Jesus Christ is the only way to have the everlasting life

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

(John 14:6)

Jehovah God, the Father of Jesus Christ, made his Son an essential figure to have divine approval and everlasting life. In a conversation with the instructor of the Law, Nicodemus (In John 3), Jesus Christ explained that to obtain everlasting life, we must have faith in the sacrifice of his human life without sin, for forgiveness of our sins and in the future, to have the everlasting life: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (...) He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him” (John 3:16,36).

In the expression “He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life”, shows that there is no intermediate solution for humans: either disobedience and lack of faith in the sacrifice of Christ, will lead to destruction. In the other way, the obedience and the faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ will lead to everlasting life.

The second point, about the sacrifice of Christ: those who have faith in the sacrifice of Christ, must commemorate his death once a year, the Nisan, 14th, of the Jewish calendar (between March and April): “Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf" (Luke 2219,20).

All the disciples of Christ, who obey to Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ (after examining their conscience 1 Corinthians 11:28), may partake of the bread and wine, successively representing the body and the blood of Christ (whatever either the Christian hope of everlasting life (in heaven or on earth)).

- The requirement of Christ, to eat symbolically of his "flesh" and his "blood", is to all faithful Christians, to eat "unleavened bread", representing his "flesh" and to drink from the cup, representing his "blood": "I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and for a fact, the bread that I will give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not as when your forefathers ate and yet died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (John 6:48-58) (CHRIST THE ONLY PATH;CHRIST THE MEMORIAL).

- Therefore, all faithful Christians, whatever their hope, heavenly or earthly, are required to eat part of the "unleavened bread" and to drink part of the cup from the commemoration of the death of Christ, it is a commandment: "So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. (...) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will live because of me" (John 6: 53,57 ).

THE SALVATION OF THE OBEDIENT HUMANKIND WITH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life”

(John 3:16)

Christ's sacrifice has an Atonement Value (by the blood) and the Ransom Value (By the body). It is important to know the prophetic meaning of the different sacrifices under the Mosaic Law in connection with these two values (Hebrews 10: 1). We’ll study what is the Atonement Value that removes the sin, in connection with God's forgiveness that leads to everlasting life, and the Atonement Value that removes the sin in connection with the destruction that leads to the death of the sinner (John 3:16; Romans 5:12; 6:23).

This understanding will help to know the relationship between the Atonement Day and the Great Tribulation. There will be an atonement that will lead to the everlasting life (based on the Atonement Value of the blood of Christ) and an atonement that will lead to death (on the value of atonement of the blood of the sinner) or destruction. At the end, we’ll study the prophetic meaning of the Mosaic Law in connection to the Ransom Value (different from the Atonement Value).

The Atonement that leads to the Everlasting Life (In Heaven,On Earth,Great Crowd) and Atonement that leads to the Destruction

The Hebrew word for “atonement”, is “kâphar” (transliteration from the Hebrew letters) (Strong’s Concordance H3722), that means “to cover (specially with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel (Leviticus 16:6). The Hebrew word for “forgiveness”, is “çělîychâh” (transliteration from the Hebrew letters) (Strong’s Concordance H5547), that means “Forgiveness, pardon”. The word origin of “çělîychâh” is “çâlach” (Strong’s Concordance H5545), that means “to forgive”. Therefore, if the Atonement is closely related to the Divine Forgiveness, these two concepts remain fundamentally different.

The Atonement is not the Forgiveness

The big mistake is to think that the Atonement is synonymous of Forgiveness. The Atonement is the absolute necessity of Holiness in dispelling the sin (the contrary of holiness). This process is, in fact, a destruction that leads to death and "cover" or "erase" the sin. While Divine Forgiveness, is to keep alive the human sinner (sinful condition inherited from Adam), while the absolute necessity for Atonement is respected, over the base of the sacrifice of Christ (Atonement Value (blood)).

It is for this reason that our sins are forgiven on the basis of the atoning value of the blood of Christ poured out (once forever, the Nisan 14th, 33 C.E. (and not directly on the value of the Ransom (or Exchange) of the sacrifice of Christ)).

For example, for the Jews with the Jewish religion, the day of Atonement, the TISHRI 10th, which is called in Hebrew "YOM KIPPUR" (YOM = day) + (KIPPUR = Atonement) is also called the great FORGIVENESS. It is true and it is false.

There will be a Forgiveness

It is true that there will be Forgiveness of God, for the goat for Azazel, in the Atonement Day (Leviticus 16:7-10). This goat was the carrier of the confessed sins of the House of Israel sent far from the presence of God (to illustrate the Forgiveness of God): “But the goat designated by lot for A·zaʹzel should be brought alive to stand before Jehovah in order to perform the atonement upon it, so that it may be sent away for A·zaʹzel into the wilderness (…) Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the errors of the Israelites and all their transgressions and all their sins, and he will put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man designated to do this. The goat will carry upon itself all their errors into a desert land, and he will send the goat away into the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:10,21,22).

Returning to the Great Tribulation, it is true that inTISRI 10th, there will be a Forgiveness of God for a part of humanity that is living now and will survive through this dramatic moment. However, this great FORGIVENESS of God will be on the basis of an Atonement (made on the Nisan 14th, 33 C.E. (once for all time)): the Atonement Value of the blood of Christ: “After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10And they keep shouting with a loud voice, saying:

“Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (…) In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” 14So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”” (Revelation 7:9,10,13,14).

