if either party
failed in the compact. So Jesus says the covenant which God is about to
form with men, the new covenant, or the gospel economy, is sealed or
ratified with his blood."
Christ announced His will and testament. He made a promise that He would indeed be
the human race's Saviour. Christ demonstrated that the grape juice (wine) symbolised
His blood - the value of His entire human existence � His life/ character, not just the
moment of His death.
In making the new covenant/testament, Christ gave His word that He would continue to
remain true to His Father's commandments, so that when His life ended, the merits of His
life - His perfect character - would redeem the human race. Christ guarranteed that He
would indeed remain the New Representative of the sinful race regardless of the cost to
Himself. This was His testament. He would not break His covenant � even in the face of
torture and a slow agonising death. He would lay down His life as the Representative of
the human race before He would consent to sin. He would refuse to sin, even in the face
of torture and death, just as He admonishes His followers to do also.
Revelation 2:10
... "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Christ would not have achieved salvation for sinners, if He sinned prior to His death. It
was the character of Jesus � His faithfulness unto death - that purchased our salvation.
158

Questions
�
IF Christ was only required to be an appeasing blood-letting sacrifice, why did He
come to earth and live as a human baby? Surely, He could have appeased His
Father's wrath in heaven.
�
Why didn't Christ organise a plan that permitted Him to be "born of a woman"
(incarnated), then return to heaven, away from temptation and then at the
prescribed time, return to earth as a human sacrifice?
�
Why did Christ have to live His life as a human being and develop a righteous
character on earth, if His death was the sole event which brought salvation?
Consider a Scenario
If a bleeding victim was required to appease a murderous, wrathful god, then Christ
could have simply laid down on the altar and directed the temple priests to slaughter Him
in the most blood-letting method possible. Perhaps He could recommend they scourge
Him twice because scourging causes voluminous blood loss. Perhaps He could
recommend a crown of thorns be pounded onto His head - that would certainly ensure
that blood poured down His face. Perhaps nails driven through His hands and feet and a
sword in His side � al these wounds would surely supply enough blood to satiate the
blood-lust of any PAGAN god!
But was the Father's character identical with that of a pagan god � Satan?
Did the Father require appeasing? Did the Father delight in the murder, torture and
blood-letting of His own Son?
Hardly! The plan of salvation was designed in the "counsel of peace" not the counsel of
torture! (Zechariah 6:13)
Jesus said His Father did not require sacrifices, but that He, Christ came to do His
Father's wil .
Hebrews 10:5
"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou
hast had no pleasure. (7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is
written of me), to do thy will, O God."
The Father's will did not include a desire to see His Son to be massacred by demon-
possessed men and satanic agents. His wil was for His Son to live a holy life � to
develop a pure righteous character. The Father realised however, that since Christ
became the representative of the sinful human race, He took upon Himself its mortality.
Bible Echo, 15 September, 1892 p 6
"As a member or the human family, He was mortal; but as God, He was the fountain of life
to the world. He could, in his divine person, ever have withstood the advances of death..."
Sin causes separation from God and complete separation from God causes death
(mortality). This is the death that Christ chose to experience so that humanity might live
eternal y.
As Paul stated, a human body was prepared for Christ so that He could die for the
justification of the sinful race as its representative. Spiritual separation from His Father
caused Christ's life to finally expire, but in the closing minutes of His mortal life, it was His
faith in His Father's character which enabled Christ to accept for humanity, the ultimate
consequence of sin and separation - death; and even perhaps His own eternal death.
159

Christ suffered. He was tortured and murdered in a typically pagan, sacrificial ritual.
Sacrificial deaths required the shedding of copious amounts of blood. Christ's blood
flowed from His veins as Satan poured temptations upon Him to defend Himself and
"come down from the cross." Despite al the Victim's intense agonies, suffering, blood-
loss and death, - all these agonies did not � could not - redeem humanity or supply
humanity with eternal life.
The Father never required His Son to be tortured to appease His "wrath" toward sin, but
by becoming a mortal human being, Christ accepted a death sentence. He laid down His
life and voluntarily come under the power of death as the result of becoming human. The
human race all inherited a death sentence from Adam � and were made sinners.
Romans 5:19
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shal many be made righteous."
All Adam's off-spring were born "under the law" and so was Christ (Gal 4:4). In this way,
Christ was made to be "sin" for us (2 Cor 5:21). Christ took on Himself, the fatal
consequences of being part of a sinful race. He set aside His divinity and became mortal.
He became the second Adam, representing the human race. In this way, it was possible
for Christ to pay the "penalty of sin," when He risked His eternal life to save humanity.
Christ's death was valuable sacrifice not because His blood flowed out of His veins as a
pagan sacrifice, but because as the representative of the sinful, human race, He accepted
the consequences of separation from His Father on our behalf..
What paid for the salvation of the entire human race?
Christ's entire existence paid the price. It was � the faithful, obedient life � of Christ � His
obedience to the law of unselfish love, in the face of death. It was the persistent Love
which was revealed stronger than death that declared, "greater love hath no man than
this, that a Man lay down His life for His friends (John 15:13) and His enemies (Matt 5:44).
As with all holy and perfect truth, Satan has revealed his true murderous character. The
doctrine that required an angry god to be appeased by seeing suffering, agony, torture
and death against an innocent victim is demonic. Such a heinous doctrine has its origin in
the counsels of darkness and it has assassinated the characters of both Father and Son
for thousands of years.
Summary
Two basic facts are relevant when investigating this subject:
�
Sin caused a spiritual separation from God; and
�
Christ's life and death caused a reunion between God and humanity.
Christ's victory for the human race was won by His refusal to behave selfishly (i.e. break
His Father's law) under ANY circumstances. Satan made the circumstances of Christ's
experiences extremely difficult. Satan arranged that the Son of God was faced with the
situation that to obey His Father's law would mean He would have to lay down His mortal
life before the normal mortal life span demanded it of Him and in torturous conditions.
Satan's persecution hastened the time when the Son was to lay down His life. It was
prophesied that Satan would do this, but if Satan hadn't done this, Christ would have been
able to live His perfect life as a human being and then at the end of His mortal life, He
would have died as a mortal human being of old age. Christ would still have endured the
separation from His Father and suffered that agony, but torture from demonic agencies
was not build into the holy plan of salvation.
160

Christ's life qualified Him to sanctify humanity. His death justified humanity. Both
Christ's life and death � which are aspects of sinful humanity - were necessary to deliver a
sinful race from the penalty and power of sin. When Christ took on the responsibilty of
representing the sinful human race, He took upon Himself mortality - human life and
death.
Satan claimed Christ's premature death as his greatest victory, but of course it was his
own death sentence. Good triumphed over evil - Christ over Satan.
Psalm 80:3 "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
Questions
Is it possible that Satan has deceived the entire world into believing that God required
blood-letting, torturous, agonising sacrifices to save humanity? Do God's professed
followers and supporters consider that God's character is on the same level as Satan's?
May God speedily help His poor people to cast off the "traditions of men" and to look to
Jesus to see the Father's character as it really is.
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!"
Because some believe that "the life is in the blood," they accepted therefore
that blood possesses some "magical" powers � the powers of life. It is
reasoned that the power of life that resides in blood, wil infuse life and
strength into a person who drinks it or wears it. The gift of life (by shedding
a victim's blood) is so precious and valuable that, when given as a sacrificial
offering, it is a capable of appeasing angry gods.
By seeking to acquire the "magical powers" in blood, in order to appease the
wrathful gods, humanity has committed hideous crimes against their fel ow
human beings - including the ultimate crime of murder, in order to secure
human sacrifices.
161

Human Sacrifice
Child Sacrifice � an Ancient and Extensive Ritual
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sacrifice
References to child sacrifices have been found since the beginning of human history in
many cultures. (quoting from Wikipedia Encyclopedia)
�
In Greek mythology, King Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Iphigeneia
in order to gain favorable weather for an invasion.
�
In the Bible, Abraham is told to sacrifice his son Isaac for the glory of God,
though angelic intervention prevents it; the binding of Isaac is one of the
most challenging, and perhaps ethical y troublesome, parts of the Bible,
and has its own entry.
�
The Bible implies that the Ammonites offered child sacrifices to Moloch.
�
Yoruba myths refer to "twin infanticide" as an ancient practice stopped by
divine intervention of Shango.
Archaeology has uncovered physical evidence of child sacrifice at several locations.
Some examples include:
�
A young child was buried with its skul split by a weapon at Woodhenge. This
was interpreted by the excavators as a child sacrifice.
�
Sites within Carthage and other Phoenician centers revealed the remains of
infants and children in large numbers; initially this was interpreted as evidence
for frequent and prominent child sacrifice to the god Ba'al Hammon. However,
many historians have disputed this interpretation, suggesting instead that
these were resting places for children miscarried or who died in infancy.
�
The Incan culture sacrificed children,an excellent pretext for the Spanish to
annihilate their culture. The frozen corpses are stil being discovered in the
South American mountains. The first of these corpses, a female child who had
died from a blow to the skul , was discovered in 1995 by Johan Reinhard.
�
Other methods of sacrifice included wrapping living children in their burial
clothes tightly enough to cause asphyxiation. These findings corroborated the
documented stories by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. The practice
itself was called capacocha by the Incans. One theory of why the Incans
sacrificed children was that the children were to be emissaries to their deities.
Archaeologists corroborated this theory with their own, that the child to be
sacrificed met the Emperor and was the guest of honor at a feast before being
sacrificed;
�
The Moche of northern Peru practiced mass sacrifices of men and boys.
�
In Knossos and dating to Minoan Crete, the bones of at least four children
(who had been in good health) were found which bore signs that they were
butchered in the same way the Minoans slaughtered their sheep and goats,
suggesting that they had been sacrificed and eaten.
�
There is some evidence that such practices extend even to modern times.
�
The bodies of some young children discovered in remote regions of South
America, are al eged to have been killed by drug dealers in rituals intended to
ward off revenge for their successful cocaine runs.
�
In Africa there have been several al egations of children sacrificed in muti
rituals:- attempts at witchcraft intended to bring prosperity to those performing
the sacrifice. In modern times, child sacrifice is a term that has also been
applied to the military use of children (end Wikipedia Encyclopedia entry).
162

Many pagan religions consecrated (purified) their children -by passing them "through the
fire." Children were not considered to be completely purified unless they were completely
burned to death.
According to Alexander Hyslop, the Two Babylons ch 7 sec 1, burning a person with fire
for purification purposes is directly linked with the fire-serpent religion practised in Egypt.15
It was thought that the ritual of burning, purified the soul.16 The Roman Catholic religion
also teaches that burning a heretic might save his/her soul. The religion advocates that to
"destroy the body, might save the soul."17 The Indian custom of a widow burning on her
husband's funeral pyre stems from this false and cruel doctrine also.18
(Egyptian Mythology (Hamlyn:1965:58).
�
"There (in Phoenicia), the queen Astarte, entrusted to her (the goddess
Isis) the care of her newly born son. Isis adopted the baby and would
have conferred immortality upon it had its mother not broken the
charm by her cries of terror upon seeing the goddess bathe the baby
in purificatory (purifying) flames."
15And this also, no doubt, reconciled the parents who actually sacrificed their children to Moloch,
to the cruel sacrifice, the belief being cherished that the fire that consumed them also "perfected"
them, and made them meet for eternal happiness. As both the passing through the fire, and the
burning in the fire, were essential rites in the worship of Moloch or Nimrod, this is an argument
that Nimrod was Tammuz. As the priest and representative of the perfecting or purifying fire, it
was he that carried on the work of perfecting or purifying by fire, and so he was called by its name.
16 It is evident, however, from the Zoroastrian verse, elsewhere quoted, that fire itself was
worshipped as Tammuz, for it is called the "Father that perfected all things." In one respect this
represented fire as the Creative god; but in another, there can be no doubt that it had reference to
the "perfecting" of men by 'purifying' them. And especially it perfected those whom it consumed.
17(Alberto Rivera, ex-Jesuit priest, in The Four Horsemen p 4; 5; published by Chick Publications
Inc; Ontario: 1985). Vatican 2 council � "Pedro Arrupe, the Superior General of the Society of
Jesus stated, "It is time for the new and final purification of the Church in preparation for the New
Age kingdom." Rivera notes that Arrupe used 'purification' as a key word to describe purging (or
extermination) of all those who are unfaithful to the pope.
18 Many widows in India to immolate themselves on the funeral piles of their husbands, the woman
who thus burned herself being counted blessed, because she became Suttee *--i.e., "Pure by fire."
burning."
163

Child Sacrifices in the Israelite Religion
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
2 Kings 21:6:
"Made his son pass through the fire - Consecrated him to Moloch."
Who commanded and delighted in receiving blood sacrifices?
Answer:
�
(God - Exo 5:3; Exo 20:24; Deut 15:15);
�
(Not God - Jer 7:21-23);
�
(Molech, Chemosh � 1 Kings 11:6-8)
In Exodus 34:10 � 16, Moses relates God's instructions to the Israelites just prior to their
entrance into the Promised Land.
God states that He wil "drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the
Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite." Then He instructs the Israelites
to "destroy their altars, break their images and cut down their groves." so that the
Israelites would not "go a whoring after their gods."
However, the Israelites were already highly educated in the practice of human sacrifice
and in pagan worship rituals. They had already "gone a whoring" by "offering their
sacrifices unto devils" and sadly, they continued their pagan practice of child sacrifice
through the centuries.
Exodus 22:29
"Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of
thy sons shalt thou give unto me."
The firstborn Israelite sons were to be dedicated to God, not sacrificed to Him, but the
firstborn Egyptians were apparently sacrificed to God.
Exodus 13:15 (Moses said)
"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast:
therefore I (Moses) sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males;
but all the firstborn of my children I redeem."
Leviticus 17:7,
"And they shal no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a
whoring."
2 Kings 16:3:
Ahaz, king of Judah, murdered his son as a human sacrifice.
2 Kings 17:17:
"And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used
divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to
provoke him to anger." The tribe of Judah abandoned worship of Yahweh at the temple in
Jerusalem, and burned their children as human sacrifices to Baal.
2 Kings 21:6:
"And he (Manasseh) made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and
used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much
wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."(Manasseh burned his son
as a human sacrifice to Baal).
164

Isaiah 57:5:
"Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the
valleys under the clifts of the rocks?"
Isaiah was given a message of divine rebuke to the Israelites for sacrificing their children.
Ezekiel 20:31
"For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye
pol ute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you,
O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I wil not be inquired of by you."
Where did the Israelites original y learn these demonic practices? From whom did they
learn how to pacify wrathful, angry gods with human sacrifice?
In Egypt. (Lev 18:2) The Hebrews were exposed to demonic pagan rituals from their
close contact with the Egyptians over the 270 year period of their enslavement.
Not long after God spoke the 10 commandments from Mt Sinai, the Israelites "danced
naked" (i.e. performed sexual rituals) around a golden calf. They had reverted to the
familiar pagan fertility rituals which they had learned in Egypt where Bol-Kahn, the fire-
serpent god was worshipped in various forms. 1 Kings 11:33
"Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the
Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom (Moloch) the god of the
children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine
eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father."
The trinity of gods mentioned in 1 Kings 11:33 are al the same "deity." The god whom
the Moabites cal ed Chemosh, was also worshipped as Baal by the Zidonians and as
Moloch/Milcom by the Ammonites. This religion required human and child sacrifices and
was practised in Egypt as the fire-serpent religion (Hyslop, the Two Babylons, ch 7 sec 1).
When considering the Israelites' history as given in the Bible, it is difficult not to
see similarities and make comparisons with the history of the Moabites as recorded
on the Mesha Stele � the Moabite Stone.19
19 D
ESCRIPTION of the MESHA STELE (the Moabite Stone)
Language:
Moabite (a West Semitic Language)
Medium:
basalt stone stele
Size:
1.15 meters high, Width: 60-68 centimeters, Length: 35
lines of writing
Honoree:

Mesha, king of Moab (late 9th century BC)
Date:
830 BC (approx)
Place of Discovery:
Dhiban [in modern Jordan]
Date of Discovery:
1868
Current Location:
Louvre Museum, (Paris, France)
Inventory number:
AO 5066
http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/mesha.html
165

Commentary on the Mesha Stele is made in The Bible in History � How Writers
Create a Past by Thomas L Thompson (Johnathon Cape, Random House, London
1999:12)
"In a description of a battle against Israel for the town of Nebo, the
Mesha Stele presents the enemy as dedicated to total destruction as
a sacred offering to the god Chemosh in a manner that is very
familiar to us from the books of Joshua" (10, 11) "and 1 Samuel" (15).
A extract from the Mesha Stele (translation by K. C. Hanson, adapted from Albright
1969:320-21) reveals a similar "divine" battle plan was given to the pagan king by
the god of the Moabites named Kemosh (or Chemosh � same worship as Molech
or Baal), as was supposedly given to Joshua and Samuel by the One True God -
Yahweh.
The translation reads:
"I am Mesha, son of Kemosh[-yatti], the king of Moab, the
Dibonite. My father was king over Moab for thirty years, and I
became king after my father. And I made this high-place for
Kemosh in Qarcho . . . because he has delivered me from all
kings, and because he has made me look down on al my enemies.
Omri was the king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab for many days,
for Kemosh was angry with his land. And his son reigned in his
place; and he also said, "I wil oppress Moab!" In my days he said
so. But I looked down on him and on his house, and Israel has been
defeated; it has been defeated forever! And Omri took possession of
the whole land of Medeba, and he lived there in his days and half
the days of his son: forty years. But Kemosh restored it in my
days. And I built Baal Meon, and I built a water reservoir in it. And I
built Qiryaten. And the men of Gad lived in the land of Atarot from
ancient times; and the king of Israel built Atarot for himself, and I
fought against the city and captured it. And I killed all the people
of the city as a sacrifice for Kemosh and for Moab. And I
brought back the fire-hearth of his uncle from there; and I
brought it before the face of Kemosh in Qerioit, and I made the
men of Sharon live there, as wel as the men of Maharit. And
Kemosh said to me, "Go, take Nebo from Israel." And I went in
the night and fought against it from the daybreak until midday,
and I took it and I killed the whole population: seven thousand
male subjects and aliens, and female subjects, aliens, and
servant girls. For I had put it to the ban for Ashtar Kemosh. And
from there I took the vessels of Yahweh, and I presented them
before the face of Kemosh. And the king of Israel had built Yahaz,
and he stayed there throughout his campaign against me; and
Kemosh drove him away before my face. ....." And I cut the moat
for Qarcho by using Israelite prisoners. ... Kemosh said to me,
"Go down, fight against Hauranen!" I went down . . . and
K
emosh restored it in my days."
.
http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/mesha.html
166

The Moabite practices and religious beliefs mirror those recorded in Joshua 10 &
11 or 1 Samuel 15.
The table compares the Israelite and the Mesha Stele Moabite records:
Characteristic
Moabite Mesha Stele
The Hebrew Scriptures (Old
Testament Bible)
God commanded them to
Yes
Yes -
attack certain towns and
Exo 32:37; 1 Sam 15:3
countries
God commanded them to
Yes
Yes
completely destroy al
Joshua 10:8; 1 Sam 15:3
men, women, children
and infants
Human captives were
Yes
Yes
sacrificed to their gods
When describing the
When describing the action
action of "vowing a
of "vowing a sacrifice, the
sacrifice," the Moabites
Israelites used the
used the expression "put it expressions "consecrated
to the ban."
to death" or "devoted to
death"or "vowed to the
Lord" (Lev 27:29 margin;
Judges 11:31);
God is angry and must be
Yes
Yes
appeased
(1 Chronicles 21:12)
God punishes nations by
Yes
Yes
sending enemies to
(Lev 26:37; Jer 19:7)
destroy them
God gives armies power
Yes
Yes
to destroy enemies
(Exo 23:27; Num 14:43 )
God rewards by giving
Yes
Yes
land
(Exodus 3:8)
God punishes nations by
Yes
Yes
taking away land
Jer 20:4)
Made "high places" to
Yes
Yes
worship their gods
(Abraham was instructed
to sacrifice kil his son to
Yahweh on a high place �
Gen 22:2)
God was worshipped with
Yes
Yes
special "fire"
(Lev 9:24;10:1)
167

Did the Israelite's God Require Human Sacrifices?
The Biblical evidence appears contradictory.
Leviticus 27:28, 29
"Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he
hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed:
every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. 29 None devoted (consecrated),
which shall be devoted (consecrated) of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely
be put to death."
Leviticus 27:28, 29
29None devoted<02764>, which shal be<03808> devoted<02763>(8714) of
men<0120>, shal be redeemed<06299>(8735); but shal surely<04191>(8800) be
put to death<04191>(8714).
Two instances of the word "devoted" are used by the King James Version as a translation
of the Hebrew word charam. It means devoted to death, dedicated to death, or
consecrated to death, but some commentators consider that it refers to a person being
dedicated to the service of God until the person's death. In reading from the Strong's
Hebrew concordance, the Hebrew definition does not tend to support the latter view.
Strong's Hebrew Concordance devoted: # 02763

charam khaw-ram'
"to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);
physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose:--make accursed, consecrate, (utterly)
destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away)."
Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
# 02763

charam khaw-ram' a primitive root; ; AV -destroy 34, utterly 10, devote 2,
accursed 1, consecrate 1, forfeited 1, flat nose 1, utterly to make away 1, slay 1; 52.
The Hebrew meaning is:
1) to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction,
exterminate 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to prohibit (for common use), ban
1a2) to consecrate, devote, dedicate for destruction
1a3) to exterminate, completely destroy
1b) (Hophal)
1b1) to be put under the ban, be devoted to destruction
1b2) to be devoted, be forfeited
1b3) to be completely destroyed
2) to split, slit, mutilate (a part of the body) 2a) (Qal) to mutilate 2b) (Hiphil) to divide
The Moabite expression for "devoted to death" was "to put under the ban." This
expression is used by the King of the Moabites in approx 830 BC and it was
recorded in the Mesha Stele found in 1868 AD. King Mesha put captives "under
the ban" and sacrificed the entire town's inhabitants to his god, Chemosh.
http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/mesha.html
168

Didn't "God" ask Abraham to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering on a high place � Mt
Moriah? (Genesis 22:2)
� Didn't "God" order the Israelites to murder of thousands and men, women and
children? (Duet 21; Num 31; 1 Sam 15:18; Deut 2:33-35)
� Didn't God consent for Jephthah to offer his daughter up as a burnt offering? If
He hadn't wanted the daughter sacrificed, why would He have actively helped
Jephthah win the battle against the Ammonites?.
Apparently not, because God states twice that asking for a human/child sacrifice is a
thought that never came into His mind.
Jeremiah 7:30, 31 & Jeremiah 32:34, 35
"For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their
abominations in the house which is cal ed by my name, to pollute it. 31 And they have
built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their
sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it
into my heart. chap32/verse 34 But they set their abominations in the house, which is
called by my name, to defile it. 35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the
valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through
the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind,
that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin."
But while the thought of asking the Israelites to offer children as burnt offerings never
came into the One True God's mind, it certainly was obvious that many Israelites thought
that God would be pleased with these offerings. This assumption on the part of the
Israelites confirms how deeply pagan worship concepts were implanted into their minds.
Associations with Egyptian worship during their captivity and intermarriage with pagan
nations, led to apostasy and a reversion to the religions of the world � the fire-serpent
religion which dominated Egypt and Canaan.
The fol owing columns compare the traits of the Father, Jesus and Satan in regard to the
treatment of children.
T
he Father's c haracter B
lended
C
haracter Satan's character
displayed in Jesus
(g
ood/e vil)
Child sacrifices part of worship
Protects and values children It never came into the ceremonies
Matthew 18:6; 19:14 "But heart of God to ask for Matt.17:15; 2 Chr 33:6;
whoso shall offend one of burnt sacrificing of Eze 16:20, 21
these little ones which children on high places
believe in me, it were better (Jeremiah 7:31: 32:35)
"And he caused his children to
for him that a mil stone were "And he (God) said, Take pass through the fire ... also
hanged about his neck, and now thy son, thine only he observed times, and used
that he were drowned in the son Isaac...and get thee enchantments, and used
depth of the sea.... Suffer into the land of Moriah; witchcraft, and dealt with a
the little children to come and offer him there for a familiar spirit, and with
unto me and forbid them burnt offering upon one of wizards: he wrought much evil
not."
the mountains which I will in the sight of the LORD, to
tell thee of." Genesis 22:2 provoke him to anger."
169

Child Sacrifice in Tribal Cultures
"No Devil Strings" part 5
(as it appears in Temkit for Children by Mary Hunter Moore)
Kata Rangoso once told of habits of his people prior to the coming of
the missionary: "The warriors would assemble; then the message would
come from the spirits through the devil priest, `It is my desire that you go
forth in your canoes to some island where you wil find people living in
their villages. When you find them, take their heads.' "The warriors
would get their spears, their shields, and their large clubs, and away
they would go. They would go with murderous thoughts in their minds.
On arrival at the shore of an island they would wait to be first guided by
the spirits as to which village to attack. "Then the warriors would rush
forward and kil al with whom they came in contact. As soon as they
had slain their victims, they would cut off their heads and rush with them
back to their canoes. Sometimes they would get thirty, forty, fifty-up to
one hundred heads. They would have to wait for the message from their
warrior-priests to know when to stop slaying. "They would find at times
some little children, take them alive in their canoes, and away they
would go. As the headhunting party neared their home vil ages they
would blow a certain sound on the conch shell, and the people would
know they had been victorious." When the vil age people heard the
message of the shell, they would come in thousands to the shore to
welcome the warriors. Then they would pay special homage to the idols
and spirit images which were on the prows of the canoes and which
they believed had given them success. Part of this homage would be to
offer a human sacrifice before the images. Describing this sacrifice,
Rangoso said: "On the day when the warriors would kill these little
captured children, they would put them into their stone ovens and after
cooking divide the bodies among the men."Some of the captured
children would be kept and cared for and offered to the idols later. "The
tribal priest would catch some of the blood, and sprinkle it on the idol
and on the ground in front of it. The body would then be lifted up on a
wooden cross and waved about in front of the idol, accompanied by
weird chanting and incantations. "When this part of the ceremony was
over, the child's body would be wrapped in banana leaves and placed in
the hot-stone oven for several hours. A cannibal feast then followed, the
people taking a small piece of flesh and eating it in the belief that extra
spiritual power would be transferred to them in this way."
170

Consider the Similarities:
Demons ordered the Solomon Islanders to:
�
kil particular tribes as "divinely" directed;
�
kil whole tribes;
�
kidnap children;
�
sacrifice living children to the devil gods;
�
consecrate some children as future sacrifices to the devil gods;
�
perform burnt offerings rituals to the devil gods as thank offerings and
appeasement offerings (also see "No Devil Strings - part 1);
�
sprinkle the sacrificial blood over the sacred objects;
�
eat the sacrificial flesh;
�
believe that extra spiritual power would be transferred to the eater of human
flesh.
The preceding primitive religious practices were ordered by demons., but "God"
was said to have given similar instructions to the Israelites when they entered
Canaan.
"God" ordered the Israelites to:
�
kil particular tribes as "divinely" directed; (Num 31:7; 1 Sam 15:18);
�
kil whole tribes; (Num 31:17; 1 Sam 15:18);
�
kil sinners; (Exo 32:27; Num 25:5; Deut 13:8; 21:18-22)
�
kil children and infants (Num 31:17);
�
kidnap children (Num 31:18; Deut 21:11, 12)
�
offer a child as a burnt offering on a high place (Gen 22:2)
�
kil al the animals (1 Sam 15:21);
�
kil animals as sacrifices to God as sin offerings, trespass offerings,
consecrations, meat offerings, burnt offerings, thank offerings, peace
offerings and gifts (Lev 7:37);
�
kil people to appease God when He was angry (Numbers 25:7-13);
�
kil animals to appease God when He was angry (2 Samuel 24:25);
�
sprinkle animals blood on the sacred objects (Exodus 29:16);
�
eat the sacrificial flesh (Exodus 12:23; Numbers 9:11);
�
believe that sin was transferred symbolical y to the eater of animal flesh - the
priest - (Lev 10:16-19);
�
believe that sin was atoned by the slaying of animals (Exodus 30:10; Deut
21:1-9).
Are both demons and the One True God giving the same instructions to their
fol owers? Are both demons and the One True God encouraging their fol owers to
commit atrocities upon their fel ow men, women and children and animals?
171

Modern-Age Child Sacrifices
Even today, some religions consider child sacrifice necessary to appease the wrath of
their gods and to atone for the sins of their families.
David Kupelian inWorldNetDaily.com � 2000
Friday, 10 November, 2000, TROUBLE IN THE HOLY LAND
"Jerusalem cleric praises child 'sacrifices' 'The younger the martyr, the greater
and the more I respect him.' The Mufti of Jerusalem, the city's highest Muslim
religious authority, is calling for the complete "liberation" by Palestinians not
only of Jerusalem, but of all of Israel, and stresses that "sacrifice" and
"martyrdom" of Palestinian children prove that "the new generation will carry on
the mission with determination." Speaking to the Egyptian weekly, Al-Ahram Al-
Arabi, Sheik 'Ikrima Sabri, the Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, addressed
several issues regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict -- including his admiration
for the child "martyrs." Over 40 Palestinian youths reportedly have died in the
last six weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israelis after the meltdown
of the doomed Clinton-brokered "peace process." "We haven't sacrificed
enough yet to be worthy of liberating Al-Aqsa," said Sabri. "To liberate
Jerusalem, Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi made great sacrifices for a long time, and
we have to sacrifice until Allah's victory is completed ..."
' Child Sacrifices in London'
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/19328071?source=Evening%20Standard&ct=5
By Richard Edwards Crime Reporter, Evening Standard , 16 June 2005
"Boys from Africa are being murdered as human sacrifices in London
churches. They are brought into the capital to be offered up in rituals
by fundamentalist Christian sects, according to a shocking report by
Scotland Yard. Followers believe that powerful spells require the
deaths of "unblemished" male children. Police believe such boys are
trafficked from cities such as Kinshasa where they can be bought for a
little as �10. The report, leaked ahead of its publication next month, also
cites examples of African children being tortured and killed after being
identified as "witches" by church pastors. ....Many such churches,
supported mainly by people from West Africa, sanction aggressive
forms of exorcism on those thought to be possessed. There are
believed to be 300 such churches in the UK, mostly in London. The
report was put together by an expert social worker and lawyer for the Met
after talking to hundreds of people in African communities in a series of
workshops. It uncovered allegations of witchcraft spel s, child trafficking and
HIV-positive people who believe that by having sex with a child they will
be "cleansed". An extract reads: 'People who are desperate will seek out
experts to cast spells for them. Members of the workshop stated that
for
a spell to be powerful it
required a sacrifice involving a male
child unblemished by circumcision. They allege that boy children are being
trafficked into the UK for this purpose.' A number of pastors maintain that
God speaks through them and lets them know when someone is
possessed. It is therefore their duty to deliver the child or adult from the
evil spirit....The true figure for missing boys and girls is feared to be
several thousand a year. '"
172

David S. Ayliffe, Executive Director, of International Needs Australia requests
signatures for a petition to be presented by the Australian government to the
United Nations to prevent the practice of a system of child sacrifice in Africa. He
states:
"In West Africa today, thousands of women and girls are still kept in
horrific slavery. The practice is variously called 'Trokosi' or 'Fiashidi'
or 'Woryokwe.' The terms mean 'Bride of the Gods.' "
Practice of the Trokosi/Fiashidi/Woryokwe belief system (religion), requires that
little girls (sometimes 7 or 8 years of age) are taken from their parents and given to
traditional shrines to atone for sins of family members and prevent thus
appease the anger of the gods. Some children die because of this treatment,
but many repeatedly become pregnant to the priests. Ghana has enacted (but
apparently has not enforced) a law which makes illegal the Trokosi/Fiashidi/
Woryokwe practice, but in other African countries such as Togo and Benin, child
sex slavery � a sacrifice to appease the wrathful gods and to make an atonement
for the family's sin - is still legal. http://www.in-australia.org.au/stbpetition.htm
The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000, released by the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, February 23, 2001 states:
"Trokosi, a traditional practice found among the Ewe ethnic group and in
part of the Volta Region.... is a system in which a young girl, sometimes
under the age of 10, is made a slave to a fetish shrine for offenses
allegedly committed by a member of the girl's family. In rare instances,
boys are offered. The belief is that, if someone in that family has
committed a crime, such as stealing, members of the family may begin to
die in large numbers unless a young girl is given to the local fetish shrine
to atone for the offense. The girl becomes the property of the fetish priest,
must work on the priest's farm, and perform other labors for him.
Because they are the sexual property of the priests, most Trokosi slaves
have children by the priests. Although the girls' families must provide for
their needs such as food, most are unable to do so. There are at least
2,200 girls and women bound to various shrines in the Trokosi system, a
figure that does not include the slaves' children. Even when freed by her
fetish priest from the more onerous aspects of her bondage, whether
voluntarily or as a result of intervention by activists, a Trokosi woman
generally has few marketable skills and little hope of marriage and
typically remains bound to the shrine for life by psychological and social
pressure arising from a traditional belief that misfortune may befall a
Trokosi woman's family or village if she abandons her obligations to the
shrine. When a fetish slave dies, her family is expected to replace her with
another young girl, thus perpetuating the bondage to the fetish shrine
from generation to generation....A local group, calling itself the "Troxovi
Institutional Council" (Troxovi is alternate spelling for Trokosi), declared
that Trokosi, as defined by CHRAJ and other human rights groups to be a
form of ritual servitude, does not exist in the country. The group claimed
that the practice of `Troxovi' does exist but neither enslaves nor exploits
anyone. The Council also listed 23 `genuine Troxovi shrines' in Ghana,
d
escribing them a s educational institutions and as part of the 'Afrikania
religion...' " http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/af/803.htm
Does the One True God require a human sacrifice to appease His wrath? Does the
destruction of a child's life through repeated rapes, justify the parents' sinful
behaviour? Does a child's suffering produce sanctification? Does ANY suffering
produce justification and sanctification? Do any of these crimes reflect the loving
character of God as demonstrated by the life of the Son of God? Absolutely not!
173

Cannibalism
Alexander Hyslop in the Two Babylons reveals that Baal worship combined the worship of
the fire-god and the serpent-god. An essential element of Baal worship involved the rite
of burnt offerings as a form of purification. The religion necessitated that the priests slay
the victim and eat the burnt offering. In Baal worship, the sacrifice which had to be eaten,
was the flesh of children. Similar rituals occurred in Egypt well before the Hebrews
arrived. (Refer to Appendix for more information)
Human Sacrifice in Ancient Egypt.by Caroline Seawright, October 11, 2003
http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/egypt_humansacrifice.html
The Cannibal Hymn
"Not strictly an offering to the gods, the Cannibal Hymn of Unas and Teti talk of
cannibalism to gain power from the gods in ancient Egypt. The Pyramid Texts have a
section that seems to hint that in Predynastic times, the ruler could gain the magical
powers of the gods through human sacrifice. Utterances 273 - 274 of the Pyramid Texts,
known as the Cannibal Hymn, describe the pharaoh as a god who cannibalises the gods -
'A god who lives on his fathers and feeds on his mothers ... who lives on the being of
every god, who eats their entrails ... Pharaoh is he who eats men and lives on gods.'"
(Egyptian Mythology (Paul Hamlyn:1965:58).
"There (in Phoenicia), the queen Astarte, entrusted to her (the goddess
Isis) the care of her newly born son. Isis adopted the baby and would
have conferred immortality upon it had its mother not broken the
charm by her cries of terror upon seeing the goddess bathe the
baby in purificatory (purifying) flames."
Hyslop traces the history of Baal worship from Egypt, to the Israelites.
"Cannibalism was practised by the priests in ritualised child sacrifices in
Egypt as the worship of the pagan "father of the gods" the fire-serpent
god - Bol-Khan. "He devoured his sons as soon as they were born.". It
was "through fire worship," that the worshippers sought "cleansing and
regenerating (of) the souls of men." The same system of worship in
Rome, termed the same god, "Vulcan."
"There is reason to believe that the same practice obtained in our own
land in the times of the Druids. We know that they offered human
sacrifices to their bloody gods. We have evidence that they made "their
children pass through the fire to Moloch," and that makes it highly
probable that they also offered them in sacrifice; for, from Jeremiah
32:35, compared with Jeremiah 19:5 we find that these two things were
parts of one and the same system. The god whom the Druids worshipped
was Baal, as the blazing Baal-fires show, and the last-cited passage
proves that children were offered in sacrifice to Baal. When "the
fruit of the body" was thus offered, it was "for the sin of the soul."
And it was a principle of the Mosaic law, a principle no doubt
derived from the patriarchal faith, that the priest must partake of
whatever was offered as a sin-offering (Num 18:9,10). H
ence, th
e
priests of Nimrod or Baal were necessarily required to eat of the
h
uman sacrifices; and thus it has come to pass that "Cahna-Bal,"20 *
the "Priest of Baal," is the established word in our own tongue for a
devourer of human flesh."
(Alexander Hyslop continued over page)
20The word Cahna is the emphatic form of Cahn. Cahn is "a priest," Cahna is "the
priest."
174

