Repeating History

     Once again, history is repeating itself. Before the flood of Noah's day, the people of the earth were evil only, "And Jehovah repented that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved to His heart. And Jehovah said, I will wipe off man whom I have created from the face of the earth, from man to beast, to creeping things and to the birds of the heavens, for I repent that I made them." (Genesis 6:6,7). And Jehovah did just that, but He also left a small remnant of eight humans and at least a pair of every creature He chose for repopulating earth, "And I will establish My covenant with you. And you shall come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife, and your son's wives with you. And you shall bring into the ark two of every kind, of every living thing of all flesh, to keep alive with you; they shall be male and female." (Genesis 6:18,19). This time period has been calculated to be about two thousand years after "Jehovah" created Adam and Eve on the sixth day of the seven days of Creation.

      Once society was reestablished, the world again became evil, including Israel, Jehovah's chosen people who were to be a witness for Jehovah God, as a nation of priest, "And you shall become a kingdom of priest for Me, a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Exodus 19:6). Jehovah's chosen nation was later split into two groups because of their transgressions of His ways. All the nations were walking in their own light and God caused all nations to be brought into subjection to Babylon. Powers then changed several times until Rome was in charge, then, God sent to Israel His final deliverer and Redeemer, after previously sending several deliverers when Judah was taken into captivities, several times and eventually cried for Jehovah's help. Finally God sent His only-begotten Son to be the world's last deliverer, this was His Messiah (Christ), naming Him Jesus, who would pay the penalty for man's transgressions, by His sacrificial death at Calvary. From the flood till Christ, was also about two thousand years. Then, the known world started to count the years starting at zero and forward from Christ's birth and on. Another two thousand years has passed, and again the world has become corrupt and evil just as before. If one considers that God works on a timetable, it is easy to recognize that the earth is very close to the end time, when earth will be at rest for a thousand years, seven being God's number for completion "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with rushing sound, and having burned the elements will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up." (II Peter 3:10), and Satan will have no one to influence, "And he laid hold of the dragon, the old serpent who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years..." (Revelation 20:2). This was after Christ's second coming when He gathered all those who are written in the "Book of Life", and all those remaining would seek death and achieve their desire until the end of the millennium. Approximately six thousand years have passed, according to man's calculation and the seventh will be a rest period for the earth, Read all of Revelation 20, but those chosen will be with Jesus in New Jerusalem, "And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having been prepared as a bride, having been adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2). Soon after the second resurrection, of those not chosen at the Christ's second advent, then at the end of the millennium, eternity will commence. Of course, there is so much more to be said and understood about end-time events, and of man's corruption, but I feel compelled to share just one: during Christ's first advent, the temple leaders added to God's perfect laws, by their own authority, and made additional religious rituals which became a burden instead of a pleasure. They loved their authority and their civil standing, but this was contrary to what Jehovah taught through Christ, and just as their forefathers who killed Jehovah's prophets, they also killed God's last Messenger, Jesus, the predicted Messiah.

     Are we, the Christian community, following in the footsteps of Israel and Judah; are we again repeating history? If so, how has the current Christians left the upright path, as did the Israelites? Are the current Christians keeping Jehovah's commands? Do we walk according to His guidelines? Is the Christian community faithful to all His messenger's callings? "That you keep the commandment spotless, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Timothy 6:14), John also reveals this, "And the dragon was enraged over the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commandments of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:17), Revelation 14:12 says the same thing, "Here are the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping commands of God, and the faith of Jesus." Are Christians of today ready for God's Christ at His second advent, when He will gather those that have already prepared themselves to be in the presence of God Almighty "Jehovah", in the kingdom of Heaven? Is each Christian denomination ready for what they have been waiting for, or have they lost their way without recognizing their departure; does their remain an interest in the truth; could we have lost our direction just as the Israelites and Judah had done, to ignore God's everlasting truth? The evil during the first two thousand years was because, man walked according to there own desires, having no set written laws, only what is placed to their conscience. The second two thousand years, Jehovah's chosen people often forgot their God and worshiped the many other gods of the nations, transgressing Jehovah's expressed self hand-written Ten Commandments. During the first four thousand years, it has been taught and shown by Jehovah's response to all peoples that, it was important to walk in the way that Jehovah revealed to them, or a consequence was levied on the guilty, and it was given to their leaders to judge and execute justice. How do we differ? For these past two thousand years, Christ directed us to police ourselves and that Jehovah's justice and judgment will be given at the end of the count of time. In response, the social progression has been that God's laws are not that important to keep, because God's justice has been put on hold, and many men have forgotten this sure pending doom. Some Christian pastors reason and teach that observing the obedience of Jehovah's commands is considered, and labeled as "legalism" and not the way to ones salvation. Some Christians are taught that God has put His laws in the heart of the Christian, if one trust in Jesus as their Savior and call on His name, their salvation is secure. Is there any seeable evidence that this has yet happened? Would the laws that God puts into the Christian's heart be any different then His already written laws? If they are different, do they differ for each Christian? If God is perfect and He doesn't change, "For I am Jehovah, I change not. Because of this you sons of Jacob are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6), how could they be any different in the hearts of man then what He has written on stone by Jehovah's own hand, wouldn't this be unjust? What could possibly be wrong with the first set of His Ten Commandments and the Mosaic laws, those given to Moses, to give for man? It has been taught that God's laws were nailed to the cross, logic would rule that this pertains to the sacrificial laws, because the perfect and everlasting sacrifice was provided for man's transgressions by the blood of Jesus, shed at Calvary, who is our substitute instead of innocent animals, which were a substitute for God's people in the Old Testament days for the transgressions of His commands. If you read Revelation 20, verse 12 say, "...And scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened, which is the Scroll of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls, according to their works." just judgment comes to all.