There will not be Forgiveness

It is false for the Goat used as an Atonement Sacrifice for the sake of the Goat for Azazel, as it is written in Hebrews: “Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood, and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place” (Hebrew 9:22). It is interesting to note that the inspired declarations of Paul are made in the framework of the explanation of the Atonement Day. During the Great Tribulation, there won’t be a “Great Forgiveness” for the victims of this great worldwide Atonement (Revelation 14:18-20; 19:11-21). If it is necessary the Atonement for the Forgiveness of God, the contrary is not true. The necessity of Atonement is linked to the Most Holiness of God that is an absolute requirement of God, it doesn’t need the Forgiveness of God. The Atonement Process is an Absolute necessity of Holiness, Forgiveness depends on the feelings of God (He is not obliged to forgive: the necessity of forgiveness is not absolute (Matthew 6:14)): “The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him” (John 3:36).

The Atonement without God's forgiveness is neither more nor less than a destruction of the person (as a sinner), which blood remains on his head: “David said to him: “Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth testified against you by saying, ‘I myself put the anointed of Jehovah to death.’” (2 Samuel 1:16; Joshua 2:19; 1 Kings 2: 32,33,37; Ezekiel 33:4; Acts 18:6). The biblical expression of “bloodguilt” means that the own blood of the sinner remains on his head, his own blood will be used (in his death) for his own atonement without forgiveness of God.

The Ransom of Christ will allow the Healings, the Rejuvenation and the Resurrection

There is the same confusion between the biblical expressions of Atonement, Forgiveness and Ransom according the Sacrifice of Christ. Why? Because they have the same result: The Everlasting Life (Ephesians 1:7). Also, the Atonement based of the Forgiveness of God, results, on end, to a Ransom (an exchange of the Body). Atonement is a process of disappearance of sin for the Absolute Necessity of Holiness required by God (Matthew 26:28). And the Ransom is a process of exchange of body (by Healings, Rejuvenation and Resurrection) (Matthew 20:28):

“With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3,4; Isaiah 35: 5,6; John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15).

Jesus Christ has all authority

"And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth"”

(Matthew 28:18)

The above text shows that Jehovah God, the Father, has given all authority  to his Son Jesus Christ, in heaven and on earth. However, this authority will be returned to the Father by the Son at the end of the thousand years of his reign: "Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing. For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone" (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

Currently, Jesus Christ is King in the heavens, of the Kingdom of God and he is reigning in the midst of his enemies, according to Psalms 2: "At that time he will speak to them in his anger And in his hot displeasure he will disturb them, Saying: “I, even I, have installed my king Upon Zion, my holy mountain.” Let me refer to the decree of Jehovah; He has said to me: “You are my son; I, today, I have become your father. Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your own possession” (Psalms 2:5-8; Revelation (Revelation) 12:10).

It is the current King Jesus Christ who will judge the nations shortly before the Great Tribulation, according to Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:33-46. It is the King Jesus Christ who will act as “man at whose hips there was the secretary’s inkhorn”, who will mark on the forehead all humans who will survive the Great Tribulation, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel 9:1-4. It is Jehovah God, the Father, who delegates this right of life and death over all humans to this "man at whose hips there was the secretary’s inkhorn". According to the prophecies of Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 19:11-21, it is King Jesus Christ who will lead the destruction of the Great Tribulation, supported by millions of angels. This is also written in Psalms 2: "You will break them with an iron scepter, As though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces" (Psalms 2:9). Obviously in the front of this heavenly King, Psalms 2 concludes with this exhortation made to all humans, before the Great Tribulation breaks out: “And now, O kings, exercise insight; Let yourselves be corrected, O judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear And be joyful with trembling. Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed And you may not perish [from] the way, For his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him” (Psalms 2:10-12).

After the Great Tribulation, the 1,000-year reign of King Jesus Christ on Earth will begin, accompanied by the 144,000 heavenly kings and priests (Revelation 5:10; 7:1-8; 14:1-5; 20).

The Apocalypse and Yehoshuah Mashiah (Jesus Christ)

Obviously, Yehoshuah Mashiah is the name of Jesus Christ pronounced in Hebrew. As surprising as it may seem, in the book of Revelation, he has several names or titles, depending on the authority and the missions that his Father, Jehovah God, entrusts to him. It will not be a question of listing all these names or qualifiers, but only mentioning those which are found almost exclusively in the book of Revelation.

Yehoshuah Mashiah is the First and the Last, and the living one

"I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but,

look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades"

(Revelation 1:17,18)

This statement is explained by what Jesus Christ says, about his kind of resurrection: he is the First to have been raised directly by his Father in view of everlasting life and the Last, because all the other resurrections, whether in Heaven or on Earth, will be made by the glorified Jesus Christ himself, because he has the keys of death and Hades.

Yehoshuah is the star that fell from heaven to the earth

"And I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth,

and the key of the pit of the abyss was given him"

(Revelation 9:1)

This star holds great authority over millions of locusts, who will ravage the whole spiritual sphere of the current philosophical and religious system of things, by preaching the Good News (Matthew 24:14). These locusts are kingdom proclaimers who torture the consciences of those who do not want to obey theGood Newsand who, unfortunately for them, will suffer the consequences (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Yehoshuah Mashiah is Abaddon and Apollyon

"They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon,

but in Greek he has the name Apollyon"

(Revelation 9:11)

The name Abaddon means destruction. The name Apollyon means destroyer. These two names are that of this star which causes unparalleled destruction of human teachings, by means of the preaching of the Good News which denounces philosophical, religious or pseudo-scientific lies (such as evolutionism). The destruction represents a discrediting of human spiritual teachings of a philosophical, religious or pseudo-scientific nature. Jesus Christ, in his earthly ministry, made such spiritual destruction (See Christ's statements against the teaching class of scribes and Pharisees, in Matthew 23). It is in Matthew 28:19,20, where it is written that Yehoshuah Mashiah like Abaddon and Apollyon, designates himself as being the one who henceforth has all authority: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth" (Matthew 28:18). Abaddon or Apollyon is designated as a king over those locusts who are Christian proclaimers and teachers of the Good News (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:29-20).