(Alexander Hyslop continued)
"Then the mode in which the rites of Tammuz21 or Adonis were celebrated in
Syria was essentially the same as the rites of Osiris....
"From the historian Castor (in Armenian translation of EUSEBIUS) we learn that
it was under Bel, or Belus, that is Baal, that the Cyclops lived; and the Scholiast
on Aeschylus states that these Cyclops were the brethren of Kronos, who was
also Bel or Bal, as we have elsewhere seen. The eye in their forehead shows
that originally this name was a name of the great god; for that eye in India and
Greece is found the characteristic of the supreme divinity. The Cyclops, then,
had been representatives of that God--in other words, priests, and priests
of Bel or Bal. Now, we find that the Cyclops were well-known as cannibals,
Referre ritus Cyclopum, "to bring back the rites of the Cyclops," meaning to
revive the practice of eating human flesh." "(OVID, Metam.) The Two Babylons,
Alexander Hyslop, Chapter 7, Section 1, "The Great Red Dragon."
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/twobaby/twobaby.html
Some Christians consider that just as God permitted polygamy and divorce,
because of the hardness of the Israelites' hearts, He also tolerated the Israelites'
sacrificial system in their worship rituals, in preference to sacrificing their children,
"which abomination" He hated? (Jer 32:35; Jer 19:5).
This suggestion has been made, yet it tends to cast doubt on God's character also.
Doesn't God care about the animals which were slaughtered in these repetitive
ceremonies and the pain which they endured?
Eventually, the ritual of human (including child) sacrifice was largely, but not completely
replaced by the blood-letting substitutionary rites of circumcision and animal sacrifices.
Ellen White on Child Sacrifice
While recognising that Ellen White was given the gift of prophecy and accepting her
position as God's messenger, it is obvious that in keeping with her statement that "God
has not given any one person al the light", we must consider the fol owing comments to
have been made with a true heart, but without special revelation from God on this matter.
Ellen White does not claim that she "was shown" the fol owing in special vision.
3 Spiritual Gifts p 303
"God was a wise and compassionate lawgiver, judging all cases
righteously, and without partiality. While the Israelites were in Egyptian
bondage, they were surrounded with idolatry. The Egyptians had received
traditions in regard to sacrificing. They did not acknowledge the existence
of the God of Heaven. They sacrificed to their idol gods. With great pomp
and ceremony they performed their idol worship. They erected altars to
the honor of their gods, and they required even their own children to pass
through the fire. After they had erected their altars they required their
children to leap over the altars through the fire. If they could do this
without their being burned, the idol priests and people received it as an
evidence that their god accepted their offerings, and favored especially
the person who passed through the fiery ordeal. He was loaded with
benefits, and was ever afterward greatly esteemed by all the people. He
was never allowed to be punished, however aggravating might be his
crimes. If another person who leaped through the fire was so unfortunate
as to be burned, then his fate was fixed; for they thought that their gods
were angry, and would be appeased with nothing short of the unhappy
victim's life, and he was offered up as a sacrifice upon their idol altars."
21 Tammuz means 'to perfect by burning' - Tam (to perfect); muz (to burn)
175

(Ellen White's quote continued)
"Even some of the children of Israel had so far degraded themselves as to
practice these abominations, and God caused the fire to kindle upon
their children, whom they made to pass through the fire. They did not go
to all the lengths of the heathen nations; but God deprived them of their
children by causing the fire to consume them in the act of passing
through it." 3 Spiritual Gifts p 303
Are we to understand that according to Ellen White, that the pagan Egyptian god more
merciful and less bloodthirsty than the God of the Israelites? At least the god of the
Egyptians permits some children to escape the flames. However, it appears that Ellen
White believed that the One True God CAUSED the Israelites' children � ALL the Israelite
children who were "passed through the fire" - to burn to death.
If Ellen White's statement is correct, that God ensured that the Israelite's children burn to
death on the pagan altars, then logic requires that we ask some questions:
�
Didn't the One True God have the option of extinguishing the fire on the altar?
Yes. The same God refused to permit Satan to ignite fire on Baal's altar during
Elijah's ceremony on Mt Carmel.
�
Why did God not only permit the fire to burn all the children, but to CAUSE the fire
to burn al the Israelites' children? This statement appears to no doubt
inadvertently, make a dreadful attack on the character of God.
�
Would the One True God burn children on an altar to a pagan god?
�
Would the One True God make an offering to another god? To a pagan god? It is
absurd and offensive to make such accusations against the pure, holy Creator.
For all these questions, we can find the answers in Jesus' life.
Jesus was not a child-murderer. Jesus would not even condone the stoning of an full-
grown, sinful woman taken in adultery. It is ludicrous to believe that He would condone
the burning of babies and children or in fact that He would CAUSE the burning of children
on the altar of pagan gods.
Perhaps Ellen White's words have another meaning, or if not, she clearly did not intend to
speak against the One True God, whom she loved. It might be however, that her words,
unknowingly implicated the Father's character as a murderer of little children.
176

F
uture Sacrifices � 'God' Says Kill 7th d
ay Sabbath Keeping Children
It might be argued that while some professed "Christians" consider God has
instructed them to perform child sacrifices (as the preceding news reports
demonstrate), most Christians might recoil from the concept that God would
command adults to sacrifice children. However how might the majority of modern
Christians react if they truly believed the "One True God" did convey a similar
murderous command today?
Consider the fol owing possible scenarios:
�
Perhaps the president of a country might feel impressed that "God" wants
him/her to declare war on an "unholy" country. Would Christians support this
impression as a divine instruction?
�
Perhaps "an angel of light" appears to the world and instructs the Sunday-
keeping Christians that for the sake of peace and unity, al seventh-day
Sabbath keepers, including children, should be exterminated. Seventh-day
Sabbath keepers might be accused of desecrating the first day sabbath and
of being traitors to the world. How might professed Christians respond?
Would they uphold God's holy law that forbids murdering men, women and
children or would they also kil the "heretics"?
In Christ in Collision, (published by Pacific Press, 1982:18) the author describes a
similar situation which can be compared to a possible "last day" scenario as outline above.
George E Rice states:
"There were those (Jews of Christ's day) however who would
speculate conditions that would usher in the Messiah's presence, but
who would not set a date. Repentance and good deeds for
example, would hasten His appearance. Some went so far as to
state that keeping a single sabbath properly by all the people
would bring Him immediately. Indeed if all Israel kept two
sabbaths properly they felt not only would the Messiah appear
but the nation would be redeemed forthwith."
Perhaps when, at the end of the world, the "angel of light" appears, he (Satan) might tel
the world that if one or two Sunday sabbaths were kept perfectly by everyone that God
would usher in the 1000 years of peace.....
The familiar doctrine of having to do something to appease an angry god might once
again be presented � on pain of death. How likely is it to occur?
It is prophesied that Satan disguised "as an angel of light" wil impersonate Christ
(2 Cor 11:14).
John 16:2
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service. Will God's people kill then or will it be the demon-
possessed people who are killing the true Christians?"
177

El en White, Great Controversy p 624
"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself wil
personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's
advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver wil
make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan
wil manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling
brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John
in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is
unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of
triumph rings out upon the air: "Christ has come! Christ has come!" The
people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his
hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His
disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet
ful of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the
same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the
diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he
claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands al to
hal ow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist
in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to
listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong,
almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived
by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give
heed to these sorceries, saying: This is "the great power of God." Acts
8:10."
Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am
the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in
these things I delight, saith the LORD."
The Next Section deals with Circumcision
Eventually human and child sacrifice became very "expensive" appeasement
transactions to the gods, and pagan worshippers substituted human sacrifices
with other "valuable" blood-letting rituals � one of which was circumcision. The
precious blood was still provided to satiate the god, and pain was involved for the
victim, but it did not cost the life of the victim. The life was said to be "in the
blood."
178

Circumcision � Which Covenant?
This section presents a theory which might challenge traditional y held beliefs about God
and the rite of circumcision.
Definition of Circumcision: Surgery that removes the foreskin (the loose tissue) covering
the glans of the penis. The Latin "circum-" means around (or about). Circumcision is,
literally, a cutting around. Circumcision dates back to prehistoric times. It is one of the
oldest surgical operations known to have been performed by people.
What is symbolised by the sign of circumcision?
In the Christian era, baptism is said to have replaced the Hebrew rite of circumcision as a
sign of the new covenant. If circumcision was a sign of the old covenant, it was not similar
to baptism.
1. A sign is supposed to be visible to others � publicly noticeable. Baptism is a
visible, outward sign, but circumcision is not visible unless one was naked in public.
Naked adults and children did participate in sexual orgies in the pagan fertility
"religious" celebrations, but the One True God's religion had no rituals that were to
be celebrated in a sexual manner;
2. Baptism is an elected ritual - Adults make an informed decision to choose their
allegiance to God, but circumcision is performed on a baby before the baby is able
to give consent or to refuse the procedure- in a similar manner to christening which
is performed in the Roman Catholic and other churches;
3. Circumcision is a violent, blood-letting ceremony, while baptism is free from pain
and bloodshed.
Questions
�
How practical was it to use circumcision as a sign? Completely impractical.
Circumcision is not a visible sign � unless a man is naked or his genitals are
exposed.
�
Is it logical to expect that the One True God established a "secret" sign, when what
He required was a method that could broadcast His kingdom's loving laws to the
world?
�
Would God be entirely truthful if He established an inflexible, permanent sign to
demonstrate a flexible, free-choice religious allegiance?
�
Wouldn't a perfect system have allowed for a flexible sign which might be removed
if a man decided to apostatise?
�
If the man apostatised, he could keep his apostasy a secret. How would anybody
else know of his change in religion unless his outward, visible behaviour also
changed?
�
Circumcised babies did not make a choice to be circumcised. How can their
circumcision be recognised as a sign of their choice to give their allegiance to the
One True God?
179

Origin of Circumcision
At the various International Symposiums on Circumcision, research has been found that
the rite of circumcision pre-dates Abraham. The following points were presented by the
various International Symposiums on Circumcision:
�
Bodies preserved since 4000BC have been exhumed in Egypt and disclose
evidence of circumcision "(Breasted, 353, p.10 cited in Gerald A Larue in Religious
Traditions and Circumcision, 1991 2nd International Symposium on Circumcision).
�
Evidence suggest that phallic pagan worship system, which involves circumcision,
might have originated in ancient Egypt.
�
In Egyptian mythology, Ra - the sun god - "the source of al life" - was said to have
circumcised himself. From the blood of this operation, two deities were given life,
resulting in a trinity of gods.
�
Akhenaten, was a monotheist Egyptian pharaoh whose capital city was the place
where the circumcised penis was found - Akhetaten (modern El-Amarna).
�
Circumcision was the symbol of the sun god Aten's religion with which Moses was
familiar.
�
Obilesks were massive stone images displayed to represent erect, circumcised
penises as a sign of fertility worship. They were found outside pagan temples.
�
Kings, nobles and priests were circumcised so circumcision became a status
symbol in Egypt. Average Egyptians could not afford the operation.
�
�
Egyptian priests were only al owed to serve their god/s in their temples, if they
were circumcised (a condition which also applied in the Israelite religious culture).
�
In pagan religions circumcision is apparently a substitutionary blood offering to the
god i.e. an offering of value, involving a sacred gift (reproductive organ), involving
blood (life) and pain (penance);
�
Circumcision appears to be a blood-letting ritual in a fertility ceremony which gives
honour to pagan fertility gods.
�
There is a connection between circumcision and human sacrifice. It is thought that
human sacrifice was eventually largely replaced by circumcision in pagan religions
�
Circumcision is thought to have been a substitution for human sacrifice.
(G. Rawlinson -- Ancient Egypt, vol. I, p. 452).
"Was it connected with phallic worship, and thus regarded as an
offering to the deity of fertility? or was it, as some think, a substitute
for human sacrifice?"
John P Warren and Jim Bigelow in The Case against Circumcision
"We do not know with certainty why this operation was carried out,
but many writers have suggested that it was a sacrificial rite. No doubt
human sacrifice was widespread, and it seems likely that substitutes
for this practice included the sacrifice of domestic animals and
mutilations of the human body, of which circumcision is just one
example." http://www.come-and-hear.com/editor/br-warren/
180

Jewish Culture
Today, the Jewish religion requires that, even if a baby boy was circumcised in a
"religious-free" operation previously, or was born without a foreskin, he must undergo a
special ceremony. The Mohle (circumciser) will prick the baby's penis so that blood is
shed in a religious ceremony/rite, or else the Abrahamic covenant is not ratified.
Roman Catholic Culture
The Roman Catholic church celebrates the Feast of Circumcision eight days after the
supposed birth of Christ on 25 December. (Tammuz �the Babylonian sun god, was said to
be reborn each year on 25 December). The feast of Circumcision fal s 8 days later on 1
January. The Roman Catholic "Feast of Fools" fal s also on the Feast of Circumcision.
The "fathers" of the Catholic religion ruled that circumcision was not just a mere
ceremony, but a sacramental rite.
Ancient Israelite Culture
God forbade "cutting into the flesh" operations in ceremonies which mourned the dead.
Leviticus 21:5
"They (the priests) shal not make baldness upon their head, neither shal they shave off
the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh."
It seems strange that God forbade any cuttings into the Israelites' flesh to mourn the dead,
but supposedly commanded that all male babies were to be circumcised on the 8th day of
life. Even the strangers and slaves were to be circumcised � which might be seen as an
amazing denial of the freedom of choice, reflected nowhere in Jesus' teachings.
Genesis 17:10-13
"This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee;
Every man child among you shall be circumcised. (11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh
of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. (12) And he
that is eight days old shal be circumcised among you, every man child in your
generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is
not of thy seed. (13) He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money,
must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting
covenant."
Abraham apparently performed the circumcision operations and the tradition was passed
down through the Israelite families even while in captivity in Egypt, however for the forty
years of desert wanderings under Moses' leadership, circumcision was NOT permitted,
supposedly to represent that God would not recognise the Israelites as His people.
After crossing into the Promised Land, Joshua announced that there would be a mass
circumcision ceremony at Gilgal.
Joshua 5:8, 9
"And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising al the people, that they abode in
their places in the camp, till they were whole. (9) And the LORD said unto Joshua, This
day have I rol ed away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the
place is called Gilgal unto this day."
Immediately following the operations, Joshua commented that "the reproach of the
Egyptians was now rolled off" them. The Egyptians considered the circumcised to be
nobility class - it was the UNcircumcised males who were a reproach. They were merely
slaves or commoners. Only the Pharaoh, priests and certain rich nobles could be
circumcised.
181

How could the reproach of the Egyptians be rol ed off the uncircumcised Israelites? Only
by becoming circumcised - which would identify them (in sexual fertility ceremonies) as
nobility or priests of Aten, the god of the Egyptians.
Would it not be logical to assume that a pagan god would be pleased that the reproach of
the Egyptians (uncircumcision) is rol ed off the Israelites? Wouldn't the pagan god be
pleased that a mil ion males were permanently marked with the sign of the sun god?,
Wouldn't the pagan's god be delighted to lead the Israelite men to display their "mark of
devotion" to the sun-god to the Canaanites when they joined in their fertility ceremonies?
The Israelite's mass circumcision ritual occurred in a location called Gilgal. The word
"gilgal" means 'circle of stones' or 'wheel' and apparently stems from a duplication of the
root gll meaning 'to roll' or to 'rol away.'
Gilgal was the first place that the Israelites camped after crossing the Jordan River
(Joshua 4:19). After crossing the Jordan River, Joshua instructed that the Israelites set
up a memorial. A monument was constructed from twelve unhewn river stones (Joshua
4:20).
The actual location of Joshua's Gilgal is not certain today, although it is interesting that
some say Gilgal is currently the location of a huge five-ringed solar wheel (photo available
at: http://www.mt.net/~watcher/gilgalrefaim.jpg) .
Amos describes Gilgal as a place to multiply transgression (Amos 4:4; 5:5). Hosea notes
that evil was done at Gilgal (Hos 9:15) and makes reference to the sacrifices which were
offered there as "vanity" or worthless (Hos 12:11).
When the Assyrians took control of Gilgal, the Assyrian chief god Ashur (an eagle-
headed, winged deity) was worshipped there � at the place of the solar wheel. Ashur
was the god of water and of corn. He was depicted in a winged - wheel and holding a
bow and arrow. To the Assyrians, the solar wheel which surrounded their country's god,
was a symbol of life, and the idol was worshipped as a god not of war only, but also of
fertility. His blessing required human sacrifices. (Sacred Texts CD-ROM, chapter 14 p
346: http://www.sacred-texts.com/ane/mba/mba20.htm)
Perhaps it is not il ogical to suppose that the Israelites believed that, just as Ashur, the
Assyrian god of fertility and war would have been pacified through their blood-letting ritual,
that Yahweh also might be similarly pleased, for immediately following their mass
circumcision ceremony, the Israelites waged violent war against the Canaanites,
apparently with the blessing of the "Lord" and at his command.
The Israelites might have believed that the Lord was "appeased" based on the story of
Moses' experience in his journey to Egypt to ask Pharaoh to let God's people go.
Exodus 4:19-26
"And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead
which sought thy life. (20) And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an
ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. (21)
And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do
all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his
heart, that he shall not let the people go. (22) And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith
the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: (23) And I say unto thee, Let my son go,
that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I wil slay thy son, even thy
firstborn. (24) And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and
sought to kill him. (25) Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her
son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. (26) So he
let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision."
182

The three verses dealing with the circumcision of the baby boy appears to be "slotted in"
to the main story, but it does not flow wel . One finds questions brought to mind.
�
If God wanted the baby circumcised, why didn't He remind or tell Moses of this
vitally important condition, prior to giving him the important job of leading the
Hebrew people out of bondage?
�
Why did God attempt to kill Moses, when He had just given him the leadership
task?
�
Why did Zipporah immediately assume that the bloody ritual of circumcision was
necessary to appease the angry "God?"
Some insight into this intruiging situation might be gained by understanding some of the
rituals which were believed and practised in Egypt and in many of the countries of
Canaan.
According to Egyptian religious beliefs, Isis was the wife and sister goddess of Osiris, the
ruler of the Egyptian gods. Seth, who is Osiris' jealous brother, kills Osiris by tricking him
into lying inside a wooden chest which he then locks and throws into the Nile River. Isis
searches for the chest which contain the remains of Osiris, but when the chest is
recovered, Seth rushes in and dismembers the body. Seth scatters the parts of Osiris'
body, but Isis manages to find and gather all of them, except for his penis. Isis manages
to put al the pieces together and makes a wooden penis to take the place of the missing
organ. She then "breathes" into Osiris, the breath of life by waving her wings over his
body parts. Then Osiris and Isis have a sexual experience, using the wooden penis and
Isis becomes pregnant. Her son is born and is called Horus.
Jonathan Kirsch (1997:167) considers the similarities of the story of Zipporah and Isis.
Both stories involve:
�
an attack on a husband;
�
rescue by the wife;
�
a penis operation;
�
and wings. Zipporah means 'bird."
Kirsch (1997:173) continues:
"The notion of circumcision as a surrogate for child sacrifice begins to
explain even the most bizarre and baffling details of Exodus 4:24-26. An
angry and vengeful Yahweh seeks to kill the father of a firstborn son � or
perhaps the child himself � because Yahweh has been denied the
offering of flesh and blood to which he is entitled by divine decree. When
Zipporah cuts off the foreskin of her son, her firstling, she is safely
mimicking the sacrifice of the child himself - she is 'sanctifying' the baby
who 'opened the womb of Israel' precisely as God had commanded.
Only through the mock sacrifice in the form of a circumcision is God
appeased and only then does he break off his attack....."
It is recorded in the King James Version of the Bible, that Zipporah circumcised her baby,
then threw the foreskin at Moses' feet, however the KJV has used the expression "cast it
at Moses' feet" when the Hebrew text actually states "made it touch his feet." The KJV
also sometimes uses the word "feet" when it is referring to "genitals" (e.g. Deuteronomy
28:57).
Recall that the most valuable part of any offering that was made to the gods, was the
blood - for "the life is in the blood." The blood of circumcision also sealed the covenant
between Yahweh and the Hebrew race (Genesis 17:10; Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11).
183

John Wesley's Notes on the Bible
"Circumcision was a bloody ordinance, for all things by the law were
purged with blood" (Heb 9:22; Exo 24:8)."
The sacrificial blood also sanctified and anointed the priesthood.
Exodus 29:20-21
"Then shalt thou kil the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear
of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right
hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar
round about. (21) And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the
anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and
upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and
his sons, and his sons' garments with him."
How did Zipporah use the "precious, sealing blood" of the circumcision covenant? Did
she unceremoniously 'throw it away?" It seems unlikely. According to the Hebrew terms,
it appears she might have used it to anoint Moses' genitals. If so, she would have been
following a practice similar to that which was later recorded in the Mosiac 'anointing' laws
for the sanctification of the priests, only the blood was applied to other body parts and not
the genitals.
Kirsch (1997:163) remarks
Indeed we might wonder whether it was some priestly redactor,22 rather
than God, who cared so passionately about circumcision. The fact is that
circumcision was not a uniquely Israelite ritual in the era of the Exodus; it
was practised by the Egyptians and many of the native dwel ing peoples of
Canaan, too. So a circumcised sexual organ could not have served to
readily distinguish the Israelites from their neighbors in their early history.
Among the peoples of Canaan, the bible identifies only the Philistines and
the unfortunate kinsmen of Hamor, prince of the Hivites, as uncircumcised."
Conclusion
Just as the wedding ring originated from pagan customs to signify the shape and colour
and eternalness of the sun, so too circumcision made a permanent, circular mark in the
flesh of the male organ of reproduction that signified it's wearer as a worshipper of the
ultimate fertility god - the sun god� the "source of all life" (to the pagan). 23 Would God
require His people injure themselves and to become fixated on a reproductive organ � a
sign of fertility � when He is the True and Only Creator? The life of Jesus did not ever
exhort God's people to injure themselves in worshipping Him, but Satan's religions appear
to do so.
22 Redactor - similar to an editor
23 To investiage the subject of circumcision further, visit www.themeofthebible.com and
send email via the "contact me" button and request further information.
184

Animal Sacrifices
Movement To Bring Back Jewish Temple Sacrifice
"It's not a question of 'maybe' or 'if'," says the Temple Institute's Rabbi
Yisrael Ariel. "Bringing the Paschal sacrifice is a Torah obligation incumbent
upon the People of Israel these very days."
Speaking with Yoel Yaakobi of the weekly B'Sheva newspaper, Rabbi Ariel
said that though there are some grave Halakhic [Jewish legal] problems
associated with bringing the Paschal sacrifice, "we have found the solutions,
and the obligation is as strong as ever. This is one of the only two positive
Biblical commandments that those who forsake it are liable to receive the
ultimate karet [cutting off] punishment. From the moment that a Jew stands
on the Temple Mount and the site of the Holy Temple is under our control,
the Jewish People are immediately obligated to bring this sacrifice."
Sixteen of the 613 Biblical commandments relate to the Paschal sacrifice,
which must be brought on the 14th day of the month of Nissan - Passover
eve - and eaten on the night of the 15th. ...... The 200 commandments that
are connected with the Temple cry out every day, 'Jews, where are you?!'"
Rabbi Ariel: Paschal Sacrifice is Still Obligatory, 14:35 Apr 20, 2006 / 22
Nisan 5766 by Hillel Fendel
h ttp://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102189
Two arguments will be examined in this section.
�
the il ogical premise, that violent acts enhance one's understanding and
appreciation of a non-violent Person's character (Christ's) and demonstrate the
plan of salvation; and
�
the illogical premise that salvation can be 'bought' and forgiveness 'purchased' by
material gifts that human beings bring to God i.e. the doctrine of indulgences.
Violence Begets Violence
It seems a little incredulous to consider that cruel, animal sacrifices were required by the
One True God, just as they were required by pagan gods.
Blood-letting rituals using sacrificial animals are violent and horrific; however, the
barbarous practice of slitting the throats of lambs, calves and kids, bullocks, heifers,
goats, and breaking the necks of turtle doves and pigeons were undertaken by the
Israelites in their many sanctuary ceremonies. Such ceremonies were said to 'point them
to Christ' as the ultimate sacrifice, but obvious question begs an answer: Christ was non-
violent (Isa 53:9), so how could a violent exercise reveal any aspect of Christ to those
engaged in slaughtering innocent and unwilling animals? None of the sacrificial animals
voluntarily laid down their lives, but their lives were taken by violent, painful force. The
sanctuary services were not to typify the rough treatment of evil men, but the actions and
motives of the Messiah.
Despite this il ogical premise, that violent acts enhance one's view of a non-violent
Person, it is said that animal sacrifices pointed to the death of Jesus Christ and the great
sacrifice He would make when He died for humankind's redemption.
It is also often stated by Seventh-day Adventist theologians, that every act/ritual
performed in the sanctuary services, depicted some facet of the life and sacrifice of Jesus
Christ. While there is evidence that the sanctuary furniture demonstrates the plan of
salvation and Christ's character, there are also obvious signs that paganism has been
mixed with the true sanctuary sacrificial services, obscuring important truths concerning
the life, character and sacrifice of both Father and Son.
185

Offerings of Blood Poured Out to the Gods
It was a wel known pagan custom, when after a man hunted and killed an animal for
food, that he would pour out the blood on the ground, as an offering in honour of the gods
who enabled/blessed his successful hunting trip. Pagan worshippers also slaughtered
animals to appease their wrathful gods by the pouring out of blood as a libation on the
ground or on an altar to honour their gods. "The blood was sprinkled on the image of the
god....The blood of victims was sprinkled on altars, images, and trees." 24
The Israelites were to abide by different laws, but the same principle remained.
Leviticus 17:5-7, 9
"To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the
open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
(6) And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. (7)
"And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have
gone a whoring....(9) And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his
people."
Leviticus 17:7 reveals that, like the pagans, the Israelites also had been offering blood
sacrifices in the field to pagan gods (devils) and that this was not acceptable according
to the writer of Leviticus. Specific instructions, on pain of death, were given to the
Israelites to bring their animals to the sanctuary for sacrificing to 'god', while animals
required for food purposes, were stil permitted to be slaughtered in the field.
The only extra stipulation was that when the Israelites slaughtered the food animal, the
blood had to be covered with dirt � probably for health reasons � instead of being poured
out as a thank offering to 'god.' Just as in many pagan ceremonies, the offering of blood
to the gods was not permitted to be made by anyone who was not an ordained priest. If
this 'sacred' ritual was performed by a mere 'layperson', it was a serious crime and the
Israelite offender earned the death penalty. He was 'cut off' i.e. kil ed.
In contrast, an animal sacrificed for religious purposes, was to be taken to the door of the
tabernacle for a ritualistic slaughtering, and its blood was to be poured out both on the
altar and at the door of the tabernacle in the shape of a circle25. This same violent
sacrifice was then deemed to be 'blessed' by god, simply because the location was in the
tabernacle, and the mediation of the blood had been properly performed by an ordained
priest.
Question
Is it likely that the same violent, blood-letting sacrificial ritual was practiced by both
pagans and Israelites � the only difference appearing to be the location of the death of
the animal and the mediation of an ordained priest who was qualified to pour out the
blood to 'god.' Historian, Philo comments on the Jewish sanctuary services:
"The blood of the animal being poured at the altar in a circle, the perfect
figure; for blood is life, and the ritual action expresses the will of the mind
to serve God completely" Philo in De Spec. Leg. 1 p 204-205 cited in The
Jewish Temple, (CTR Hayward, 1996: 117).

24 The Religion of the Ancient Celts chapter 26, Sacrifice, Prayer and Divination p 237,
244, http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/rac/rac19.htm Sacred Texts CD-Rom
25 Philo, cited in The Jewish Temple, CTR Hayward, (1996) p 117
186

Did All the Sanctuary Sacrifices Represent Christ?
It was prophesied of the Messiah, that none of His bones would be broken.
Psalm 34:20
"He keepeth al his bones: not one of them is broken."
John's witness confirms the prophecy was fulfil ed.
John 19:36
"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfil ed, A bone of him
shal not be broken."
According to the instructions concerning the feast of the Passover, none of the lamb's
bones were to be broken. Thus the Passover is said to symbolise Christ - that none of
Christ's bones would be broken when He died on the cross. However when John
demonstrated that prophecy had been fulfil ed, he referred to David's prophecy, not to the
sacrificial ceremonies in the Mosiac law. Christ certainly fulfil ed the Messianic prophecy
in that none of His bones were broken when He laid down His life for humanity, but why
didn't Christ announce Himself as the Lamb of God?
Christ called Himself :
�
the Bread of Heaven,
�
the Bread of Life;
�
the Water of Life;
but never the Lamb of God.
Christ is never referred to as "the bull of God", "the goat of God" or "the turtledove of
God," so why was He referred to as the "Lamb of God" five times?
Certainly, Isaiah prophesied in his Messianic prophecy (chapter 53), that Christ's
character was lamb-like in His tolerance of the violence heaped upon Him. His
character was demonstrated to be "harmless and undefiled." He was, and still is, long-
suffering and gentle, even under severe provocation.
Isaiah 53:7
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so he openeth not his mouth."
John the Baptist and John the Revelator referred to Christ as 'the Lamb of God'
(John 1:29, 26; Rev 5:6, 12; 13:8). Paul used the expression, "Christ our
Passover," and Peter also compares the blood (life/soul) of Christ to a lamb
"without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Such expressions were used to
communicate the truth to Jewish minds, steeped in the Jewish sacrificial culture,
that Jesus was the true Messiah, but Jesus Himself did not claim to be a lamb
sacrificed by His Father.
Christ's sacrifice to become a mortal, human being WAS the reason that sinners,
were 'passed over' and offered life instead of death as they deserved. But Christ's
victory was not made effective because of a blood-letting, torturous and abusive
death. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity, when as the Son of God,
He took on the responsibility of redeeming the sinful human race by becoming a
mortal man and living a holy life, in sinful flesh.
187

Christ accepted the death sentence when He became a human being. Whenever
He would have died, His death would have redeemed humanity � but only if Christ
had lived a sinless life. By heaping torture upon Christ, Satan endeavoured to
prevent Jesus from living a sinless, unselfish life.
In this sense, Christ is indeed our Passover. He and the Father sacrificed "al
heaven" for us. Christ sacrificed His high position as the Prince of heaven and
took on sinful humanity. Christ sacrificed His honour, His majesty and glory in
order to redeem humanity.26 And final y, as Satan was intent on destroying His
human body, Christ laid down His life and died the death which belonged to sinful
humanity. But the Father did not require a blood-letting ritual to atone for sin. He
did require a perfect human character though, and in order to provide that
character, Christ had to accept mortality as a human being.
Humanity owes no gratitude to Satan for organising the torturous death of the Son of God
on a pagan cross. Whenever Christ laid down His life, it would have redeemed
humanity � as long as Christ's life and character were sinless.
However, if all the sanctuary sacrifices are said to represent Christ's sacrifice, then
shouldn't al of the sacrificial rites have avoided breaking the animals' bones?
If an animal's bones are broken, how could the sacrificed animal then represent Christ's
sacrifice?
For instance, one might logical y question how the turtle dove sacrifices could
accurately portray Christ's sacrifice.
When poor people, who had sinned, were seeking to obtain atonement and
forgiveness, they were required to bring two turtle doves to be sacrificed - one as a
sin offering and another as a burnt offering.
Leviticus 5:5-9
"And it shal be, when he shal be guilty in one of these things, that he shal
confess that he hath sinned in that thing: (6) And he shal bring his trespass
offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a
lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shal make an
atonement for him concerning his sin. (7) And if he be not able to bring a lamb,
then he shal bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or
two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt
offering. (8) And he shal bring them unto the priest, who shal offer that which is
for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shal not divide
it asunder: (9) And he shal sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of
the altar; and the rest of the blood shal be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is
a sin offering."
The act of wringing off the head from the neck of one of two turtle doves involved
the breaking of its neckbones. This cannot represent the death of Jesus Christ, for
in fulfilment of David's prophecy in Psalm 43:20, Christ's bones were not broken.
26 Ellen White: "Do you contemplate that Christ sacrificed his majesty, his honor and
glory to bring salvation within your reach and save every son and daughter of Adam?"
An Important Testimony to our Brethren and Sisters in New York PH039.008.002
(1887)
188

Furthermore, it is difficult to imagine that a burnt offering typified Christ's death in
any way as Christ's body was never burnt. It is interesting to note however, that
sacrifices made by pagans, were burnt to represent and honour the sun god. The
sun god's supposed attritubutes of life and energy, were represented by the fire on
the altar of burnt offering.
Furthermore the Israelites' sacrificial laws involved many more abhorrent sacrificial
practices, many which are stil practiced in witchcraft, animist and pagan religions
today. Such sacrificial rituals required:
�
the slitting of the throat with a knife;
�
the breaking of bones;
�
the flaying or skinning of the animal;
�
the tearing apart of the bodies of doves and pigeons with the hands, by
grasping and pul ing the wings;
�
the sprinkling of animal's blood on furniture, altars and on people;
�
the chopping off of the legs and tail;
�
the removal of the kidneys and fat;
�
the disemboweling of animals;
�
washing for ritualised purification of the animal's internal organs and feet;
�
the incineration of the animals' bodies by fire to please the 'god';
�
the rearranging of the animals' dismembered body parts on an altar.
None of these gorey and barbaric actions are represented in a prophecy
concerning Jesus' death, so how can these actions be a shadow of Christ's
ministry?
In addition, God's initial plan for humanity was that they consume a non-flesh diet,
but the Mosiac laws required that the priests eat animal flesh as part of a religious
rite to achieve forgiveness of sins. Similar beliefs and rituals are stil held and
practiced in the Roman Catholic and other religions.
How can the Mosiac command to consume a flesh eating diet, be harmonised with
God's original diet for humanity?
How can the Mosiac principle of eating flesh to achieve forgiveness/atonement of
sins, be harmonised with the fact that forgiveness of sins is only possible through
Christ empowering a conversion of the mind?
Blood Sacrifices
Did God require blood sacrifices in the sanctuary services for an atonement to be
made for sin? Some verses in the Bible state "yes;" other verses state "no."
Samples of both fol ow.
189

Animal Sacrifices Required:
Exodus 20:24
"An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings,
and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in al places where I record my name
I wil come unto thee, and I will bless thee."
Leviticus 1:5-9, 14-17
"And he shall kill the bul ock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring
the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation. (6) And he shal flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his
pieces. (7) And the sons of Aaron the priest shal put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood
in order upon the fire: (8) And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and
the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: (9) But his
inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to
be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD....(14)
And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his
offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. (15) And the priest shall bring it unto the
altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shal be wrung
out at the side of the altar: (16) And he shal pluck away his crop with his feathers, and
cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: (17) And he shall
cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it
upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made
by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD."
Ezekiel 43:23-25
"When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without
blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. (24) And thou shalt offer them before
the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a
burnt offering unto the LORD. (25) Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a
sin offering: they shal also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without
blemish."
Leviticus 5:1-10
"And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen
or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shal bear his iniquity. (2) Or if a soul touch any
unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean
cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also
shall be unclean, and guilty. (3) Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever
uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he
knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. (4) Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do
evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shal pronounce with an oath, and it be
hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shal be guilty in one of these. (5) And it
shall be, when he shal be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath
sinned in that thing: (6) And he shal bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin
which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin
offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. (7) And if he
be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed,
two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the
other for a burnt offering. (8) And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shal offer that
which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shal not divide
it asunder: (9) And he shal sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the
altar; and the rest of the blood shal be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin
offering. (10) And he shal offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner:
and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it
shall be forgiven him.
190

A
nimal Sacrifices Not Required
Immediately fol owing the previous section in Leviticus chapter 5, a curious situation
occurs.
Leviticus 5:11-13
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned
shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall
put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. (12)
Then shal he bring it to the priest, and the priest shal take his handful of it, even a
memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the
LORD: it is a sin offering. (13) And the priest shall make an atonement for him as
touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him:
and the remnant shal be the priest's, as a meat offering."
Verse 13 depicts a sinner being forgiven of his sins and an atonement being made for his
sins � without the shedding of blood. However, according to Leviticus and Hebrews,
remission of sins is not possible without the shedding of blood.27

Jeremiah 7:21, 22
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your
sacrifices, and eat flesh. (22) For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded
them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt
offerings or sacrifices."
Micah 6:7, 8
"Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
shal I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
(8) He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of
thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am
the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in
these things I delight, saith the LORD."
Psalm 40:6 -8
"Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering
and sin offering hast thou not required.(7) Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the
book it is written of me, (8) I delight to do thy wil , O my God: yea, thy law is within my
heart.
Hebrews 10:5
"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me:"
Psalms 4:5
"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."
27 Leviticus 17:11
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an
atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
Hebrews 9:22
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission."
191

1 Samuel 15:22
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in
obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken
than the fat of rams."
Psalms 51:17
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise."
Proverbs 12:10
"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are
cruel."
Proverbs 17:1
"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with
strife."
Isaiah 1:11
"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am ful of
the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of
bul ocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."
Jeremiah 7:21
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your
sacrifices, and eat flesh."
Mark 12:33
"And to love him with al the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul,
and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt
offerings and sacrifices."
Acts 7:42
"Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the
book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to ME slain beasts and
sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?"
Hebrews 10:1, 6
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continual y make
the comers thereunto perfect. (6) "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no
pleasure."
Hebrews 13:16
"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is wel
pleased."
1 Peter 2:5
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
192

A team of Jewish authorities (Emil G. Hirsch, Kaufmann Kohler, M. Seligsohn Isidore
Singer, Jacob Zallel Lauterbach and Joseph Jacobs) suggest that among other ideas,
the sacrificial system might not have been instigated by God, but was a human invention
which was "expressive of man's delight."
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=35&letter=S
The sacrificial scheme was the target at which gnostics and other
skeptics shot their arrows. God, it was argued, manifested Himself in
this as a strict accountant and judge, but not as the author of the
highest goodness and mercy. In refutation, Ben 'Azzai cal s attention
to the fact that in connection with the sacrifices the only name used to
designate God is Yhwh, the unique name ("Shem ha-Meyuad; Sifra,
Wayira, i . [ed. Weiss, p. 4c], with R. Jose b. alafta as author; Men.
110a; Sifre, Num. 143). Basing his inference on the phrase "for your
pleasure shal ye offer up" (Lev. xxii. 29, Hebr.), Ben 'Azzai insists also
that sacrifices were not planned on the theory that, God's wil having
been done by man, man's wil must be done in corresponding
measure by God: they were merely expressive of man's delight;
and God did not need them (Ps. l. 12, 13; Sifre, l.c.; Men. 110a).
From the website Jewish Veg (Frequently Asked Questions � FAQ) appears the article
entitled, "If God wanted us to have vegetarian diets and not harm animals, why were the
Biblical sacrificial services established? http://www.jewishveg.com/faq03.html The
sacrificial services are discussed and the fol owing comment made:
"Rashi indicated that God did not want the Israelites to bring sacrifices; it
was their choice. He bases this on the haphtorah (portion from the
Prophets) read on the Sabbath when the book of Leviticus which discusses
sacrifices is read: 'I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, Nor
wearied thee with frankincense. (Isaiah 43:23)' Biblical commentator David
Kimhi (1160-1235) also stated that the sacrifices were voluntary. He
ascertained this from the words of Jeremiah: For I spoke not unto your
fathers, nor commanded them on the day that I brought them out of the land
of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices; but this thing I
commanded them, saying, "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye
shall be my people; and walk ye in al the ways that I have commanded you,
that it may be well unto you. (Jeremiah 7:22-23) David Kimchi, notes that
nowhere in the Ten Commandments is there any reference to sacrifice, and
even when sacrifices are first mentioned (Lev. 1:2) the expression used is
"when any man of you bringeth an offering," the first Hebrew we ki being
literally "if", implying that it was a voluntary act. David Kimchi, notes that
nowhere in the Ten Commandments is there any reference to sacrifice, and
even when sacrifices are first mentioned (Lev. 1:2) the expression used is
"when any man of you bringeth an offering," the first Hebrew we ki being
literally "if", implying that it was a voluntary act."
193

Christ's Bloodless Ceremony � the Lord's Supper
John 6:32-35; 50-58
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread
from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (33) For the bread of
God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (34) Then said
they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. (35) And Jesus said unto them, I am
the bread of life: he that cometh to me shal never hunger; and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst... (50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man
may eat thereof, and not die. (51) I am the living bread which came down from
heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shal live for ever: and the bread that I wil give is
my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (52) The Jews therefore strove among
themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (53) Then Jesus said
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (54) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh
my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For my flesh is
meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (56) He that eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father hath sent
me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (58) This is
that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are
dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."
Cannibalism does not make anyone live forever, so clearly Christ did not institute a
mindless, cannibalistic ceremony. Therefore the words Christ uttered must have a
spiritual meaning.
At the Lord's Supper, Jesus demonstrated that the grape juice and bread represented a
spiritual component of His ministry in the plan of salvation. The bread represented His
human body which was prepared for Him so He could become mortal and therefore lay
down His life. But by eating his flesh, Christ meant, believing on him � having faith in
Him as their Messiah and Saviour, and thus receiving spiritual life and nourishment from
him. The grape juice represented Christ's new testament in His blood � His life and spirit
(His soul). Christ's entire life (His earthly ministry as Messiah and His spiritual ministry as
High Priest) will provide eternal life to those who are justified by His life and sanctified by
faith.
Luke 22:15-20
"And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I
suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I wil not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the
kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and
divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I wil not drink of the fruit of the vine,
until the kingdom of God shal come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake
it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in
remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
If the Passover lamb represented Christ's sacrifice, it would seem logical to expect that
the blood of the sacrificed lamb would represent Christ's blood. It would seem logical to
expect that the flesh of the sacrificed lamb would represent Christ's body. Yet Christ
chose non-blood and non-flesh emblems to represent His death. Christ instructed the
disciples that the bread represented His body (His humanity) and that the grape juice
represented His blood (His life, His spirit, His mind).