      The current Christian community has been preaching that faith is all that is needed for salvation, faith in Jesus, because Jesus is the Way, "Jesus said to them, I am the Way, and the truth, and the life..." and the last part of this verse states is, "...No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6). I understand this to say that Christ is God's Representative and that Jesus is the "Way" to our God who is "Truth and life" because Jehovah is truth, "And Jehovah passed by before his face and called out: Jehovah! Jehovah, God! Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and great in goodness and truth." (Exodus 34:6). Our Father, Jehovah, the One who created us and originated our salvation, He then sent His Christ, the only-begotten Son to establish Jehovah's salvation, shedding His blood in our place. "For you shall listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law. For you shall turn back toward Jehovah your God, with all your heart and all your soul." (Deuteronomy 30:10), "I delight to do all Your will, O my God; and Your law is within my inmost soul." (Psalm 40:8), "lead me to Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day long." (Psalm 25:5). Contrary to what has been commonly taught, righteousness cannot be transferred or borrowed from another; righteousness is determined by each ones right doing; the thought and the desire is just the start. As James said, "But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:20), and Paul mentions, "So then, my beloved, even as you always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now, much rather in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). We certainly do not deserve salvation, it is truly a gift from Jehovah, through Christ's sacrifice, but the things we do can cancel the salvation that God desires us to have, plus all of the Old Testament and much of the New Testament reveals this to us by endless examples, "Roam around in Jerusalem's streets, and see now, and know, and seek her plazas, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth; and I will pardon her." (Jeremiah 5:1) and, "You will return them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands." (Lamentation 3:64) plus, "Do I actually desire the death of the wicked? Declares the Lord Jehovah. Is it not that he should turn from his ways and live? But when the righteous turns from his righteousness, and does injustice; according to all the abominations that the wicked do, he does; shall he live? All the righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered in his treason that he has portrayed, and in his sin that he has sinned - in them he shall die." (Ezekiel 18:23,24), and there are many more in the Old Testament, and they are not just for Judah, but they are an example for us. The covenant God made with man includes conditions but His promises are sure, if one understands that our agenda is directed toward changing our heart, because this change is needed in order for a man to be acceptable in the presence of God Almighty, or Heaven would be as earth is now. The responsibility is on us to cleanse and purify our hearts with righteous desires; we are not changed without our personal efforts in doing so, however our Lord Jesus is available for us and desires to help us in our pursuit of our righteousness. If God was intending to change us without our effort or our personal commitment to righteousness, He would have just made us that way at the start, without the past four thousand years of education and endless painful examples that were revealed to us in the Old Testament, but this would be without our love. Let's not forget the New Testament, "for whoever shall do the will of the Father, that one is My

brother and  sister and mother." (Matthew 12:50), "But He said, No, rather blessed are those hearing the word of God, and keeping it." (Luke 11:28), "For as many as sinned without law will also perish without law. And as many as sinned within law will be judged through law." (Romans 2:12) and, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12) and if you seek His truth, you will find much more.

      Why the Christian community is repeating history by transgressing Jehovah's word remains to be expressed. If you've read your Bible with the intention of learning God's truth, then you should already know at least some of the answers. However, it does seem that most do not read, in its entirety, all that Jehovah has given in order for us to know His expressed ways, instead of the general trends followed during these end time days. This is probably because those steady pew occupiers just listen to the sermons and maybe follow along when verses are presented by the speaker, but to test the speaker's words is a rare practice; so many simply trust that the speakers have found the truth and are leading us on the right path. In a certain way, most Christians are quite "illiterate", harsh words, yes, and I apologize for being blunt, but I've even talked to respected, talented pastors that admitted to me that they have not read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. My personal survey reveals that this is much more then rare, even though so many read the many books about the Bible in its entirety. The Bible was design for all to read, and to be totally read to get the complete picture.