Yehoshuah Mashiah is the powerful angel descended from heaven

"And I saw another strong angel descending from heaven, arrayed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet were as fiery pillars"

(Revelation 10:1)

This angel who has one foot on the earth and the sea, with a scroll in his hand alludes to King Jesus Christ according to verse 3, where it is written: "And he cried out with a loud voice just as when a lion roars. And when he cried out, the seven thunders uttered their own voices" (Revelation 10:3). The lion's roar reminds us of the name of Christ in heaven in Revelation 5: "Stop weeping. Look! The Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered so as to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). Thus, the King Jesus Christ, portrayed by this fearsome angel, is vested with all authority. Now, he gives the scroll, and he commands what it may be or not proclaimed by John. The apostle John can symbolize those who have the authority of priests or elders in the Christian congregations throughout the world, symbolized by the seven human angels in Revelation 2 and 3. The fact that this powerful angel has one foot on land and the other on the sea, could allude to the fact that during the earthly ministry of Christ, he preached both on land and on sea (in a boat to move from one place to another to preach and teach) and even he walked on the sea (Luke 5:1-11 (Jesus teaching the crowds on the beach, in a boat slightly far from the shore); Matthew 14:23-33 (Jesus walking on the sea)).

Yehoshuah Mashiah is the rider on a white horse

"And I saw, and, look! a white horse; and the one seated upon it had a bow;

and a crown was given him, and he went forth conquering and to complete his conquest"

(Revelation 6:2)

Since the enthronement of King Jesus Christ, by Jehovah God, his Father, the world, planet Earth has been in a situation of war for more than a hundred years now, between two sovereignties. This declaration of open war has been brought about by Jehovah God, Himself, by installing his Son as King, to replace the sovereignty of the devil on the earth. According to Psalms 2, the nations do not openly recognize this kingship. For this reason, Jehovah God will have to show his right to sovereignty over planet Earth, by force, through his Son King and warrior, Yehoshuah Mashiah. He will complete his victory over Satan and his demon angels, and over the nations that do not want the kingship of Christ, during the great tribulation. In Revelation 19:11-21, King Jesus Christ is depicted as a warrior priest, accompanied by many heavenly angels to end Godless human sovereignty on earth. In Revelation 19:13 it is mentioned that his garment is sprinkled with blood, which symbolically alludes to his installation as a high priest (compare Leviticus 8:30, mentioning the installation of the Aaronic priesthood, by a slight sprinkling of blood on his priestly garment).

Yehoshuah Mashiah is Archangel Michael

"And war broke out in heaven: Miʹcha·el and his angels battled with the dragon,

and the dragon and its angels battled "

(Revelation 12:7)

Archangel means chief of angels. In Revelation 19:11-21, in the description of King Jesus Christ, in verse 14, it is written: "Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen". This text demonstrates that it is the King Jesus Christ who is the head of the heavenly armies, the archangel.

In Matthew 25:31, Jesus Christ announces that shortly before thegreat tribulation, he will come to judge the nations: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne". The expression "and all the angels with him", shows that he has all authority, as chief of the angels or archangel Michael.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, it is written that Jesus Christ will use an archangel's voice to raise the dead: "Because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Therefore, there is no doubt that the leader of the angels, Michael, is King Jesus Christ.

The Apocalypse and the Marriage of the Lamb

“After these things I heard what was as a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah, you people! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God". Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give him the glory, because the marriage of the Lamb

has arrived and his wife has prepared herself"

(Revelation 19:1-10)

The marriage of the Lamb, King Jesus Christ, with the New Jerusalem is described in Revelation 21: "I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2). The New Jerusalem, represents the 144,000 humans redeemed from the earth to live in heaven, with King Jesus Christ: "And I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1-5; 5:10 (redeemed humans from the earth)).

Logically, according to the narrative of Revelation 19:1-11, which is before the account of the great tribulation (19:11-21), this joyful event will take place when the last group of the 7000 humans remaining on earth, after their death, will be resurrected instantaneously, shortly before the great tribulation (Revelation 11:13 (death of the 7000); 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (the instantaneous resurrection)).

This heavenly marriage is also described in Psalms 45 which gives additional information concerning the "children" resulting from this marriage: "In place of your forefathers there will come to be your sons, Whom you will appoint as princes in all the earth" (Psalms 45:16). These princes who will rule over all the earth, will be the earthly representatives of the royal authority of Christ and of the 144,000 (the New Jerusalem), that is to say, of theKingdom of God: "Look! A king will reign for righteousness itself; and as respects princes, they will rule as princes for justice itself. And each one must prove to be like a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless country, like the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted land" (Isaiah 32:1,2). In Ezekiel's prophecy, these "princes" are designated by the name of "chieftain": "However, the chieftain—as chieftain he himself will sit in it, in order to eat bread before Jehovah. By way of the porch of the gate he will come in, and by way of it he will go out" (Ezekiel 44:3).

The Holy Spirit is the active force of God

"God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters"

(Genesis 1:2)

The holy spirit, as written in the text of Genesis (above), is an active force that comes from God. The expression "active force of God" can very well be translated as the powerful spirit (werouah) of God. The word "rouah" being translated as "spirit" or "wind".