194

Some might assert Christ simply changed the sacrificial system, without regarding it as
faulty. If so, why didn't Christ ever refer to Himself as the Passover lamb, or any other
sacrificial beast?
Christ did refer to Himself as "the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14) and He had perfect
opportunity to compare Himself to the sacrificial beasts if He chose to do so. He certainly
spoke of His impending death many times, but never appeared to compare His death with
the slaughter of the Passover lamb. 28 Was Christ's silence on this issue significant?
In contrast to the Passover lamb and sanctuary sacrifices, when Christ introduced the
Lord's Supper as a commemoration of His death, He compared His body (His humanity)
and blood (His spirit, mind) - His entire life and existence - to non-blood symbols. Wasn't
it rather unusual for Christ to institute a memorial supposedly of a blood-letting event,
with pure, bloodless symbols?

But it is obvious from the Lord's Supper, that the bloodless symbols were considered
appropriate by Christ to represent His life and death. Christ did not institute a ceremony
or ritual which required the shedding of blood.
Christ assured His disciples that His life demonstrates exactly, the character of the
Father. Christ declared that the works of His Father were those, which He, the Son of
God, performed.
John 5:36; 14:10, 11
"But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given
me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
(10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I
speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwel eth in me, he doeth the
works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me
for the very works' sake. "
In other words, Jesus appears to be saying, "if you can't see that I'm the divine Son of
God by my character, then at least believe it because of the good works you see me
doing. Those works reflect the Father's character."
Jesus showed us the Father. If Jesus did not even refer to the Passover lamb as
representing Himself, is it logically to assume that the Father required blood-letting
sacrifices in the first place to point towards the death of His Son? Or might the sacrificial
rites have been morphed into the true sanctuary services in error as the Israelites mixed
with the pagan countries around them?
Both the fresh grape juice and the unleavened bread used at the Passover feast, were
pure. No yeast appeared in the bread and no fermentation was permitted in the grape
juice (Exodus 12). Both these aspects of purity typified the fact that Christ's LIFE was
pure and free from any sin.
28Concerning the origin of the Hebrew word which is translated as "passover," Alfred de Grazia, in
God's Fire and the Exodus: Management of Exodus, writes:
"The lintels of Hebrew houses were marked with sheep's blood to inform Yahweh
not to destroy his people dwelling within, particularly the first-born. Many Arabs
continue this custom. Yahweh would "pass over" them. Prof. Beer finds in the word
"passah" the original meaning "Jumping of the ram." Several images now occur:
the original spring sacrifices, the identification of Yahweh with the ram of Egyptian
Thoth (Hermes) and thus a clue to Moses' religious origins, the passing over of the
god in a cometary form, the awesome destruction of most homes and buildings by
violent earthquake, and the passover into the desert from Egypt."
http://grazian-archive.com/quantavolution/QuantaHTML/plaintext/gods_fire.txt
195

It was prophesied that a human body would be prepared for Christ, to enable Him to live
and die as a human being � and as a human being (the Second Adam), to develop a
perfect human character.
Hebrews 10:5
"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me."
Christ instructed His disciples that His body soul was represented by the Passover bread
and grape juice.
The Bread of Life is the righteousness of Christ's character. It is the product of His
perfect life. It is the essence of His life which He made available to humanity as a
covering robe. His unselfish holy spirit/mind fills the believer and gives new spiritual life,
just as bread is eaten to sustain the physical life.
Christ's life demonstrated the truth about God's loving character. "If ye have seen
me, ye have seen the Father" (John 14:9). By partaking of Christ's body � the Bread of
Life � the Righteousness of Christ � a believer is renewed spiritual y.
The Bread
Romans 5:6, 8.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly...." "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Grain offerings were offered to God in the Old Testament and were cal ed "bread."
The Hebrew word used for "bread" supports the belief that Christ did not appear to
associate His body with the murdered lamb � the physical flesh and blood
sacrifice of the Passover lamb, but with the sacrifice of His divine position in
Heaven to become the New Representative of the sinful, human race and its
inherent mortality.
Leviticus 21:6, 6, 17
"They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the
offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore
they shall be holy.... (8) Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy
God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.... (17)
Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any
blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God."
6They shall be holy
unto their God
, and not profane

the name
<06944>
<0430>
<02490> (8762)
<08034>
of their God
: for the offerings

of the LORD
made by fire
, and the
<0430>
<00> <0801>
<03068>
<0801>
bread <03899> of their God
, they do offer

: therefore they shall be holy
<0430>
<07126> (8688)
.
<06918>
Strong's Hebrew Concordance # 03899: bread
<03899> lechem lekh'-em from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals. See also
1036. see HEBREW for 03898 see HEBREW for 01036
196

Ellen White, Bible Training School, Sanctification ,1 February, 1904
"God requires of us conformity to His image. Holiness is the reflection
from His people of the bright rays of His glory. But in order to reflect
this glory we must work with God. The heart and mind must be emptied
of all that leads to wrong. The Word of God must be read and studied,
with an earnest desire to gain from it spiritual power. The bread of
heaven must be eaten and digested, that it may become a part of
the life. Thus we gain eternal life. Then is answered the prayer of the
Saviour, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth."
How can Christians eat the Bread of Life? By asking God to send His spirit (mind) and to
renew a right spirit in them (Jer 31:33).
Ellen White, 3 Spiritual Gifts, p 227
"Here our Saviour instituted the Lord's supper, to be often celebrated, to
keep fresh in the memory of his followers the solemn scenes of his
betrayal and crucifixion for the sins of the world. He would have his
followers realize their continual dependence upon his blood for salvation.
The broken bread was a symbol of Christ's broken body, given for the
salvation of the world. The wine was a symbol of his blood, shed for the
cleansing of the sins of al those who should come unto him for pardon,
and receive him as their Saviour."
A. T. Jones, Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, September 18, 1900
Galatians 5:16-18
"If men were to be saved by being delivered utterly from the flesh
just as it is, then Jesus need never have come to the world. If men were
to be saved by being delivered from al temptation and set in a realm of
no temptation, then Jesus need not have come into the world. But never,
by any such deliverance as that, could man have developed character.
Therefore, instead of trying to save men by delivering them utterly from
the flesh just where they were, Jesus came to the world and put himself
IN THE FLESH just where men are and met that flesh JUST AS IT IS,
with all its tendencies and desires, and by the divine power which he
brought by faith, He "condemned sin in the flesh" and thus brought to all
mankind that divine faith which brings the divine power to man to deliver
him from the power of the flesh and the law of sin, just where he is, and
to give him assured dominion over the flesh, just as it is. ....
And every soul can have in its fullness that victory, who will receive
and keep 'the faith of Jesus.' For 'this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.'"
The bread symbolises the "Word of God" Whose body was broken by abuse He received
as a human being. If believers place faith in Christ, then His spirit/mind will prompt their
character development and enable them to live victoriously. This process is called
sanctification. The bread at the Lord's Supper reminds us of our dependence on Christ's
spirit to develop a holy character.
197

The Cup
Luke 22: 20
"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood,
which is shed for you."
Jesus instructed His disciples that the grape juice represented the new testament in His
blood.
Was Jesus suggesting that His blood was to be consumed to enforce the New Covenant?
No, for such an instruction would have contradicted the Old Testament command that
prohibted consuming blood (Leviticus 17:14) and a command which later in the New
Testament, the Jerusalem Council reconfirmed as a principle to be taught to the Gentile
believers � to abstain from blood (Acts 15:20).
The new testament is not speaking about physical rituals. The new testament refers to
the righteousness by faith experience which Christ's sinless life as a mortal man made
possible. It is the promise that Christ can save to the uttermost, al who thirst for
righteousness and will come to Him.
John 7:37
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shal flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit,
which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;
because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
The new covenant which is 'in His blood' - is the promise of a new, victorious life "in
Christ" which is made possible by Christ's perfect spirit/mind 'in the life' of the believer.
Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26, 27
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take
the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: (ch 36:verse
26) A new heart also wil I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I wil give you an heart of flesh. (27) And I wil
put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my
judgments, and do them."
Jeremiah 31:33-34
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
and wil be their God, and they shal be my people. (34) And they shall teach no more
every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they
shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I
will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
The Old Testament asserts that 'the life in the blood." Does the new covenant life
harmonise with this concept? Yes. In fact, it is the same concept, but appears that it was
misunderstood and misapplied by the Israelties.
Leviticus 17:11
11For the life
of the flesh
is
in
the blood
: and I have given

it to
<05315>
<01320>
<01818>
<05414> (8804)
you upon the altar
to make an atonement

for your souls
: for it is the
<04196>
<03722> (8763)
<05315>
blood
that maketh an atonement

for the soul
.
<01818>
<03722> (8762)
<05315>
Darby Translation Notes on Leviticus 17:11:
'Life' and 'soul' are the same Hebrew word. The literal meaning is 'in souls.' Or 'that
maketh atonement by the soul (or life).'
198

Leviticus 17:14
"For it is the life of al flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the
children of Israel, Ye shal eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is
the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shal be cut off."
Darby Translation Notes on Leviticus 17:14:
Literal y: "Its blood is for its life." The preposition used here denotes essence.
The meaning or the essence of the blood, is life or 'life force' or spirit. So too, the grape
juice is a symbol of Christ's death, but the believer's new, pure spotless LIFE in Christ,
because Christ became mortal for humanity's sake.
Romans 8:2,10
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death...." (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness. "
EJ Waggoner, General Conference Sermons, 1891, Study #12, Romans 8:1-16
"Again Christ said, 'He that believeth on Me . . . out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water.' And this He spake of the Spirit, that He would give.
Said Christ again said to the woman at the well, 'Whosoever drinketh of
the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shal be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.'
Why? 'For if the Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you,
He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.' Here is the hope of the
resurrection again. What remains to be done when the Spirit of Christ
dwelleth in you? Only to quicken, that is, to make alive, our mortal
bodies."
The grape juice demonstrates justification � forgiveness of sins and redemption. The
Lord's Supper reminds us of our dependence on Christ gift of life which He gave to each
of us at great risk to His own eternal existence.
By instituting the Lord's Supper, Jesus upheld the divine principle revealed in the Old
Testament concerning abstinence from blood in the diet, and then introduced a
meaningful, yet bloodless ceremony to mark the significance of His pure life as the
spotless Son of Man.
199

The Doctrine of Indulgences
Martin Luther began the Protestant reformation when he took a strong position again the
Roman Catholic doctrine of indulgences, which the papal representative Tetzel was
sel ing to those who believed they could pay a fee for the service of being forgiven.
Fundamental Protestants still affirm Luther's position against indulgences, however, a
very similar system operated in the Hebrew sacrificial system as recorded in Leviticus.
Leviticus 6:1-7
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (2) If a soul sin, and commit a trespass
against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep,
or in fel owship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
(3) Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in
any of al these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (4) Then it shall be, because he hath
sinned, and is guilty, that he shal restore that which he took violently away, or the thing
which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing
which he found, (5) Or al that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore
it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to
whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. (6) And he shall bring his
trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy
estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: (7) And the priest shall make an
atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all
that he hath done in trespassing therein."
In the preceding paragraph, a penalty is given to 'informed' sinners who are guilty
of intentional y breaking at least three of the 10 commandments (stealing; bearing
false witness and coveting).
The legal process outlined in Leviticus 6 declares that three steps must be taken to
restore the criminal to a 'forgiven/holy' status:
�
restore the stolen goods;
�
pay a fine of 20% to the victim; and
�
present and sacrifice an expensive animal (a ram) at the sanctuary/temple.
There are several difficulties with these legal steps.
�
heartfelt confession is not seen to be a requirement for forgiveness of sins;
�
a poor person is discriminated against in four ways:
�
they are unable to afford the 20% fine; and
�
they are unable to afford the expensive sacrificial ram
�
they are sold into slavery (Exodus 22:3);29
�
they remain unforgiven, since they could not afford to pay the fine or
purchase the required sacrificial ram to secure an atonement for their
sin.
This discriminatory system of penalties permitted the rich to steal (sin) to the level
that their wealth dictated � and secure forgiveness, while the poor who were
unable to pay the fines, were sold into slavery and remained unforgiven.
The Roman Catholic doctrine of indulgences claims that premediated sins can be
forgiven � for a suitable price, while Protestants general y believe that heartfelt
repentance marks true confession and a turning away from sin.
29 Exodus 22:3 (concerning a finanically poor thief) "... if he have nothing, then he shall be sold
for his theft."
200

Hebrews 10:26
"For if we sin wilful y after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins (27) But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shal devour the adversaries."
Jesus puts it more clearly:
John 9:41
"Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We
see; therefore your sin remaineth."
And Paul reiterates Christ's words.
Acts 17:30
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth al men
every where to repent."
1Timothy 1:13 (Paul speaking of his sinful past)
"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained
mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
Ignorant sinners are shown divine mercy, but premediatated sinning is not
condoned in Christ's government.
The Levitical laws mentioned in this section appear to promote
�
the use of violence against animals; and
�
the doctrine of indulgences.
One might ask the question, 'would the Father � the God of peace (Rom 15:33;
16:20: Phil 4:9; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 13;20) and gentleness (2 Sam 22:36; Psa
18:35; Gal 5:22; 2 Cor 10:1 30) � the God of equality � originate such discriminatory
and violent laws?'
30 "the meekness and gentleness of Christ," 2 Cor 10:1
201

God's Law is a Description of His Character:
�
lovingkindness
Jeremiah 9:24
"I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the
earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
�
non-discriminatory
Matthew 5:45; Acts 10:34
(Jesus said), "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust." (Peter said),"God is no respecter of persons: (35) But in every
nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
�
converting, causing true repentance
Psalm 19:7
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul."
�
holy, just, good
Romans 7:12
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."
�
fulfil ed by loving and helping others
James 2:8; Galatians 6:2
"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself, ye do wel ." "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ."
�
gentleness and meekness
2 Corinthians 10:1
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in
presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you."
�
righteousness
Galatians 5:22, 23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith (23), meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
�
non-violent, non-deceptive
Isaiah 53:9
"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he
had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
202

Comparing the (Characters of the) Sanctuaries
In view of Ellen White's conviction that the sanctuary services were designed between the
Father and Son in their heavenly counsels, one might begin to question if the sanctuary
services were adulterated after the Israelites' interaction with pagan nations. Some
theologians have suggested that pagan nations copied the Israelites' services, however
there are problems that accompany this view (see objection #29).
The earthly sanctuary was said to be designed after the pattern of the sanctuary in
heaven, but in comparing the Israelites sanctuary services with pagan nations temples
and ceremonies, the similarities are extremely difficult to deny. It is apparent that it was
not God's intention to have animals sacrificed to appease His anger; to purify the
worshippers' souls; or as a means of achieving eternal life as both the Jews and pagans
seemed to believe.
Despite the great spiritual darkness that Israel descended into, God was still able to make
His truth known in the midst of extreme wickedness, and He did not cast off the Israelites
because of the many evil practices in which they participated. God issued instructions
designed to counteract evil arising from their unrighteous acts (polygamy, divorce). Could
it be possible that the sanctuary services were adulterated to such a degree, that the love
of God and the plan of salvation were only barely discernible � as though a veil was over
their hearts? Is it possible that the original sanctuary services, which accurately reflected
the heavenly sanctuary, also became obscured, because of the hardness of the Israelites
hearts?
2 Corinthians 3:13-16
"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: (14) But their minds were blinded:
for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old
testament; which veil is done away in Christ. (15) But even unto this day, when Moses is
read, the veil is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless when it shal turn to the Lord, the veil
shall be taken away."
The Israelites had physical y come out of Egypt, but they carried Egyptian spiritual
philosophy with them still in their minds. These beliefs and practices were evidenced in
their religious rituals, and were most evident at times of their national apostasy .
According to Old Testament references, along with pagan sacrifices, illicit (pagan) sexual
activities appear to have been practised by the Israelites in idolatrous worship, yet they
were "the chosen people" and promised to be obedient to the One True God (1 Kings
14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).
God had great mercy on the Israelites. He dealt patiently with them, endeavouring to lead
them out of paganism and into a deeper understanding of His loving righteousness. God
would have led them out of paganism, as quickly as they would fol ow Him. The problem
was not with God -it was with the people.
It appears that the ancient Israelites become so confused in their dealings with the pagan
nations around them � so desensitised to their pagan sexual and child-burning worship
rituals - that they confused the character of the pure and holy Creator, the One True God
with the blended, good/evil character of the Canaanite religions?
The Biblical and historical evidence appears to strongly support this
hypothesis.
203

Walther Zimmerli (1907�1984) was Professor of Old Testament at the University of
G�ttingen, Germany, and and considered by many as one of the most important biblical
scholars of the twentieth century. Among his many publications in English are Ezekiel, 2
vols. (Hermeneia; Fortress Press, 1979/1983), I Am Yahweh (1982), The Old Testament
and the World (1976), and The Law and the Prophets (1965). In The Law and the
Prophets, Zimmerli writes:
"In this connection Hosea attacks with particular passion the priests who
should have been the true guardians of the knowledge of God, and who
have especial y failed in this duty (Hosea iv. 4 ff.). They have allowed to
pass unnoticed the very real exchange of Yahweh, the God of Israel,
for the baals of Canaan. This was no longer the same threat which had
occurred in Elijah's time, it was something much more dangerous. While
the worship of Yahweh remained outwardly correct, in reality he had
come to be regarded as a nature deity like the Canaanite Baal. From
him men sought the fertility of the soil and of marriage; he was
worshipped with the forms of nature religion and with sacral prostitution,
as men worshipped the Baals. Ya
hweh became Baal. The name of one
of David's warriors, which is recorded in I Chronicles 12:5 as Bealiah
(Yahweh is Baal) demonstrates exactly this programmatic assertion.
Thus without knowing it, Israel had begun to misunderstand the very
nature of its God, because the professional guardians of a true
knowledge of him were asleep" (Walther Zimmerli, The Law and the
Prophets, Basil Blackwell 1965 p.70).
Columbia University Press Encyclopedia at Answers.com presents the folllowing
information concerning Baal, a pagan god who is acknowledged at an idol which
represented Satan as he attempts to imitate the Creator � the One True God.
Baal (b'l) , plural Baalim (b'lm) [Semitic,=master, lord], name used
throughout the Bible for the chief deity or for deities of Canaan. The term
was originally an epithet applied to the storm god Hadad. Technically,
Baal was subordinate to El. Baal is attested in the Ebla texts (first half of
2d mil ennium B.C.). By the time of the Ugarit tablets (14th cent. B.C.),
Baal had become the ruler of the universe. The Ugarit tablets make him
chief of the Canaanite pantheon. He is the source of life and fertility, the
mightiest hero, the lord of war, and the defeater of the god Yam. There
were many temples of Baal in Canaan, and the name Baal was often
added to that of a locality, e.g. Baal-peor, Baal-hazor, Baal-hermon. The
Baal cult penetrated Israel and at times led to syncretism. In the Psalms,
Yahweh is depicted as Baal and his dwelling is on Mt. Zaphon (Zion), the
locale of Baal in Canaanite mythology. The practice of sacred prostitution
seems to have been associated with the worship of Baal in Palestine and
the cult was vehemently denounced by the prophets, especially Hosea
and Jeremiah. The abhorrence in which the cult was held probably
explains the substitution of Ish-bosheth for Esh-baal, of Jerubbesheth for
Jerubbaal (a name of Gideon), and of Mephibosheth for Merib-baal. The
substituted term probably means "shame." The same abhorrence is
evident the use of the pejorative name Baal-zebub (see also Satan). The
Baal of 1 Chronicles is probably the same as Ramah 2. As cognates of
Baal in other Semitic languages there are Bel (in Babylonian religion) and
the last elements in the Tyrian names Jezebel, Hasdrubal, and Hannibal."
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=29l33c32f48kr?tname=
baal&curtab=2222_1&hl=bealiah&sbid=lc05b
204

Wikipedia Encyclopedia, Baal:
"After Gideon's death, according to Judges 8.33, the Israelites went astray
and started to worship the Ba`al�m (the Ba`als) especial y Ba`al Berith 'Lord
of the Covenant'. A few verses later (Judge 9.4) the story turns to al the
citizens of Shechem � actual y kol-ba`al� skem another case of normal
use of ba`al not applied to a deity. These citizens of Shechem support
Abimelech's attempt to become king by giving him 70 shekels from the
House of Ba`al Berith. It is hard to disassociate this Lord of the Covenant
who is worshipped in Shechem from the covenant at Shechem described
earlier in Joshua 24.25 in which the people agree to worship Yahweh. It is
especially hard to do so when Judges 9.46 relates that all "the holders of
the tower of Shechem" (kol-ba`al� midgal-skem) enter b�t 'l br�t 'the
House of El Berith', that is, 'the House of God of the Covenant'. Was Ba`al
then here just a title for El? Or did the covenant of Shechem perhaps
originally not involve El at al but some some other god who bore the title
Ba`al? Or were there different viewpoints about Yahweh, some seeing him
as an aspect of Hadad, some as an aspect of El, some with other
theories? Again there is no clear answer. We also find Eshbaal (one of
Saul's sons) and Beeliada (a son of David). The last name also appears
as Eliada. This might show that at some period Ba`al and El were used
interchangeably even in the same name applied to the same person. More
likely a later hand has cleaned up the text. Editors did play around with
some names, sometimes substuting the form bosheth 'abomination' for
ba`al in names, whence the forms Ishbosheth instead of Eshbaal and
Mephibosheth which is rendered Meribaal in 1 Chronicles 9.40. 1
Chronicles 12:5 gives us the name Bealiah (more accurately b`'aly�)
meaning 'Yahweh is Ba`al'."
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, presents information concerrning Baal,
from the research of AH Sayce.
"Temples of Baal at Samaria and Jerusalem are mentioned in 1Ki 1:18;
where they had been erected at the time when the Ahab dynasty
endeavored to fuse Israelites and Jews and Phoenicians into a single
people under the same national Phoenician god. Altars on which incense
was burned to Baal were set up in all the streets of Jerusalem according
to Jeremiah (11:13), apparently on the flat roofs of the houses (Jer 32:29);
and the temple of Baal contained an image of the god in the shape of a
pil ar or Bethel (2Ki 10:26,27). In the reign of Ahab, Baal was served in
Israel by 450 priests (1Ki 18:19), as well as by prophets (2Ki 10:19), and
his worshippers wore special vestments when his ritual was performed
(2Ki 10:22). The ordinary offering made to the god consisted of incense
(Jer 7:9) and burnt sacrifices; on extraordinary occasions the victim was
human (Jer 19:5). At times the priests worked themselves into a state of
ecstasy, and dancing round the altar slashed themselves with knives
(1Kings 18:26,28), like certain dervish orders in modern Islam."
AH Sayce demonstrates the two-tone, blended character of the pagan deity, Baal:
"As the Sun-god, Baal was worshipped under two aspects, beneficent and destructive.
On the one hand he gave light and warmth to his worshippers; on the other hand the
fierce heats of summer destroyed the vegetation he had himself brought into being.
Hence, human victims were sacrificed to him in order to appease his anger in time of
plague or other trouble, the victim being usual y the first-born of the sacrificer and being
burnt alive. In the Old Testament this is euphemistically termed "passing" the victim
"through the fire" (2Ki 16:3; 21:6). The forms under which Baal was worshipped were
necessarily as numerous as the communities which worshipped him. Each locality had its
own Baal or divine "Lord" who frequently took his name from the city or place to which he
205

belonged. Hence, there was a Baal-Zur, "Baal of Tyre"; Baal-hermon, "Baal of Hermon"
(Jud 3:3); Baal-Lebanon, "Baal of Lebanon"; Baal-Tarz, "Baal of Tarsus." At other times
the title was attached to the name of an individual god; thus we have Bel-Merodach, "the
Lord Merodach" (or "Bel is Merodach") at Babylon, Baal-Melkarth at Tyre, Baal-gad (Jos
11:17) in the north of Palestine. Occasional y the second element was noun as in Baal-
Shemaim, "lord of heaven," Baalzebub (2Ki 1:2), "Lord of flies," Baal-Hamman, usually
interpreted "Lord of heat," but more probably "Lord of the sunpillar," the tutelary deity of
Carthage. All these various forms of the Sun-god were collectively known as the Baalim
or "Baals" who took their place by the side of the female Ashtaroth and Ashtrim. At
Carthage the female consort of Baal was termed Pene-Baal, "the face" or "reflection of
Baal."
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=29l33c32f48kr?tname=baal&curtab=22
22_1&hl=bealiah&sbid=lc05b
It is clearly demonstrated that prior to the time that the Old Testament writings were
written down in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Israelites were very knowledgeable
about the religion of Baal worship.
In that pagan context, is it surprising that the 'blended' character traits of 'the baals' was
transferred unto the character of the One True God?
206

Ellen White Concerning Sacrifices
1 Testimonies for the Church, p 25
"My feelings were very sensitive. I dreaded giving pain to any living creature. When I saw
animals ill-treated, my heart ached for them. Perhaps my sympathies were more easily
excited by suffering because I myself had been the victim of thoughtless cruelty, resulting
in the injury that had darkened my childhood. But when the thought took possession of
my mind that God delighted in the torture of His creatures, who were formed in His image,
a wall of darkness seemed to separate me from Him."
Desire of Ages 1898, p 90 (similar passage Signs of the Times, 6 August, 1896, p 9)
"Mary often remonstrated with Jesus, and urged Him to conform to the usages of the
rabbis. But He could not be persuaded to change His habits of contemplating the works of
God and seeking to alleviate the suffering of men or even of dumb animals. When
the priests and teachers required Mary's aid in control ing Jesus, she was greatly
troubled; but peace came to her heart as He presented the statements of Scripture
upholding His practices."
Ministry of Healing, p 316
"What man with a human heart, who has ever cared for domestic animals, could look into
their eyes, so full of confidence and affection, and wil ingly give them over to the butcher's
knife? How could he devour their flesh as a sweet morsel?"
Signs of the Times, 25 November, 1880, p18
"Here is a lesson to all who have reasoning powers, that harsh treatment, even to the
brutes, is offensive to God. Those who profess to love God do not always consider that
abuse to animals, or suffering brought upon them by neglect, is a sin. The fruits of divine
grace will be as truly revealed in men by the manner in which they treat their beasts, as
by their service in the house of God. Those who al ow themselves to become impatient or
enraged with their animals are not Christians. A man who is harsh, severe and
domineering toward the lower animals, because he has them in his power, is both a
coward and a tyrant. And he wil , if opportunity offers, manifest the same cruel,
overbearing spirit toward his wife and children."
Ministry of Healing, p 316, 317
"The moral evils of a flesh diet are not less marked than are the physical ills. Flesh food is
injurious to health, and whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind
and the soul. Think of the cruelty to animals that meat eating involves, and its effect
on those who inflict and those who behold it. How it destroys the tenderness with
which we should regard these creatures of God!...(317) Is it not time that all should
aim to dispense with flesh foods? How can those who are seeking to become pure,
refined, and holy, that they may have the companionship of heavenly angels, continue to
use as food anything that has so harmful an effect on soul and body? H
ow can they take
th
e life of God's creatures that they may consume the flesh as a luxury? Let them,
rather, return to the wholesome and delicious food given to man in the beginning, and
themselves practice a
nd te
ach their children to practice mercy toward the dumb
c reatures that God has made and has placed under our dominion."

Desire of Ages, p 286
"Thus greater care was shown for a dumb animal than for man, who is made in the image
of God. This illustrates the working of all false religions. They originate in man's desire to
exalt himself above God, but they result in degrading man below the brute. Every religion
that wars against the sovereignty of God defrauds man of the glory which was his at the
creation, and which is to be restored to him in Christ. Every false religion teaches its
adherents to be careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights. The gospel places a
high value upon humanity as the purchase of the blood of Christ, and it teaches a tender
regard for the wants and woes of man."
207

In the light of the foregoing statements, Ellen White's following statements become
challenging.
Review and Herald, 6 May,1875 p 3
"God gave a clear and definite knowledge of his wil to Israel by especial precepts,
showing the duty of man to God and to his fellow-men. The worship due to God was
clearly defined. A special system of rites and ceremonies was established, which would
secure the remembrance of God among his people, and thereby serve as a hedge to
guard and protect the ten commandments from violation. (4) God's people, whom he
cal s his peculiar treasure, were privileged with a two-fold system of law; the moral and
the ceremonial. The one, pointing back to creation to keep in remembrance the living God
who made the world, whose claims are binding upon al men in every dispensation, and
which will exist through all time and eternity. The other, given because of man's
transgression of the moral law, the obedience to which consisted in sacrifices and
offerings pointing to the future redemption. Each is clear and distinct from the other. From
the creation the moral law was an essential part of God's divine plan, and was as
unchangeable as himself. The ceremonial law was to answer a particular purpose of
Christ plan for the salvation of the race. The typical system of sacrifices and offerings was
established that through these services the sinner might discern the great offering, Christ.
But the Jews were so blinded by pride and sin that but few of them could see farther than
the death of beasts as an atonement for sin; and when Christ, whom these offerings
prefigured, came, they could not discern him. The ceremonial law was glorious; it was the
provision made by Jesus Christ in counsel with his Father, to aid in the salvation of the
race. The whole arrangement of the typical system was founded on Christ. Adam saw
Christ prefigured in the innocent beast suffering the penalty of his transgression of
Jehovah's law. (5) The law of types reached forward to Christ. All hope and faith
centered in Christ until type reached its antitype in his death. The statutes and judgments
specifying the duty of man to his fellow-men, were ful of important instruction, defining
and simplifying the principles of the moral law, for the purpose of increasing religious
knowledge, and of preserving God's chosen people distinct and separate from idolatrous
nations. "(6) The statutes concerning marriage, inheritance, and strict justice in deal with
one another, were peculiar and contrary to the customs and manners of other nations,
and were designed of God to keep his people separate from other nations." The necessity
of this to preserve the people of God from becoming like the nations who had not the love
and fear of God, is the same in this corrupt age, when the transgression of God's law
prevails and idolatry exists to a fearful extent. In ancient Israel needed such security, we
need it more, to keep us from being utterly confounded with the transgressors of God's
law. The hearts of men are so prone to depart from God that there is a necessity for
restraint and discipline. (7) The love that God bore to man whom he had created in his
own image, led him to give his Son to die for man's transgression, and lest the increase of
sin should lead him to forget God and the promised redemption, the system of sacrificial
offerings was established to typify the perfect offering of the Son of God."
208

Ellen White's position appears contradictory.
�
She rebukes those who would butcher innocent animals, and yet promotes the
idea that the sacrificial system, (which required the brutal slaughtering of many
animals), offered the Jews an opportunity to develop their characters.
�
She tel s SDA's to teach their children to be merciful to animals, but how could the
Jews teach their children to practice mercy toward the dumb animals, and not to
be careless of their needs and sufferings, while the Jews were to instruct their
children how to slit the animals' throats. (Pagan religions also required that
children become instructed in these "offerings to the gods").
�
How could Ellen White suggest that God's people should eat only a vegetarian
diet, while the Jewish sacrificial system required every Jew to eat meat e.g. The
paschal lamb?
�
How could Ellen White suppose that killing thousands of animals would teach the
Israelites the dreadfulness of their sins, when she agrees that God commanded
the Israelites to deliberately kil men, women, children and infants? How does a
lamb compare to kil ing a baby? It is far more traumatic to kil a baby than a lamb.
While not denying that Ellen White was shown certain divine revelations, it is stil probable
that there were issues which were not revealed to her.
209

Prostitution
Pagan Practices and Symbols
In the introduction to the Latin work PRIAPEIA - SPORTIVE EPIGRAMS ON PRIAPUS
(by divers poets in English verse and prose, which was translation by Leonard C.
Smithers and Sir Richard Burton), NEANISKOS [July,1890] outlined the origin of Priapus -
a fertility god - and some prominent worship practices identified with the cult. Scanned at
www.sacred-texts.com , December, 2000.http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/priap/prpc.htm
'In the earliest ages the worship of the generative Energy was of the most
simple and artless character, rude in manner, primitive in form, chaste in
idea, the homage of man to the Supreme Power, the Author of Life, the
Sun, as symbolised by the reproductive force.
Afterwards the cult became depraved, a religion of feeling, of
sensuousness, corrupted by a priesthood who, not slow to take
advantage of this state of affairs, inculcated therewith profligate and
mysterious ceremonies, union of gods with women, religious prostitution
and other sexual rites. Thus it was not long before the emblems lost their
real and original meaning, and became licentious statues and debased
art. Hence we have the debauched ceremonies at the festivals of
Bacchus, who became, not only the representative of the creative Energy,
but the god of pleasure and licentiousness.
(An) Ithyphal us, (was) a piece of wood shaped like the erect virile
member (a penis), which was carried about in the festivals of Bacchus.
Hence, applied to Priapus, who was represented with an erect member.
Priapus was also called Triphallus (triphallos), a threefold phallus, an
immense phal us, on account of the extraordinary size of his member.]
This corrupted religion readily found eager votaries, captives to a
pleasant bondage compelled by the impulse of physical luxury: such was
the case in India and Egypt, and among the Phoenicians, Babylonians,
Hebrews and other Eastern races.
Sex-worship once personified became the supreme and governing deity,
enthroned as the ruling god over al ; and monarchs, complying with the
prevailing faith, became willing devotees to the cult of Isis and Venus on
the one hand, and on the other of Bacchus and Priapus, appealing, as
they did, to the most tyrannical passion of human nature.
The worship of Priapus amongst the Romans was derived from the
Egyptians, who, under the form of Apis, the Sacred Bull, adored the
generative Power of Nature; and as the syllable pri or pre signifies (we
are assured) principle, production, natural or original source, the word
Priapus may be translated principle of production or of fecundation
of Apis. The same symbol also bore among the Romans the names of
Tutenus, Mutinus[1] and Fascinum. (continued over page)
210