     Just as the Israelites and Judah drifted from the truth, Christians, in the past sixteen centuries have been taught contrary to the first, second, third and the fourth commandments. The fourth is keeping the seventh day Sabbath as it is clearly stated. You should read it for yourself, but I must include that worshiping on the first day of the week is perfectly good, however, those attending their church on Sunday do not keep the Sabbath day holy, which is not working and not doing their secular pleasures on Saturday, the seventh day. This has been a regular departure for God's chosen people, and most continue this human instructed tradition; the Sabbath day is a needed blessing, physically and spiritually, "And the sons of the alien who join themselves on Jehovah to serve Him, and to love Jehovah's name, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from defiling the sabbath and takes hold of My covenant." (Isaiah 56:6), "And keep My sabbaths holy, and they shall be a sign between Me and you that you may know that I am Jehovah your God." (Ezekiel 20:20), and there are a multitude of others verses in both Testaments, and please remember that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath "So then the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath also." (Mark 2:28). The saints are the ones that will enter Jehovah's kingdom, "For Jehovah loves judgment and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever; but the wicked's seed shall be cut off." (Psalms 37:28), and the disciples and Jehovah Himself gave us an example that His Sabbath day remains, because He rested on the Sabbath and did not raise His Christ from the grave until Sunday, "And returning they prepared spices and ointment. And they remained quiet on the sabbath, according to the commandment." (Luke 23:56). Look for yourself, there is not one passage that changes the Sabbath day to Sunday or declares Jehovah's fourth commandment has been discarded, but amazingly and unfortunately, many follow the words of man, "So says Jehovah, Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and who makes flesh his arm; and who turns aside his heart from Jehovah." (Jeremiah 17:5). Sunday worship was introduced to Christianity during the fourth century, which the history books of man reveal. The practice of Sunday worship was first started by those who worship the sun as their god.

     The first commandment is the next important departure from the truth, this you should also read from your Bible, but I'll share what the Interlinear Bible shows, which has the Hebrew text right next to its "Literal Translation" because this is a bit different, "I am Jehovah your God, who has brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall not have any other gods beside Me." (Exodus 20:2,3). You do notice that God gave us His personal name, an important part of understanding this first commandment, and He did say "I". There is not one verse in all of God's word declaring God to be more then one, and His name is "Jehovah", and you will find over a hundred verses stating that God is "one". Of course you can believe the words of man that say "elohiym" is plural, but "elohiym" is a Hebrew word, and every Jew believes that God Almighty is only "One". If God wanted us to understand that "God Almighty" is more then one, then He would have told us plainly, as He has spoken all Ten Commandments clearly. What He also tells us more then once, is that He has a Son, "While he was yet speaking, behold, a radiant cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice out of the cloud saying, This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight; hear Him." (Matthew 17:5), an only-begotten Son, whom He sent to us to prepare man for His kingdom. Should we ever consider changing God's spoken word? And many of these verses declare the name  "Jehovah" as the one and only Almighty God, who possesses all authority, even though He later shared some authority with His Christ, Jesus, whom He sent to establish His salvation for mankind's sake.      

     The second Commandment speaks of worshiping idols, which is what Strong's #6459 is states as: an idol: - carveed (graven) image. An idol is the main meaning of this Hebrew word Strong's #6459 but a "graven image" is how it is translated, even though a graven image is just one of many example of an idol. An idol would be anyone or anything worshiped other then Jehovah, our only sovereign God.

      The third Commandment also needs to be stated as it was spoken and written by God Himself, "You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain; for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7), and again, His name is given, "Jehovah". Eight times His name was used in the Ten Commandments, and totaling in the Old Testament 6746 times. If man's substitution of God's personal name with titles, "Lord" and "God" isn't making God's personal name of little to no value, then certainly the changing of God's words does qualify as a sin, "All the things that I command you, take heed to do them, and you shall not add to it, nor take away from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32) and most Bible translators have done both. Look up the meaning for "vain" to clearly understand what Jehovah is commanding us, with His warning.

     The fourth Commandment: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy; six days you shall labor and do all your work ; and the seventh day is the sabbath to Jehovah your God; you shall not do any work, you and your son, and your daughter, and your male slave and your slave girl, and your livestock, and your stranger who is in your gates. For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all which are in them, and He rested on the seventh day; on account of this Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and sanctified it." (Exodus 20:8-11). This is well spelled out leaving no questions. It does not mention a day of worship because one can and should Jehovah any day of the week, therefore worshiping Sunday is fine, even though Sunday is a work day. I question, do Sunday church goers keep the seventh day as Jehovah has commanded us?

     Repeating history, we have done and we continue in doing, maybe even more then what the Israelites did, and the results were severe in the Old Testament, but the "Lake of Fire" is even more so, because the second death is for an eternity, and eternity is everlasting. The Israelites had no Books for studying, only what they heard from the priest who read from the scrolls, or what was taught by each family. We are spoiled; we have Bibles readily available to choose from, to read for ourselves, but do we all of God's word? We could even use an Interlinear Bible; that has the Hebrew and Greek text to refer to and to conduct our own studies, and on occasion translate what appears to be inconsistent with the rest of God's word, in conjunction with the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dictionary, or a Hebrew to English dictionary. The closest to the original is the purest way to Jehovah's unchangeable pure truth. Honor all His words and avoid repeating history.