As we read all the Bible texts regarding the active force of God, we understand two important points. First, the holy spirit, or the active force of God, has a multiple or polyvalence function. Second, the holy spirit is absolutely not a person, but an impersonal force or power (like the sun, wind, and water), which comes from God.

Let us take attention to the functions of the holy spirit which comes from God. In Genesis 1:1 it is written: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". The first verse of the Bible summarizes the creation of the material universe and the earth (the heavens and the earth), which scientists have calculated to be about 13 billion years old. From verse 2, and in the continuation of chapters 1 and 2, there is the narrative of the arrangement of the planet earth in order to create the microbial, plant, animal and human life, over a period of several tens of thousands years, divided into six periods or "days" (in the Bible the word day, does not only have a duration of 24 hours, but can refer to a period, more or less long). Thus, verse 2, which mentions the action of the active force of God, or the holy spirit, is connected with the creation of the universe with the planet earth and then in its arrangement to allow life. Jehovah God uses the holy spirit to create.

Jesus Christ used the active force of God, the holy spirit to perform miracles

(Luke 8:42-48)

In the account of the miracle which took place without his knowing it, Jesus Christ gives important information: "As he was going the crowds thronged him. And a woman, subject to a flow of blood for twelve years, who had not been able to get a cure from anyone, approached from behind and touched the fringe of his outer garment, and instantly her flow of blood stopped. So Jesus said: “Who was it that touched me?” When they were all denying it, Peter said: “Instructor, the crowds are hemming you in and closely pressing you.” Yet Jesus said: “Someone touched me, for I perceived that power went out of me.” Seeing that she had not escaped notice, the woman came trembling and fell down before him and disclosed before all the people the cause for which she touched him and how she was healed instantly. But he said to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go your way in peace.”" (Luke 8:42-48). As the result of this miracle, Jesus Christ realized something in him: "Someone touched me, for I perceived that power went out of me". With this biblical information, we understand that Jesus Christ performed miracles with the power of the holy spirit which he had in him, and each time he was doing a miracle, part of this force went away.

Jesus Christ transferred an important part of the active force of God, the holy spirit, to his twelve apostles

(Matthew 10)

By giving a significant part of the active force of God, the holy spirit, on his twelve apostles, Jesus Christ gave them the capacity to do miracles: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a Sa·marʹi·tan city; but, instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. you received free, give free" (Matthew 10:5-8).

The gift of the holy spirit, which Jesus Christ gave to his apostles, was free. Therefore, the ministry of the Word, was to be (must be) completely free, without any financial obligation or tithe, for those who would benefit from the blessings of the working of the holy spirit.

The outpouring of the holy spirit on Pentecost 33 CE,

The birth of the Christian Congregation

"And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them"

(Acts 2:3)

Here is part of the narrative of this important event: "Now while the day of the [festival of] Pentecost was in progress they were all together at the same place, and suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance. As it was, there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, from every nation of those under heaven. So, when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Indeed, they were astonished and began to wonder and say: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal·i·leʹans, are they not? And yet how is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? Parʹthi·ans and Medes and Eʹlam·ites, and the inhabitants of Mes·o·po·taʹmi·a, and Ju·deʹa and Cap·pa·doʹci·a, Ponʹtus and the district of Asia, and Phrygʹi·a and Pam·phylʹi·a, Egypt and the parts of Libʹy·a, which is toward Cy·reʹne, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Creʹtans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.” Yes, they were all astonished and were in perplexity, saying one to another: “What does this thing purport to be?” However, different ones mocked at them and began to say: “They are full of sweet wine.” But Peter stood up with the eleven and raised his voice and made this utterance to them: “Men of Ju·deʹa and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give ear to my sayings. These [people] are, in fact, not drunk, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. On the contrary, this is what was said through the prophet Joel,  ‘“And in the last days,” God says, “I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2).

The gift of holy spirit that allowed to do miracles

(Acts 5:12-16)

The narrative of Acts of the Apostles chapters 2, after the outpouring of the holy spirit, the disciples had the miraculous gift of preaching the good news in others languages. However, as we read the whole book of Acts, we understand that this gift of holy spirit gave them the ability to perform the same miracles that Jesus Christ had done. Let us read three examples: "Moreover, through the hands of the apostles many signs and portents continued to occur among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solʹomon’s colonnade.  True, not a one of the others had the courage to join himself to them; nevertheless, the people were extolling them. More than that, believers in the Lord kept on being added, multitudes both of men and of women; so that they brought the sick out even into the broad ways and laid them there upon little beds and cots, in order that, as Peter would go by, at least his shadow might fall upon some one of them. Also, the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem kept coming together, bearing sick people and those troubled with unclean spirits, and they would one and all be cured" (Acts 5:12-16).

The apostle Peter heals a lame man: "Now Peter and John were going up into the temple for the hour of prayer, the ninth hour, and a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, and they would daily put him near the temple door that was called Beautiful, in order to ask gifts of mercy from those entering into the temple. When he caught sight of Peter and John about to go into the temple he began requesting to get gifts of mercy. But Peter, together with John, gazed at him and said: “Take a look at us.” So he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to get something from them. However, Peter said: “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·reneʹ, walk!” With that he took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up. Instantly the soles of his feet and his anklebones were made firm; and, leaping up, he stood up and began walking, and he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people got sight of him walking and praising God. Moreover, they began to recognize him, that this was the man that used to sit for gifts of mercy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they became filled with astonishment and ecstasy at what had happened to him" (Acts 3:1-10).