"According to Macrobius, the corresponding deity amongst the Egyptians
was cal ed Horus--a personification of the sun. This Horus is painted as
a winged youth, with a quoit lying at his feet, a sceptre in his right hand,
and in
his left a Phallus 31
e
qual in size to the rest of his body. The
Phallus was the ancient emblem of creation, and representative of
the gods Bacchus, Priapus, Hercules, Siva, Osiris, Baal and Asher,
who were all Phallic deities, the symbols being used as signs of the al -
creative Energy or operating Power of the Demiurgos, from no
consideration of mere animal appetite but in token of the highest
reverence. ....Among the Greeks, the membrum virile (wooden 'penis')
was borne in procession to the temple of Bacchus and was there crowned
with a garland by one of the most respectable matrons of the city.
According to St Augustine the sexual organ of man was
consecrated in the temple of Liber, that of women in the sanctuaries
of Liberia, these two divinities being named father and mother.
Payne Knight states that Priapus, in his character of procreative deity, is
celebrated by the Greek poets under the title of Love or Attraction, the
first principle of Animation, the father of gods and men, the regulator and
dispenser of all things. He Is said to pervade the universe with the motion
of his wings, bringing pure light, and thence to be called 'the splendid, the
self-illumined, the ruling Priapus'. According to Natalis Comes, the
worship of Priapus was introduced into Athens by express order of an
oracle.
The Priapi were of different forms, some having only a human head and
the Phallus, some with the head of Pan or of a faun--that is, with the
beard and ears of a goat. Among the paintings found in Pompeii there
are several representations of hircine sacrifices and offerings of milk and
flowers to Priapus. The god is represented as a Hermes on a square
pedestal, with the usual characteristic of the deity, a prominent Phal us.
.... When furnished with arms, in his character of 'Terminus', Priapus
held with one hand a reaping hook and, like Osiris, grasped with the
other the characteristic feature of his divinity which was always of a
monstrous size and in a state of statant energy. One of the paintings
discovered at Pompei represents a sacrifice or offering to Priapus, made
by two persons...."
"...it was a custom amongst the Babylonians that every woman should
once in her life prostitute herself at the temple of Venus to a stranger. This
practice is confirmed by Jeremiah and Strabo; The prostitution of women,
considered as a religious institution, was not only practised in Babylon, but
at Heliopolis; at Aphace, a place betwixt Heliopolis and Biblus; at Sicca
Veneria, in Africa, and also on the Isle of Cyprus. It was at Aphace that
Venus was supposed, according to the author of the Etymologicum
Magnum, to have first received the embraces of Adonis. At Argalae, in
Africa, women were prostituted on the wedding night. The Loricans,
when hard pressed in war, vowed to offer up their daughters to be
deflowered in a festival in honour of Venus, if they should be
victorious. 32 (continued over page)
31 Phallus, or privy member (membrum virile), signifies 'he breaks through or passes into'; German
(pfahl); English (pole); of Phoenician origin, the Greek word, pallo--'to brandish preparatory to
throwing a missile'; in Sanskrit, phal--'to burst, to produce, to be faithful', 'a ploughshare', and also
the names of Shiva and Mahadeva, who are Hindu deities of destruction. The kteis, or female
organ, as the symbol of the passive or reproductive powers of nature, generally occurs on ancient
Roman monuments as the concha Veneris, a fig, barley, corn and the letter delta.]
32 Jephthah, made a similar vow and she had "to bewail her virginity for two months" before the
father sacrificed his daughter (Judges 11 .30-40)
211

The Marquis de Sade in his priapistic book La Philsophie dans le Boudoir
states Babylonian children were deflowered at the temple of Venus at an
early age; and gives some curious details on the subject of prostitution in
Pegu and Tartary." http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/priap/prp40.htm
In his book, Pagan & Christian Creeds:Their Origin and Meaning, Edward Carpenter
(p 181)
"We know, of course, from the Bible that the Syrians in Palestine were
given to sexual worships. There were erect images (phal ic) and "groves"
(sexual symbols) on every high hill and under every green tree; 2 and
these same images and the rites connected with them crept into the
Jewish Temple and were popular enough to maintain their footing there
for a long period from King Rehoboam onwards, notwithstanding the
efforts of Josiah 3 and other reformers to extirpate them. Moreover there
were girls and men (hierodouloi) regularly attached during this period to
the Jewish Temple as to the heathen 9p. 182) Temples, for the rendering
of sexual services, which were recognized in many cases as part of the
ritual. Women were persuaded that it was an honor and a privilege to be
fertilized by a 'holy man' (a priest or other man connected with the rites),
and children resulting from such unions were often called "Children of
God"--an appellation which no doubt sometimes led to a legend of
miraculous birth! Girls who took their place as hierodouloi in the Temple or
Temple-precincts were expected to surrender themselves to men-
worshipers in the Temple, much in the same way, probably, as Herodotus
describes in the temple of the Babylonian Venus Mylitta, where every
native woman, once in her life, was supposed to sit in the Temple and
have intercourse with some stranger. Indeed the Syrian and Jewish
rites dated largely from Babylonia. "The Hebrews entering Syria," says
Richard Burton 2 "found it religionized, by Assyria and Babylonia, when
the Accadian Ishtar had passed West, and had become Ashtoreth,
Ashtaroth, or Ashirah, the Anaitis of Armenia, the Phoenician Astarte, and
the Greek Aphrodite, the great Moon-goddess who is queen of Heaven
and Love." The word translated "grove" as above, in our Bible, is in
fact Asherah, which connects it pretty clearly with the Babylonian
Queen of Heaven. In India again, in connection with the Hindu Temples
and their rites, we have exactly the same institution of girls attached to the
Temple service--the Nautch-girls--whose functions in past times were
certainly sexual, and whose dances in honor of the god are, even down to
the present day, decidedly amatory in character. Then we have the very
numerous lingams (conventional representations of the male organ) to be
seen, scores and scores of them, in the arcades and cloisters of the Hindu
Temples--(p. 183) to which women of al classes, especial y those who
wish to become mothers, resort, anointing them copiously with oil, and
signalizing their respect and devotion to them in a very practical way. As
to the lingam as representing the male organ, in some form or
other--as upright stone or pillar or obelisk or slender round tower--it
occurs all over the, world, notably in Ireland, and forms such a memorial
of the adoration paid by early folk to the great emblem and instrument of
human fertility, as cannot be mistaken." (Carpenter's quote continued
over page)
212

"The pillars set up by Solomon in front of his temple were obviously
fr
om their names--Jachin and Boaz 33
--m
eant to be emblems of this
k ind; and the fact that they were crowned with pomegranates-34
-th
e
universally accepted symbol of the female--confirms and clinches
th
is interpretation.35
The obelisks before the Egyptians' temples were
signs of the same character." (Carpenter's quote continued over page)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/pcc/pcc13.htm
33 Jachin and Boaz mean 'He shall establish' and 'in it is strength' are the marginal
interpretations of these two words found in the Bible. It is interesting that Priapus was called "the
rigid god." In pagan temples, the columns symbolised the male phallus. The 'pillars' were
emblems of the Procreator http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/pcc/pcc13.htm
1 Kings 7:18-22
"And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters
that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. (19) And the
chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. (20) And
the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was
by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other
chapiter. (21) And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar,
and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
(22) And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished."
34 Pomegrantes and Bells-
In long established pagan rituals, pomengranates and bells were used to invoke fertility and
protection from evil spirits. "Pagans used bells to summon demons, cast spells, and communicate
with the dead, while 'Christians' used them to cast out evil spirits and frighten away storms. St.
Anthony Abbot attached a bell to his crutch to ward off the demons who plagued him with
temptations. Shakespeare alluded to the use of bells in exorcisms and excommunications with the
phrase 'bell, book, and candle' (King John, III,iii,12)."
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/bells.htm
The goddess Astarte is also known as Astarat and Astoreth. The bull and the dove are especially
sacred to Astarte and Astoreth. The goddesses are often depicted wearing horns. The egg is a
symbol sacred to Astarte, and represents abundant fertility. The pomegranate, which was a "fruit
filled with eggs" (its seeds) was an important part of the sacred rites connected with the worship of
Astarte. According to a Wiccan source, a "bell is an amulet used by primitive and Western
people whose sound was intended to ward off the evil eye and dispel hostile spirits. In the Middle
East bells were attached to the harness of horses and camels for the same purposes."
http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id38.htm Later it was believed that bells had
holy powers and they were tolled during funeral processions to ward off evil spirits.
The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. II: Basilica � Chambers by
Philip Schaff, states"...among the pagans the priests of Proserpine announced the beginning of
the sacrifice by ringing bells. ..http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc02.bells.html
In the Hebrew sanctuary services, the High Priest wore on the bottom of his robe 'a pomegranate
and a bell, a pomegranate and a bell' (Exodus 28:34) when He went before the Lord, so that he
would not die. Exodus 28:34 -35 "A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a
pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. (35) And it shall be upon Aaron to minister:
and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he
cometh out, that he die not."
35Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
I Kings 7:21:"The right pillar-Jachin - That is, He shall establish. The left pillar-Boaz - that is, in
strength. These were no doubt emblematical; for notwithstanding their names, they seem to have
supported no part of the building."
213

(Edward Carpenter 's quote continued)
"The well-known T-shaped cross was in use in pagan lands long
before Christianity, as a representation of the male member, and
also at the same time of the 'tree' on which the god (Attis or Adonis
or Krishna or whoever it might be) was crucified; and the same
symbol combined with the oval (or yoni) formed the Crux Ansata
of the old Egyptian ritual--a figure which is to-day sold in Cairo as a
potent charm, and confessedly indicates the conjunction of the two
sexes in one design. MacLennan in The Fortnightly Review (Oct. 1869)
quotes with approval the words of Sanchoniathon, as saying that "men
first worship plants, next the heavenly bodies, (p 184) supposed to be
animals, then 'pillars' (emblems of the Procreator), and last, the
anthropomorphic gods. ....It is not necessary to enlarge on this subject.
The facts of the connection of sexual rites with religious services nearly
everywhere in the early world are, as I say, sufficiently patent to every
inquirer." http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/pcc/pcc13.htm
214

Temple Prostitutes
Leviticus 19:29;21:9
"Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom,
and the land become ful of wickedness. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane
herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire."
1 Kings 14:22-24
"And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their
sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also
built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green
tree. 24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to al the
abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."
2 Kings 23:7
"And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD,
where the women wove hangings for the grove (image, statue)."
In the reign of Asa, sodomy and prostitution was practised as part of the Israelites' pagan
worship ceremonies (1 Kings 15:12). The male temple prostitutes (whoremongers)
engaged in "sacred" homosexual (sodomy) rites in special "houses" built for this particular
"service." The female temple prostitutes also participated in pagan worship rituals of the
male/female fertility god whose idols were "used" in worship ceremonies. Throughout
their entire Old Testament history, the Israelites were steeped in the practice of
human/child sacrifice and homosexual and male/female sexual religious rites. Just prior
to their Babylonian captivity, Amos related a message from God.
Amos 5:25
"Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house
of Israel? 26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the
star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 27 Therefore wil I cause you to go into
captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts."
Moloch (also cal ed Milcom), was the fire-serpent god of the Ammonites in Canaan, to
whom human sacrifices were offered. This was the same fire-serpent religion (Bol-Khan)
which the Egyptians had observed in Egypt; the same religion which the Moabites
practised the glory of their god Chemosh; and the same religion which the Zidonians
worshipped to the glory of their god Baal.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
2 Kings 23:7
"'He (Josiah) broke down the houses of the sodomites' ( �ydqh hakkedeshim,
of the whoremongers,) 'where the women wove hangings for the grove' ( hral
�ytb bottim laasherah, 'houses or shrines for Asherah.') Similar perhaps to
those which the silversmiths made for Diana, Acts xix. 24. It is rather absurd to
suppose that the women were employed in making curtains to encompass a
grove. The Syriac and Arabic versions countenance the interpretation I have
given above. In chap. xxii . 6, the former says, 'He cast out the idol, dechlotho,
from the house of the Lord;' and in 2 Kings xxiii. 7: 'He threw down the houses,
dazoine, of the prostitutes; and the women who wove garments, ledechlotho,
for the idols which were there.' The Arabic is exactly the same. From the whole
it is evident that Asherah was no other than Venus; the nature of whose
worship is plain enough from the mention of whoremongers and prostitutes."
215

Prostitution by Any Other Name is Still the Same Game
Numbers 31:1-54 reports that the Israelites waged war on the Midianites and were
victorious. The Israelite warriors kil ed al the adult males of the Midianites, but brought
back to Israel, all their women and children as captives. Moses was "wroth" (verse 14)
and commanded that only the female virgins (32,000) were to be kept alive, so the
mothers and male infants and male children were slaughtered. The reason suggested for
this slaughter by Moses, was that it was the Midianite women who led the Israelite men
into sin at Baal-Peor with their prostitution. However, wouldn't the young virgins have
learned a trick or two from their prostitute mothers? Wouldn't it have been safer to keep
the male babies alive and slaughter the virgin women � just in case the virgins tried to lure
the Israelite men into sin again?
The report in Numbers states that the virgins, along with the pillaged livestock and the
gold etc, were distributed between the warriors and the congregation. The warriors
received half the virgins and the congregation who had not participated in the battle,
received the other 50% of the virgins. The priests were not overlooked and they received
the 32 virgins which were dedicated to the Lord as a type of tithe or levy. The Levites also
received 1/50th of all the pil age, including their share of young virgins.
Leviticus 19:29;21:9
"Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom,
and the land become ful of wickedness. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane
herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire."
For what purpose were the Israelite men reserving the Midianite virgins? To save their
own daughters from becoming Israelite whores perhaps? Would the Midianite women be
utilised to fulfil the temple-prostitute role in the worship ceremonies to which the Israelites
returned so often?
Were the virgins that the Israelites took for themselves of a very young age? It appears
that pagan nations participated in paedophilia. Was child-adult sex depicted by this statue
of a tantra worship ritual between the supposedly divine Shiva and Shakti?
Certainly we know that the Israelites repeatedly performed child sacrifices to pagan gods
in their apostasy from God - it is well documented in the Bible in many places. Under
these conditions, it is not difficult to accept that the worship of the One True God gradually
became blended with the worship of pagan gods until the distinctly opposite characters of
both the Creator and pagan gods became almost indistinguishable to the worshippers.
216

Marriage
By interaction with pagan nations, the Israelite's system of worship had become
confused and so too had their understanding of the original, divine concept of
marriage.
The Israelites religious practices reflected their conception of God's character,
however the Mosiac laws concerning marriage, magnify still further the nation's
distorted view of the character of God. The following questions assist the study.
�
What was God's original plan for marriage?
�
What constitutes a "scriptural" marriage?
�
What constitutes a "scriptural" divorce?
�
What is a "non-Scriptural" divorce?
�
Does God permit and sanction remarriage after a "non-scriptural divorce?"
The Original Plan for Marriage
Genesis 2:21-24
"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; (22) And the rib, which the LORD
God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (23) 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. (24) Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
There is no doubt that the original plan for humanity was for one man to remain married to
one woman for life (and perhaps eternity if sin had not entered the world). However,
because after sin entered the world, humanity to inherit carnal flesh � a selfish mind � and
the plan for the perfect marriage was ignored. Practices involving sexual relationships
and marriage, became corrupt. God foresaw that drastic remedial action was required
and He outlined again the perfect plan for marriage in the 10 commandments.
Exodus 20:14
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Despite receiving the 10 commandments, with the 7th commandment forbidding adultery,
the Israelites required further clarification of the divine law of God. Just as the "man of
sin" tries today to change the law which identifies what constitutes a valid marriage, so
anciently Satan engineered strategies to make marriage dishonorable and illicit unions
'legal', in the Israelites experience.
Moses was required to relay further instructions to the Israelites, regarding marriage,"for
the hardness of their hearts." Still, because of their association with pagan nations, their
desire to imitate their practices, and the hardness of their hearts, the Israelites
encountered difficulties remaining within the confines of the seventh commandment.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no
favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her
a bil of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. (2) And when
she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. (3) And if the
latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and
sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; (4)
her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that
she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land
to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."
217

Divorce was not the original plan for marriage, however it was in keeping with godly
principles. It was absolutely necessary that the many discarded Israelite wives be
provided opportunity for support through remarriage. The Mosiac law directed that a
divorce certificate to be given to such women. Many Israelite men did not wish to conform
to the perfect will of God and so God provided for the welfare of the discarded women �
as He did for Hagar when she was sent out of Abraham's camp (Genesis 21).
In New Testament times Paul noted that marriage was still in the line of enemy fire.
1 Timothy 4:3 (Paul commenting on the man of sin)
"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to
be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
The Roman Catholic Church was not the first institution to recognise annulments of
marriage. The Jewish culture had legalised annulments also. Under Jewish traditional
laws, if a woman was "barren" (produced no children) after 10 years of married life, she
could also be "sent away" or annul ed � not recognised as being legal.
Regarding lawful marriage, we read that only marriage to believers in the Israelite race
were considered legal and sanctioned by God. Every marriage outside of God's
guidelines were illicit and/or adulterous.
Did the Israelites believe that breaking God's 7th commandment was legal (not sinful) in
some instances?
Exodus 23:32
"Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. (33) They shall not dwell
in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be
a snare unto thee."
Exodus 34:12-16
"Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither
thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: (13) But ye shall destroy their altars,
break their images, and cut down their groves: (14) For thou shalt worship no other god:
for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: (15) Lest thou make a
covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and
do sacrifice unto their gods, and one cal thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; (16) And
thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after
their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods."

Deuteronomy 7:2-4
"And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and
utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto
them:(3) Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give
unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (4) For they wil turn away thy
son from fol owing me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be
kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly."
218

Regarding divorce and remarriage, Moses, in Deut 24, said that divorce involved 2 steps.
�
the man was to cause a physical separation by sending the woman away ( #07971

shalach); and
�
the man had to give a the woman a divorce certificate in the presence of witnesses
to indicate that the separation was with his consent and that it was legal and
permanent � i.e. divorce.
If only the first step was taken, then the partners were not divorced. If only the first step
was taken the result for the "sent away" woman, was disastrous.

The "first step only" � the "sent away" woman had to leave the family home without any
financial support (except her wedding dowry); and without her children. Some husbands
even refused to give the woman back her dowry, so she was completely without support.
Commonly, a man would send the woman away, but would also refuse to give the woman
a certificate of divorce.
This is a similar situation to that which Michal found herself in after she criticised King
David for "dancing before the Lord." David declared that from that point onward, she
would bear no children for the rest of her life. While David did not divorce Michal,
certainly he prevented her from having a normal married relationship with him. David was
not punished in this new arrangement with Michal, for he had many other wives with
which to continue a sexual relationship and to produce children. The punishment for
Michal was intense. Childlessness was seen as a "curse" and carried with it the threat of
an annulled marriage. It was the custom that after 10 years of a childless marriage, a
husband could legally annul his marriage with his "barren" wife. Michal was made to be
as a "barren" wife. Because of her enforced celibacy and corresponding childlessness,
Michal decided to raise another woman's children � 5 sons - as her own. But David's
declaration that Michal would be "childless" was not en empty promise. The king
punished Michal dreadfully, when he agreed that her adopted sons should be handed
over to the Gibeonites to be murdered for political purposes. All five of Michal's adopted
sons were murdered as political scapegoats for Saul's prior crimes against the Gibeonites
at David's decree (2 Samuel 21:8).
Such was the power of the king, but also great was the power of the husband in Israel.
There is an old saying that "power corrupts." But God is powerful and He is incorruptible.
Power that is not under the restraint of the spirit of God, is the power that corrupts. This is
the unsanctified power that was demonstrated by the Israelite men toward their wives.
The hardness of their hearts - "male meanness," prevented the woman from remarrying
and being supported by another man who could legally become her husband. If there was
no divorce paper to prove the legal dissolution of the marriage, then anyone who married
the "sent away" woman would become an adulterer for the woman was still legal y married
to her estranged husband. If another marriage were contracted it would not be legal, for
the original marriage was not legal y dissolved. If the woman remarried, she would
become an adulteress, just as Jesus said. The original husband however, COULD
remarry, for it was not against the law of Moses for a man to have multiple wives (Deut
21:15), but the woman could not remarry another man without a certificate of divorce �
which provision was controlled by her estranged husband.
219

It is recorded by Bible Commentator Adam Clark or Lightfoot that some men even wrote
into the divorce certificate that the woman was not permitted to remarry! This abusive
man's "law" was upheld, which then robbed a "pure" but perhaps "ugly" or older woman of
the opportunity to remarry and gain financial support. No wonder Jesus spoke out against
the practice.
Under the "altered" laws of Moses found in Deut 21:10:14, such abusive treatment was
"legal" for pagan, slave girls, virgins, who were "conquered" victims - trophies of war.
Pagan virgins ("women" aged approximately 12-15 years) who were" desirable to look
upon," were taken captive, given a month to grieve over the murder of their families, then
"married" to the men who had murdered their family and relatives. The record is given
that God through Moses, instructed the warrior-husband that he has the legal right to
"send away" (the new "wife" if he no longer found "delight" in her. One is hard pressed
to think that in the beginning of their "marriage, the "delight" this man found in the
pagan pubescent girl was anything more than than her physical appearance ( e.g.
her sex appeal). The warrior certainly was not delighting in the fact that the young virgin
was a true worshipper of Yahweh.
Despite God's law stating that marriage to pagan women was expressly forbidden in
God's law, the Biblical record reveals that contradictory "law" was later found in a Mosiac
book.
Deuteronomy 21:10-14
"When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath
delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, (11) And seest
among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest
have her to thy wife; (12) Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall
shave her head, and pare her nails; (13) And she shall put the raiment of her captivity
from off her, and shal remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full
month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be
thy wife. (14) And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go
(send her away #07971

shalach) whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at al for
money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled (#6031 �
forced, profaned, polluted) her."
It appears that this supposedly "divine" arrangement describes legalised rape. Forced
"marriage" is not a marriage fashioned after God's pattern given to Adam and Eve. It
even appears that there was no permanency enjoined on the Israelite men in regards to
the sexual union that they forced onto their "child bride." The Israelite men had just
murdered the young girls' families! Now they were forced to "marry" their families'
murderers! Happy marriage? Not likely. Under the Mosaic instructions, the Israelite men
could legally "send away" the pagan girls (wives) after they had lost sexual interest in
them. These teenage girls -rape victims - were then considered "profaned" or "pierced."
"Profaned, polluted humbled and pierced" are words used to describe the pagan
virgins who were "married" but then cast aside if the man so chose. But these terms also
applied to Hebrew women who experienced similar experiences; for example Tamar,
King David's beautiful daughter. Amnon, her half brother lusted after Tamar. He
concocted a scheme whereby he could be alone with her and then he raped her. Tamar
was "Profaned, polluted humbled and pierced" after Amnon raped her. Amnon had
forced (#6031) himself sexual y (#7971) on Tamar. Tamar (not Amnon), was then a
"social reject" (#2491 � defiled, profane, pierced) despite being a royal princess and
daughter of King David.
220

Il icit marriages did not require a divorce certificate. These illegal relationships were
simply annulled. Ezra engineered a "mass deportation" of foreign "wives" (captive
women) from Israel because he realised how dreadfully wrong the Israelites had been to
unite with these pagan women (Ezra 9 &10). No divorce certificates are recorded as
being issued to these women. Their illicit marriages were simply annul ed because they
had been illegal unions. But clearly, as seen in Ezra's prayer, it was the breaking of
God's law that made these separations necessary in these unequally-yoked, illegal
inter-religion marriages.
Ezra 9:1, 2, 10-14
"Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel,
and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the
lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
(2) For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the
holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the
princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. (10) And now, O our God, what shall
we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, (11) Which thou hast
commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess
it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations,
which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. (12) Now therefore
give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor
seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the
land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. (13) And after al that is
come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God
hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as
this; (14) Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of
these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us til thou hadst consumed us, so
that there should be no remnant nor escaping?"

Without the certificate of divorce, the couple was not legally divorced. The woman could
not remarry because the marriage was still legally binding despite the fact that she had
been "sent away." The divorce certificate was necessary because of the hardship that
Israelite men, through "the hardness of their hearts" caused the women. A husband could
send his wife away (#07971

shalach) without a divorce paper "for any reason"
according to Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi Hil el said a man could send his wife #07971

shalach) away for adultery only. The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus into answering in
support of one of these rabbis and so speak against the law of Moses.
Jesus did not go against the compassionate divorce law of Moses; but neither did he side
with either Rabbis Hillel or Akiba.
Interlinear: Mt 5:32 (KJV text)
But <de> I <ego> say <lego> unto you <humin>, That <hoti> whosoever <hos>
<an> shal put away <apoluo> his <autos> wife <gune>, saving <parektos> for
the cause <logos> of fornication <porneia>, causeth <poieo> her <autos> to
commit adultery <moichao> and <kai> whosoever <hos> <ean> shal marry
<gameo> her that is divorced <apoluo> committeth adultery <moichao>.
Jesus said: "If you `put away' your wife and marry another, unless it be for
fornication, you commit adultery and anyone who marries the one who was put
away commits adultery." (Matt 19:9).
"Put away" and "divorce" are NOT terms which define the same concept.
Thayer says apoluo means, "to dismiss from the house, to repudiate."
221

"Apostasion" is properly translated "divorce" or "divorcement". [Grk. 647]
This situation was still happening in 1980 when it was brought to the attention of the world
in an article called "Jewish Women in Chains" by Norma Baumel Joseph , published
by Mike Willis Dayton in Ohio Truth Magazine XXIV: 14, pp. 227-230 3 April, 1980.
If the woman was a fornicator, the husband could send her away - without a certificate of
divorce to cover up her sin � to put her away privately as Joseph planned to do to Mary
when he suspected her of fornication when she was pregnant by the spirit of God
(Matthew 1:19). The husband could have organised to have the woman stoned if he
chose to do so. Adulteresses were traditionally stoned, not (re)married. The certificate of
divorce given by a man to his "sent away" wife was to prove that she was NOT an
adulteress. It was to facilitate her re-marriage To give a certificate of divorce to an
adulteress was pointless. Husbands or wives who fornicate have broken their marriage
contract and had already proved that they are not faithful marriage partners.
Ken Crispin explains further.
Deuteronomy 24:1 says that a man might divorce his wife for some uncleanness - "ervath
dabhar." This Hebrew term refers to a range of misconduct. It has definite sexual
connotations and would include not only adultery, but other kinds of lewd or immoral or
indecent behaviour. It is interesting to note that in that part of the passage quoted from
Matthew 5 in which Jesus is normally assumed to be correcting the OT, the word which is
translated as "adultery" or "unchastity" is actually poerneia. In other words, Jesus did not
impose a new and more restrictive commandment but corrected the lax view of Rabbi
Akiba (a man could divorce his wife for any reason) and restated and confirmed the
original commandment. In fact, he had just finished saying, "Think not that I have come to
abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." The
concept has become confused because of the lack of any English equivalent and
translators have opted to use "adultery" or "unchastity" probably because those words
have been thought to be the closest in meaning. Porneia nonetheless, had a wider
meaning than adultery and the normal English translation are expressed too narrowly.
There was a Greek word which meant simply adultery and that word moichea was used
only three sentences earlier when Jesus said, "But I say to you that everyone who looks
at a woman lustfully already has committed adultery with her in his heart." If Jesus
intended to permit divorce only in cases of adultery, why did he change to the more
general word only three sentences later? The only possible answer to that question is that
he did so because he wanted to express a wider concept, namely the concept of
shameful or indecent conduct already contained in the law that had been given to
Moses."....It seems to me however, that the concept should not be looked at in the
abstract but in the context of a marriage, which is of course, an essentially sexual
relationship. In that context it seems to me that the word may be taken to include any kind
of misconduct or immorality which is so serious that it pollutes or perverts the marital
relationship. If that construction is correct, it would mean that a Christian should not
contemplate divorce unless there was misconduct so serious that it virtual y undermined
the whole marriage. On the other hand, it would mean that a wife need not feel locked into
a marital relationship with a man who was repeatedly guilty of gross violence towards her
and or their children merely because he had not committed adultery. That is more the kind
of principle we would expect from a wise and loving father to impose upon his children. I
must confess I have always had the greatest difficulty in persuading myself that God
intended that women would be free to withdraw from a marital relationship if their
husbands committed adultery, but not if their husbands tried to kill them. "Ken Crispin,
Divorce, the Forgivable Sin?, 1988, p 28,29 (out of print).
222

Consider the case where a wife has committed adultery and is about to be stoned for her
sin. Traditional theology maintains that Jesus must say, "You can divorce your wife only
when you don't need to � such as right now - because you are about to be widowed."
What good would a certificate of divorce be for the wife at this time? The divorce
certificate facilitated a woman's remarriage. She was going to be stoned to death. What
good would the certificate have been to the husband? He could remarry after his
adulterous wife's death anyway, without giving his wife a divorce certificate.
With that logic (that adultery is the only Biblical reason for getting a divorce), Jesus would
be made to add, "You can n
ot divorce your wife if she is about to kill you (that's not the sin
of adultery, it's murder) but you can divorce her for the sin of adultery, but she won't have
long to use the certificate because she'll be stoned soon." What is the point of the wife
getting a divorce certificate for a few hours before the stoning? The divorce certificate was
to facilitate remarriage. The traditional "adultery only" view, is clearly illogical.
A legal marriage requires three conditions:
� recognised by God (not yoked with unbelievers)
� living together physically
� the written marriage certificate/record or form of public acknowledgement.
A legal divorce requires three conditions:
� extremely serious, recurring, unrepentant offences by a partner;
� physical separation from the partner;
� a written certificate of divorce or form of public acknowledgement.
It appears and makes more sense that Jesus is saying, Matt.5.32, "But I say unto
you, Whoever puts away his wife (except for fornication) to marry another woman
commits adultery and whosoever shal marry the one put away, commits adultery." The
person marrying the "put away" woman would be guilty of committing adultery, because
the woman was not properly divorced. Her husband was an adulterer and certificates of
divorce were not given in cases of adultery.
Mark 10: 11 "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shal put away his wife, and marry
another, committeth adultery against her (12) And if a woman shal put away her husband,
and be married to another, she committeth adultery."
These texts do not seem to harmonise with the Moses' law, however when the intention is
highlighted, Jesus' statement harmonises perfectly:
"Whoever puts away his wife to marry another, commits adultery. And if a woman puts
away her husband to marry another man, she commits adultery" (Phil Ward, Divorce and
Remarriage, unpublished article).
Compare different versions of the Levitical texts.
Leviticus 21:7, 13-15
"They (priests) shal not take a wife that is a whore, or profane (has had sexual
intercourse); neither shal they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy
unto his God..... And he (a high priest) shall take a wife in her virginity. (14) A widow, or
a divorced woman, or profane (one who has had sexual intercourse), or an harlot, these
shal he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. (15) Neither shal
he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him."
223

7They shal not take<03947>(8799) a wife<0802> that is a whore<02181>(8802),
or profane<02491>; neither shal they take<03947>(8799) a woman<0802> put
away<01644>(8803) from her husband<0376>: for he is holy<06918> unto his
God<0430>.
14A widow<0490>, or a divorced woman<01644> (Lit put away woman) (8803), or
profane<02491>,
or
an harlot<02181>(8802), these shal he not
take<03947>(8799): but he shal take<03947>(8799) a virgin<01330> of his own
people<05971> to wife<0802>. 15Neither shal he profane<02490>(8762) his
seed<02233> among his people<05971>: for I the LORD<03068> do
sanctify<06942>(8764) him.
Young's Literal Translation
14widow, or cast out, or pol uted one--a harlot--these he doth not take, but a virgin
of his own people he doth take for a wife,
Green's Literal Translation
14He shal not take a widow, or one put away, or a pol uted one, a harlot, but he
shal take a virgin of his own people for a wife;
The Apostles' Bible
14But a widow, or one that is put away, or profaned, or a harlot, these he shal not
take; but he shal take for a wife a virgin of his own people.
Strong's Concordance and Lexicon Definitions
02181:
02181

zanah zaw-naw'
a primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]; ; v
AV- ... harlot 36, go a whoring 19, ... whoredom 15, whore 11, commit fornication 3,
whorish 3, harlot + <0802> 2, commit 1, continual y 1, great 1, whore's + <0802> 1;
93
1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication
1a2) to commit adultery
1a3) to be a cult prostitute
1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)
1b) (Pual) to play the harlot
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to commit adultery
1c2) to force into prostitution
1c3) to commit fornication
224

Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Lexicon
02491: chalal khaw-lawl' from <02490>;
AV-slay 78, wounded 10, profane 3, kil 2, slain man 1; 94
n m
1) slain, fatal y wounded, pierced
1a) pierced, fatal y wounded
1b) slain
adj
2) (CLBL) profaned
2a) defiled, profaned (by divorce)
02490:
02490

chalal khaw-lal'
a primitive root [compare <02470>]; ; v
AV-begin 52, profane 36, pol ute 23, defile 9, break 4, wounded 3, eat 2, slay 2,
first 1, gather grapes 1, inheritance 1, began men 1, piped 1, players 1, prostitute
1, sorrow 1, stain 1, eat as common things 1; 141
1) to profane, defile, pol ute, desecrate, begin
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to profane oneself, defile oneself, pol ute oneself
1a1a) ritual y
1a1b) sexual y
1a2) to be pol uted, be defiled
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to profane, make common, defile, pol ute
1b2) to violate the honour of, dishonour
1b3) to violate (a covenant)
1b4) to treat as common
1c) (Pual) to profane (name of God)
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to let be profaned
1d2) to begin
1e) (Hophal) to be begun
2) to wound (fatal y), bore through, pierce, bore
2a) (Qal) to pierce
2b) (Pual) to be slain
2c) (Poel) to wound, pierce
2d) (Poal) to be wounded
3) (Piel) to play the flute or pipe
Strong's Hebrew Concordance
02491:
2491 chalal khaw-lawl' from 2490; pierced (especial y to death); figuratively,
pol uted:--kil , profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly) wounded. see HEBREW for
02490
225

01644:
01644

garash gaw-rash'
a primitive root; ; v
AV-drive out 20, cast out 8, thrust out 6, drive away 2, put away 2, divorced 2,
driven 1, expel 1, drive forth 1, surely 1, troubled 1, cast up 1, divorced woman 1;
47
1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, , divorced*, put away, thrust away,
trouble, cast up
1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out
1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed
1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away
1d) (Pual) to be thrust out
(*Note: sent away = separation, not a legal divorce which required a
certificate of divorcement)
Mosiac law permitted common priests to marry widows, but prohibited a high priest to
marry a woman who had experienced sexual intercourse in any way. A High Priest was
not to marry a:
1. whore;
2. widow;
3. a profane (pierced) woman (a non-virgin including divorced or raped woman);
4. sent away (separated, but without divorce certificate);
Comparing Other Religions
Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi (Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University) comments
on this text from the Koran - Sura 33:50:
"One of the benefits of fighting for the cause of Islam is the permission to take captured
women as concubines, in addition to several legitimate wives.... The notion that God
would assign captured women as concubines to Muslim believers who fight for His
cause, hardly reflect high moral standards of the Islam faith. Polygamy and servile
concubinage have destroyed the dignity of women and the beauty of the home. In this
areas the infinite superiority of Christianity is clearly evident."
(http://www.keithhunt.com/Islam.html )
Note: The Old Testament Israelites must not have practised "Christian principles" as Dr
Bacchiocchi outlines above, because the Israelite warriors were authorised supposedly by
God to take many thousands of concubines as captives after being victorious against the
pagan nations in war. These women were not necessarily kept permanently, but could be
sent away and their marriages annulled (Deut 21:10-14; Judges 21:12; Numbers 31:18;
Ezra 9, 10).Under Jewish traditional laws, if a woman was "barren" (produced no children)
after 10 years of married life, she could also be "sent away" - her marriage being annulled
� not recognised as being legal.
In another view, it might seem that Jesus, in accordance with Moses' law, is making the
allowance that the wife can receive a certificate of divorce except in cases where she has
committed fornication.
Perhaps the husband merciful y, might not report his wife's adultery so she escapes
stoning. He might "put her away" without a divorce certificate. If so, the "put away"
woman could not remarry without a divorce certificate, and would likely be assumed to be
an adulteress anyway � why else wouldn't her husband give her the divorce papers?
226

Ezra 9 and 10 details a mass "sending away" of pagan "wives." Ezra does not specify if
these women were legally married wives, however the Hebrew supports the idea that
these women were captives who were forcefully taken from conquered pagan lands to
become concubines to the Israelites.
God forbade marriages with the idolatrous pagans. When these captured women and
their children were "sent away" there was no mention of divorce papers being necessary
as these marriages were not legally contracted. God had forbidden them, just as He
forbade Herod's marriage to his brother's wife. Just as Jesus said to the woman of
Samaria, "the man you are living with now, is not your husband." They were in fact, "living
in sin" an arrangement whereby the legal requirements of marriage were not met.
These relationships were not dissolved because of adultery. The objection was idolatry. -
the "ervath dabhar" -the "uncleanness" which was referred to in Deut 24:1. "Ervath
dabhar" must include idolatry or else the Israelites would not have been prevented
from conducting proper marriages with these women.
Traditional logic tends to verge on the ridiculous. It is clear that the traditional view of
divorce preventing remarriage is a gross error and not what Jesus was saying at all. The
"man of sin" has clearly attempted to change the 7th commandment law. Likewise, the
Israelites, in their misunderstanding of God's character and because of the "hardness of
their hearts," they too made the law of God of none effect because of their traditions;
polygamy, "marrying" beautiful pagan slave girls; sending away their wives without
properly divorcing them.
The traditions of men concerning divorce and remarriage in Jesus' time, also
endeavoured to alter God's law and make "serial marriages" legal ( i.e. not sinful).
Another passage of the Bible deals with remarriage.
1 Corinthians 7:7-11
"For I would that al men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God,
one after this manner, and another after that. (8) I say therefore to the unmarried and
widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. (9) But if they cannot contain, let them
marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (10) And unto the married I command, yet not
I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: (11) But and if she depart, let
her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away
his wife.
Ken Crispin, in "Divorce, the Unforgiveable Sin?" (1988:44-47), comments on these often
misinterpreted pauline verses.
"Another significant new Testament passage concerning marriage appears in
1 Corinthians 7. In that chapter, verse 10 is one which, if not kept in its
context, can also be seen to be prohibiting marriage after divorce, "To the
married I give charge, no I but he Lord, that the wife should not separate from
her husband (but if she does let her remain single or else be reconciled to her
husband) and that the husband should not divorce his wife." For a proper
understanding of that verse, however, it is crucial to remember that it
immediately fol ows verses 8 and 9 which state, 'To the unmarried and the
widow I say that it is wel for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot
exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be
aflame with passion.' there are two Greek words, both of which are translated
in the Revised Standard Version b the word 'unmarried'. Those words are
parthenos and agamos. The word parthenos means a person who has never
had sexual intercourse, a virgin. The other word, agamos, refers to a person
who is no longer married but who may have been married in the past.
227

