Secondary Bible Themes 4 - The Heavenly Trial

Here is a list of themes in the Bible. One theme is the idea of wrath and judgment. Many times in the Bible a heavenly trial is mentioned. Trinity Sunday show how the trinity is involved in this trial.

Divine Judgment is a concept in essentially every religion. It normally consists of a powerful and knowledgeable entity making a judgment on the moral worth of the acts of free creatures according to some divine or natural law.  This entity then makes a verdict and there is an execution of sentence through punishment or reward. Sometimes these punishments and rewards are during the individual’s life (for example Karma) and sometimes they are in the afterlife (heaven, hell, reincarnation, etc…).

God has been seen as and called THE judge throughout the Bible, even from the very beginning (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 35:24; 96:10,13; 98:9; John 8:50; Hebrews 12:23). Specifically the person of God the Father (1 Peter 1:17) is the judge.

In the beginning, God gave the law to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After the fall God judged the whole human race guilty [Genesis 3]. Sickness, hardship, and death were the consequences. After the fall there continued to be specific judgments against the world [such as the flood (Genesis 6:5) and the Tower of Babel ()], a group of people [such as Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 28:20) and the Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 6:6, 12:12)], and individuals [such as Core (Numbers 16) and Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26)].

After the institution of the Israelites as God’s people, God instituted the law through Moses because he wanted people to follow it. There is a punishment for not following the law. God also instituted judges and governments for the punishments in this life. Actual sins have consequences. Additionally, being totally depraved due to original sin we cannot follow the law. God’s judgment that the whole race is guilty still stands as do the consequences, namely physical death.

At the end of the world, there will be a final judgment at the end times (general eschatology). This is mentioned in at least Joel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Malachi, John, Romans, Acts, and Revelation. There is also a judgment of each individual at death. This is the heavenly trial.

If the Father is the judge, then the Son is our divine defense attorney. It is clear that Christ came not to judge, but to save us from the judgment (John 3:17, 8:15, 12:47). Another name for the Son of God is, “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6), which is also what a lawyer is called. Furthermore, The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father (1 John 2) and the mediator between us (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Holy Spirit then is our witness. Romans 8:16 states this explicitly when saying that He testifies for us.

Satan is the “accuser” (Zechariah 3, Job 2, Revelation 12:10), or the prosecuting attorney. Although we don’t really need a prosecuting attorney, because we are clearly guilty and the judge is all-knowing. Satan has evidence and witnesses abounding enough to destroy you under the weight of your sin, being exposed.

The good news is our defense attorney has taken our guilt and punishment (Isaiah 53), so the judge declares us not guilty (Romans 4). We are acquitted because Jesus has already been found guilty, sentenced, and executed. Therefore, our judgment is not based on our moral worth or our guilt or innocents! “The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb.” Therefore, Jesus can “present us faultless” before God (Jude 1:13).

The devil is persistent though and will hound us and try to get us to fire our defense attorney and represent ourselves. If we do this, then we try to list the good things we have done. This mistake of works-righteousness can get us in one of two ways. First if we focus on our guilt, we can come to despair and plead guilty. Second, we can become defensive and self-righteous enough to fight the charges on our own, to our inevitable loss (Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 64:6). This is us wanted to say that we have already worked off our debt. This is essentially saying we had self-imposed community service, so we should not get the death penalty, which is a ridiculous argument. However, if we stand firm in Jesus, then the trial is already finished (John 19:30) and there is no double jeopardy (John 10:28).

Book Review/Summary - Miracles (C.S. Lewis)



I have always really appreciated C.S. Lewis' definition of miracles. Miracles are events that would not normal have happened in the physical, material world, but once they do, the rest of what happens do follow the normal laws of nature.

He also dispels some common arguments against miracles. The first, and best in my opinion, is that the modern mind is so much more advanced than the "primitive" mind. However, it was clear that Joseph knew Mary's virgin pregnancy did not follow the laws of nature, as has everyone else, even in the "primitive" world. When he found out she was pregnant, he thought she was unfaithful and had in mind to divorce her quietly. The second objection he tries to dispel is that of life on other planets. I have a previous post about this theme in his works here.

A list of Jesus' miracles is in a previous post here.

Providence

Providence is the Latin word for foresight, and prudence. In religious parlance, it has come to mean the protective care of God in the present and the future. Divine providence means God's intervention in the world. General providence means God's continual upholding of existence and natural order. God's special providence means God's extraordinary intervention in the life of people (e.g. miracles and guidance). 

Annuit Cœptis means "He approves of the undertakings." Novus Ordo Seclorum means "New order of the ages". The pyramid is a symbol of strength and duration, but is unfinished, because the nation will become even more powerful and prosperous because God is watching over the nation and will guide it, approving of what we are doing, He will help. If we do good, he will help prosper.