The apostle Peter resurrects Dorcas: "But in Jopʹpa there was a certain disciple named Tabʹi·tha, which, when translated, means Dorʹcas. She abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy that she was rendering. But in those days she happened to fall sick and die. So they bathed her and laid her in an upper chamber. Now as Lydʹda was near Jopʹpa, when the disciples heard that Peter was in this city they dispatched two men to him to entreat him: “Please do not hesitate to come on as far as us.” At that Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they led him up into the upper chamber; and all the widows presented themselves to him weeping and exhibiting many inner garments and outer garments that Dorʹcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter put everybody outside and, bending his knees, he prayed, and, turning to the body, he said: “Tabʹi·tha, rise!” She opened her eyes and, as she caught sight of Peter, she sat up. Giving her his hand, he raised her up, and he called the holy ones and the widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout all Jopʹpa, and many became believers on the Lord. For quite a few days he remained in Jopʹpa with a certain Simon, a tanner" (Acts 9:36-42).

Do some Christians currently have this gift of performing miracles or miraculous healings, or even resurrections?

In the first letter to the Christians of Corinth in chapter 12, the apostle Paul wrote that in the Christian congregation, God gives some gifts of the holy spirit, among which are the "gifts of healings" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Therefore, in all "logic" one should expect to see cases of miraculous healings, and even resurrections, in Christian congregations. But the facts are stubborn: there is not. What happened? The biblical answer will be in several parts. Some specific narratives of the miracles of Christ and the apostles will be analyzed to find that the Biblical definition of "healing" is "recreation", a Biblical word found in Matthew 19:28. The other important aspect will be to understand the purpose of these miracles, namely the accreditation of God as anointed or Christ, or as a group or congregation approved by God. The last important point, if some Christians claim to perform "miracles", it is important to understand if they are of the same kind as those of the time of Christ or of the apostles. In addition we will see that for Jesus Christ in the last days there would be people in the congregations who would claim to work miracles to mislead the "chosen ones" (Matthew 24:24).

The healings made by Jesus Christ and the apostles were "recreations"

The diseases and disabilities, whether viral, bacterial or connected to accidents of life, can leave irreversible consequences on the human body: a dry hand, probably a hereditary or genetic deformation (Luke 6:6-11), blindness, by accident or by heredity (Matthew 9:27-31; Luke 18:35-42), deafness and impairment of the motor skills of speech (Mark 7:31-37), leprosy , a disease caused by a bacillus (Mycobacterium leprae) that causes damage to the peripheral nervous system, skin and various parts of the body (Mark 1:40-42; Luke 17:11-19). All of these miraculous healings, and many more (John 21:25), required even partial "re-creation" of the part of the human body affected by the disease or its physical after-effects.

The resurrection of Lazarus, the friend of Jesus Christ, was particularly spectacular and required a significant partial recreation of his body for it, to come back to life (John 11:30-44). It is written that Lazarus had been dead for four days. When Jesus Christ asked for the tomb to be opened, Martha, the deceased's sister, objected: "Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days", which shows that Lazarus' body was beginning to decompose. The resurrection of Lazarus was a partial recreation of his human body (palingénesia (in Greek) (Matthew 19:28)). It is therefore evident that these miraculous healings by "re-creation", in our days, do not exist in Christian congregations.

The simplicity and realism of the narrative of the miracles

"Then great crowds approached him, having along with them people that were lame, maimed, blind, dumb, and many otherwise, and they fairly threw them at his feet, and he cured them; so that the crowd felt amazement as they saw the dumb speaking and the lame walking and the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel"

(Matthew 15:30,31)

As you read the narratives of miraculous healings in the Bible, they are often simple and concise. Sometimes they seem to indicate that Jesus Christ was taking into account the feelings of the people he was going to heal. Jesus Christ had great insight of what his interlocutors thought (Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:17-26 "And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said: “Why are you thinking wicked things in your hearts?""). What was true for them was also true for some of the ill people he was going to heal. For example  regarding the healing of a blind man from birth, in John chapter 9:1-7, Jesus Christ coated the eyes of the blind with clay which he moistened with his saliva, and commanded him, without going with him, to go and wash their eyes at the pool of Siloam. On the other hand, the gospel account of Mark 8:22-25, for the healing of another blind man, it is written that the people of a village, bring a blind man to him. Jesus Christ, taking him by the hand, leads him outside the village. He does a gradual, two-step healing process to gradually restore his sight, with the purpose that the blind person, probably, does not have too much emotional shock.

Another account of the healing of a deaf and dumb is very touching: "Now coming back out of the regions of Tyre he went through Siʹdon to the sea of Galʹi·lee up through the midst of the regions of De·capʹo·lis. Here they brought him a man deaf and with a speech impediment, and they entreated him to lay his hand upon him. And he took him away from the crowd privately and put his fingers into the man’s ears and, after spitting, he touched his tongue. And with a look up into heaven he sighed deeply and said to him: “Ephʹpha·tha,” that is, “Be opened.” Well, his hearing powers were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he began speaking normally.  With that he charged them not to tell anyone; but the more he would charge them, that much more they would proclaim it. Indeed, they were being astounded in a most extraordinary way and they said: “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the speechless speak”" (Mark 7:31-37).

The fact that Jesus Christ is leading this man out of the crowd, shows that he is understanding that maybe, he is afraid of the uproar of people, excited to find out if he will heal him. This deaf and dumb man is imprisoned in an absolute inner silence. The crowd introduces him to Jesus, whom he is not supposed to know and what he will do with him. Thus, the description of the gestures of his healing, is perhaps a way that Jesus Christ has, of making this man understand what he is doing: that is to say, to heal him ("he put his fingers into the man’s ears"), with the help of God ("look up into heaven").