(Ken Crispin continued)
Later in 1 Corinthians 7 � in verse 25 � Paul commences a lengthy narrative of
advice to the single person. That narrative commences with the phrase "the
unmarried" and the word there translated as "unmarried" is parthenos. The
advice which paul gives in verses 25 to 40 is accordingly confined to those
who have never married, the virgins. On the other hand, in 1 Corinthians 7:8,
the word agamos has been used. Now it is important to note that Paul has
referred to the widows quite separately and, consequently, did not have to use
the word agamos in order to include them. If he had used the parthenos he
would have made it plain that he was referring to those who were widowed
and to those who had never married and could have excluded the divorced
from consideration. Yet he did not do so. The word used is agamos. Not only
was Paul a Pharisee, but he was an outstanding student; one who had the
rare distinction of being permitted to sit at the feet of Gamaliel. It is scarcely
likely that his use of the word agamos in preference to parthenos can have
been explained by mere clumsiness of expression, especial y since he used
the word parthenos only a sentence later. It must be assumed that he chose
the world deliberately and that he did so conscious of its wider meaning.
Accordingly, verses 8 and 9 might be expressed more clearly in the following
terms, 'To those who have never married, those who are divorce and to the
widows I say to them that it is as well for them to remain single as I do. But if
they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry.' Paul had already made
it plain that he really wished that al people would remain single as he was, but
he recognises that whilst some are cal ed to celibacy, others are not."
"His summation in verses 8 and 9 indicates with the greatest possible clarity
that those who cannot exercise self-control, that is those whom the Lord has
not called to celibacy, should marry whether they are single, divorced or
widowed. Following that clear indication that so far as remarriage is
concerned the divorced are to adopt the same principle as single people and
widows, Paul turns to deal with the married. In verse 10, Paul clearly uses the
term "the married" in contradistinction to those referred to in the previous
verses. He has dealt with the unmarried, including the divorced, and now he is
passing on to deal with married people. It is to those people that he conveys
Jesus' charge that the wife should not separate from her husband and that the
husband should not remove or abandon his wife. Here again, the traditional
English translation is confusion. The word used in verse 11 is not apoluo
which means divorce36 , but aphiemi which means remove or abandon. There
is no reason to suppose that this passage was written in an attempt to lay
down an inflexible rule concerning divorce. Such a construction would be
quite inconsistent with what he says in verse 25. In laying down an instruction
for married Christians, Paul was clearly concerned to remind them that Jesus
had charged them to try to sort out their differences and remain in a proper
marital relationship. In that context Paul said that if the wife did leave she
should remain single or be reconciled to her husband. Clearly what Paul has
in mind was s hort-term situation immediately following separation. There may
have been some estrangement and one party may have stormed out but the
marriage has not been irretrievably destroyed. Whilst there is stil hope it is
the wife's duty to seek a reconciliation with her husband. Equal y, it is the
husband's duty to seek a reconciliation and not to abandon his wife. No doubt
that is the advice which any modern Christian counsellor would offer a woman
or a man for that matter , in similar circumstances. But it is important to
remember that the commandment was given as advice to the married.
36 see previous notes on apoluo � meaning 'send away' - not divorce
228

(Ken Crispin continued)
Clearly then Paul was contemplating a period immediately following separation
when the prospect of a reconciliation existed and it had not become clear that
the marital relationship had terminated.
If, despite the wife's efforts, the relationship was finally extinguished then
without any further step being taken both the husband and the wife would be
regarded as agamos, that is unmarried. They would then be subject, not to
the commandments in verses 10 and 11, but to those in verse 8 and 9. In
other words, once it was clear that the marital relationship had been
terminated, then each would be free to marry. As in Deuteronomy 24, there is
no suggestion in any portion of 1 Corinthians 7 that the right to remarry is
limited to the person who was the innocent party in the original divorce. It is
clear from Matthew 5:31 that a person who dovorces a husband or wife
without justification of the kind recognised in the concept of porneia commits a
serious sin. His conduct is tantamount ot adultery. If a Christian has been
guilty of such a sin in terminating his marriage then he should confes it and
obtain forgiveness. Having done so he must treat it in the same nmanner as
he would treat any other sin that he has had to confess; that is, he should
accept God's forgiveness and put his sin behind him, secure in the knowledge
of Christ's atonement" (end quote Ken Crispin).
The following passage was omitted from a testimony written by Ellen White when extracts
of it were placed in "The Adventist Home" and "In Heavenly Places."
Ellen White, 1888 Materials Vol 3, p 1215; Manuscript Release #1019
Counsels for Husbands and Wives: also, Guidelines for Students and Faculty in a School
"Life is a precious gift of God, and is not to be wasted in selfish regrets or
more open indifference and dislike. Let the husband and wife talk things over
together. Revew the early attentions to each other, acknowledge your faults to
each other, but in this work be very careful that the husband does not take it
upon him to confess his wife's faults or the wife her husband's. Be
determined that you will be al that it is possible for you to be to each other,
and the bonds of wedlock will be the most desirable of ties. Let not the
thought be entertained for one moment that you are bound by irrevocable
vows to one whom you cannot love. It is as a terrible nightmare for two
persons to be apparently living as one through a lifetime and yet be in reality
as two."
Ellen White is NOT saying that marriage can be broken for sinful reasons such as "he/she
doesn't love me any more" or "I just don't love him/her any more." She is counsel ing
wives and husbands that they CAN love a "difficult" marriage partner - if the sin of being
unloving is surrendered to Christ. Christ offers to supply the needy partner with His love
for the husband or wife. If a partner responds to this unselfish, persistent love, then
marriage can indeed be harmonious.
Love is the way that God solves marriage problems.
229

God Hates Divorce
Malachi 2:16
"For I hate divorce...."
God hates divorce. This verse been misinterpreted to imply that God forbids the giving of
a divorce certificate when a marriage has broken down irretrievably. This concept is
incorrect and does not harmonise with the teachings of Jesus, Moses or Paul.
God hates sin. It is the sin of clinging to sinful feelings (e.g. resentment) which leads to a
complete breakdown of the marriage � this is what God hates. He hates the sin and
selfishness that causes marriages to irretrievably break down and the suffering it causes.
Divorce was the first-aid or band-aid that was divinely applied to those who had been
injured by their "hard hearted" partners (i.e. those who would not submit their selfish
feelings to Him). Divorce was God's compassionate and necessary response to those
who were injured by their partner's selfishness.
Conclusion
Moses, Jesus and Paul's view on marriage, divorce and re-marriage are harmonious and
reveal the compassion of our Heavenly Father toward those who suffer the consequences
of sin through a broken marriage. Those who would try to deny the divorced persons the
opportunity to remarry, are committing a dreadful crime against their brothers and sisters
in Christ and distorting the true, compassionate character of God.
For those who might argue against this opinion, the following questions would require
answering:
1. Would God design a system that rewarded commandment breakers and penalised
commandment keepers? Consider � a woman marries a violent, drunken man who
bashes her and their children. She divorces him, but it is thought she cannot
remarry another man to help raise her children. This belief seems illogical and
appears based on faulty perceptions of the character of God and a
misinterpretation of Scripture. Consider the reverse situation: � a woman lives with
a violent drunken man without marrying him and they have children together. She
leaves the man. Later she is converted and confesses her previous "living in sin."
She is forgiven and permitted to marry other man. The first woman obeyed her
conscience initially, and married a man (who later abused her), while the second
woman initially "lived in sin." Which woman's behaviour was righteous? Which
woman was penalised the most? The woman who tried to live righteously. Would
God be the author of such an unfair system?
2. Would God design that the only way that a righteous woman could be free from her
bondage in a violent, abusive marriage is for her husband to commit adultery � by
performing a sexual sin? If so, God is using sin to reward a righteous woman.
3. Does God sanction sin? Should the woman "arrange" for her husband to commit
adultery so she can be free from the bondage of her marriage? Should she pray
that her husband commit adultery?
4. Should persons who have remarried divorce their current marriage partners and
return to their first spouses, since it is assumed that Scripture teaches that any
other marriage is paramount to adultery.
5. Should a woman be able to divorce a man if he "looks after a woman to lust after
her?" Jesus said that he has committed adultery with her already in his heart and
adultery is all that is required to legalise divorce and remarriage.
These concepts verge on the ridiculous and contort the character of Jesus Christ and His
loving Father.
Cannibalism, infanticide, polygamy, serial marriage, prostitution � the Israelites did not
appeared to recognise these sins as evils, but the satanic deception deepens further.
230

The Trinity - A Pagan Concept
1 Kings 11:33
"Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the
Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of
Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to
keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father."
The trinity of gods mentioned in 1 Kings 11:33 are all the same "deity." The god whom
the Moabites cal ed Chemosh, was also worshipped as Baal by the Zidonians and as
Moloch/Milcom by the Ammonites. This religion required child sacrifices and involved
cannibalism. This religion was practiced in Egypt as the fire-serpent religion (Hyslop, the
Two Babylons, ch 7 sec 1).
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myths and Culture, 2003 p 543-544.
"Similar groupings of three existed among many other Egyptian gods. The
most notable other triads of gods were worshipped at Thebes (Amun, Mut
and Khons) and Memphis (Ptah, Sekhmet and Nefertum) Osiris received
general acceptance throughout Egypt and was not only a state god but also
a popular god to whom ordinary people could relate...."
(p 543) "Osiris had an important quality that made him more popular than
the other gods. As a human king, he had experienced death and had
triumphed over it and could assure his fol owers an eternal life. It was
believed that every king would become Osiris after he died while his
successor was the embodiment of Horus, his son. By the Middle Kingdom
2000BC, all worshippers of Osiris could themselves look forward to
becoming an Osiris when they died and would thereby enjoy eternal life. ....
He (Osiris) embodied the yearly cycle of the renewal or rebirth of the land
of Egypt after the Nile floods."
Egyptian Mythology (Paul Hamlyn: 1965: 17)
"Horus, Osiris and Isis formed a triad worshipped particularly at Philae. The
number three seems to have had a mystical significance for the Egyptians,
and their principal gods were generally worshipped in a triad, the third
member proceeding from the other two. Thus Horus is the child of Osiris
and Isis and inferior to them in the triad."
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myths and Culture, 2003 p 538.
"In Egyptian mythology, this marsh represented the first solid matter, or
mound, on which the god Ra appeared and created a pair of deities, Shu
and Tefnut, by masturbation or spitting. They in turn produced the sky
goddess Nut, and the earth god Geb whose children were the more familiar
gods Osisris, Isis, Nephthys and Set. This group of nine gods 'ennead'
were worshipped at Heliopolis, and other centres had similar groups of
gods. Heliopolis was also the most important centre of the cult of the sun
god Ra, who was described in many texts as the creator of everything."
It is clear that the concept of a "trinity" was existent in Egypt as it had been in Babylon.
The idea of a trinity was very important to Satan who aspired to be "like the Most High"
(Isaiah 14:14) and to be part of the divine "council of peace" (Zechariah 6:13). Satan
was, and is still determined that he wil be considered a divine being. The 'ennead'
comprised 9 "deities." This is interesting because nine (9) is a product of three (3) trinities
.
231

Lewis Spence in The Illustrated Guide to Egyptian Mythology,(1993:57) states:
"There is no doubt, however that to the aristocracy of Egypt at least, Ra
stood in the position of creator and father of the gods. Osiris stood in
relation to him as a son. In fact, the relations of these two deities may be
regarded as that between the Christian God the Father and God the Son,
and just as in certain theologies the figure of the son has overshadowed
that of the father, so did Osiris overshadow Ra."
"The god Tem, or Atum was one of the first gods of the Egyptians....He
(Tem) appears to possessed many attributes in common with Ra and later
on he seems to have been identified with Osiris as wel . In the myth of Ra
and Isis, Ra says, 'I am Khepra in the morning and Ra at noonday and Tem
in the evening,' which shows that to the Egyptians the day was divided
into three parts each of which was presided over by a special form of
the sun god. Tem was worshipped in one of his forms as a serpent, a
fairly common shape for a sun-god, for in many countries the snake or
serpent, tail in mouth, symbolizes the disk of the sun."
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myths and Culture, 2003 p 538.
"The sun played a central part in religious beliefs throughout Egyptian
history. The sun god Ra became important as early as the second dynasty
(c2,700BC) ....The king took the title Son of Ra and it was believed that after
death he also joined his father Ra in heaven."
The sun-serpent religion taught that the multiple gods which comprised the "sacred"
trinity/trinities, gave birth to other gods. It also taught that the "begotten" offspring were
their divine sons and daughters.
Note the theology in "Ra and the Serpent," an Egyptian myth of creation Introduction and
paraphrase prepared by Angelo Salvo.
"I designed every living creature by myself. I was stil alone, for I had not
exhaled Shu the Wind and I had not spat Tefnut the Rain. I wanted to have
a multitude of living creatures - I wanted then to reproduce so they had
children and grandchildren. In order to do that, I formed a physical union
with my fist. I masturbated with my own hand, and I ejaculated the seed into
my own mouth. I exhaled Shu the Wind and spat Tefnut the Rain. Old Man
Nun, my father, raised Shu and Tefnut and my Eye, an overseer, looked
after them during the times when I was away. Old Man Nun told me:"At first,
you Ra the Sun were the only god who existed. Two other gods have
emerged from you-so now there are three."
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/%7Ehumm/Resources/StudTxts/raSerpnt.html
232

Note that in the pagan version of creation:
�
The concept of a trinity is recurring and vital to the pagan religion;
�
Satan introduced il icit sexual behaviour into the divine realm. By so doing he
promoted the concept that il icit sexual activity (orgies) were "sacred" creative acts -
which became known as fertility rites.
�
The concept that divinity would repeatedly regenerate divine children and
grandchildren gave rise to the belief in a multiplicity of gods instead of the One
True God who begat a single, divine Son.
�
Satan engineered the belief that if the doctrine of multiple gods is rejected, then the
Son of God's divine birth (in heaven, prior to Bethlehem) must also be discarded
also
Through this Egyptian, pagan creation myth, Satan counterfeited the Biblical truth that:
1. the Father was alone until He brought forth a divine Son in the ages of eternity;
2. the Son is truly divine because He was begotten from the Father in eternity (prior to
Bethlehem);
3. the Father is the source of al life, and He created through His Son. The false concept is
demonstrated in figurines and paintings of the "serpent with its tail in its mouth" which
symbolise the creative power of the sun god Ra � who was part of a trinity of gods
responsible for creating all life; and
4. the Father "brought forth" only one Son � the ONLY begotten Son of the Father � not a
multiplicity of begotten divine sons and daughters.
233

Truths and Counterfeits
Some theologians suggest that the doctrine of the Roman Catholic trinity and pagan
religion trinities, are a counterfeit doctrine of the real "true" heavenly trinity. While there
are heavenly truths which Satan has counterfeited, not al the doctrines that paganism
asserts are counterfeited. The following tables demonstrate both � counterfeited
doctrines and lies/inventions and contradictions of the truth.

Truths
Counterfeits
The Father was initial y alone � a single
Nun was the only divine being in existence -
being � righteously jealous of His authority a jealous god. (Egyptian Mythology,
(Ex 20:5).
Hamlyn:1965:18).
The Father brought forth a divine Son
Nun brought forth a divine Son (by
cal ed Michael. He was the Son of God
masturbation, or some texts say by
(the Father) (Prov 8:22-31; Prov 30:4; Heb circumcision). Atum was the Son of Nun
1:1-10; John 3:16; Gal 4:4)
(Egyptian Mythology, Hamlyn:1965:23, 30).
In the beginning of earth's creation, there In the beginning of earth's creation, there
was chaos over water (Gen 1:2).
was chaos over water .(Egyptian Mythology,
Hamlyn:1965:27)
God's Son created al things through the Atum created Himself and everything else
Father's power (John 1:1-3).
through his father Nun's power (Egyptian
Mythology Hamlyn:1965:128).
Lucifer: rebelled against the Son's authority Osiris and Isis had a divine son named
(Isa 14:14, Eze 28:12-19); was instrumental Horus. Osiris' brother, Set, hated Osiris and
in causing the death of the Son (Gen 3;15); kil ed him. Set usurped the kingdom.
usurped the earthly kingdom (Eph 2:2)
(Egyptian Mythology, Hamlyn:1965:128)
Son died and rose again after the Father Osiris died and rose again because Isis
"cal ed him forth" (Rom 6:4; Gal 1:1). the resurrected Him (Egyptian Mythology,
Son gives humanity life after death (John Hamlyn:1965:58).
6:39)
Satan was defeated and the kingdom Set was defeated and the kingdom given
handed back to the Father through the Son. back to Osiris and Isis (Egyptian Mythology,
Hamlyn:1965:139-142).
Satan did not counterfeit a "true trinity." It was Satan's desire that there be a
heavenly trinity � and that he would become the third being of that divine trinity.
Satan's pagan trinities reflect only his desire to be included and worshipped as
were both Father and Son � not the heavenly reality. The doctrine of the trinity is
not a counterfeit of any truth. It is a lie.
234

Truth and Lies (Inventions)
Truth
Lies/Inventions/Contradictions
Newborn children are dedicated to Christ
Newborn children are given immortality by
and the spirit/presence of Christ is able to
being purified (burnt) by fire (Egyptian
purify their characters as they develop
Mythology, Hamlyn 1965:58)
understanding
The True God is ONLY good (Matt 19:17). The world normally operates in balance
Normal worlds obey God's commands -gods are both good AND evil (The
which are holy, just and good (Rom 7;12). Elements of Egyptian Wisdom,
Good and bad understanding comes from Ozaniec:1994 95).
the tree of knowledge of good and evil � sin
(Gen 2:9, 17; 3;5)
The entire person dies, body and soul (Eze The spirit (ba) does not die but leaves the
18:4, 20)
body at death (The Elements of Egyptian
Wisdom, Ozaniec:1994:66; The Il ustrated
Guide to Egyptian Mythology, Spence
1996:24).
Death comes to all men and after that the The Book of the Dead contained magic
judgment. There are no second chances, spel s which the dead needed to learn in
spells or magic which make it possible to order to pass through the dark land of Duat
win a place in heaven after death occurs which contained pits of fire and monsters �
(Heb 9:7)
the underworld � which had to be travel ed
prior to becoming immortal (The Il ustrated
Guide to Egyptian Mythology, Spence
1996:24, 25).
There are many who are CALLED gods and There are many gods and lords and trinities
lords (1 Cor 8:5) but unto us there is one (The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myths and
God, the Father (1 Cor 8:6)
Culture, 2003:36-45)
Note:
It is interesting that along with pagan concepts, the doctrines of the orthodox trinity and
tritheism are also mixtures of truth and error.
While it is generally accepted that the Son is divine, it is rejected that He is divine
because He was begotten from the Father. The orthodox doctrine of the trinity claims
that the Son was NOT completely begotten from the Father, but will always be in the
process of being begotten from the Father. The doctrine of tritheism claims that the Son
was NOT begotten from the Father; that there was no divine Father/Son relationship prior
to Bethlehem. The Bible says that they system that denies the Father and the Son is
antichrist (1 John 2:22).
The Egyptians ardently believed that the "sacred names" of the gods, possessed magical
power.
235

The Encyclopedia of Ancient Myths and Culture, 2003 p 582,583.
In regard to Egyptian hieroglyphs, "It was more than just a writing system
and the Egyptians themselves referred to it as the "writing of the divine
words." Like the representations in their art, the script was endowed with
religious or magical significance. The name of a person inscribed in
hieroglyphs was believed to embody his unique identity. If the
representation lacked a name, it had no means of continued existence in
the afterlife. Therefore, many kings' and gods' names were defaced or
erased from monuments by later Pharaohs with conflicting ideals.
Similarly, existing inscriptions and statues could be taken over and
claimed by carving the new royal name on them."
Satan's counterfeit of the truth goes stil deeper. His amalgamation of the attributes of the
many gods, gave rise to the concept of "One god with three aspects or parts (orthodox
trinity) AND another concept of a 3 god- combination which was assumed to be acting as
"one god" (tritheism).
In the following example of the Egyptian god AMEN, definite trinitarian theology along
with superstition is demonstrated.
According to David Rohl, in A Test of Time � From Myth to History, (1995:335), the period
in which Joseph held the office of vizier (governor), was during the reign of the Pharaoh
Amenemhat 3rd. Amenemhat 3 was the most powerful pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom.
The Egyptian god named AMN - (no vowels marked) means: "what is hidden, or "what
cannot be seen," "the Invisible God."
"Amen became a prominent deity, and by Dynasty XVIII was termed the
King of the Gods. His famous temple, Karnak, is the largest religious
structure ever built by man. According to Budge, Amen by Dynasty XIX-XX
was thought of as "an invisible creative power which was the source of all
life in heaven, and on the earth, and in the great deep, and in the
Underworld, and which made itself manifest under the form of Ra." Shawn
C. Knight in The Egyptian Pantheon (Last revised 3 June, 1997. Rewritten
and reformatted from the original "Frequently Asked Questions and
Information about Egyptian Mythology", 8 May 1994 revision, by Shawn C.
Knight. http://www.vibrani.com/gods.htm
Regarding the Egyptian god Amen, Lewis Spence states in The Illustrated Guide to
Egyptian Mythology (1996: 62)
"T
he entire pesedt or c ompany of gods was supposed to be u
nified
in
Amen a
nd indeed we may describe his cult as one of the most
s erious attempts of antiquity to formulate a s ystem of monotheism."
The Invisible God, (as in Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17) the Source of all life (echoes sentiments
from the 4th commandment) "in the heavens, in the earth and under the earth" (echoes
sentiments from the 2nd commandment). One god made up out of the attributes of three
or many gods � is very much a doctrine of the trinity � many triads of gods combined to
form one monotheistic god.
236

The Elements of Egyptian Wisdom (Naomi Ozaniec:1994:18, 19)
"The Metaphyysical Neters (gods) include Amun � the hidden one; Atum �
potentiality and Ra- the universal principle. Neith and the cosmic virgin
mother is also included here....The morning sun ws Khepera, the noon
sun was Ra, the evening sun was Tem. Each aspect of the one god
was worshipped separately at different cult centres. A single god was
known under many names to reveal the full range of divine
functions..."
Shawn C. Knight in The Egyptian Pantheon
Amen (Amon, Amun, Ammon, Amoun) Amen's name means "The Hidden
One."
"During the New Kingdom, Amen's consort was Mut, "Mother," who seems to
have been the Egyptian equivalent of the "Great Mother" archetype. The two
thus formed a pair reminiscent of the God and Goddess of other traditions
such as Wicca. Their child was the moon god Khons." See also Amen-Ra,
Khons, Thoth.
Amen-Ra (Amon-Re)
"A composite deity, devised by the priests of Amen as an attempt to link New
Kingdom (Dyn. XVIII-XXI) worship of Amen with the older solar cult of the god
Ra. In a union of this sort, the deities are said to indwell one another - so
we have the power represented by Amen manifesting through the
person of Ra (or vice versa). This sort of relationship is common among
Egyptian gods, particularly among cosmic or national deities. It is an example
of how the Egyptian gods are viewed, as Morenz puts it, of having
"personality but not individuality."
The pagan origins of the trinity are simply too obvious to ignore.
Effect on the Jewish Religion
While the Jewish religion did not recognise a "trinity", it is not difficult to see how Satan
"set up" the Israelites to become confused over the traits of their expected Messiah.
Based on the ancient pagan religions, Satan planned that the Israelites would not
consider their Messiah to be truly the pre-existent, divine Son of God, but simply a human
being. The Jewish religion refused multiple gods, but they were also in danger then or
rejecting the literal begottenness of the Son of God.
John 10:32, 33
"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of
those works do ye stone me? (33) The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we
stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself
God" (divine).
Satan's counterfeit system also taught that, after the Pharaoh (a divine "son of Ra") was
resurrected, he was able to give immortal life to all who identified with him (i.e. offered the
correct sacrifices, said the right spells etc), because of Osiris' death and resurrection.
Jesus, the true Son of God said:
John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Satan confused the Israelites, by merging truth with Egyptian error. Christ would give
immortal life to al who believed that He was the Son of the Living God. He said:
237

John 5:39, 40
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. (40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
But this truth the Jews also denied for they denied the divinity of the Son of God, the
Messiah who could give them life more abundantly. Very strangely, though the doctrines
of the trinity and tritheism reject the literal Sonship of Christ as begotten from the Father in
the ages of eternity, it holds fast to the principle of multiple gods (i.e. 3 in 1 god or 3 gods).
Through pagansim, Israelites' traditional religion, the Roman Catholic religion, the Islamic
religion and other wel -known religions, Satan has endeavoured again to force the
concept that God's law is not binding in all cases, upon all humanity.
So Close � Yet So Far Off
It is clearly demonstrated from the Bible that the worship which the Israelites proposed
was in honour of the One True God, was continual y effected by false, pagan worship
concepts. As Paul states, the Old Testament writers did not grasp the glory of God's
character because their eyes were looking as through a thick veil (2 Corinthians 3:12-
4:6).
In comparison to the Canaanites, the Israelites had been blessed with superior knowledge
about God's character and law, yet the Israelites committed the same abominations (i.e.
sexual perversions and child sacrifices) that the Canaanites were condemned for
practising. If God permitted the inhabitants of Canaan to be destroyed because of their
evil actions, one logical y asks where is the justice in commanding one evil race to
exterminate another evil race?
Adam Clarke Comments on 2 Kings 21:9
"Manasseh seduced them to do more evil. He did al he could to pervert the national
character, and totally destroy the worship of the true God; and he succeeded. Partly,
because they were not contented with those idols which the Canaanites worshipped, but
either invented, or borrowed from other nations many new idols, and partly, because as
their light was far more clear, their obligations to God infinitely higher, and their helps
against idolatry much stronger than the Canaanites had; so their sins, though the same in
kind, were unspeakably worse in respect of these dreadful aggravations."
The history of the Israelites � the chosen people � reads like a modern day war story.
Attacks are made on a country. Men are killed, women are raped, children are injured
and killed, goods are plundered and pillaged. And the success of the mission is due to
the blessing of "god"- (but it's not the blessing of the One True God).
The wrath of God is not in any way similar to the wrath of humanity (Isaiah 55:8,9), but it
has been reported to be one and the same, even by Bible writers.
Graciously, God has ensured that the real truth about His character has been reported in
the Bible, but it must be searched out "with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-14),
comparing scripture with scripture and ultimately with the revelation of divine love in the
character of Jesus Christ - who was the express image of God (Heb 1:3), and came to
"show us the Father" (John 14:8).
238

How did Jesus Express His Wrath?
Jesus is the full reflection of His Father's character. He is therefore our Pattern, our
Example and our Guide. We need to study Christ's reactions and responses to difficult
situations in order to understand the Father's character.
How did Jesus react when he was
� "much displeased,"
� "angry,"
� "disrespected,"
� "disappointed"
� abused, tortured and murdered?
Mark 10:13-14
"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples
rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased,
and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of
such is the kingdom of God.
It can be seen that Christ's reaction when MUCH displeased, was to gently explain the
disciples' error and to rectify the situation with a demonstration of divine love.
How did Jesus behave when He was disappointed?
Mark 11:12-14
"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing
a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and
when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And
Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his
disciples heard it."
Jesus, far from venting His "anger" on the barren fig tree, simply turned the disappointing
situation into an object lesson for His disciples. If people are not motivated by the love of
Christ to bring forth "good fruits," then they are actually dead in trespasses and sins. A
person might appear to be spiritually productive of "good fruits," but in reality, is spiritually
dead i.e. just performing certain works which make it appear to be spiritual y alive.
Christ demonstrated that one's own works might deceptively obscure the true condition of
a person who is not connected to Christ. Such a person is under the curse of death.
They are not only spiritually dead, but they have chosen an eternal, physical death also.
How did Jesus react to abuse, torture and being murdered?
Luke 23:33-34
"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him,
and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his
raiment, and cast lots."
How did Jesus react when disrespect was being shown?
239

Jesus was zealous to stop assassination of His Father's character. His Father's
character, was supposed to be portrayed in the temple services, but this loving character
was being assassinated and deliberately distorted by merchants in the temple. The
merchants were stealing from the people who came to worship God.
Mark 11:15-17
"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out
them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers,
and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry
any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My
house shall be called of al nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of
thieves."
In order to prevent the continuation of theft, and thus, misrepresentation of His Father's
character, Jesus overturned tables and herded cattle from the temple grounds. The
thieves ran from the temple in fear � not in fear of a physical beating, but in fear caused
by exposure of their sinful activities by Someone they knew to be sinless.
In another instance of disrespect being shown to Him, Christ demonstrated how
disrespect is viewed by the divine mind.
Luke 9:52-56
"And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a vil age of the
Samaritans, to make ready for him. (53) And they did not receive him, because his face
was as though he would go to Jerusalem. (54) And when his disciples James and John
saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and
consume them, even as Elias did? (55) But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye
know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (56) For the Son of man is not come to destroy
men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
Jesus simply turned away from those who refused His presence. Jesus did not try to
punish those who rejected Him. He even told His disciples that their thinking � of calling
down fire to destroy the disrespectful village - was Satanic.
It is interesting to note that Christ did not mention the incident of Elijah calling down fire on
the two groups of 50 soldiers (2 Kings 1:9-15), but he told the disciples that their
suggestion (to imitate Elijah's act), was inspired by Satan.
One wonders why Christ didn't go a step further in correcting His disciples and pronounce
directly to them that the Old Testament story of Elijah calling down fire on the soldiers,
also demonstrated the 'wrong' spirit.
Ellen White appears to make some significant comments in The EG White 1888 Materials
p 526, 527; MS Rel #1037 (MS 25, 9 Jan, 1890). She states that when Christ came to the
earth as a human being, He recognised that the truth about God's character had been
"buried and had apparently become extinct." It was "placed in a framework of error" and
"disconnected from its true position."
The Jewish religious leaders, despite being in possession of the Old Testament scrolls,
and despite having committed it to memory and teaching the books of Moses to their
youth, despite having all that knowledge, Christ recognised that they did not possess the
"gems of truth." For this reason, Christ endeavoured to bring the essential truths about
God's character to the minds of the people. Ellen White, from the same manuscript,
reveals a significant teaching strategy which Christ employed to achieve His tutorial goal.
240

The EG White 1888 Materials p 526, 527; MS Rel #1037 (MS 25, 9 Jan, 1890)
"As Christ presented these truths to minds, He broke up their
accustomed train of thought as little as possible. Nevertheless a new
and transforming economy of truth must be woven into their experience.
He therefore aroused their minds by presenting truth through the agency
of their most familiar associations. He used il ustrations in His teaching
which called into activity their most hallowed recollections and
sympathies, that he might reach the innner temple of the soul." 37
It can be easily seen that Ellen White's comment harmonises with Christ' own statement
that He could not reveal all the truth to the disciples as they "could not bear it."
John 16:12
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."
Paul also recognised that instructing others requires a 'holding back' and regulated
release of the 'gems' of truth, which if given 'all in one go' would have a negative, perhaps
disillusionary effect on the seekers of truth.
1 Corinthians 3:1, 2
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as
unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
It appears likely, according to Christ's own words, Paul's teaching strategies and Ellen
White's statements, that Christ purposely did not expose and confront all the false beliefs
which the people held as truth. Instead Christ endeavoured to establish correct concepts
of God's character initially and then as the believers were converted by recognising the
love of God, they would grow spiritually and be able to 'bear' more 'cutting away' of their
errors and be open to receiving more othe the true gems of truth. Christ promised that the
holy spirit of God would lead them into all truth (John 16:13).
37 The full quote from the EG White 1888 Materials Vol 2. p 526, 527; Manuscript Release
#1037 (MS 25, 9 January, 1890) reads as fol ows:
"Christ was the originator of all the ancient gems of truth. Through the work of
the enemy these truths had been displaced. They had been disconnected from
their true position, and placed in the framework of error. Christ's work was to
readjust and establish the precious gems in the framework of truth. The
principles of truth which had been given by Himself to bless the world had,
through Satan's agency, been buried and had apparently become extinct.
Christ rescued them from ther rubbish of error, gave them a new, vital force, and
commanded them to shine as precious jewels, and stand fast forever. Christ
Himself could use any of these old truths without borrowing the smallest particle,
for He had originated them all. He had cast them into the minds and thoughts of
each generation, and when He came to our world He rearranged and vitalized
the truths which had become dead, making them more forcible for the benefit of
future generations. It was Jesus Christ who had the power of rescuing the
truths from the rubbish, and again giving them to the eworld with more than their
original freshness and power. As Christ presented these truths to mind, He
broke up their accustomed train of thought as little as possible. Nevertheless a
new and transforming economy of truth must be woven into their experience.
He therefore aroused their minds by presenting truth through the agency of their
most familiar associations. He used il ustrations in His teaching which cal ed
into activity their most hallowed recol ections and sympathies, that he might
reach the innner temple of the soul."
241

So how do Christians reconcile the parts of Old Testament that appear to be so out-of
-harmony with Christ's character in the New Testament?
Perhaps we should follow Christ's example. He gave no explanation to the disciples
regarding Elijah's act of calling down fire to destroy human beings. Perhaps Christ judged
that the disciples could not at that time, bear an assult on that cherished falsehood.
However, there were occasions when Christ did explain that the Mosaic law had been
given to accommodate the hardness of the human heart, and that it didn't perfectly reflect
the pure loving character of the Father. However, in revealing the the Old Testament
wasn't a accurate representation of the Father's character, Christ provided instead a
perfect demonstration of the Father's divine character in human form - Himself.
Christ gently instructed the disciples in the truth about God's character, through parables
and nature, and as they realised the depth of the Father's love, the disciples gradually laid
down their false doctrines and conceptions of God. They realised eventual y that the truth
is "in Jesus."
It is difficult for human beings to understand the ways of God. Divine thinking is
completely unnatural to fallen humanity. The carnal mind is enmity against God (Rom
8:7). It is not able to serve the law (reproduce the character) of God. God says, "My
ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts (are higher) than your thoughts" (Isaiah
55:8,9). God's character and His thoughts are extremely different from humanity's
character and thoughts. His actions are not the same as those that come "naturally" to
human beings. Sadly, it appears that carnal ways of human thinking have drastical y
shaped the history, religious beliefs and practices of the Israelites as recorded in the Old
Testament.
Instead of basing their faith in the questionable Old Testament writings, 38 humanity would
do wel to fol ow the teaching example of Jesus and fashion their beliefs on the life and
teachings of the only begotten, commandment-keeping Son of God.
John 14:9
"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show
us the Father?"
The Ellen White 1888 Materials, Vol 1. p 125, 126
"'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.' What does that mean?
The work must be carried on, and this little world was chosen in which to carry on this
work. All the universe of heaven was interested in the great work. Every world that God
has created is watching to see how the battle between the Lord of light and glory and the
powers of darkness will end. Here is Satan, who has been seeking with all his power
to shut out the true character of God, wo that the world could not understand it, and
under a garb of righteousness he works upon many who profess to be Christians,
but they represent the character of Satan instead of the character of Jesus Christ.
They misrepresent my Lord. They misrepresent the character of Jesus every time that
they lack mercy, every time that they lack humility. Satan, by instigating in man a
disposition to transgress the law of God, mystifies the character of God. Someone
must come to vindicate the character of God and here is Christ, who stands as the
representation of the Father, and He is to work out the salvation of the human race."
38 According to Ellen White, MSR #1037, truth has been placed "in a framework of error."
Therefore, not all the Old Testament writings are brought into question. It is only those
writings which contradict the words of Jesus; which suggest that God commanded people
to kill others and in so doing, to break the 6th commandment of love, that are of concern.
The Old Testament prophecies which predict that Jesus was the Messiah are of course,
unquestionably divine.
242

God's "Wrath"
God draws humanity through His loving character � His spirit of love. God does not
employ force to coerce the human wil in order to secure obedience to His government.
Zechariah 4:6
"... Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Matthew 5:44, 45
"But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(45)That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."
In the New Testament, two Greek words are translated as "wrath." They are:
� orge (#3709) 1) anger, the natural disposition, temper, character 2) movement or
agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger 3)
anger, wrath, indignation 4) anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment
itself 4a) of punishments inflicted by magistrates
� thumos (#2372) 1) passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding
again 2) glow, ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the
drinker mad or kil s him with its strength).
The Hebrew language has many words that the King James Version has translated as
'wrath' but this does not always reveal an accurate translation from the Hebrew word. At
times the words do not mean "wrath" as commonly understood (see appendix)

charah (#2734) means

1) to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled 1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle
(anger) 1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed 1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle
1d)

(Hithpael)

to

heat

oneself

in

vexation

�
Commenting on Numbers 16:15, the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary,
Vol 1 p 877, states that the Hebrew word charah (#2734) which is translated as
"very wrath" in the KJV � is translated "exceedingly sad" in the Septuagint
(LXX).
� aph (#639) means nostril, face, nose anger.(rapid breathing as in passion).
� Chemah (#2534) 1) heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath,
poison, bottles 1a) heat 1a1) fever 1a2) venom, poison (fig) 1b) burning anger,
rage
� Ragaz (#7264) means to quiver (with any violent emotion, especial y anger or
fear):--be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fal out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage,
shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth.
� Ebrah (#5678) means outburst of passion
� Qetseph (#7110) means, literal y, a splinter or "chipped off". Freely translated it means
to be displeased, to fret or possibly to burst out.
� Kaac (#3707) - to be grieved or sorrowful, to be troubled.
243