The eye of providence (or the all-seeing eye of God) is a symbol of an eye surrounded by rays of light showing glory and enclosed in a triangle to show it is the eye of the Trinitarian God.  It represents God watching over humanity. In Calvinism this idea is important because if there is no freedom and everything is predestined, then God must have everything planned and is actively intervening continually to keep things happening.  While much of the modern church has rejected Calvinism with regards to not having free will for choosing God, strangely many have kept this idea of fate and God directly, continually intervening in our everyday affairs (which is the opposite of reality).This idea was also very prevalent in the puritans who founded the US, so it is on the back of Seal of the US, which is on the back of the one dollar bill.

However, there are two types of care that often are confused: physical care and spiritual care. When the Bible says in Romans 8:28 that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This does not mean physically, but spiritually. This is clear from the rest of scripture that explains how we will have hardships in this life and be persecuted for our faith.  Of course God could work for our good physically and does, by providing our daily bread, but he has not promised us good lives before the resurrection.

Lutheran theology affirms God's preservation of creation, guiding of the universe (General Providence) mostly through His cooperation, allowing, and concurrence all that happens. For us personally, rather than physical care and special providence, God's providence is our spiritual care via word and sacraments. preservation of the church through all ages, preservation of his Word, through the Bible (i.e. VDMA).

Many cultures had a similar symbol, but only Chritianity attached the idea of God actively engaged in creation to it.

A "God's Eye" (Ojo De Dios in spanish), is an ancient religious, ritual, and magical object made from yarn of different colors and wood for many indiginous people of the Americas (especially in central America). It was normally part of a meditation ritual, where it symbolized of the power to see and understand things unknown. Some Christians have adopted the God's eye as a symbol of the eye of providence, and many today consider it a children's craft with no spiritual or religious meaning.

The eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power. It was supposed to ward off evil and protect people.

In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti

In the name of the Father (Patris), the Son (Filii), and the Holy Spirit (Spiritūs Sancti), Amen. Lately some have tried to stop using the name(s) God and started using titles, metaphors, analogies, and job descriptions. Some very biblical and helpful, some just plain weird, and some flat out heretical.  Here are some that I found:

• Speaker, Word, Breath
• Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
• Fire, Light, Heat
• Rock, Cornerstone, Temple
• Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides, Storm that Melts Mountains
• Giver, Gift, and Giving
• Overflowing Font, Living Water, Flowing River/Falling Rain
• Rainbow of Promise, Ark of Salvation, Dove of Peace
• Rock, Savior, Friend
• Lover, Beloved, Love
• King of Glory, Prince of Piece, Spirit of Love
• Parent, Child, Womb (to be gender neutral)

What does the Bible have to say about it though? Is the name of the Lord important?

• From Adam and Eve on people "began to call upon the name of the Lord." -Genesis 4:26
• God said He is to be remembered by His name "forever" and "throughout all generations." -Exodus 3:15
• Prophets and preachers proclaim God's word and minister in the name of the Lord. -Deuteronomy 18
• We are not to misuse it
• The second commandment is to honor the Lord's name -Exodus 20:6
• Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. -Leviticus 24:16
• We are to use it properly
• We are to proclaim the name of the Lord -Deuteronomy 32:3
• We are to bless people in the name of the Lord. -1 Chronicles 16:2
• We are to call upon the name of the Lord. -1 Chronicles 16:8
• We are to bless the name of the Lord. -Psalm 96:2
• We are to fear the name of the Lord. -Psalm 102:15
• We are to give glory to the name of the Lord. -Psalm 105:3
• We are to praise the name of the Lord. -Psalm 113:3
• We are to pray in the name of the Lord -Psalm 116:4
• Jesus came in the name of the Lord. -Matthew 21:9
• "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." -Acts 2:21
• Preachers should preach in the name of Jesus. -Acts 9
• Baptism should be in the name of the Lord. -Acts 8:17
• "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" -Matthew 28:19
• Baptizing in the Job Description of the trinity is going directly against scripture and is not valid.

Pentecost, not Pentecostal

Last post, we looked at how the Bible says the charismatic gifts have ceased. God appointed and promised the apostles this.  He confirmed the teaching of the old testament prophets. He did not do that for us. The apostles had signs of being prophets so that there words would be accepted as prophecy, demanding our acceptance and belief. The cessation of these gifts is attested to by the early church as well as modern Jews (see quotes below). Those who claim to speak in tongues or prophecy, or get signs from God, are really claiming to be prophets, and are therefore, false prophets. But why does this happen?