The only narratives of miracles where there are loud voices, cries and convulsions, is when Jesus Christ confronts demons who took possession of human beings. Sometimes causing them to have epileptic seizures very violent (which does not mean that epilepsy is an illness connected with demonism. The gospel account describes epilepsy as one of the consequences of possession, which can have others, such as unusually human strength or gifts of divination) (Matthew 8:28-34; 17:14-20; Luke 4:31-37). However, most Bible accounts of miracles are simple and concise.

The gifts of miraculous healings were divine accreditation that the person or group of people had the approval of God and the Holy Spirit

"Rabbi, we know that you as a teacher have come from God; for no one can perform these signs that you perform unless God is with him"

(John 3:2)

It was an honest and sincere teacher of the Law, named Nicodemus, who said these words. Likewise, when the apostles performed such signs, there was no doubt, to the observers, that they had the holy spirit: "Moreover, through the hands of the apostles many signs and portents continued to occur among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solʹo·mon’s colonnade" (Acts 5:12-16). However, some Pharisees, in the presence of Christ, went so far as to dispute this evidence. Let us read the response of Christ to them:

"Then they brought him a demon-possessed man, blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. Well, all the crowds were simply carried away and began to say: “May this not perhaps be the Son of David?” At hearing this, the Pharisees said: “This fellow does not expel the demons except by means of Be·elʹze·bub, the ruler of the demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  In the same way, if Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? Moreover, if I expel the demons by means of Be·elʹze·bub, by means of whom do your sons expel them? This is why they will be judges of you. But if it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken you. Or how can anyone invade the house of a strong man and seize his movable goods, unless first he binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:22-30).

Logically, Jesus Christ turned this gratuitous accusation of the Pharisees against them with this simple question: "Moreover, if I expel the demons by means of Be·elʹze·bub, by means of whom do your sons expel them?". However, Jesus Christ did not consider this accusation harmless at all, quite the contrary. He sent them this warning to be taken very seriously; be careful not to sin against the holy spirit: "On this account I say to you, Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come" (Matthew 12:31,32).

The miraculous gifts will cease

"But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with"

(1 Corinthians 13:8)

Jesus Cristo concedeu a habilidade de fazer milagres principalmente aos doze Apóstolos (Mateus 10:5-8). Eles podiam passá-los para outros discípulos (Atos 6:6). No entanto, não há nada na Bíblia, e particularmente no relato dos Atos, que indique que os discípulos (que não eram dos doze Apóstolos) pudessem passar esses dons milagrosos do espírito santo a outros discípulos. Assim, com a morte de todos os apóstolos, esses dons de fazer milagres gradualmente desapareceram das congregações cristãs (Mateus 13:25 "Enquanto os homens dormiam").

According to Malachi 2:15, we are in the period of what it "remains of the spirit", which is the prayer when we ask his holy spirit to endure until the end (Matthew 24:13; 21:22,36; Luke 11:13). We can have what it remains of the holy spirit in this spiritual darkened world by regularly reading the Bible, which is a scriptural deposit of holy spirit, and applying it in our lives every day (2 Peter 1:20,21).

In the night before his death, Jesus Christ said that henceforth, what would identify the disciples of Christ would no longer be the ability to work many miracles, but by the brotherly love that would reign in the congregations: "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves" (John 13:34,35). The apostle Paul expresses the idea similar to that of Christ to identify those who belong to Christ, who would have what is remaining of the holy spirit, by its fruit: "On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:22-24). The disciple James designates them as those who manifest the wisdom from above: "But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical. Moreover, the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace" (James 3:17,18).

Sin against the holy spirit which has no forgiveness

"On this account I say to you, Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come"

(Matthew 12:31,32)

The sin against the holy spirit is a stubborn attitude against the active force of God, and more generally against his purpose. Whoever sins against the holy spirit, practices sin stubbornly. Jesus Christ, when on earth, pointed out that some of the the Pharisees had sinned against the holy spirit: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one you make him a subject for Ge·henʹna twice as much so as yourselves. (…) Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are you to flee from the judgment of Gehenna? " (Matthew 23: 15,33). The Gehenna was the dumping ground, at the south of Jerusalem, outside the walls, which symbolized everlasting destruction and in the words of Christ, the death without resurrection.

How did some of these men come to sin against the holy spirit? The disciple Stephen summed up the spiritual process very well: "Obstinate men and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the holy spirit; as your forefathers did, so you do. Which one of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? Yes, they killed those who made announcement in advance concerning the coming of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers YOU have now become, you who received the Law as transmitted by angels but have not kept it" (Acts 7:51-53).

These religious leaders have seen the miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit through the many healings and resurrections performed by Jesus Christ. As an example, after the resurrection of Lazarus, it is written in the Gospel of John that the Pharisees sought to kill not only Jesus Christ, but also Lazarus (John 11:45-53 (the decision to kill Jesus); John 12:10 (The decision to kill Lazarus)). In the context of the declaration of Christ about the sin against the holy spirit, the Pharisees said that Jesus performed miracles with the spirit of the devil. It represented blasphemy against the active force of God, the holy spirit (Matthew 12:22-30). Those who sin against the Holy Spirit are completely wicked people.

How to avoid this extreme? The apostle Paul gives the answer: "Wherefore, now that you have put away falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members belonging to one another. Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked state,  neither allow place for the Devil. Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need. Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers. Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom" (Ephesians 4:25-30).