While some of these words do reflect the emotion humanity commonly understands as
"wrath," not all the Hebrew words mean strictly that emotion. Some words clearly reveal a
passionate displeasure or a sorrowful troubled spirit or exceedingly sad as the
Septuagint reveals (1SDABC p 877). When the KJV Bible (and other versions also)
was translated from the Greek and Latin where necessary, the current religious beliefs
were of the trinitarian god who burns the immortal spirits of evil doers in an ever-burning
hel . This misunderstanding of God's nature and character makes God appear violent,
unforgiving and certainly without even human mercy. His wrath is terrifying. God appears
vengeful to the extreme, permitting a baby to burn forever in hell, simply because its
parents failed to "baptise" it. This "ferocious" god evolved from pagan beliefs and is still
taught through major church doctrines � trinitarianism and the immortality of the soul. A
closer study on the life of Jesus Christ, reveals that a more accurate translation is that
God's wrath can be described as occurring at times when He is passionately sorrowful
or troubled (by demonic and human sinfulness).
God Defines His Own "Wrath"
We make a serious error if we believe that human sinful anger and "wrath" is the same
emotion that the Father and Christ experience.
Isaiah 55:9
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts."
God describes his anger in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 31:17-18
"Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I
will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and
troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come
upon us, because our God is not among us? (18) And I will surely hide my face in
that day for al the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other
gods."
When God is "wrathful" He simply withdraws His holy presence from those who reject
Him. As seen in the story of Job, God turns away or removes His hedge of protection,
and Satan causes evil to afflict the unprotected rebels.
Deuteronomy 32:20
"And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they
are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. "
Numbers 12:1-16.
"And the Lord heard it. . . and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and He
departed."
2 Chronicles 24:20
"And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood
above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the
commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the
LORD, he hath also forsaken you."
God wil not force Himself on any person. Christ died to ensure humanity's freedom to
choose whom they will serve. However, when a person chooses to serve Satan, Christ
honours that choice and He permits us to follow the master we have chosen. He "gives
us up" and we reap the consequences of that decision. Human beings who thus give
themselves to the evil one, are "in Satan's hand." (Job 1:12)
244

Romans 1:18:
"For the wrath (Greek word orge) of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold (keep back) the truth in unrighteousness....24
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,
to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. 26 For this cause God gave them
up unto vile affections; for even their women did change (exchange) the natural use into
(for) that which is against nature. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (debased) mind, to do those things
which are not convenient (fitting)."
God's wrath is simply the grieved reaction He experiences when His creation (angels and
humanity) make choices to be disobedient. His wrath is the acceptance of the grief that
sinful beings cause Him, when He must honour their freedom of choice and give them up
to their sinful ways to reap what they have sown. God does not force us. He withdraws
His influence if we continual y reject His stil , small voice. He doesn't harm us nor does
He obtain pleasure from our suffering which is certain to accompany sinful choices.
Consider:
Would it suit Satan's deceptive plan to have humanity blame God for the disasters that
Satan himself brings on the earth?
God gives us freedom to traverse the road we have chosen. If a person chooses to
remain confirmed in an evil choice, then eventually they wil be taken captive by Satan
(become demon-possessed). This is the result of totally rejecting the holy spirit of God.
The Hedge
God gave humanity the 10 Commandments as a protective hedge around us (Job 1:10) �
to guide our choices - for our protection. God promises that if His people obey His
commandments, they will be happy and safe from the power of sin. The natural
consequence of breaking the divine commandments is sadness, suffering and eternal
death. God doesn't warn humanity of the fearful consequences of sin, as if these
consequences were a punitive action on His part �i.e. a cruel punishment for our refusal
to obey Him; but God lovingly warns us that the natural consequences of sinful
choices is death.
Sin = death
James 1:15
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death. '

Romans 6:23
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
This concept might be explained in the way that parents lovingly care for their children.
Loving parents warn their children not to play with matches. Loving parents don't
threaten, "Don't you play with matches or I'll set you on fire and let you burn till you die!"
Loving parents warn their precious children of danger. They might say, "Please don't play
with matches. If you play with matches, you might burn yourself badly or even die." Our
heavenly Father is much more loving that any human parent could ever possibly be. The
Father wants us to prosper and be in health (3 John 1:2). However, if we decide to "go
our own way" and choose Satan for our master, then our own actions will determine the
painful consequences. God wil also suffer divine wrath � a pained heart � when He
watches us reap what we have sown.
245

Galatians 6:7
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shal he also
reap."
Ezekiel 33:11
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil
ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
EJ Waggoner (commenting on) Romans, p 99, 100
"Romans 8:6. 'The sting of death is sin.' 1Cor. 15:56. There could be no
death if there were no sin. Sin carries death in its bosom. So it was not an
arbitrary act on the part of God that death came upon men because of sin. It
could not possibly be otherwise. Note the justice here. Death passed upon
all men, 'for that all have sinned.' 'The soul that sinneth, it shal die. The son
shal not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shal the father bear the
iniquity of the son; ....Ezek.18:20.' And this is also a necessary consequence
of the fact that sin contains death in it, and that death can not come in any
way than by sin. (100) Everything that came through Adam's fall is undone in
Christ; or, better still, al that was lost in Adam is restored in Christ."
The following summary was published in the Review and Herald, VOL. 77, No. 32.; 7
August 1900, p 498 . The Author was Mary C. Wilson, from St. Helena, California.
God is the very embodiment of life. John 5:26.
1. His is a living throne. Ezekiel 1.
2. A river of life flows from the throne. Rev 22 : 1.
3. On its banks grows the tree of life: Rev 22 : 2.
4. God's words are life. John 6:63; Genesis 1.
5. Thus, he is the fountain of life, fil ing with life everything connected with himself.
Psalm 36:9.
6. In order to have life, we must connect with him. 1 John 5:12.
7. In his natural condition, man is alienated from the life of God. Eph. 4:18.
8. His iniquities are what thus separates him from God. Isa. 59:2.
9. Sin separates because (Hab 1 : 13) God can not sanction sin in the least degree.
10. Since sin separates from him who is life, him who is the only source of life, it surely
must bring death. James 1 : 15.
11. The Jews in Christ's day refused to forsake their sins, come to Christ, and obtain life.
John 5 : 40.
12. It is not because God is angry and destroys the sinner, that death comes to
him; but his own sins keep him separated from the only life there is, so only
death can follow. Eze
18 : 30-32.
13. God declares that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; and he pleads
with the sinner to turn and not die. Eze. 33 : 11.
14. How much sin wil it require to separate from 'God?--"No one wil ever receive the seal
of God as long as there is one sin upon his character."' See Hab. 1 : 13.
246

Who is the Destroyer � God or Satan?
Job's Experience
The story of Job reveals the identity of the destroyer.
Job, a prosperous farmer and family-oriented man and devout worshipper of God, is
suddenly and "mysteriously" afflicted. His wealth is removed by miraculous means and by
the acts of evil men; his children are "accidentally" kil ed in a "natural disaster," and
eventually agonising boils break out all over his body. Job understandably questions,
"What is going on?" Neither Job nor his wife understand the cause or reason for their
predicament, but Job holds on anyway, having faith in the concept that God is loving and
just. In stark contrast, Job's wife appears to believe that God's character is a combination
of both good and evil � that He blesses humanity with good things, but also sends evil to
afflict the just. Because of her faulty understanding of God's character, Job's wife is
of little support to him. She advises him to "curse God and die."
Job did not take his wife's advice. In fact, he rebuked her. Job didn't reject God's leading,
nor did He sin in expressing his bewilderment apparently when he declared, "though He
slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Bewildered, Job retires to sit under a tree in his misery. After five days of sitting in
silence, Job's friends attempt to convince him that he is suffering because of his sins.
They insist that God punishes specific sins (Job 4:1 to Job 5:27). The young man Elihu
final y is given permission to speak and he introduces some "new theology" - he
endeavours to prove that perhaps God doesn't punish, but He disciplines those who have
gone astray (Job 32:1 to Job 33:33). In the final analysis, God commands Job to pray for
his friends for they had al sinned. They had not presented the truth about the origins of
evil. Job's friends were not privy to the heavenly counsels (Job 1:6-12) which were
revealed to Moses when he wrote the book of Job.
How much easier it would have been for Job if he has been given divine revelation of
what was transpiring behind the scenes!
Under the extreme circumstances which Job suffered, his faith in God brought him victory
over Satan's attacks. It is faith that overcomes the world.
1John 5:4
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith."
Faith overcomes the world � but - faith in what? It is faith in God's loving and just
character that overcomes doubt and despair, temptation and trial.
Didn't Job realise that God wasn't trying to destroy him, but that it was Satan trying to take
his life? Perhaps he didn't understand the situation for nowhere does the Bible say that
God told Job that the evil he suffered came from Satan and that Job was the object of a
test of loyalty. It appears that God permits people to be "tested" in the fires of persecution
for the development of their character � which in by faith in His character. Job, though not
realising why the afflictions were permitted, held on by faith, that God � whatever he
permitted was purely righteous and just.
The reader of the book of Job is privileged to have more insight than Job himself had of
his predicament. The reader can see the "big picture." It is clearly revealed that God did
not send the afflictions. God did not originate Job's sufferings. The source of evil and
sufferings was Satan.
247

The book of Job reveals that evil events, whether labelled 'punishment' or harsh
'discipline', do not originate from the Creator, but from Satan.
Many Bible verses confirm this principle.
Psalm 89:18
"For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king."
Isaiah 14:20
"Thou (Lucifer, Satan) shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast
destroyed thy land, and s lain th
y people: the seed of evildoers shal never be
renowned."
Job 1:12; 2.6 (regarding Job)
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is
in th
y p
ower; only upon
himself put not forth thine hand ... And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, h
e is in th
ine
hand; but save his life."
Revelation 9:11
"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in
the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. "
Apollyon means 'destroyer.'"
John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Psalm 68:1-2
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
(2) As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let
th
e wicked perish a t the presence of God. "
Psalm 89:15
"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light
of thy countenance."
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
Mark 6:49 (Jesus walking on the water)
"When Christ said to those that came to apprehend him by force, 'I am
he,' they were struck down by it (John 18:6). When he saith to those that
come to apprehend him by faith, 'I am he,' they are raised up by it, and
comforted (Mark 6:50)."
Matthew Henry comments on the contrasting reactions of two type of groups who came
into the presence of Jesus. In John 18:6, a violent, self-confident mob rush into arrest
Jesus. Judas leads them to Jesus, but the leaders of the mob still ask for Jesus of
Nazareth to be identified further. Jesus states the truth, "I am He." His captors fal to the
ground incapacitated and fearful. The mob's reaction is then compared to the disciples
reaction. The disciples were struggling with a violent storm on the sea of Galilee. Jesus
walked to them on the water, but they perceived His visible presence incorrectly to be
"spirit"or "apparition" (i.e. the manifestation of a demon). The disciples were terrified.
Jesus immediately speaks to them, "Do not be afraid. I am He." The disciples are
immediately comforted and at peace.
248

Jesus' action was the same to both groups of people. The consequences of that
meeting depended upon the people's reaction to Jesus. One group of people loved
Him. The other group of people hated Him. The consequence of coming into the
presence of Jesus was determined by the choice of humanity � not by the actions and
choice of Jesus. So it will be at the last day. One group will love Jesus and will find
comfort and safety in His presence. The other group of people will hate Jesus and be
discomforted and afraid to discover that they are in His presence.
1 John 3:8
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might d
estroy th
e works o
f the devil."
�
God is the defence to all who accept Him.
�
�
Satan is credited with slaying his followers.
�
�
God's presence "melts" the wicked as wax, but His presence does not harm the
redeemed.
�
�
G
od's behaviour doesn't alter. He does nothing different to the wicked than
what He does for to the redeemed. He simply appears before both classes of
people.
�
�
It is the people who are different. It
is T
HEIR c ondition which causes the
o
utcome of either destruction or life� n
ot God's actions
�
�
C
hrist destroys th
e w
orks o
f the devil �
n
ot the people!
The

devil destroys the
(wicked) people.
G
od destroys onl
y the
works of the devil.
249

W
hat are t
he Works of the Devil?

John 8:44
(Jesus said to the Pharisees) "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father
ye wil do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar,
and the father of it."
Revelation 20:14
"And death and hell (#86) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
14And
death
and
hell
were cast
into
the lake
of fire
.
<2532>
<2288>
<2532>
<86>
<906>(5681)
<1519>
<3041>
<4442>
This
is
the second
death
.
<3778>
<2076>(5748)
<1208>
<2288>
Thayer's Greek Lexicon (#86)
hades hah'-dace
from <1> (as negative particle) and <1492>; ; n pr loc, AV-hell 10, grave 1; 11
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell
The verse says that John saw "hades" cast into the lake of fire. Did he see literal graves
cast into the lake of fire? Did he also see a literal "death" cast into the lake of fire?
Hades originally meant, "Pluto � god of the underworld." It might be possible that John
says he saw that the devil � the god of the underworld - cast into the lake of fire and the
outcome of his system � death symbolically being destroyed also. This suggestion gains
support by the following verse.
15And
whosoever
was
not
found
written
in
the
<2532>
<1536>
<2147><0>
<3756>
<2147>(5681)
<1125>(5772)
<1722>
book
of life
was cast
into
the lake
of fire
.
<976>
<2222>
<906>(5681)
<1519>
<3041>
<4442>
Were human beings being cast into a lake of fire?
# 906 ballo bal'-lo a primary word; ; v AV-cast 86, put 13, thrust 5, cast out 4, lay 3,
lie 2, misc 12; 125
1) to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls
1a) to scatter, to throw, cast into
1b) to give over to one's care uncertain about the result
1c) of fluids
1c1) to pour, pour into of rivers
1c2) to pour out
2) to put into, insert
After the 1000 years, the the wicked dead are resurrected and as they died, they again
come under the complete control of Satan. God has given the wicked "into Satan's care."
This is the "without mercy" act, the strange act, that God permits to happen in order to
preserve the principle of love � freedom of choice regarding whom a being will serve.
The wicked chose to serve Satan � to become slaves to him.
Romans 6:16
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to
whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
This "handing over" to Satan without divine protection, is God's complete withdrawal.
The results are uncertain in the sense that confusion reigns, but the ultimate
consequence is predicted and certain.
250

Ezekiel saw that the fire came from within the devil and spreads to the whole earth. God
does not "blitz" the devil, but He refuses to interfere and prevent the devil's destruction.
Ezekiel 28:18
"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy
traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee,
and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee."
Isaiah 33:11, 12
"Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour
you. (12) And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shal they be
burned in the fire."
Ellen White, Early Writings, p 54 (End of the 2300 Days )
"I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and
admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He
had, but I could not behold it, for said He, 'If you should once behold the glory of
His person, you would cease to exist.'"
Ellen White was protected by the Father who veiled His glory so that she would not die in
His glorious presence.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
I John 3:8:
"[He that committeth sin is of the devil] Hear this, also, ye who plead for Baal, and cannot
bear the thought of that doctrine that states believers are to be saved from al sin in this
life! He who committeth sin is a child of the devil, and shows that he has still the
nature of the devil in him; for the devil sinneth from the beginning - he was the
father of sin, brought sin into the world, and maintains sin in the world by living in
the hearts of his own children, and thus leading them to transgression; and persuading
others that they cannot be saved from their sins in this life, that he may secure a continual
residence in their heart. ...For this purpose] . For this very end-with this very
design, was Jesus manifested in the flesh, that he might destroy, , that he might
loose, the bonds of sin, and dissolve the power, influence, and connection of sin."
According to Adam Clarke, "the works of the devil" appear to be the law-breaking acts
that are naturally p
roduced by humanity, caused by Sa
tan's s elfish principles in the
human mind. This is called the carnal mind � the sinful nature, the unconverted heart,
the unregenerate heart, an evil mind.
Romans 8:6, 7
"For to be carnal y minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7)
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be."
To have Satan's selfish mind is to commit sin - and die; not to be killed by God, but
to die as a consequence of separating oneself from the Source of all Life.
Ellen White, Signs of the Times 20 June, 1895, p 6, 7
"Righteousness can be defined only by God's great moral standard, the Ten
Commandments. There is no other rule by which to measure character. 'He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.' It was the refusal
of Satan to obey the commandments of God that brought sin and apostasy into the
universe. 'For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil.' (7) Through the devices of the great apostate, man has been led to
s eparate h
imself fr
om God, and has yielded to the temptations of the adversary of God
and man in committing sin and breaking the law of the Most High."
251

6Testimonies for the Church p 388
"With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty?
How dare they disobey God when obedience to His requirements means His blessing in
both temporal and spiritual things, and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is
the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is
to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in
every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord's restraining power is not
exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no
God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God.
Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest."
Great Controversy, p 516 - 517
"There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become
acquainted with his devices. The better to disguise his real character and purposes, he
has caused himself to be so represented as to excite no stronger emotion than ridicule or
contempt. .... (517) It is because he has masked himself with consummate skil that the
question is so widely asked: "Does such a being really exist?" ... Satan can most readily
control the minds of those who are unconscious of his influence, that the word of God
gives us so many examples of his malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces,
and thus placing us on our guard against his assaults. The power and malice of Satan
and his host might justly alarm us were it not that we may find shelter and
deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer. We carefully secure our houses
with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men; but we seldom
think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against whose
attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defence. If permitted, they can
distract our minds, disorder and torment our bodies, destroy our possessions and
our lives. Their only delight is in misery and destruction. Fearful is the condition of
those who resist the divine claims and yield to Satan's temptations, until God gives them
up to the control of evil spirits. But those who follow Christ are ever safe under His
watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to protect them. The
wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has stationed about His
people."
The Works of Righteousness
In complete contrast with the works of the devil, Jesus did the works of His Father. He
kept His Father's law.
John 10:36, 37
"Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou
blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (37) If I do not the works of my
Father, believe me not."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Sin is the transgression of the law - just as - Love is the keeping of the law.
Satan brings death � just as - God brings life.
Sin destroys � just as � Love creates.
Satan stalks and snares � just as - God protects and provides.
Satan is completely, permanently evil � just as - God is completely, permanently loving.
So how are sinners destroyed?
252

Sin Brings Forth Death
Isaiah 33:11
"Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shal bring forth stubble: your breath (#7307), as fire, shall
devour you."
The Hebrew word 'rwach' is legitmately tanslated as breath, but also as
spirit/mind)39
Ezekiel 28:18
"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy
traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shal devour thee, and
I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Isaiah 29:5
"Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like smal dust, and the multitude of the
terrible ones shal be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant
suddenly."
Ellen White was told of this serious consequence by Jesus, in a vision.
Ellen White, Early Writings, p 54 (End of the 2300 Days )
"I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and
admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He
had, but I could not behold it, for said He, 'If you should once behold the glory of
His person, you would cease to exist.'"
In this passage it is clear that Jesus was not threatening to kill Ellen White. Instead,
Christ assured her that she was protected by the Father who had intentionally veiled His
glory so that she, a (repentant) sinner, would not die in His glorious presence. The sin in
humanity kil s the person in whose body resides. In the presence of the unveiled glory of
God, such death is instantaneous to the sinful race, but such destruction does not
originate from God. God protects humanity and prevents their deaths by veiling His glory
from them. His 'strange act' (Isaiah 28:21) occurs when He finally does not veil His glory
to protect the wicked and their own sin which is in their spirit/minds, destroys them.
If the devil suddenly ceased to exist, there would still be sin, destruction and death in the
human race, because "the seeds of sin" would stil dwell in unrepentant human minds.
The sinful nature � the mind of Satan � already in the human race, would still lead
humanity to sin for all have been born with sinful flesh. Without the spirit of Christ, sinful
flesh can only commit sin. It is impossible for the carnal mind to obey the commandments
of God (Romans 8:7). Only those whose minds have been "reborn" with the spirit of
Christ, wil obtain power to cease sinning - lawbreaking. Sinful minds will ultimately be
destroyed, because sin leads to death and sinful flesh will be destroyed along with the
sinful mind.
39 Strong's Hebrew concordance #7307 ruwach roo'-akh from 7306; wind; by
resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,
unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a
rational being (including its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X cool,
courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y). see
HEBREW for 07306
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Spirit has not flesh and bones
Jesus had a glorified body, but He still flesh and bones. A spirit has not flesh and bones.
Neither has an apparition. The disciples believed in demons and holy angels which could
become visible and appear to human beings. This was the "spirit" or "apparitions" (visible
manifestation) which the disciples believed they saw until Jesus reassured them that He
was not a spirit (the visible presence of a holy angel or demon).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
# 05326:
5326 phantasma fan'-tas-mah
from <5324>; ; n n
AV-spirit 2; 2
1) an appearance
2) an apparition, spectre
Luke 24:39
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not
flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
1Cor 15:50-52
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither
doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not al
sleep, but we shall al be changed, (52) 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
shal be changed."
A spirit has not flesh and bones, but Jesus, in His humanity, did possess flesh and bones.
Corruption (sinful flesh and bones/blood) cannot enter into heaven.
Jesus possessed a mind with a sinful flesh (body) from the time of His incarnation till His
death. His mind was sinless.
Jesus after His resurrection, was changed into a glorified body - sinless flesh and bones.
He was not a ghost - a mind minus a body. He possessed both mind and glorified body at
His resurrection.
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Modes of Destruction
It appears that there are at least four types or modes of destruction, and probably
combinations of these modes.
� Sinners destroy themselves by their own actions or are destroyed by the actions
of others ("sleeping" death eg accidents, il nesses, smoking, suicide, wars,
environmental interference http://www.s8int.com/atomic1.htm l );
� Sinners reject the protection of God and are permitted to be destroyed by Satan -
"are handed over to Satan" 2 Kings 17:39; 21:14; Jer 15:9 (sleeping death, but
await the permanent death);
� Sinners are destroyed when the sin within their minds/bodies ignite when they
come into contact with the unveiled glory of holy divinity ("sleeping" death or
"permanent" death depending on the time frame) (Nadab and Abihu died the
"sleeping" death; sinners in the lake of fire die the "permanent" death);
� Sinners are destroyed in the chaos that results from the removal of God's
sustaining creative power e.g. The earth quakes and explodes and becomes
chaotic (Sodom and Gomorrah; Noah's flood http://www.s8int.com/atomic1.html ,
the Lake of Fire).
Matthew 10:28
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kil the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Revelation 14:7
"Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of his judgment is come."
God is the Source of All Life. Only the Creator is able to provide eternal life. When
Eternal Life (God's creative power) is withdrawn, as occurs in permanent death, the soul
is eternal y dead. The judgment determines which persons elected to serve God and
which elected to separate themselves from Him.
Before sinners can be destroyed the God's protective hedge of holy angels must be
removed. This protective hedge will be removed from those who repeatedly resist the
spirit of God and instead, choose to serve Satan. God will not force His presence on
those who are determined to reject Him, but when God removes His presence, His
protection is also removed.
Psalm 27:12; 140:1,2
"Deliver me not over unto the wil of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up
against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. .... Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man:
preserve me from the violent man; (2) which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually
are they gathered together for war."
Ezekiel 31:11
"I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall
surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness."
Psalm 91:3, 4
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. (4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Matthew 23:37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent
unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! "
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Sin equals death (Romans 6:23). Certainly, there is no doubt that sinners wil be
destroyed, but is their destruction caused by a vengeful, wrathful divine Being, or as a
consequence of their choices to alienate themselves from the protection of the Creator:
the Source of all Life?
When God's creative and sustaining power is removed, chaos occurs, both spiritual y and
physically. Demonstrations of this was evident during Noah's flood; the destruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah and Christ's death on the cross.
T
he Flood (Gen 6)
Genesis 1:2
"And the earth was without form, and void..."
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (Genesis1:2)
"The earth was without form and void. The original term tohu and bohu,
which we translate without form and void, are of uncertain etymology; but
in this place, and wherever else they are used, they convey the idea of
confusion and disorder."
In the flood, almost the entire world chose to serve Satan. God respectfully withdrew his
patient entreaties from the confirmed wicked, leaving them to the consequence of their
own violent and disruptive actions, without divine protection and under Satan's control.
However, it does not appear that Satan, with his angelic power, caused the flood. It
seems that there are perhaps a combination of two modes: man's own actions and
withdrawal of the sustaining and protective power of God.
What Happens When God Withdraws?
Does anything happen to the physical world when God withdraws His presence?
It is clear from Isaiah's prophecy, that there has been at least one time when the sun has
'gone down' and the moon has 'withdrawn itself.'
Isaiah 60:19, 20
"The sun shal be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light
unto thee: but the LORD shal be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
(20)
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shal thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall
be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
Young's Literal Translation renders verse 20 as such:
"Thy sun goeth no more in, And thy moon is not removed, For Jehovah becometh to thee
a light age-during. And the days of thy mourning have been completed."
When does Isaiah's prophecy apply? When did the moon withdraw itself � move away
from the earth? When did the sun go down � in the sense that its strength appeared to
have decreased?
Is it possible that these prophecies are referring to the physical actions that occurred in
the sun and the moon at the time of the flood?
Did the removal of God's sustaining Presence initiate the flood? If so, perhaps the divine
withdrawal caused the moon and the sun to stumble from their orbits. These celestial
reactions appear to coincide with a time of the withdrawing of God's spirit � His rejection -
from the earth. Did God's withdrawal so greatly effect the sun and the moon that it
caused them to become unstable? Did their instability cause the world-wide flood?
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The Creator knows the result that His withdrawal from the earth would have (and will
have) on the heavenly planets. It has been prophesied that they would be moved out of
their natural orbits. The earth also would 'reel to and fro as a drunkard' and the earth's
surface would break open, causing the 'fountains of the deep to open up" and every
mountain to be moved out of its place (Isa 24:20; Gen 7:11; Rev 6:14).
Knowing the catacalysmic conditions that would occur if He was forced to withdraw His
presence from those who rejected Him, God in His mercy, arranged a way of escape from
the destruction, for those who would accept His leading. Noah was instructed to build a
life-boat as part of God's emergency plan to save humanity from the destruction that
would occur when He withdrew and ceased to sustain the natural forces.
Why Did God Withdraw if He Knew that Destruction Would Follow?
The principles of love and the law of God's government are founded on freedom of choice.
Thus, God was required to act in harmony with the principles of His law. He had to
withdraw His presence from those who refused and rejected His leading. There is no
sanction of force in God's government which operates totally on love (unselfishness) and
freedom of choice.
Thus, the action of God in withdrawing His sustaining presence from the earth, was not an
act of frustrated divine anger and wrathful revenge, but simply the operation of His law of
love. God will not force His presence on any being.
As a direct result of being rejected by the majority of the world, God's reluctant withdrawal
appears to have resulted in an alteration in the physical condition of the sun and the moon
� and to have caused the flood.
Ellen White states that during the flood, God showed mercy - to the earth. Could this
mercy have been only a partial withdrawal of His spirit � instead of a complete
withdrawal?
Review and Herald, 21 December,1897
"In Noah's day, men had disregarded the law of God until almost all remembrance of the
Creator had passed away from the earth. Their wickedness reached so great a height,
violence, crime, and every kind of sin became so intensely active, that the Lord brought a
flood of water upon the earth. Yet mercy was mingled with judgment. Noah and his family
were saved, but the wicked inhabitants of the world were swept away. In the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah, also, when fire came down from heaven and destroyed those
wicked cities, we see that the Lord wil interfere for his people."
The Lord showed mercy and interfered to save those who loved Him. God warned of the
destruction that was looming over Sodom and Gomorrah and which would occur when
God was forced to withdraw protection (via His restraining angels) from those who were
'joined to their idols." The laws of God's own character and government required that he
respect the choices of sinful humanity and insisted that He withdraw from those who
rejected Him and His principles of unselfish love. Those left without His spirit were then
unprotected from natural disasters, evil angels and evil humanity.
In a similar way, the mercy of God (His remaining presence and protection) is exercised
prior to the close probation, by restraining the work of the evil angels.
Great Controversy, p 614
"When He (Jesus) leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In
that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor.
The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire
control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has
rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have
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passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has
been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from
the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final
trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human
passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in
ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old."
Desire of Ages, p 306
"Hearts that respond to the influence of the Holy Spirit are the channels through which
God's blessing flows. Were those who serve God removed from the earth, and His Spirit
withdrawn from among men, this world would be left to desolation and destruction,
the fruit of Satan's dominion."
When Jesus at His second coming, shall come close to the earth - in great glory - the
usual cycles of the sun and the moon are prophesied to be again interrupted.
Joel 2:1,2
"...for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; (2) A day of darkness and of
gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the
mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shal be
any more after it, even to the years of many generations....(10) The earth shall quake
before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars
shal withdraw their shining:"
Zephaniah 1:14, 15
"The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the
day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. (15) That day is a day of wrath, a
day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and
gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
Recall that at the time of the flood, God's spirit has been rejected and His presence
withdrawn from the earth. In a situation similar to the flood, the spirit of God will again be
withdrawn from the earth just prior to the second coming of Jesus. It is extremely
relevant to notice that at both the flood AND just prior to the second coming of Jesus,
similar changes occur in the sun and moon with similar consequences � flooding,
earthquakes, volcanic activity, wind, tempests, tsunamis.
Luke 21:25
"And there shal be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth
distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring."
Amos 8:8,9
"Shal not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwel eth therein? and it shal
rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
(9) And it shal come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to
go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:"
Further to the consequences which God's withdrawal causes on the forces of nature, so
the withdrawal of His loving spirit will futher distress humanity. The wicked will seek to
destroy God's people AND each other.
Matthew 24:21, 22
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to
this time, no, nor ever shal be. (22) And except those days be shortened, there should no
flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
Jesus states that the end of time, just prior to His second coming, conditions on the earth
wil be similar to those just prior to the flood (Matt 24:37).
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At the present time, people have invented and used, weapons of mass destruction �
weapons which can alter weather patterns and cause tsunamis and other destructive
forces. Did pre-flood humanity also possess weapons capable of effecting the earth
itself?
Prior to answering that question, consider that even the Greek civilization possessed
fearful weapons � the scorpion bomb; incendiary devices � ancient flame-throwers which
contained sulphur, resins, tar, and petroleum; the ram and turtle (battering ram much like
a modern day tank); the 8 metre high moveable tower and troop carrier; catapult and
bal ista. In the third century BC, Archemides who lived in the Sicilian city of Syracuse,
invented a steam powered cannon which so terrorised the attacking Roman armies that
they retreated in fear. Archimede's Claw was another mechanical y advanced invention
which shocked the Romans and unexpectedly sank their boats. (Refer Polybius - Greek,
c. 200-118 BC, Universal History; Livy - Roman, 59 BC-17 AD, History of Rome from its
Foundation; Plutarch - Greek, c. 45-120 AD, Parallel Lives: Marcellus; Dio Cassius -
Greek, c. 155-235 AD, Roman History); Lost Worlds: Ancient Discoveries Pt 1 � Ancient
Warfare: UK, video).
These weapons reveal that civilizations 300 years prior to Christ's first appearance,
possessed great destructive power against humanity, but is there any evidence that pre-
modern civilizations had weapons of mass destruction that could cause destruction to the
earth itself?
Nuclear Weapons in Ancient Times?
Rene Noorbergen in his book, Secrets of the Lost Races: New Discoveries of Advanced
Technology in Ancient Civilizations, (1977) presents the supposition that at least some
ancient civilizations were not ignorant of nuclear technology.
Chapter 4 of Noorbergen's book discusses evidence for "Advanced Aviation in
Prehistoric Times", and chapter 5 supports the concept of "Nuclear Warfare Among the
'Primitives.'"
The author's claims of nuclear technology and even weaponry as used in the prehistoric
era, may seem a ridiculous proposition, but it does appear that quite a few of Noorbegen's
claims are backed up by scientifical y valid evidence.
Fifteen years after Noorbergen's book was published, the following report by Bryant
Stavely in the United Kingdom's World Island Review (January 1992),appeared and
seem to give credibility to Noorbergen's "nuclear weapon amongst the primitives" claim.
Bryant Stavely's report revealed the following:
An ancient city in India appears to have level ed by an atomic blast 8,000 - 10,000 years
ago. A construction team discovered the radioactive site in Rajasthan, (a state of India)
while preparing to build a housing development.
A heavy layer of radioactive ash was found in a three-mile-square area which concealed
an ancient city. Evidence appears to show that an atomic blast dating back thousands of
years, from 8,000 to 12,000 years, destroyed most of the buildings and probably a half-
million people.
In his report Stavely noted that after its discovery, the ancient city became suspect as the
cause of a high rate of birth defects and cancer in the region. 'The levels of radiation at
the city site registered alarmingly high and the Indian government cordoned off the region.
Interestingly, the Indian Mahabharata (sacred writings) appears to have recorded an
atomic or similar event.
According to OOPARTS (out of place artefacts) at http://www.s8int.com/atomic1.html the
Mahabharata sacred writings proclaim:
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'A single projectile charged with al the power in the Universe...An
incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as 10,000 suns, rose
in all its splendor...it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a
gigantic messenger of death40which reduced to ashes an entire race,"
says the sacred text. The Mahabharata is thought to have been
composed in 6500BC Historian Kisari Mohan Ganguli says that
Indian sacred writings are full of descriptions which sound like an
atomic blast. There are passages that mention fighting sky chariots
and weapons....weapons decimate entire armies which are blown
away as if they are leaves.
The Indian sacred writings also comments about the contamination of food and
people's hair falling out and burning. http://www.s8int.com/atomic1.html
On the same website, OOPARTS also reports that:
"Archeologist Francis Taylor says that etchings in some nearby temples
he has managed to translate suggest that they prayed to be spared from
the great light that was coming to lay ruin to the city."
Were the ancient residents of Rajasthan the victims of a nuclear blast, or was their
country the recipient of a radioactive meteorite strike?
Avinash Nair reported in Rediff.com News on 11 August, 2005 that a radioactive
meteorite fel in the Indian state of Rajasthan and that it was:
"a rare radioactive cosmic object. Elaborate tests... revealed it to be a
very rare iron meteorite showing significant radioactivity."
The meteorite fel on 25 June 25, 2005. It is recorded that more meteorites fall in
Rajasthan, than fall in any other state in India.
Since only about 126 fal s have been observed all over India in the past 2
centuries, this frequency of fall (1 every 2 years) in a smal area of Rajasthan
anomalously high. In comparison, no more than 10 falls have been reported
from the rest of India in the past 15 years. The scientists remarked, "We were
able to detect the radioactivity because the meteorite was sent to us
immediately after it fell, he said, adding radioactivity slowly wanes away with
the passage of time." http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/11met.htm
It is interesting to note that God set in place, systems that protect the earth from col ision
with meteors and from receiving too much solar radiation. It is becoming obvious that
human activities are destroying these protective systems. e.g. the greenhouse effect.
In the light of the historical evidence, it seems plausible to consider that as God's spirit
was resisted and withdrawn from the earth, and His holy angels reluctantly release their
hold over the 'winds of human and demonic strife.' At that time, satanic forces begin to
work unimpeded on both evil humanity and on the natural elements of the earth. These
evil forces then are able to create "weather chaos" which spirals out of control (Refer
www.weatherwars.info or the video by Bob Fletcher, "Weather Control as a Weapon).
Not only are demons working to destroy God's people, but the wicked, who are under the
complete control of demons, also cooperate in destroying not only God's people, but other
unsaved people also � and their property, animals, and the earth itself.
40 It is very interesting to note that the Indian sacred writings refer to the "unknown"
weapon of genocide as "the messenger of death." This terminology is the same as that
chosen by the Israelites to describe the destruction which the Egyptian firstborn were
subjected to by the Angel of Death. The English translation of the Hebrew word for
"Angel" is messenger.
260