• First of all, some are just lying.
• Jeremiah 14 tells us that not all claims of prophecy are true.
• 1 Kings 13:11-22 tells us that even a well meaning believer can do the wrong thing and go against God by lying about prophecy. 
• Matthew tells us that people will go to hell who thought they were doing the right thing of prophesying: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ -Matthew 7:21-23
• Secondly, the Devil can say nice things about God and cause prophecy and signs
• False prophets will arise and show great wonders. show signs and wanders lead away the elect. Matthew 24:24
• 2 Thessalonians tells us the coming of the lawless one is accompanied by power and signs wonders.
• The 2nd beast in revelation works great signs.
• The real danger is that when people think “God” is talking to them, that voice is indistinguishable from that of Satan. After all, Satan comes and deceives. He uses Scripture (and twists it) and often is disguised as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
• The Devil can work through prosperity and spirituality (the eye of needle in 1 Timothy 6:10), we get complacent and think we did it all.
• Pain can backfire, like when Job was driven to God and the Psalmist who cried out to the Lord in his anguish.
• Powerful beings do good things for people to get them to trust them and think they are God, so they look to experiences instead of words of Jesus, then after a while, when it matters, they let them down. God does not manipulate emotions. The Holy Spirit does not work in emotions. Feelings used to lead you astray
• These movements were not the Holy Spirit: Montanism, Spiritualistic Fransiscans, Enthusiast movements of the Schwarmerei, Charismatics like Pentecostal.
• Lastly, even true prophesying does not indicate one's state of grace.
• Balaam prophecied
• Judas healed and cast out demons
• Ciaphas prophesied by the Holy Spirit that it was good for one man to be handed over to die for the people.

Jews don't believe there is continued prophecy (1 Maccabees 4:46; 9:27; 14:41, 2 Baruch 85:3, Josephus, Against Apion 1.37-41, Jewish Chronology, Seder Olam Rabbah, chapter 30, Babylonian Talmud: Tosefta Sotah 13:2, Yoma 9b, Sotah 48a, and Sanhedrin 11a)

Clement of Rome in 95 AD wrote a letter to the Corinthian church rebuking every problem that Paul rebuked except tongues. Why did he not mention tongues or miracles?

Justin Martyr (~160 AD) visited many churches but never once mentions tongues in his lists of spiritual gifts.

Origen (~250 AD) in his voluminous writings argues against Celsus by stating that the sign gifts of the apostles' age were temporary and were not exercised by Christians in the 3rd Century.

Chrysostom (347-407 A.D.) "[Corinth] is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur, but now no longer take place." [Homilies, XXIX, 1]

Augustine (354-430 AD) said in speaking of Acts 2:4, "In the earliest times, the Holy Ghost fell upon them that believed: and they spake with tongues....these were signs adapted to the time. For there behooved to be that betokening of the Holy Spirit...that thing was done for a betokening and it passed away."

Herman Sasse

“The recognition that the revelation in Christ is not something inconclusive or relative stands and falls with the primacy of the apostolate over prophecy. Wherever prophecy asserts its independence and power, it is a threat to the finality of the revelation that happened once in history, of which the apostolic office bears witness. Christ’s church is an apostolic, not prophetic church. This does not mean a quenching of the Spirit. Rather it expresses the conviction that revelation has taken place, that the word of God is no longer only given and assigned to a human being here and there, but that the Word has become flesh.”

“The ‘apostolic church’ is a poor church. It has no marvelous new revelations, no knowledge of higher worlds, and no possibility of proving its faith by reason. It lives from the witness of a few men who were neither religious geniuses, nor ethical heroes, nor original thinkers. The only authority for the unverifiable things they said was that Jesus Christ had sent them and that they were witnesses of His resurrection.”

Book Review/Summary - An Evaluation of the Claims to the Charismatic Gifts (Douglas Judisch)

Tongues

• Before our era, *nobody* in scholarship thought that Paul was talking about ecstatic tongues in acts, but simply foreign, earthly languages. The church fathers acknowledge that something in Corinth was weird, but then go on to dismiss it. The reformers considered it nothing more than the normal practice of liturgical ritual retaining foreign language, Hebrew at first, and then later Latin. New Theology can never be correct, or someone somewhere would have taught it before.
• The sign of speaking in tongues has always been a sign of judgement and punishment.
• In Deuteronomy 28:49, it was a covenantal curse, that is one of the things to show the covenant is ended because Israel did not keep it.
• Isaiah rebukes leaders 7:8 and belittles them in 9-10 because the people did not listen to the prophet who was speaking clearly, God brought alien tongues as a sign of punishment.
• Jeremiah 5:15 was a warning the south the same thing is going to happen to them as the north. If they reject clear word of god, they get words that make no sense to them.
• The Speaking in tongues in Acts 2 fulfilled the prophecy of Joel it quotes about the Spirit being poured out in the last day. Since it was a sign for the times as the final alienation and punishment for the Jews not being faithful, why then would it continue after that?
• In Acts 10:45 gentiles speak in tongues that Jews cannot understand, cementing the end judgment. The temple was then destroyed in 70 AD. Speaking in tongues was a temporary sing of end of old covenant, shown also with temple. There is no need for them anymore.
• In 1 Corinthians 12:1, the word is not gifts, but “things”. Some good things and some bad things. The rest of the book he is rebuking those who are setting up their “gifts” as them being above the rest of the community. A more excellent way than these “gifts” is love in chapter 13. 1 Corinthians 13:8 even says that prophecies will pass away and tongues will cease. Speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 is not a sign for believers, but unbelievers. A sign that they don’t believe. Verse 19 even says that speaking in tongues is not good.