Therefore, one should not grieve the holy spirit, that is, not engage in conduct contrary to the biblical commandments. Those who use to be engaged in this misconduct, the next step can be to "resist" the holy spirit, as the Pharisees did. Some might ask, with quite legitimate fear, whether they have sinned against the holy spirit. How to know it? We can be reassured while remaining vigilant regarding this question.

It is God who judges through his Son Jesus Christ, to know who has sinned against the holy spirit. It is interesting to re-read and think about the narrative of the prodigal son (Luke 16:11-23). Jesus Christ portrays the mercy of God in the guise of a father who patiently allows his son to follow his path, which ranges from a fundamentally evil attitude to one that leads to repentance. This illustration shows how Jehovah God is ready to detect the slightest hint of repentance in order to forgive (1 Kings 18:13 (Jehovah saw something good in the heart of the son of king Jeroboam (an evil king))). Some humans have their conscience charged by serious sins they have committed, some of them serious. The fact that the conscience reacts and condemns us for our evil deeds, causing great sadness, is an important clue that the irreversible has not been reached from the point of view of God.

Indeed, there is a sadness which leads to repentance: "Hence even if I saddened you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did at first regret it, (I see that that letter saddened you, though but for a little while,) now I rejoice, not because you were just saddened, but because you were saddened into repenting; for you were saddened in a godly way, that you might suffer no damage in anything due to us. For sadness in a godly way makes for repentance to salvation that is not to be regretted; but the sadness of the world produces death. For, look! this very thing, your being saddened in a godly way, what a great earnestness it produced in you, yes, clearing of yourselves, yes, indignation, yes, fear, yes, longing, yes, zeal, yes, righting of the wrong! In every respect you demonstrated yourselves to be chaste in this matter" (2 Corinthians 7:8-11; Isaiah 1:18 "Come, now, you people, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though the sins of you people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool").

However, let us remain constantly vigilant as to the use of our language because it is with it, that this irreversible sin can be committed, according to Jesus Christ: "For by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:33-37; compare with Matthew 5:22 "Whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna"). The whole of Chapter 3 of the Disciple James Letter is describing the correct and misuse of the tongue. In this chapter, James also shows that it is with the tongue that this unforgivable sin can be done: "Well, the tongue is a fire. The tongue is constituted a world of unrighteousness among our members, for it spots up all the body and sets the wheel of natural life aflame and it is set aflame by Gehenna" (James 3:6). Let us manifest wisdom from above to protect ourselves spiritually from committing the irreparable from the point of view of God and of his Son Jesus Christ, to whom he has entrusted judgment: “But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical. Moreover, the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace" (James 3:17,18).

The Bible is the Word of God

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work"

(2 Timothy 3:16,17)

The Bible is inspired by God: "For you know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. 21 For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit" (2 Peter 1:20,21). Forty people participated in the writing of the Bible.

Reading the Bible allows us to know better the mind of Jehovah and that of Christ: "For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). This allows us to have good relationship with Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ, as King of the Kingdom of God (Psalms 2). The knowledge of God and of Christ can enable us to obtain everlasting life: "This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ" (John 17:3).

Reading the Bible allows us to have good thoughts (Philippians 4:6-9). Reading the Bible allows for the memorization of some important biblical quotes, in order to more easily find biblical principles that will guide us in our decisions. More generally, daily reading of the Bible allows us to obtain God's blessing, and a better quality of life, to the extent that we apply it in our life: "However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, and he goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does" (James 1:22-25, Psalm 1:2,3).

Some information to know in order to be able to choose

the part of the reading of the Bible we want to read

Some people will prefer to read the Bible in order of the 66 biblical books. Others will turn to a thematic biblical reading that will interest them more. We can use both ways of reading the Bible. In any case, to better enjoy reading it, there is information to know that will allow us to use the Bible in a more targeted way. The subdivision of each of the 66 books of the Bible, in chapters and verses, makes it possible to locate the biblical quotes referenced quite quickly. For example Psalms 1:2,3: the name of the biblical book "Psalms", chapter 1, verses 2 and 3. If the biblical reference is not quoted in a biblical article, then you can search for it in the Bible to verify the accuracy of Bible teaching (Acts 17:11).

The Bible is a book that was written over a period of more than 1600 years, from the 16th century BCE, to the end of the first century AD. The 39 books were written before the coming of Jesus Christ on earth, in Hebrew and Aramaic. This first part of the Bible is commonly called as the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures. The second part of the Bible, consisting of 27 books, is called the New Testament or Christian Greek Scriptures.

The Hebrew Scriptures

They have three main parts:

1 - The historical part consists of 17 biblical books, which range from Genesis to the Book of Esther. The narrative begins with the creation of the universe, billions of years ago (Genesis 1:1); the planning of the planet earth to allow plant, animal and human life in six periods of several thousand years (Genesis 1:2-2:24). The account of Genesis chapter 3 is that of the devil's attack against the Sovereignty of God, Adam and Eve associated with this rebellion and their respective judgment (Genesis 3).