Regardless of whether the ancient antediluvians perished by a flood caused by nuclear
warfare or by meteorite strikes � it can be seen that because they rejected the pleadings
of the spirit of God, they caused Him to withdraw His protective presence and the wicked
were left without a divine shelter in the destruction that followed.
Summary
As the Creator withdrew His presence (His spirit) from the earth, the very life and stability
of the whole created world swayed precariously. The earth was destroyed "in mercy" i.e.
it was only destroyed to a limited degree. God did not completely withdraw His sustaining
power from the world. If the Creator had done so, it appears logical to assume that the
world would have exploded in a way similar to the description of the "lake of fire" when the
world is destroyed without mercy i.e. without any of the Creators' sustaining power.
Mountains are cast into the sea, islands move from their place; the earth reels like a
drunkard without the sustaining and stabilising power of the Creator to hold everything in
place (Psalm 33:9).
So
dom and Gomorrah (Gen 19)
Some suppose that when the Bible describes "fire falling from heaven" it means that God
originated the fire as a means of destroy wicked people. However, Job's story reveals
that 'people' who misunderstand the principles of God's kingdom, tend to consider that
God orginates destructive fires.
Job 1:16
"While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen
from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I
only am escaped alone to tell thee."
While God is blamed for the fire falling from heaven, the Bible clearly demonstrates that
Satan caused the fire to fall.
Job 1:12
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, al that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself
put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."
Apply the same principles or God protecting and Satan causing destruction, to Sodom
and Gomorroah.
When God withdrew His creative power and His angels ensured that Lot was removed
from the city of Sodom, fire destroyed the cities of the plain. Did God cease to sustain the
cities of the plain, or did His withdrawal of the holy angels, permit Satan to rush in and
destroy the unrepentant sinners?
Or did God forsee perhaps, that a volcano was brewing in the vicinity of Sodom, which His
hand had held back while there was stil time for the Sodomites to repent?
Jesus referred to both the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as being
demonstrations of what would happen at the final destruction of sinners (Luke 17:29, 30).
For this reason, it seems likely that God withdrew His creative and sustaining and
protective power from the cities of the plain and this resulted in the explosive, fiery
destruction of the wicked who chose to remain in that city.
The scenes described in the destruction of Sodom are similar to those which describe
some violent, explosive volcanic eruptions (Mt Vesuvius eruption AD 79; Mt Pelee
eruption in the West Indies in 1902; the Mt St Helens explosion in 1980; Mt Krakatoa
explosion in 1833).
"The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa is among the most violent volcanic events
in modern times (a VEI of 6, equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT - about
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thirteen thousand times the yield of the Little Boy bomb which
devastated Hiroshima, Japan. (Little Boy was officially recorded at "only"
15 kilotons. In contrast, the biggest bomb ever exploded by man, the Tsar
Bomba, had an explosive power of 57 megatons."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krakatoa
In Lexiline, A Renaissance in Learning, the author states:
The Hebrews call the Dead Sea Yam ha-Melah ("salt sea")and some think the name
"dead sea" was so named because nothing can live in the salt sea.
But in Arabic the Dead Sea is called al-Bahr al-Mayyitt ("Sea of Death") or Buhayrat Lut
("Sea of Lot"). http://www.lexiline.com/lexiline/lexi58.htm
Do these names refer perhaps to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Reference is
made in the Arabic translation to Lot. Being cal ed the "Sea of Death" perhaps might
indicate a reference to the death of the inhabitants of the plain where five cities had
thrived previously.
Lot's wife, was recorded to have 'looked back' and then was turned to a pil ar of salt
(actually powder #4417 Strong's Hebrew Concordance).
It is interesting to note that, there have been incidences recorded during volcanic
explosions, where human bodies were covered with dust or ash and then became
petrified into stone. e.g. at Pompeii when Mt Vesuvius erupted in AD 79.)
If this was the case, one would expect to find archaelogical evidence of the volcano.
The Ancient Five Cities of the Dead Sea plain - Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zoboiim and
Zoar (Bela) were al destroyed. The five cities were situated in the Vale of Siddim which
the Bible states became the Dead Sea.
Genesis 14:3
"And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea)."
Between 1973 and 1979 two archaeologists, Walter E Rast of Valparaiso University,
Indiana and R. Thomas Schaub of Indiana University of Pennsylvania surveyed an area
around the South East of the Dead Sea and located the remains of five sites each at the
head of a small wadi. From North to South the sites are: Bab Edh-Dhra (first discovered in
1924); Numeira (found by Rast and Schaub in 1973); Safi; Feifa; and Khanazir.
Safi, one of the sites discovered, has been positively identified by a map found on the
floor of a 6th century AD Byzantium Church which identifies Safi with Zoar, one of the
Cities of the Plain.
The principal site of Bab edh Dhra, lying right at the edge of the Lisan, which is the
peninsular jutting into the Dead Sea, consists of a town and a cemetery which contains an
estimated 500,000 people.
Did a natural catastrophe occur to cause the death of so many people? If a volcano was
to have occurred, fire, ash and brimstone would give supportive evidence of such an
occurrence. Was there a tsumani which destroyed the fresh water pools and raised saline
levels in the soil? If so, these conditions would certainly have resulted in difficult living
conditions. The land would have become unproductive and the water source fouled.
But is there any evidence of volcanic or seismic activity around the Dead Sea?
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David Graves & Jane Graves, in Electronic Christian Media report:
"From the research of geologist Frederick G. Clapp, who visited the area
in 1929 and 1934, it was discovered that there are fault lines along the
east and west sides of the Dead Sea. The cities of the plain lie at the edge
of the Ghor right along the eastern fault line. Also, earthquakes are
common to the area. In Clapp's research, asphalt and petroleum
accompanied by natural gas were found in the area. From Genesis 14:10,
it is evident that the valley of Siddim was ful of tar pits. This tar is naturally
occurring asphalt. Genesis 11:3; Exodus 2:3. It is a well-known fact that
the southern end of the Dead Sea is a location for these tar pits. With the
assistance of the imagination, the destruction of the Cities of the Plain can
be recreated. Bryant Wood speculates that, 'these combustible materials
could have been forced from the earth by subterranean pressure brought
about by an earthquake resulting from the shifting of the bounding faults.
If these combustibles were ignited by lightning or some other agency as
they came spewing forth from the ground, it would indeed result in a
holocaust such as described in Genesis 19.' From the 1973 report by Rast
and Schaub there is evidence of widespread burning in the case of three
of the cities. At Bab edh-Dhra, handfulls of ashy soil and charcoal could
be removed from the surface of the ruins. At Numeira, a pit was dug which
cut through a seven foot thick layer of dark ash and at Feifa, much the
same evidence of destruction by fire could be found Genesis 19:28. The
site at Bab edh-Dhra was destroyed at the end of the early bronze III age
2600-2300 B.C. The other two cities were also destroyed around this
period. Are these five sites the five cities of the plain described in the
Biblical record?" http://www.abu.nb.ca/ecm/topics/arch5.htm
The Encyclopedia Britannica notes that:
"The Dead Sea occupies part of a graben (a downfaulted block of the
Earth's crust) between transform faults along a tectonic plate boundary
that runs from the Red Sea�Gulf of Suez spreading centre to a
convergent plate boundary in the Taurus Mountains. The eastern fault,
along the edge of the Moab Plateau, is more readily visible from the lake
than is the western fault, which marks the gentler Judaean upfold....
Thermal sulfur springs also feed the rivers" (i.e. the four perennial
streams

that

flow

into

the

Dead

Sea.)
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9029627
With sulfur springs, converging plate boundaries, fault-lines, tar pits and flamable gases
being emitted from the region, the area certainly appears to lend itself to the theory that
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorroah might well have been caused by a natural
disaster, from which God had been protecting His people.
D
esolate Jerusalem
Jeremiah 6:8
"Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee
desolate, a land not inhabited."
Jeremiah 9:11
"And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of
Judah desolate, without an inhabitant."
Jeremiah 44:6
"Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of
Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day."
263

Ezekiel 12:19,20
"And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink
their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein,
because of the violence of all them that dwell therein (20) And the cities that are
inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shal be desolate; and ye shal know that I am
the LORD."
From the foregoing Old Testament verses, it certainly appears convincing that God is so
angry with Jerusalem that He is going to personally destroy the city and the land of Judah,
leaving the entire area desolate. However, as Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, He
demonstrates the reality of how rejection affects His Father.
Matthew 23:37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent
unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Desire of Ages, 1989, p 829
"The holy Shekinah, in departing from the first temple, had stood upon the eastern
mountain, as if loath to forsake the chosen city; so Christ stood upon Olivet, with
yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem."
Furthermore, though God states unequivocally that HE will destroy Jerusalem and Judah,
the prophesied siege of Jerusalem and its destruction was accomplished by the Roman
army, under Titus � a pagan.
Great Controversy, p 33
"Blood flowed down the temple steps like water. Thousands upon thousands of Jews
perished. Above the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting: "Ichabod!"--the glory is
departed."
General Conference Daily Bulletins,1899-03-07.005 (2 August, 1895)
"Their beautiful temple was in ruins, and 'Ichabod, Ichabod, the glory is departed from
Israel,' was heard in songs of lamentation.... The Lord permitted them to be broken up
until they should find in him their center of attraction."
Great Controversy, p 24
"In the presence of Christ, and in this only, did the second temple exceed the first in glory.
But Israel had put from her the proffered Gift of heaven. With the humble Teacher who
had that day passed out from its golden gate, th
e glory had forever departed from the
temple. Already were the Saviour's words fulfilled: 'Your house is left unto you
desolate.' Matthew 23:38."
God did not personally destroy the city of Jerusalem. Neither did He send holy angels to
massacre the rebellious Jews. God simply withdrew His presence and protection from
Jerusalem. The divine glory departed. Once this was done, Satan, the "deity" who
controlled the pagan Romans, and whom the Jews chose as their leader in stead of
Christ, destroyed the city and temple of Jerusalem and made the land as desolate as the
nation was spiritually.
C
hrist's Death, Resurrection and Return
When Christ died there was an earthquake (Matt 27:54). When Christ was resurrected
there was another "great earthquake" (Matt 28:2). When Christ returns the earth will be
"reeling like a drunkard," "clean dissolved" and "moving exceedingly" (Isa 24:19,20).
Chaotic events are demonstrated to occur when the spirit of God is withdrawn. The earth
collapses however, when God's sustaining and stabilising power is completely withdrawn
after His third coming to the earth � eventually resulting in the Lake of Fire.
264

The Red Sea Crossing � (please refer to Objection #43 where this incident is dealt with
in more depth)
Rejecting the Spirit of God
After God is continually rejected, He withdraws. His withdrawal removes life, not as a
punitive action, but as a consequence of the withdrawal of the Source of ALL life. His
withdrawal removes the stability of nature which human beings often take for granted.
In the sense that God is the ONLY Life-Giver, it might be said that by withdrawing from
them, He kills sinners; but in reality, sinners choose their own death by pushing away and
rejecting the only Source of their life. God removes away reluctantly, as a real
Gentleman, respecting the individual's choice to serve another god.
For God to surrender to the rejection of His created beings and withdraw His protective
life sustaining power, is called "His strange act."
Isaiah 28:21
"For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley
of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his
strange act."
265

The Trinity's Character - Versus - the Father's Character
When we look at the trinity doctrine, which column is represented by their beliefs? The
concept of a god who has a nature which is a blend of both good and evil traits - the
Masonic "black and white" god; the Roman Catholic's "good and bad" god; the pagan
religions "male and female" god. In short, the god who is a bit good and a bit bad. The
god who presents as an angel of light, (2 Cor 11:14) but is really a roaring lion, seeking
whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Roman Catholic Orthodox Trinity Assassinates the Character of the One True God
Consider the following Roman Catholic traditions which, according to the Catholic
Handbook, p 16, are all based on the doctrine of the trinity. Purgatory, Penance, Ever-
burning hel , Flagel ation, the Stigmata, Eucharist, the Deity is so angry that an
Intercessor is required to approach the Son (Mary), Humanity is never-good enough �
even when "in Christ," hierarchical order, can't overcome sin, confession of sins to priest
who is the mediator between sinner and Mary and the saints, rituals and traditions,
mandatory offerings for ritualised ceremonies. The trinity doctrine denies the Father/Son
relationship and the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ � once for al humanity. It certainly
promotes the concept of an angry, violent, impatient god, who is pleased when his
followers suffer.
Tritheistic Trinity Assassinates the Character of the One True God
In many churches there is a hierarchical order or organisation. If members don't agree to
submit to the leadership, their membership is often terminated. This is the "We are the
chosen people syndrome."
Jeremiah predicted in Jeremiah 31:34
"And they shal teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,
saying, Know the LORD: for they shal al know me, from the least of them unto the
greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I wil forgive their iniquity, and I wil remember their
sin no more."
In fulfilment of the prediction, Christ instructed in Matthew 23:8
"But be not ye cal ed Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."
Paul informs us, that, far from being an isolated, wrathful God, as depicted in the Roman
Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, the Father is a God of comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3,4
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the
God of al comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in al our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God."
The Son of God is humanity's only Advocate, (1 John 2:1) the only Mediator (1 Tim 2:5)
and the only Intercessor (Heb 9:24; Isa 53:12). Christ also is our only Comforter (Jn
14:18). 'The Father of all comfort' (2 Cor 1:2,3); comforts us through His Son. The Son of
God dwel s in humanity (John 14:10,11,20,23) by faith, via the ministry of His holy angels,
who minister His divine thoughts to human minds.
This is not the current position of the SDA church which officially accepts that there are 2
Comforters - Christ and the 3rd Person of the Trinity. In their book published by the
Ministerial Association of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1988
called, Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p 63 it states:
"The only other Parakletos mentioned in Scripture is Christ Himself."
This statement seems to deny that Christ is our only Mediator with the Father (1 Tim 2:5).
266

C
hristia
nity or
C
hurchia
nity
In their published material, the SDA church, in keeping with Roman Catholic trinitarian
theology, appears to verge on claiming that the organisation itself is another necessary
intercessor for salvation. (Please note that the fol owing quotes are not from Ellen White.
They are from contemporary writers).
Adventist Review 9 August, 1984, p 18.
"There is some relationship between salvation and church membership."
Adventist Review, 2 November, 1989, p 8
"I appeal to all who are outside the fold just now....If you are not here, He [Christ] misses
you....The Father owns the house. Return to Him. For every good love story should
have a happy ending."
Adventist Review, 2 June, 1988, p 9.
"When we backslide from the church, we also backslide from God."
Despite words to the contrary, the tritheistic trinity doctrine presents an unloving God -
"not the Father who Himself loveth thee."(John.16.27). Also in 1 John 4:9; Galatians 4:4
and John 3:16, we are told that the Father's love for the world is demonstrated in that He
sent His only Son. The trinity doctrine assassinates the character of the Father � shooting
away the very fact that reveals His deepest love for the world.
The tritheistic god promotes a remote, aloof Father. He is portrayed as a punitive Being.
Obedience is sternly required, but not evoked from the heart which was created to
respond to the Father's drawing love. As a result, legalistic theology � which in practice is
salvation through works - became common in many mainstream Christian churches.
Legalism presents a stern and loveless religion which:
� prompts parents to physically force children into obedience - perhaps with bashings �
instead of drawing them with love and patient guidance;
� tinges the privilege of paying tithe with the undercurrent concept that God might be
cornered into pouring out a financial blessing (works programme) � instead of
recognising that God loves a cheerful giver;
� elevates traditions and rituals e.g. Simple baptism into the name of Jesus was
replaced by a "special trinitarian formula" - the three names - when this formula is not
practised in the Bible. Such rituals tend to bring unity, but it is not unity based on truth
as revealed in Jesus, but in a ritualistic works programme condoned by tradition;
� encourages self-righteousness and a critical spirit � people "keep" all the laws and
therefore are saved by their own works - a condition known today as Pharisaism.
Bible-believing Christians are in danger of making the Bible their god or their idol.
Christians ought not to worship the Bible, but they need to search the Bible to find the true
character of the God of the Bible. This can only be found by measuring al advocated
teachings in the Bible against the life and teachings of Jesus Christ � whose life
demonstrated the principles of the 10 commandments.
It is not suggested that persons from religious organisations are not sincere. It appears
however that many have been taught to look to human traditions and rituals instead of
searching out the truth on the Father's character - by aligning it with that of Jesus'
character. Perhaps we need to seriously consider stepping away from al traditions,
rituals and ceremonies, in order to remove preconceived ideas about God's character.
We might need to question if these beliefs are Bible-based. It may also be necessary to
recognise co-dependency on churches and a subconscious reliance on other people's
thinking.
267

Jeremiah 31:34
"And they shal teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,
saying, Know the LORD: for they shal al know me, from the least of them unto the
greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I wil forgive their iniquity, and I wil remember their
sin no more."
Matthew 23:8
"But be not ye cal ed Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."
John 1613
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show
you things to come."
God is not Double-Minded
God did not tell the whole world that they must keep His 10 Commandments and yet that
the Israelites could break several of them.
God does not tell the whole world today, that they must keep His 10 Commandments and
yet that Christians are at liberty to break several of them.
James 2:10-12
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no
adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (12) So speak ye, and
so do, as they that shal be judged by the law of liberty."
God is not inconsistent. God does not encourage law breaking. Commandment breaking
stems from the lusts of the flesh. The Israelites had them and so Christians today. Even
the most perfect Man who ever lived, did not flaunt His Father's law, but kept that law until
death and is stil keeping His Father's law.
James 3:10-12
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought
not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain
both yield salt water and fresh."
God's people will be identifiable by their Christ-like characters. They won't be double-
minded people. The 144000 won't be killing "less perfect human beings" � pagan men,
women, and little children. They won't be stealing pagan virgins for their own use etc. (as
advocated in Deut 21:10-14; Numbers 31) when Jesus comes.
James 3:14-4:2
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the
truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 4:1 From whence come wars
and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your
members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight
and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."
268

Wrath Falls on Jesus
Jesus suffered the Father's wrath (separation) when He became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21).
Could the wrath of God fall on anyone else in the Bible account, as severely as it did on
Christ � who took into His body, the sins of the entire world?
Isaiah 59:2
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his
face from you that he will not hear."
Matthew 26:36-38
"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the
disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the
two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto
them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death:"
Mark 14:32-33
"And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples,
Sit ye here, while I shal pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and
began to be sore amazed, (#1568) and to be very heavy (#85)."
The Greek words ekthambeo (translated as sore amazed) and ademoneo (translated as
very heavy) reveal that Jesus was "struck with terror;" that He became depressed to the
most extreme level expressible in the Greek language; that He was greatly distressed and
in anguish of mind.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines#1568 ekthambeo from <1569>
1) to throw into terror or amazement
1a) to alarm thoroughly, to terrify
2) to be struck with amazement
2a) to be thoroughly amazed, astounded
2b) to be struck with terror
� #85 ademoneo
from a derivative of adeo (to be sated to loathing); ; v
1) to be troubled, great distress or anguish, depressed
This is the strongest of the three Greek words ( <85>, <916>, <3076>) in the New
Testament for depression or grief.
Ellen White, 2 Testimonies for the Church, p 209
"Oh, was there ever suffering and sorrow like that endured by the dying Saviour! It was
the sense of His Father's displeasure which made His cup so bitter. It was not bodily
suffering which so quickly ended the life of Christ upon the cross. It was the crushing
weight of the sins of the world, and a sense of His Father's wrath. The Father's glory
and sustaining presence had left Him, and despair pressed its crushing weight of
darkness upon Him and forced from His pale and quivering lips the anguished cry: 'My
God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'"
Jesus felt the grief and depression that lost humanity will experience when the spirit of
God is finally removed from them. They wil cry out to God for mercy, but it wil be too
late. Finally they will realise they "are not saved."
Jeremiah 8:20
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
Isaiah 55:6
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: "
269

Proverbs 1:28
"Then shall they cal upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they
shal not find me:"
The depression experienced by the wicked, will soon transform into the horror of fear.
Revelation 6:16
"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:"
2 Timothy 1:7
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound
mind."
Fear is a prominent instrument of Satan weaponry (Rev.21.8) It is an attack on God's
character. It attacks trust in God's faithfulness (Mark 4:40).
Satan knew that the presence of the Father would be withdrawn from Christ as part of the
plan of salvation. Prophecies predicted this event. (Ps 22; Isa 53). So the weapon of fear
was used to the greatest degree when Christ was most vulnerable � separated from His
Father. Likened unto the treading of the winepress, the spirit of the Father was "pressed
out" in the Garden of Gethsemane (Isaiah 63:3).
North Pacific Union Gleaner, 23 March,1910 p 7
"Often in the silent watches of the night I think of the sufferings of Christ in our behalf.
Behold the Redeemer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The thought of being separated
from his Father was the burden pressing so heavily upon his soul. He felt as if he might be
unable to pass through such an experience. 'If it be possible,' he prayed, 'let this cup
pass from me.' So great was his agony that 'his sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.' It was for the sake of ransoming a lost world that he passed
through this agony."
Proverbs 1:27
"When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when
distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I wil not
answer; they shal seek me early, but they shal not find me:"
Hosea 9:12
"Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man
left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!"
Psalm 22:1, 11, 19, 20
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and
from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;
and in the night season, and am not silent. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for
there is none to help. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste
thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling (# 3173 yachiyd � only
begotten, beloved son) from the power of the dog (#3611 � attackers) "
When the presence of the Father was retracted from the Son, Jesus experienced the full
depth of the punishment that the unrepentant wicked wil experience. The separation
from God permits Satan to rush in and to attack the wicked. Christ was attacked, for
although He had done no sin, He accepted "to be made sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21) and took
upon Himself the full responsibility and consequences of our sins.
270

If Christ had not anchored His faith in the knowledge of His Father's loving character then
He would have been overcome.
Satan tempted Christ to doubt His Father's character � His faithfulness � His pledge to
redeem humanity, (despite their extreme sinfulness), through Christ's life and sacrifice.
But, despite experiencing the Father's ful wrath (withdrawal of His glory and presence),
Jesus held on to the knowledge of His Father's loving, faithful character. It was Christ's
FAITH in the unchanging, loving character of His Father that won the victory.
S
ummary:
Christ became sin for the redemption of the world. This caused the Father's presence to
be withdrawn for God is a consuming fire to sin (Isa 59:2; Heb 12:29). The Father did not
destroy His own Son. He withdrew His protection from His Son. This withdrawal is
termed the Father's "wrath." When the Father's protection was no longer over Christ,
Satan rushed in to forceful y tempt and try to destroy Christ' faith in the Father's character.
Separation from God � the hiding of His Father's face � God's wrath � the reward of
sinners - THAT is the wrath of God. Jesus experienced this wrath to its deepest depths.
However, while experiencing the wrath (separation from His Father) Christ also had to
endure the evil opportunist. Satan ever awaits such opportunities where sin separates
humanity from divinity. In His humanity, separated from the divine spirit of the Father,
Christ was vulnerable. Satan rushed in with his evil angels, to tempt Christ's humanity to
sin and if possible, to destroy Him . But Christ's faith in the Father's character, gave
Him victory.
Wrath Falls on Humanity
When those who al ow Satan's weapon of fear to weaken their faith in Christ, they make
incorrect assumptions or decisions and commit sin. They doubt God's character is loving
and that He is faithful to save them out of Satan's hands. When this fear/doubt is
cherished, they separate themselves from God.
The fearful (those who doubt God's character � the faithless) are counted with the wicked
and are then easy prey for Satan's attacks.
Revelation 21:8
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and al liars, shal have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Hebrews 10:26, 31
"For if we sin wilful y after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries....31 It is a fearful thing to fall (#1706
be entrapped) into (#1519 against) the hands of the living God."
It is a fearful thing to fall out of the protective hands of the living God, because in that
situation, there is no protection from the devil and his evil angels.
271

Ellen White's Definition of the Character of God
Humanity's perception of God's character has been warped since the first lie Satan told
about God in the Garden of Eden. Satan is still assassinating God's loving character, and
casting on it, images of his own ferocious and depraved character.
Bible Echo, 16 April, 1894 p.12, 13
"God's law is a copy of His mind and will. The sins forbidden there could never find
a place in Heaven. It was love that prompted God to express His will in the ten precepts
of the decalogue. Afterward He showed His love for man by sending prophets and
teachers to explain and illustrate His holy law. 13 God has given man a complete rule of
life in His law. Obeyed, man shal live by it, through the merits of Christ. Transgressed, it
has power to condemn. The law sends men to Christ, and Christ points them back to the
law."
4 Spirit of Prophecy, p 273
"They had by faith followed their High Priest from the holy to the most holy, and
they saw him pleading his blood before the ark of God. Within that sacred ark is the
Father's law, the same that was spoken by God himself amid the thunders of Sinai,
and written with his own finger on the tables of stone. Not one command has
been annulled; not a jot or tittle has been changed. While God gave to Moses a
copy of his law, he preserved the great original in the sanctuary above."
Pacific Union Recorder, 31 December, 1903
"I am instructed to say to our people, Let us follow Christ. We may safely discard
all ideas that are not included in His teachings."
Ellen White said there is a lot to learn, and a lot to unlearn She specified that the
Pharisees, the leaders of the "chosen people" had to "unlearn" their traditional
understanding of the character of God.

Review

and

Herald,

3

August,

1897,

p

5

"When Moses desired to see the glory of God, God revealed his character to his
servant. "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God,
merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping
mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by
no means clear the guilty." He who made this proclamation to Moses was the One who
now spoke to the Pharisees, though now his divine character was veiled by the garb of
humanity. But the priests and rulers had not that which they needed so much,--a
knowledge of God's character. For this reason they were constantly
misrepresenting him. They had much to unlearn of the traditions and inventions of
men; they had need to learn the true principles of the law of Jehovah. "
What did the Jews have in their tradition? They had vengeful, violent, murdering laws.
Stone the Sabbath-breaker. Stone the adulterer. Poke out the eye. Knock out the tooth.
They were the "chosen people" - and that made them incredibly racist, thinking they had
the "right" to annihilate many other races � and even that God told them to do so. How
was their code of living, different to the other nations around them, who served pagan
gods? Other nations had gods (Satan) who delighted in war and prompted them to attack
the Israelites. Who told the Jews to do these horrendous things? Not the true God! Nor
His Son! God's character and law says, "Love your enemies. Revile not again." And He
had NO VIOLENCE in Him - only healing came from His hands. (Isa. 53:9; Mark 6:56;
Matt 4:24; Matt 8:16; Matt 14:14; Mark 1:34; Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; Sun of Righteousness �
healing in His wings (Mal 4:2); I am the Lord thy God that healeth thee (Exo 15:26)
healeth all thy diseases (Psa 103:3).
272

Ellen White emphasises that God's government does not involve principles of force.
Desire of Ages, 1898 p 759, 22
"God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a
pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force.
Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles
are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the
presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is
moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power..." 22 "The earth was dark
through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the
world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This
could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's
government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it
cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to
love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This
work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth
of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of
Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2. "
Great Controversy, p.569
"It is Satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin,
and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation
of the divine law and gives men license to sin. At the same time he causes them to
cherish false conceptions of God so that they regard Him with fear and hate rather
than with love. The cruelty inherent in his own character is attributed to the Creator;
it is embodied in systems of religion and expressed in modes of worship. Thus the minds
of men are blinded, and Satan secures them as his agents to war against God. By
perverted conceptions of the divine attributes, heathen nations were led to believe human
sacrifices necessary to secure the favor of Deity; and horrible cruelties have been
perpetrated under the various forms of idolatry. The Roman Catholic Church, uniting the
forms of paganism and Christianity, and, like paganism, misrepresenting the character
of God..."
Who then, correctly represents the Father's character? Who can teach humanity the truth
about the Father?
Ellen White answers repeatedly. - only One. Christ, the Son of God.
8 Testimonies, p 265, 266
"Christ came to teach human beings what God desires them to know. In the heavens
above, in the earth, in the broad waters of the ocean, we see the handiwork of God. All
created things testify to His power, His wisdom, His love. But not from the stars or the
ocean or the cataract can we learn of the personality of God as it is revealed in Christ.
God saw that a clearer revelation than nature was needed to portray both His
personality and His character. He sent His Son into the world to reveal, so far as could
be endured by human sight, the nature and the attributes of the invisible God. Had God
desired to be represented as dwel ing personally in the things of nature,--in the flower, the
tree, the spire of grass,--would not Christ have spoken of this to His disciples when He
was on the earth? But never in the teaching of Christ is God thus spoken of. Christ and
the apostles taught clearly the truth of the existence of a personal God. (266) Christ
revealed all of God that sinful human beings could bear without being destroyed. He is the
divine Teacher, the Enlightener. Had God thought us in need of revelations other than
those made through Christ and in His written word, He would have given them."
Ellen White states that Christ is the Divine Teacher.
273

Christ is the Divine, Greatest Teacher
Special Testimonies on Education p 141 (Australia, March 21, 1895).
"The disciples of Christ are not called upon to magnify men, but to magnify God, the
source of all wisdom. Let educators give the Holy Spirit room to do its work upon human
hearts. The greatest Teacher is represented in our midst by his Holy Spirit."
Christ is the Great Teacher
6 Testimonies for the Church, p 159, 160
"The Great Teacher who came down from heaven has not directed teachers to study any
of the reputedly great authors. He says: 'Come unto Me. . . . Learn of Me; . . . and ye shal
find rest unto your souls.' Matthew 11:28, 29. Christ has promised, and in learning
lessons of Him we shall find rest. All the treasures of heaven were committed to Him
that He might give these gifts to the diligent, persevering seeker. He is of God made
unto us 'wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' 1
Corinthians 1:30. Teachers must understand what lessons to impart, or they cannot
prepare students to be transferred to the higher grade. They must study Christ's
lessons and the character of His teaching. They must see its freedom from formalism
and tradition, and appreciate the originality, the authority, the spirituality, the tenderness,
the benevolence, and the practicability of His teaching. Those who make the word of God
their study, those who dig for the treasures of truth, will themselves become imbued with
the Spirit of Christ, and by beholding they wil become changed into His likeness. Those
who appreciate the word wil teach as disciples who have been sitting at the feet of Jesus
and have accustomed themselves to learn of Him. In the place of bringing into our
schools books containing the suppositions of the world's great authors, they will say:
Tempt me not to disregard the greatest Author and the greatest Teacher, through
whom I have everlasting life. He never mistakes. He is the great Fountain head whence
all wisdom flows. Then let every teacher sow the seed of truth in the minds of students.
Christ is the standard Teacher."
Christian Education 1893 p 108
"The best educated in the sciences are not always the most effective instruments for
God's use. There are many who find themselves laid aside, and those who have had
fewer advantages of obtaining knowledge of books, taking their places, because the latter
have a knowledge of practical things that is essential to the uses of every-day life; while
those who consider themselves learned, often cease to be learners, are self-sufficient,
and above being taught, even by Jesus, who was the greatest teacher the world ever
knew."
5 Testimonies for the Church, p 253
"When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, His disciples were gathered close
about Him, and the multitude, filled with intense curiosity, also pressed as near as
possible. Something more than usual was expected. Eager faces and listening attitudes
gave evidence of the deep interest. The attention of all seemed riveted upon the speaker.
His eyes were lighted up with unutterable love, and the heavenly expression upon His
countenance gave meaning to every word uttered. Angels of heaven were in that listening
throng. There, too, was the adversary of souls with his evil angels, prepared to
counteract, as far as possible, the influence of the heavenly Teacher. The truths there
uttered have come down through the ages and have been a light amid the general
darkness of error. Many have found in them that which the soul most needed--a sure
foundation of faith and practice. But in these words spoken by the greatest Teacher
the world has ever known there is no parade of human eloquence. The language is
plain, and the thoughts and sentiments are marked with the greatest simplicity. The poor,
the unlearned, the most simple-minded, can understand them. The Lord of heaven was in
mercy and kindness addressing the souls He came to save. He taught them as one
having authority, speaking the words of eternal life."
274

Special Testimonies on Education,1895 p 232
"Jesus Christ is the knowledge of the Father, and Christ is our great teacher sent
from God. Christ has declared in the sixth chapter of John that he is that bread sent
down from heaven. 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and
are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I wil give for
the life of the world.' The disciples did not comprehend his words. Says Christ, 'It is
the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto
you, they are spirit, and they are life.'"
Southern Worker, 15 September, 1908, p 5
"...Jesus, the King of glory, who was rich, yet for our sake became poor, was opening to
him the treasures of divine love. The Holy Spirit was pleading with him to become an heir
of the inheritance that is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." He had
seen evidence of the power of Christ. Now the opportunity was his to speak to the
great Teacher, to express the desire uppermost in his heart. But, like the man with the
muck-rake in Bunyan's allegory, his eyes were fixed on the earth. He saw not the crown
above his head. Like Simon Magus, he valued the gift of God as a means of worldly gain."
Special Testimonies on Education,1897 p 206,
"The religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver, it never makes him coarse or
rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard-hearted. On the contrary, it
refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, by
bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God's ideal for his children is higher than the
highest human thought can reach. The living God has given in his holy law a
transcript of his character. The greatest teacher the world has ever known is Jesus
Christ. And what is the standard he has given for all who believe in him to reach? -
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As God
is perfect in his high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere.
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of
continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain, which includes
everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and
constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character. (See 2 Tim. 3: 14-
17; Rom. 15:4; Col. 2:8-10.)"
Review and Herald, 12 May,1896, p5
"There are souls famishing for the bread of life, thirsting for the waters of salvation; and
woe unto that man who by pen or voice shal turn them aside into false paths! The Spirit
of God is appealing to men, presenting to them their moral obligation to love and serve
him with heart, might, mind, and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves. The
Holy Spirit moves upon the inner self until it becomes conscious of the divine power of
God, and every spiritual faculty is quickened to decided action. Jesus said, "I wil send
you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." A deep, thorough work is to
be wrought in the soul, which the world cannot see. Those who know not what it is to
have an experience in the things of God, who know not what it is to be justified by faith,
who have not the witness of the Spirit that they are accepted of Jesus Christ, are in need
of being born again. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit." What can the world know of Christian experience?--Verily, nothing.
"Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
The great Teacher explained this instruction, saying, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are
life."
275

Review and Herald, 3 June,1890 p 10
"Those who stand in vindication of the law of God, are in a position where they
need much of the Spirit of God. If ministers are wanting in meekness, if they are easily
irritated when opposed, it is evident that they need divine enlightenment. Men must
manifest the grace of Christ as they labor for souls. The truth as it is in Jesus will have
altogether a different influence upon the minds of unbelievers, from that which it has had
when presented as a theory or as a controversial subject. If we do our very best to
present the truth in its stirring character, crossing the opinions and ideas of others, it will
be misinterpreted, misapplied, and misstated, to those who are entertaining error, in order
to make it appear in an objectionable light. There are few to whom you bring the truth,
who have not been drinking of the wine of Babylon. It is hard for them to comprehend the
truth, therefore the necessity of teaching it as it is in Jesus. Those who claim to be
lo
vers of truth can afford to be meek and lowly of heart, as was th
e great Teacher.
Those who have been diligently working in the mines of God's word, and have discovered
the precious ore in the rich veins of truth, in the divine mysteries that have been hidden
for ages, will exalt the Lord Jesus, the Source of all truth, by revealing in their characters
the sanctifying power of what they believe. Jesus and his grace must be enshrined in
th
e inner sanctuary of the soul. T
hen he will be revealed in words, in prayer, in
exhortation, in the presentation of sacred truth, for this is the great secret of
spiritual success. When self is woven into our labors, then the truth we bear to others
does not sanctify, refine, and ennoble our own hearts; it wil not testify that we are fit
vessels for the Master's use. It is only through fervent prayer that we may hold sweet
fellowship with Jesus, and through this blessed communion the words and the
spirit are made fragrant with the spirit of Christ. There is not a heart that wil not bear
watching. Jesus, the precious Saviour, enjoined watchfulness. The oversight of self must
not be relaxed for a moment. The heart must be kept with diligence, for out of it are the
issues of life. Watch and discipline the thoughts, that you may not sin with your lips.
Kress Col ection, p 82
"God desires to see the souls of His people in Africa mastered by heaven-born purposes.
But what a work needs to be done there! The people have not learned of the great
Teacher. Human nature, when unsubdued, unsanctified and depraved, is a very curious
and wonderful thing. It assumes a great many forms because it is not worked by the Holy
Spirit. But when the Lord Jesus is an abiding presence in the soul, none need to
question the value of the human being, man or woman."
Review and Herald 8 October, 1895, p 6
"...All need wisdom to understand that it is true greatness to keep company with Jesus
Christ, to walk in meekness and humility with God, cultivating single-hearted simplicity,
and being ever ready to receive instruction from the great Teacher. God has promised
his Holy Spirit, which is sufficient to teach us, il uminating to our minds the word of
God, which, if practiced, wil thoroughly furnish a man unto all good works. God's
commandments are exceeding broad."
Pamphlet: Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity,16 January, 1907, p 22
"While respecting authority...in accordance with wisely-laid plans, every worker is
amenable to the Great Teacher for the proper exercise of his God-given judgment and of
his right to look to the God of heaven for wisdom and guidance. God is Commander and
Ruler over all. We have a personal Saviour, and we are not to exchange His Word
fo
r the word of any man. In the Scriptures th
e Lord has given instruction fo
r every
worker. The words of the Master-Worker should be diligently studied; for they are
spirit and life. Laborers who are striving to work in harmony with this instruction, are
under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and need not always, before
they make any advance move, first ask permission of some one else. No precise lines are
to be laid down. Let the Holy Spirit direct the workers. As they keep looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, the gifts of grace wil increase by wise use."
276

Ellen White Explains The Wrath of God
How Wrath Fell on Jesus
Ellen White describes the total wrath of His Father as it fell on Christ (who was made sin
for us 2 Cor 5:21), in the Garden of Gethsemane.
EG White, 2 Testimonies for the Church, p 203, 204, 209
"Could mortals view the amazement and sorrow of the angels as they watched in silent
grief the Father separating His beams of light, love and glory, from his Son, they
would better understand how offensive is sin in His sight. As the Son of God in the
Garden of Gethsemane bowed in the attitude of prayer, the agony of his spirit forced
from His pores sweat like great drops of blood. It was here that the horror of great
darkness surrounded Him. The sins of the world were upon Him. He was suffering
in man's stead, as a transgressor of His Father's law. Here was the scene of
temptation. The divine light of God was receding from His vision, and He was
passing into the hands of the powers of darkness. In the agony of His soul He lay
prostrate on the cold earth. He was realizing His Father's frown. The cup of suffering
Christ had taken from the lips of guilty man, and proposed to drink it Himself, and, in its
place, give to man the cup of blessing. The wrath that would have fallen upon man,
was now falling upon Christ.... (204) The sins of a lost world were upon Him and
overwhelming Him. It was a sense of His Father's frown, in consequence of sin,
which rent His heart with such piercing agony and forced from His brow great drops of
blood, which, rolling down His pale cheeks, fell to the ground, moistening the
earth.....(209)Oh, was there ever suffering and sorrow like that endured by the dying
Saviour! It was the sense of His Father's displeasure which made His cup so bitter. It was
not bodily suffering which so quickly ended the life of Christ upon the cross. It was the
crushing weight of the sins of the world, and a sense of His Father's wrath. The
Father's glory and sustaining presence had left Him, and despair pressed its crushing
weight of darkness upon Him and forced from His pale and quivering lips the anguished
cry: 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?' "
The wrath of the Father is called "the Father's frown." It is described as the separating of
His light, love, glory and sustaining presence. When the Father withdraws His spirit (light,
love, glory and sustaining presence) then Satan and his demons � the powers of
darkness - rush in and bring horror and destruction. Ellen White continues this theme
throughout her writings.
277