Prophecy

• The Old Testament stated that prophecy would end
• Zechariah 13 states that God will remove out of the land the prophets
• Daniel 9:24 speaks of the end of covenant coming with sealing up of vision and prophecy after the messiah comes.
• Miraculous signs were proof of the prophets of old. Likewise, they were proof of the prophecy (proclaiming of God's Word) of the apostles was divinely inspired and inerrant (qualified for cannon). However, New Testament does not say signs are proof of prophets for us today.
• In Matthew 10 Jesus calls and names people sending them out, giving charismatic gifts among Jews to tell them the Messiah has arrived in the present age. In Matthew 28, during the great commission, Jesus sends the apostles out to all nations, telling them that to continue on into the ages, they should baptize and teaching.
• The apostles could lay hands to pass on the some gifts, but not the gift of passing it on. The second generation could not pass on the gifts.
• Phillip preaches and gives communion in Acts 8. However, Phillip can’t pass on the gifts, so he calls the apostles to do it. 
• “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”(Hebrews 1:1–2)
• The author of Hebrews points out how God has spoken to those who have gone before us in the faith. Now, in these last days, God has spoken to us by His son. His disciples have recorded the words and deeds of this Son, Jesus Christ. Not only that, but Jesus also instituted Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Absolution, and the preaching of this Word. It is through these, which we identify as the external Word (in contrast to an “inner” or hidden word), that Scripture promises that the Holy Spirit works. For this reason we confess that we reject the teaching which would say that the Holy Spirit works outside of the external Word.
• Sola Scriptura - The Bible is the only rule and norm for understanding Gods will and what he wants you to think, believe, know and do. Nothing extra-Biblical is allowed.
• I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book" -Revelation 22:18

Other things to read:

• The Charismatic Movement and Lutheran Theology (CTCR Report for the LCMS, January 1972)
• The Lutheran Church and the Charismatic Movement: Guidelines for Congregations and Pastors (CTCR Report for the LCMS, January 1977)

Job 40-41 - Behemoth and Leviathan (and Ziz)

What exactly the Behemoth and Leviathan are is still an open question. No one is sure what they are, so the word used for them was left untranslated. However, what is important is that they are symbol of uncontrollable natural power. The point is that man cannot subdue them because we are not in control of nature. If we can't even take on God's creatures, then we can't take on God, who is infinitely more powerful than his creatures.

However, discussing what they could possibly be is fun, if kept in perspective. The three general ideas is that they are mythical creatures, dinosaurs, or large normal animal that could still be around today. The idea of mythical creatures is also split between people who believe mythical creatures were real at the time and those who think that mythical creatures are being references just to make a point.

Behemoth (Job 40:15-24)

Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.

“He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

Some believe it is a dinosaur, like a sauropod, due to the description of the tail), or even a triceratops. Many think this is either an Elephant (the largest land animal) or a Hippo (because it lives near and goes in rivers. However, neither of these really has a tail like a ceder.

Leviathan (Job 41:1-34, Isaiah 27:1)

Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again! Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle? Who can open the doors of his face. Around his teeth is terror. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal. One is so near to another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him. The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable. His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves. Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; for him sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins. His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired. On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.”...

In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

Sounds like a water dragon (due to the smoke and fire), some believe dinosaur like a Plesiosaur or Mosasaur. The most common real animal is a crocodile, but that does not explain the smoke and it is not really a marine animal. Others think it is a whale (which is the largest marine animal) and that the water coming out of the blow hole was mistaken for smoke.  This does not explain the sharp scales, but maybe it is barnacles all over them. Whales are also not very serpent-like.

          

Ziz (Psalms 50:11, 80:13, 2 Chronicles 20:16)

I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.

The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.

Another so-called mythical creature, supposedly from the Bible is the Ziz. This is a transliteration from a Hebrew word that is commonly translated as, "all that moves." It is an ancient Hebrew mythological flying creature that some say is a magical bird like a Anzu or Phoenix, or other beast like a Griffin. In this thought, it is the flying (air) counterpart to the walking Behemoth (land) and swimming Leviathan (sea) creatures. Some say it is a dinosaur like a Pteranadon or Scaphognathus. Lastly others say it is a large bird like ostrich or emu (because it runs around in the fields) or a large scavenger flying bird like a condor. Most likely these verses are not actually referencing a specific animal.