Ellen White � Sinners are Destroyed by the Wrath of God
Ellen White, Early Writings, p 54 (End of the 2300 Days )
"I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and
admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He
had, but I could not behold it, for said He, 'If you should once behold the glory of
His person, you would cease to exist.'"
In this passage it is clear that Jesus was not threatening to kill Ellen White. Instead,
Christ assured her that she was protected by the Father who had intentionally veiled His
glory so that she, a sinner, would not die in His glorious presence. The sin in humanity
kills the person in whom it resides. In the presence of the unveiled glory of God, such
death is instantaneous to the sinful race, but such destruction does not originate from
God. God protects humanity and prevents their deaths by veiling His glory from them.
Review and Herald, 17 September, 1901 p 8
"God keeps a reckoning with the nations. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His
notice. Those who work evil toward their fel ow men, saying, How doth God know? will
one day be called upon to meet long-deferred vengeance. In this age a more than
common contempt is shown to God. Men have reached a point in insolence and
disobedience which shows that their cup of iniquity is almost full. Many have well-nigh
passed the boundary of mercy. Soon God will show that He is indeed the living God. He
will say to the angels, "No longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy. Let him
work out his malignity upon the children of disobedience; for the cup of their
iniquity is full. They have advanced from one degree of wickedness to another,
adding daily to their lawlessness. I will no longer interfere to prevent the destroyer
from doing his work."
Great Controversy, 1911, p 36
"We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we
enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing ful y under
the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for
God's mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil
one. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God
does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against
transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that
which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded,
every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown which
yields its unfailing harvest." "The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last
withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil
passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. The
destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to al who are trifling with the
offers of divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy. Never was there given
a more decisive testimony to God's hatred of sin and to the certain punishment that wil
fall upon the guilty. The Saviour's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon
Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint
shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has
rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law. Dark are the records of human misery
that earth has witnessed during its long centuries of crime. The heart sickens, and the
mind grows faint in contemplation. Terrible have been the results of rejecting the
authority of Heaven. But a scene yet darker is presented in the revelations of the future.
The records of the past,--the long procession of tumults, conflicts, and revolutions, the
"battle of the warrior . . . with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood" (Isaiah 9:5),--
what are these, in contrast with the terrors of that day when the restraining Spirit of
278

God shall be wholly withdrawn from the wicked, no longer to hold in check the
outburst of human passion and satanic wrath! The world will then behold, as never
before, the results of Satan's rule. (p 37). But in that day, as in the time of
Jerusalem's destruction, God's people will be delivered, everyone that shall be found
written among the living. Isaiah 4:3. Christ has declared that He will come the second time
to gather His faithful ones to Himself: "Then shal al the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shal gather
together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." "Matthew
24:30, 31. Then shall they that obey not the gospel be consumed with the spirit of His
mouth and be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Like
Israel of old the wicked destroy themselves; they fall by their iniquity. By a life of
sin, they have placed themselves so out of harmony with God, their natures have
become so debased with evil, that the manifestation of His glory is to them a
consuming fire."
Signs of the Times, 6 January, 1890, p 7
"If the Lord did not continue his guardian care over us by day and night, Satan would
exercise his power against us, and we should be consumed. The Lord has appointed his
angels to shield his people, that the wicked one may not destroy us. But because of the
preserving care and tender mercies of the Lord, men become careless. The wise man
says, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." The patience and forbearance of
God should soften instead of hardening the hearts of men. Do not presume upon the
forbearance of God, but rather seek to understand his dealings with the children of earth."
Signs of the Times, 5 January, 1891, p 3
"Satan is the author of al doubt, all transgression. He leads men captive, binding them to
do his will; in order to fulfil his purpose, he holds them in the veriest slavery. To break this
bondage, the Lord, in man's behalf, has given to the world his only-begotten and wel -
beloved Son. Through the power of Christ, the captives of Satan may all be set free. Had
there been no interference on the part of God, Satan and men would have united in an
unbroken warfare against the God of heaven. When Christ came to the world, evil angels
conspired with evil men, and the energies of apostasy were united to destroy the Saviour
of the world. This enmity was due to the fact that Christ would not license the evil
passions of the natural heart, and made a decided warfare against all lust and every form
of evil."
James 4:1, 2
"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence? even of your
lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kil , and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and
receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
Signs of the Times, 4 December, 1893, p 4
"Jesus was the truth, yet he was scorned as a deceiver. He was hunted from place to
place as a malefactor. His own nation took the most active part in throwing contempt upon
him. His friends, and even his own brethren, denied and forsook him. Every cruelty that
an apostate angel could instigate was set in operation. He was buffeted with
temptations, lacerated with stripes, crowned with thorns, mocked and derided as a false
king, and at last crucified on the cross. 5 Satan has kept up his system of cruelty, and
still employs his planned agency of crookedness and deception, and accuses and
condemns and tortures in order that he may control the conscience. While
exercising his power in torturing those whom he controlled through demoniacal
possession, he yet laid the blame of it upon the Lord God of heaven. He put his own
interpretation on his Satanic actions, and charged God with being the author of all
evil. "
279

Signs of the Times, 12 March, 1896, p 3
"Satan and his confederacy of evil have tempted the world to believe a lie as they tempted
Adam and Eve in Eden. It has been the purpose of the enemy to unsettle the whole
fabric of truth, and to set the world adrift in the mazes of skepticism; but truth is
immutable. A wily foe has perverted the senses of men so that they have chosen
falsehood rather than truth. The Christian world has accepted the falsehoods of Satan,
and has believed and advocated a change in the fourth commandment, which was given
as a commemoration of God's creative power in making the world. This falsehood has
been working out its baleful results in making of no effect the whole law, in placing upon
the human mind the impression that God is not invariable, invincible truth. This is the cup
of intoxication that the Christian world is drinking, with which the inhabitants of the earth
are becoming drunken. Satan is seeking to destroy the force of the Ten
Commandments, urging his agents to declare that Christ nailed them to his cross. The
cross is an immutable argument of the unchangeable character of the law of God. Christ
died in order that a way might be provided for saving the sinner, in meeting the demands
of the broken law. The law was written with the finger of God upon tables of stone, ...."
1 Testimonies, p 301
"I was shown that Satan cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control.
Those who depart from the right are in serious danger now. They separate
themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels, and Satan, ever upon
th
e watch to destroy souls, begins to present to them his deceptions. Such are in
the utmost peril; and if they see and try to resist the powers of darkness and to free
themselves from Satan's snare, it is not an easy matter. They have ventured on Satan's
ground, and he claims them. He will not hesitate to engage all his energies and cal to his
aid al his evil host to wrest a single human being from the hand of Christ. Those who
have tempted the devil to tempt them wil have to make desperate efforts to free
themselves from his power. But when they begin to work for themselves, then angels
of God whom they have grieved will come to their rescue. Satan and his angels are
unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict
is severe. But if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess
their wrongs, angels who excel in strength wil prevail and wrench them from the power of
the evil angels."
1 Testimonies, p 345
"I saw evil angels contending for souls, and angels of God resisting them. The conflict was
severe. Evil angels were corrupting the atmosphere with their poisonous influence, and
crowding about these souls to stupefy their sensibilities. Holy angels were anxiously
watching and waiting to drive back Satan's host. But it is not the work of good angels
to control the minds of men against their will. If they yield to the enemy, and make
no effort to resist him, then the angels of God can do but little more than hold in
check the host of Satan, that they shall not destroy, until further light be given to
those in peril, to move them to arouse and look to heaven for help. Jesus wil not
commission holy angels to extricate those who make no effort to help themselves."
Christ's Object Lessons, p 74
"Notwithstanding Christ's warning, men have sought to uproot the tares. To punish those
who were supposed to be evildoers, the church has had recourse to the civil power.
Those who differed from the established doctrines have been imprisoned, put to torture
and to death, at the instigation of men who claimed to be acting under the sanction of
Christ. But it is the spirit of Satan, not the Spirit of Christ, that inspires such acts.
This is Satan's own method of bringing the world under his dominion. God has
been misrepresented through the church by this way of dealing with those
supposed to be heretics. Not judgment and condemnation of others, but humility and
distrust of self, is the teaching of Christ's parable."
280

Early Writings, p 221
"Satan looks with great satisfaction upon those who profess the name of Christ, yet
closely adhere to the delusions which he himself has originated. His work is still to devise
new delusions, and his power and art in this direction continual y increase. He led his
representatives, the popes and the priests, to exalt themselves, and to stir up the people
to bitterly persecute and destroy those who were not willing to accept his delusions. Oh,
the sufferings and agony which the precious followers of Christ were made to endure!
Angels have kept a faithful record of it all. Satan and his evil angels exultingly told the
angels who ministered to these suffering saints that they were al to be kil ed, so that there
would not be left a true Christian upon the earth. I saw that the church of God was then
pure. There was no danger of men with corrupt hearts coming into it; for the true
C
hristian, who dared to declare his faith, was in danger of the rack, the stake, and e very
to
rture which Satan and his evil angels could invent or inspire in the mind of man. "
Desire of Ages, 1898, p 487
"It is no part of Christ's mission to compel men to receive Him. It is Satan, and men
actuated by his spirit, that seek to compel the conscience. Under a pretense of zeal for
righteousness, men who are confederate with evil angels bring suffering upon their fellow
men, in order to convert them to their ideas of religion; but Christ is ever showing
m
ercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love. He can admit no rival in the
soul, nor accept of partial service; but He desires only voluntary service, the willing
surrender of the heart under the constraint of love. There can be no more conclusive
evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and
destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas. "
"To hurt and destroy those who did not appreciate their work." The Jewish nation adopt
this course to those nations who did not appreciate their religion and who acted contrary
to Jewish ideas. What spirit does Ellen White reveal that actuated the killings?
Satan's spirit � not the gentle, holy, law-abiding spirit of God.
1 Spiritual Gifts, p 19
"When Satan became fully conscious that there was no possibility of his being brought
again into favor with God, then his malice and hatred began to be manifest. He consulted
with his angels, and a plan was laid to still work against God's government. When Adam
and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to destroy them. A
consultation was held with his evil angels. In no way could this happy couple be deprived
of their happiness if they obeyed God. Satan could not exercise his power upon them
unless they should first disobey God, and forfeit his favor. They must devise some
plan to lead them to disobedience that they might incur God's frown, and be brought
under the more direct influence of Satan and his angels. It was decided that Satan should
assume another form and manifest an interest for man. He must insinuate against God's
truthfulness, create doubt whether God did mean as he said, next, excite their curiosity,
and lead them to pry into the unsearchable plans of God, which Satan had been guilty of,
and reason as to the cause of his restrictions in regard to the tree of knowledge."
Great Controversy, 1911, p 517
"The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us were it not that we may
find shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer. We carefully secure
our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men; but we
seldom think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against
whose attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defense. If permitted,
they can distract our minds, disorder and torment our bodies, destroy our
possessions and our lives. Their only delight is in misery and destruction. Fearful
is the condition of those who resist the divine claims and yield to Satan's
temptations, until God gives them up to the control of evil spirits. But those who
follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent
from heaven to protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God
has stationed about His people."
281

Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White (1851) p 33, 34
"At the general conference of believers in the present truth, held at Sutton, (Vt.)
September, 1850, I was shown that the seven last plagues wil be poured out after Jesus
leaves the Sanctuary. Said the angel, It is the wrath of God and the Lamb that causes
the destruction or death of the wicked. At the voice of God the saints wil be mighty
and terrible as an army with banners; but they will not then execute the judgment written.
The execution of the judgment wil be at the close of the 1000 years. After the saints are
changed to immortality, and are caught up together, with Jesus, receive their harps,
crowns, &c., and enter the City, Jesus and the saints sit in judgment. The books are
opened, the book of life and the book of death; the book of life contains the good deeds of
the saints, and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books were
compared with the Statute book, the Bible, and according to that they were judged. The
saints in unison with Jesus pass their judgment upon the wicked dead. Behold ye! said
the angel, the saints sit in judgment, in unison with Jesus, and mete out to each of the
wicked, according to the deeds done in the body, and it is set off against their names,
what they must receive at the execution of the judgment. This, I saw, was the work of the
saints with Jesus, in the Holy City before it descends to the earth, through the 1000 years.
Then at the close of the 1000 years, Jesus, and the angels, and all the saints with him,
leaves the Holy City, and while he is descending to the earth with them, the wicked dead
are raised, and then the very men that "pierced him," being raised, will see him afar off in
all his glory, the angels and saints with him, and wil wail because of him. They will see
the prints of the nails in his hands, and in his feet, and where they thrust the spear into his
side. The prints of the nails and the spear will then be his glory. It is at the close of the
1000 years that Jesus stands upon the Mount of Olives, and the Mount parts asunder,
and it becomes a mighty plain, and those who flee at that time are the wicked, that have
just been raised. Then the Holy City comes down and settles on the plain. (34) Then
Satan imbues the wicked, that have been raised, with his spirit. He flatters them that the
army in the City is small, and that his army is large, and that they can overcome the saints
and take the City. While Satan was rallying his army, the saints were in the City,
beholding the beauty and glory of the Paradise of God. Jesus was at their head, leading
them. All at once the lovely Saviour was gone from our company; but soon we heard his
lovely voice, saying, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world." We gathered about Jesus, and just as he closed the
gates of the City, the curse was pronounced upon the wicked. 41 The gates were shut.
Then the saints used their wings and mounted to the top of the wal of the City. Jesus was
also with them; his crown looked bril iant and glorious. It was a crown within a crown,
seven in number. The crowns of the saints were of the most pure gold, decked with stars.
Their faces shone with glory, for they were in the express image of Jesus; and as they
arose, and moved al together to the top of the City. I was enraptured with the sight. (35)
Then the wicked saw what they had lost; and fire was breathed from God upon them,
and consumed them. This was the Execution of the Judgment. The wicked then
received according as the saints in unison with Jesus had meted out to them during the
1000 years. The same fire from God that consumed the wicked, purified the whole
earth.42 The broken ragged mountains melted with fervent heat, the atmosphere, also,
and all the stubble was consumed. Then our inheritance opened before us, glorious and
beautiful, and we inherited the whole earth made new. We all shouted with a loud voice,
Glory, Alleluia."
41 Christ's curse is His final turning away from the wicked. Matthew 7:23 "And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
42 The same life-giving and purifying creative act that recreates the earth and gives life to
animals etc, destroys the life of the wicked. The wicked, through their own choices, are
"hard wired" to sin and by their own choice, are not protected from divine powerful
creative and purifying forces, as are the righteous.
282

Review and Herald, 29 August,1893, p 1
"In the scene representing the work of Christ for us, and the determined accusation
of Satan against us, Joshua stands as the high priest, and makes request in behalf
of God's commandment-keeping people. At the time, Satan represents the people
of God as great sinners, and presents before God the list of sins he has tempted
them to commit through their lifetime, and urges that because of their
transgressions, they be given into his hands to destroy. He urges that they should
not be protected by ministering angels against the confederacy of evil. He is full of
anger because he cannot bind the people of God into bundles with the world, to
render to him complete allegiance."
Satan's Work Confused with God's Work
Review and Herald, 26 January, 1897, p 8
"When the Lord Jesus visited our earth, he brought with him renovating energy. He put
enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent. But there is no enmity between
fallen angels and fallen men. Both, through apostasy, are evil; and wherever there is
evil, with no disposition to repent, it will always league with Satan against God.
Fallen men and fallen angels unite in a desperate struggle to destroy God's great
standard of righteousness. There was a bond of sympathy among the angels that Satan
succeeded in drawing into rebel ion, and he made them his allies in the effort to dethrone
God and to abolish his law. Satan's work in our world to day is to destroy the moral
image of God in man, by making void the divine law; and our enemies are inspired
by his spirit. By casting aside God's great standard of character, he can deprave
human nature, and win men and women to his standard; for, "Where no law is,
there is no transgression." With what triumph, then, he watches the professedly
Christian world, as they earnestly do the very work he is doing."

What did the ancient Jews do in breaking God's commandments? They killed, committed
adultery, stole. They performed Satan's work � His evil character prompted vile atrocities
which were al committed "in the name of the Lord."
Signs of the Times, 23 December, 1886, p 12
"Our Saviour himself was a victim of religious intolerance. "He came unto his own; but his
own received him not." Had he praised and exalted men, had he called corruption purity,
and given license to human creeds by teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,
they would have received him gladly." "But his zeal for God, the righteous fervor with
which he denounced every abomination that was done in the land, and, above all, the
sinless purity of his own character, aroused the bitter hatred of the "whited
sepulchres" who deceived the people by the appearance of great sanctity. Satan
and evil angels united with evil men to destroy from the earth the champion of
truth. There was a bruising of the heel of the seed of the woman, when Christ was
scorned as a deceiver, and was hunted down and put to death as a criminal; but could
Satan have induced him to commit one sin, there would have been a bruising of the head,
and the world would have been abandoned to the power of the prince of darkness. 13
The religion of Christ is for men to accept, with all its inconveniences. They may invent an
easier way; but it will not lead to the city of God, the saints' secure abode. Only those
who "do his commandments," will have "right to the tree of life," and "enter in
through the gates into the city."
Ellen White explains that Satan tries to convince humanity that al evil comes from God.
He tries to convince humanity that God's character is real y evil or at least has portions of
evil in it.
Jesus suffered from character assassination also. Jesus was accused of using
demonic power to do good things when in fact, He used the power of God to do
good. This amounted to blasphemy.
283

Mark 3:22-30
"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by
the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he called them unto him, and said
unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided
against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that
house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot
stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house (Satan's
house), and spoil his goods (take back dominion of the world), except he wil first bind the
strong man (Satan); and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins
shal be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shal
blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30 Because they said, He hath an
unclean spirit."
Review and Herald, 18 January, 1898 p 7
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, contemptuously, "This fellow doth not cast
out devils, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." These words were inspired by
Satan. The enmity and prejudice of the rulers were stirred into a fury of madness; and
priests and rulers, Pharisees and Sadducees, united in pouring forth their hatred. From
the treasure-house of their hard, stubborn hearts came the words, "This fellow doth not
cast out devils but by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." They could not ignore Christ's
wonderful works, or attribute them to natural causes, so they said, They are the works of
the devil. In unbelief they spoke of the Son of God as a human being. The works of
healing done before them, works which no man had ever done or could do, were a
manifestation of the power of God. But they charged Christ with being in league with hel .
Their talent of speech was used to abuse the world's Redeemer, and the recording angel
wrote their words in the books of heaven. They attributed to satanic agencies the holy
power of God, manifested in the works of Christ. Thus the Pharisees sinned against the
Holy Ghost. Stubborn, sullen, iron-hearted, they determined to close their eyes to al
evidence, and thus they committed and unpardonable sin."
The Pharisees knew that the Old Testament prophecies identified Jesus as the Messiah.
However, because they did not WANT to accept Him as the Messiah, the Pharisees
accused Jesus of doing good works, by using Satan's power. The Pharisees knew their
accusation against Christ, was false. While Jesus WAS doing good, He was not using
Satan's power. By rejecting what their own consciences (God's spirit pleading with them)
testified was truth, the spiritual leaders of the "chosen people" committed blasphemy and
condemned themselves.
As a consequence, Christ labelled this false accusation as blasphemy against His spirit
because they knew Christ was not using evil powers for He WAS their Messiah.
Consider:
Contemporary spiritual leaders know that "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). They know that
Christ came to reveal the Father's character (John 14:8-11). They know that there was no
violence or law-breaking in Christ (Isa 53:9; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22), even toward people
whose probation was closed (eg Caiaphas, Judas, Jerusalem). There is no debate
between religious leaders over whether Christ taught His followers to love and pray for
their enemies. If contemporary spiritual leaders were to accuse God of committing evil
acts, (but claimed He was righteous to do so) - wouldn't it also be classified as blasphemy
against the spirit of God? Would not such an accusation � that God commits and
commands evil acts - be blasphemous against the spirit, the mind, the character of God?
Would not the accusation that God breaks his own commandments � when necessary �
be blasphemous against the spirit of God also? Would not the accusation that God's law
is imperfect and that (in certain situations) it needs to be put aside, also be considered
blasphemous against the spirit of our holy God?
284

Isn't there a similar situation in existence today?
Consider:
Question:
Who supplies the supernatural power for the "faith-healing" miracles which occur in many
Pentecostal churches?
Answer:
Many Christians would reply that Satan is the active agent in these instances.
Question:
Is Satan's power actual y doing a "good" work in these "faith-healing" experiences?
Answer:
No, for Jesus tells us that a bad tree cannot produce bad fruit and a good tree cannot
produce good fruit (Matt 7:16-19).
In a similar manner, Satan apparently intends to deceive Christians, that in the Old
Testament, God did "bad" things (commandment-breaking e.g. killed people), for "good"
reasons.
In this scenario, the end justifies the means. In other words, whatever action is
needed "to get the job done," is considered to be "right." e.g. An example of a job
that needs to be done is that the wicked might need to be destroyed from time to time.
But a complication arises because God has a universal, unchangeable law which states
that "Killing is not loving, so do not kill." So, Satan suggests, that for God to achieve the
goal of destroying the wicked, He must put aside His law - momentarily. This strange
doctrine requires that God is somehow "licensed" to break His unbreakable law; and
furthermore God also licenses other sinful human beings to momentarily break His law in
order to assist Him to achieve the goal of "getting rid of sinners." And furthermore, the
doctrine requires that God is justified in breaking His law because of the importance of
the job's objective.
Satan suggests to Christians, that because it is "God" who breaks the law, it is somehow
"holy" for Him to do so! This satanic concept entices Christians to believe is that God
actually commits evil and that when "God" does evil things, those evil things (sins) must
actually be "good" things (righteous acts)! This deception is accepted by many Christians,
even though they understand that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4) and
that the law is a transcript of God's character which doesn't change (Mal 3:6; James 1:17;
Heb 13:8).
Beware of this deception, because this doctrine introduces again the pagan blended deity;
the good and evil god! The black and white god! The gentle/violent god! The
loving/wrathful god! The law-abiding/law-breaking god! The changeable god; the variable
god. Such characteristics were never seen in Jesus Christ whose mission it was to "show
us the Father (John 14:11), whose character changes not (Mal 3:6; James 1:17) and in
which there is not even the faintest shadow of turning (Heb 13:8).
285

Doing Bad Things with "Good" Motives
Proverbs 14:12
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death."
Isaiah 55:8, 9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts."
When confronted with the situation of the genocide of the Canaanites by the Jews,
mainstream Christianity claims that it was necessary. It was "good" because their "cup of
iniquity was full" - "their probation was up." Since when do we believe that a baby's
probation is over? Since when do young virgins' probation extend past their baby
brothers' probation?
The Mosaic law (Deut 21:10-14) claimed that the virgins were permitted to live on and be
"married" to the murderers of their parents and family, but the males, including the babies
were slaughtered. (In fact, the marriage of the virgin was a legal rape and provision was
made that the "humbled virgin" could later be abandoned without any support if she was
no longer of use to the Jewish man). Was this "marriage with a pagan woman" done for
any "sacred" reason? Or was it the god of lust that determined that particular law which
was credited with being a Mosaic law?
What is "good" about kil ing babies, "marrying" pagan virgins for sexual gratification -only
to discard them later when they were 'humbled,' and exterminating entire races?
Nothing. It is breaking God's commandments - "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit
adultery." To break these commandments is to go completely against God's character.
But Satan tries to convince religious, legalistic people who don't know Jesus i.e. who
don't know His pure loving, non-violent character (Isa. 53:9) that God is a violent,
murdering, wrathful, fearsome, double-minded being. The evil character traits displayed
by the law in Deuteronomy 21:10-14 and Numbers 31:1-54, is in keeping with the
Egyptian sun god Amen-Ra (who was depicted as a trinity � the rising sun, the midday
sun and the setting sun). This pagan "god" was worshipped by the Egyptians at the time
that the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. Jesus says that attributing Satan's evil character
to God, is sinning against the Holy Spirit!!! (Mark 3:22-30) And Ellen White agrees.
286

Great Controversy, 1911 p 534-5 (in reference to the "burning forever in hell" doctrine)
"Thus the archfiend clothes with his own attributes the Creator and Benefactor of
mankind. Cruelty is satanic. God is love; and all that He created was pure, holy, and
lovely, until sin was brought in by the first great rebel. Satan himself is the enemy who
tempts man to sin, and then destroys him if he can; ...Satan is seeking to overcome men
today, as he overcame our first parents, by shaking their confidence in their Creator and
leading them to doubt the wisdom of His government and the justice of His laws.
Satan and his emissaries represent God as even worse than themselves, in order to
justify their own malignity and rebellion. The great deceiver endeavors to shift his
own horrible cruelty of character upon our heavenly Father, that he may cause
himself to appear as one greatly wronged by his expulsion from heaven because he
would not submit to so unjust a governor. He presents before the world the liberty which
they may enjoy under his mild sway, in contrast with the bondage imposed by the stern
decrees of Jehovah. Thus he succeeds in luring souls away from their allegiance to
God.... Where, in the pages of God's word, is such teaching to be found? Will the
redeemed in heaven be lost to all emotions of pity and compassion, and even to
feelings of common humanity? Are these to be exchanged for the indifference of
th
e stoic or the cruelty of the savage? No, no; s
uch is not the teaching of the
B
ook of God. Those who present the views expressed in the quotations given above
may be learned and even honest men, but they are deluded by the sophistry of Satan.
He leads them to misconstrue strong expressions of Scripture, giving to the
language the coloring of bitterness and malignity which pertains to himself, but not
to our Creator. 'As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil
ways; for why will ye die?' Ezekiel 33:11. (p 536) What would be gained to God should
we admit that He delights in witnessing unceasing tortures; that He is regaled with the
groans and shrieks and imprecations of the suffering creatures whom He holds in the
flames of hell? Can these horrid sounds be music in the ear of Infinite Love? It is
urged that the infliction of endless misery upon the wicked would show God's hatred of sin
as an evil which is ruinous to the peace and order of the universe. Oh, dreadful
blasphemy! As if God's hatred of sin is the reason why it is perpetuated. For,
according to the teachings of these theologians, continued torture without hope of mercy
maddens its wretched victims, and as they pour out their rage in curses and blasphemy,
they are forever augmenting their load of guilt. God's glory is not enhanced by thus
perpetuating continually increasing sin through ceaseless ages."
If God would not be pleased for sinners to burn in hell forever, would not the murder of
innocents at the hands of the Israelites also have been unthinkable to a holy God?
Wouldn't the shrieks of children and infants being murdered by the "chosen people" be
comparative with the shrieks of the doomed burning in hell? Would a divine command for
genocide be consistent with God's loving character? Does either strategy reveal the love
of God for sinners?
God is consistent. He is a God of love. The One True God, through His Son Jesus Christ
commands, "Love one another and love your enemies." However the Bible also records
that God, in special circumstances, was said to command, "Kil your enemies."
This contradiction can only be clarified in the light of God's character which was
demonstrated to the world by His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus words must take precedence
over the words which were reportedly given to Moses from the Son of God.
As he did in the Garden of Eden, Satan attempts to undermine God's law. (Gen 3:4) He
desires worship (Isaiah 14:13, 14) and endeavours to achieve that goal by casting his own
hateful character onto God (Job 1).
It is clearly the evil angels who do the evil work of destruction, but this evil work is only
permitted when God is forced (by His respect for human freedom of choice) to total y
287

withdraw His spirit from wicked humanity. As soon as God withdraws His holy, protecting
angels, Satan's angels rush in, but God gets the blame for the destructive work. What
God permits, He is responsible for (in the Biblical view) � since He is the ultimate Source
of All Life. (Also see ST.1893-12-04.004; P&P 404)
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p 77
"God does not employ compulsory measures; love is the agent which He uses to expel sin
from the heart."
SDA 7 Bible Commentary p 976 ; ST 6 May, 1897
"Force is the last resort of every false religion."
Ministry of Healing p 409; 113
"The knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is
the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in
character." p113 "Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer."
Christ's Object Lessons, p 69, 415
"When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He
will come to claim them as His own..... The last rays of merciful light, the last
message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love."
6 Testimonies for the Church, p 388
"With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty?
How dare they disobey God when obedience to His requirements means His blessing in
both temporal and spiritual things, and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is
the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is
to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in
every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord's restraining power is not
exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no
God."
Education, p 25, 26
"The reason Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden was because it could no
longer teach them the lessons they must learn to re-enter Paradise. They must now see
the contrast between the character of God and the character of Satan written on the face
of nature."
The example of the American Civil War also demonstrates the principle of God's wrath
and divine punishment as Ellen White details in the testimonies for the church.
288

Divine Wrath in The American Civil War (1861�1865)
The Rebellion (Ellen G White)
1 Testimonies for the Church, p 355, paragraph 1
"The dreadful state of our nation calls for deep humility on the part of God's people. The
one all-important inquiry which should now engross the mind of everyone is: Am I
prepared for the day of God? Can I stand the trying test before me? I saw that God is
purifying and proving His people. He wil refine them as gold, until the dross is consumed
and His image is reflected in them. All have not that spirit of self-denial and that
wil ingness to endure hardness and to suffer for the truth's sake, which God requires.
Their wills are not subdued; they have not consecrated themselves wholly to God,
seeking no greater pleasure than to do His wil . Ministers and people lack spirituality and
true Godliness. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. God's people wil be
brought into most trying positions, and all must be settled, rooted, and grounded in the
truth, or their steps wil surely slide. If God comforts and nourishes the soul with His
inspiring presence, they can endure, though the way may be dark and thorny. For the
darkness will soon pass away, and the true light shine forever. I was pointed to Isaiah 58;
59:1-15; Jeremiah 14:10-12, as a description of the present state of our nation. The
people of this nation have forsaken and forgotten God. They have chosen other Gods and
followed their own corrupt ways until God has turned from them. The inhabitants of the
earth have trampled upon the law of God and broken His everlasting covenant.
Page 356
I was shown the excitement created among our people by the article in the Review
headed, "The Nation." Some understood it one way, and some another. The plain
statements were distorted, and made to mean what the writer did not intend. He gave the
best light that he then had. It was necessary that something be said. The attention of
many was turned to Sabbathkeepers because they manifested no greater interest in the
war and did not volunteer. In some places they were looked upon as sympathizing with
the Rebellion. The time had come for our true sentiments in relation to slavery and the
Rebellion to be made known. There was need of moving with wisdom to turn away the
suspicions excited against Sabbathkeepers. We should act with great caution. "If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." We can obey this
admonition, and not sacrifice one principle of our faith. Satan and his host are at war with
commandment keepers, and will work to bring them into trying positions. They should not
by lack of discretion bring themselves there. I was shown that some moved very
indiscreetly in regard to the article mentioned. It did not in all respects accord with their
views, and instead of calmly weighing the matter, and viewing it in all its bearings, they
became agitated, excited, and some seized the pen and jumped hastily at conclusions
which would not bear investigation. Some were inconsistent and unreasonable. They did
that which Satan is ever hurrying them to do, namely, acted out their own rebel ious
feelings. In Iowa they carried things to quite a length, and ran into fanaticism. They
mistook zeal and fanaticism for conscientiousness. Instead of being guided by reason and
sound judgment, they allowed their feelings to take the lead. They were ready to become
martyrs for their faith. Did all this feeling lead them to God? to greater humility before
Him? Did it lead them to trust in His power to deliver them from the trying position into
which they might be brought? Oh, no! Instead of making their petitions to the God of
heaven and relying solely upon His power, they petitioned the legislature and were
refused. They showed their weakness and exposed their lack of faith. (continued over
page)
289

(EGW quote continued)
All this only served to bring that peculiar class, Sabbathkeepers, into special notice, and
expose them to be crowded into difficult places by those who have no sympathy for them.
Page 357
Some have been holding themselves ready to find fault and complain at any suggestion
made. But few have had wisdom in this most trying time to think without prejudice and
candidly tel what shal be done. I saw that those who have been forward to talk so
decidedly about refusing to obey a draft do not understand what they are talking
about. Should they really be drafted and, refusing to obey, be threatened with
imprisonment, torture, or death, they would shrink and then find that they had not
prepared themselves for such an emergency. They would not endure the trial of
their faith. What they thought to be faith was only fanatical presumption. Those who
would be best prepared to sacrifice even life, if required, rather than place themselves in a
position where they could not obey God, would have the least to say. They would make
no boast. They would feel deeply and meditate much, and their earnest prayers
would go up to heaven for wisdom to act and grace to endure. Those who feel that
in the fear of God they cannot conscientiously engage in this war will be very quiet,
and when interrogated will simply state what they are obliged to say in order to
answer the inquirer, and then let it be understood that they have no sympathy with
the Rebellion.
Page 358
There are a few in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers who sympathize with the slaveholder.
When they embraced the truth, they did not leave behind them all the errors they should
have left. They need a more thorough draft from the cleansing fountain of truth. Some
have brought along with them their old political prejudices, which are not in
harmony with the principles of the truth. They maintain that the slave is the property of
the master, and should not be taken from him. They rank these slaves as cattle and say
that it is wronging the owner just as much to deprive him of his slaves as to take away his
cattle. I was shown that it mattered not how much the master had paid for human flesh
and the souls of men; God gives him no title to human souls, and he has no right to hold
them as his property. Christ died for the whole human family, whether white or black. God
has made man a free moral agent, whether white or black. The institution of slavery does
away with this and permits man to exercise over his fellow man a power which God has
never granted him, and which belongs alone to God. The slave master has dared
assume the responsibility of God over his slave, and accordingly he will be
accountable for the sins, ignorance, and vice of the slave. He will be called to an
account for the power which he exercises over the slave. The colored race are God's
property. Their Maker alone is their master, and those who have dared chain down the
body and the soul of the slave, to keep him in degradation like the brutes, wil have their
retribution. The wrath of God has slumbered, but it will awake and be poured out without
mixture of mercy. Some have been so indiscreet as to talk out their pro-slavery
principles--principles which are not heaven-born, but proceed from the dominion of Satan.
These restless spirits talk and act in a manner to bring a reproach upon the cause of God.
I will here give a copy of a letter written to Brother A, of Oswego County, New York:
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(EGW quote continued) Page 359
'I was shown some things in regard to you. I saw that you were deceived in regard to
yourself. You have given occasion for the enemies of our faith to blaspheme, and to
reproach Sabbathkeepers. By your indiscreet course, you have closed the ears of some
who would have listened to the truth. I saw that we should be as wise as serpents and as
harmless as doves. You have manifested neither the wisdom of the serpent nor the
harmlessness of the dove. Satan was the first great leader in rebellion. God is
punishing the North, that they have so long suffered the accursed sin of slavery to
exist; for in the sight of heaven it is a sin of the darkest dye. God is not with the
South, and He will punish them dreadfully in the end. Satan is the instigator of al
rebel ion. I saw that you, Brother A, have permitted your political principles to destroy
your judgment and your love for the truth. They are eating out true Godliness from
your heart. You have never looked upon slavery in the right light, and your views of this
matter have thrown you on the side of the Rebellion, which was stirred up by Satan and
his host. Your views of slavery cannot harmonize with the sacred, important truths for this
time. You must yield your views or the truth. Both cannot be cherished in the same
heart, for they are at war with each other. Satan has been stirring you up. He would
not let you rest until you should express your sentiments upon the side of the powers of
darkness, thus strengthening the hands of the wicked, whom God has cursed. You
have cast your influence on the wrong side, with those whose course of life is to sow
thorns and plant misery for others. I saw you casting your influence with a degraded
company, a Godforsaken company; and angels of God fled from you in disgust. I saw
that you were utterly deceived. Had you fol owed the light which God has given you, had
you heeded the instructions of your brethren, had you listened to their advice, you would
have saved yourself and saved the precious cause of truth from reproach. But
notwithstanding all the light given, you have given publicity to your sentiments. Unless you
undo what you have done, it will be the duty of God's people to publicly withdraw their
sympathy and fellowship from you, in order to save the impression which must go out in
regard to us as a people. We must let it be known that we have no such ones in our
fellowship, that we will not walk with them in church capacity.
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You have lost the sanctifying influence of the truth. You have lost your connection with the
heavenly host. You have al ied yourself with the first great rebel, and God's wrath is
upon you; for His sacred cause is reproached, and the truth is made disgusting to
unbelievers. You have grieved God's people, and despised the counsel of His
ambassadors upon earth, who labor together with Him, and are in Christ's stead
beseeching souls to be reconciled to God. I was shown that as a people we cannot be
too careful what influence we exert; we should watch every word. When we by word or
act place ourselves upon the enemy's battle ground, we drive holy angels from us,
and encourage and attract evil angels in crowds around us. This you have done,
Brother A, and by your unguarded, willful course have caused unbelievers to look upon
Sabbathkeepers all around you with suspicion. These words were presented before me
as referring to the servants of God: 'He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that
despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.' May
God help you, my deceived brother, to see yourself as you are, and to have your
sympathies with the body.'
Our kingdom is not of this world. We are waiting for our Lord from heaven to come
to earth to put down all authority and power, and set up His everlasting kingdom.
Earthly powers are shaken. We need not, and cannot, expect union among the nations of
the earth.
Our position in the image of Nebuchadnezzar is represented by the toes, in a divided
state, and of a crumbling material, that will not hold together. Prophecy shows us that the
great day of God is right upon us. It hasteth greatly.
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I saw that it is our duty in every case to obey the laws of our land, unless they
conflict with the higher law which God spoke with an audible voice from Sinai, and
afterward engraved on stone with His own finger. "I will put My laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a
people." He who has God's law written in the heart will obey God rather than men,
and will sooner disobey all men than deviate in the least from the commandment of
God. God's people, taught by the inspiration of truth, and led by a good conscience
to live by every word of God, will take His law, written in their hearts, as the only
authority which they can acknowledge or consent to obey. The wisdom and
authority of the divine law are supreme. I was shown that God's people, who are
His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to
every principle of their faith. In the army they cannot obey the truth and at the same
time obey the requirements of their officers. There would be a continual violation of
conscience. Worldly men are governed by worldly principles. They can appreciate
no other. Worldly policy and public opinion comprise the principle of action that
governs them and leads them to practice the form of rightdoing. But God's people
cannot be governed by these motives. The words and commands of God, written in
the soul, are spirit and life, and there is power in them to bring into subjection and
enforce obedience. The ten precepts of Jehovah are the foundation of all righteous
and good laws. Those who love God's commandments will conform to every good
law of the land. But if the requirements of the rulers are such as conflict with the
laws of God, the only question to be settled is: Shall we ob