(In 1914, Satan the Devil has been expelled from heaven with demons on the earth, according to Revelation 12:9)

(In 1914, Jesus Christ has been enthroned in heaven as King of the Kingdom of God, according to Revelation 11:15. The understanding of the prophecy of Daniel chapter 4, makes it possible to obtain the year 1914)

(THE END OF PATRIOTISM: Jesus Christ is actually King in the Heavens in the midst of his enemies (Psalms 2). King Jesus Christ will put end of the human sovereignty on Earth, in the great tribulation)

Genesis 3:15, is the promise of God which is the central theme of the Bible: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel". The understanding of this prophecy provides a good overview of the articulation of the Bible reasoning regarding its history and prophecies. The covenant with Abraham, the creation of the People of Israel, the Davidic kingship and so forth, makes it possible to understand progressively this biblical enigma. This historical part ends with the return of the People of Israel to Palestine after 70 years of exile in Babylon (The Books of Nehemiah and Ezra).

In this historical part, there is what constitutes the Covenant of the Law, from the book of Exodus to the book of Deuteronomy, interspersed with historical narratives of the Israelites during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. To get a good general idea of ​​the spirit of this set of laws, read Exodus chapters 20-23.

(THE PROMISE OF GOD: the explanation of the prophecy of Genesis 3:15)

(Christians are no longer under the authority of the Law given to Moses (Romans 10: 4). Nevertheless, the Mosaic Law has a prophetic fulfillment, according to the inspired letters of the Apostle Paul (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1). How is it fulfilled in the Christian congregation?

2 - The poetic part consists of 5 biblical books, the book of Job to The Song of Solomon. The book of Job gives another very important information regarding the devil's challenge against the Sovereignty of God mentioned in Genesis chapter 3. In Job chapters 1 and 2, we understand that the devil's challenge also includes the integrity of the human being to the trials: "But Satan answered Jehovah: “Skin for skin. A man will give everything that he has for his life. But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike his bone and flesh, and he will surely curse you to your very face" (Job 2: 4,5). Jehovah God allowed the devil to cause Job to suffer for a time, without allowing him to kill Job. This temporary permission of evil made it possible to give a moral answer to the challenge of the devil: would Job remain to be blameless and upright before God, even in terrible trials, in this case, directly provoked by the devil? Job's faith has been victorious, he remained upright by giving glory to God: "Until I die, I will not renounce my integrity!" (Job 27:5). Jehovah God rewarded the integrity of Job (Job 42:10-17, James 5:11). Genesis 3 and the book of Job allow us to better understand the spiritual challenges of the temporary divine permission of evil.

The poetic book of Psalms allows us to see examples of prayers that can be addressed to God (Psalms 141:2). It is interesting to note that this biblical book also has a prophetic dimension. There are prophecies concerning the Messiah (Psalms 2 the heavenly enthronement of King Jesus Christ; 22 the circumstances of the sacrificial death of Christ; 45 the heavenly marriage of King Jesus Christ with his queenly consort, the New Jerusalem (144000 ) (Revelation 19:7,8; ​​21:2)). Prophecies about the future earthly paradise (Psalms 37, 46, 72).

(Jesus Christ gave very specific advice on prayer)

(Humanity will be released from the consequences of sin (Romans 5:12,13))

The book of Proverbs contains requirements for good relationship with God, with human beings in general and within the family. The book of Ecclesiastes shows that a human existence without God is futility. To give meaning to our existence, it is essential to obey God (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). The construction of this biblical book is strange because one must read the very end of this book to understand, in a first reading, its general message.

3 - The prophetic part consists of 17 biblical books, which is from Isaiah to Malachi. It is impossible to summarize in a very condensed way the contents of these books. The sum of both historical and biblical information is simply astronomical. There are messianic prophecies concerning the people of Israel, Jerusalem, the people around them, the end of time, the Day of Jehovah (the Great Tribulation), the succession of world powers, the future earthly paradise...

In this prophetic part there are the first three books which are more important in number of chapters: Isaiah, Jeremiah (associated with the book of Lamentations) and Ezekiel. In Isaiah 53, there are Messianic prophecies regarding the circumstances of Christ's sacrificial death. In Isaiah 11, 35, 65, there is an encouraging prophetic description of the future earthly paradise. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, there is the prophecy on Gog of Magog, which is just before en during the great tribulation. In Ezekiel 40-48, there is a prophetic description of the future administration of the Kingdom of God on earth.

(The prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48 symbolically describes the earthly administration of the Kingdom of God)

(The prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48 symbolically describes the role of the princes who will administer the reception of the earthly resurrects, but also the worship of Jehovah, outside the spiritual temple)

(The prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48 symbolically describes the role of earthly priests (the sons of Zadoc), who will deal directly with the administration of worship to Jehovah, in the spiritual temple (They will represent the people through prayer, they will teach, they will judge the unrighteousresurrected (John 5: 28, 29))

After there are prophetic books with smaller numbers of chapters, from Daniel to Malachi. Nevertheless their prophetic power is just as important as the first three prophetic books. Daniel's prophecy is spiritually very powerful. Moreover, a great part of the prophecies of Jesus Christ about Jerusalem, the end of this system of things, is mainly based on the prophecies of Daniel chapters 9, 11 and 12 (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21).

(The prophecy of Daniel, "of the two kings", describes the dramatic events which took place and take place in the Middle East, which will lead to the great tribulation (Daniel 11-12:1))

(Daniel's prophecy chapter 8, which announced hundreds of years in advance, the advent of Alexander the Great, describes in advance the face and attitude of the last king of world power who will face the King Jesus Christ, during the great tribulation)

The prophecies on the Day of Jehovah, the great tribulation, of the book of Zechariah associated with the books of Joel, Amos, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, give very a precise information about the time of the great tribulation, what will happen and what we have to do to survive.

The Greek Christian Scriptures

They have four parts:

1 - The Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are the narrative of the earthly life of Christ and especially his teaching. In Matthew of chapters 5 to 7 there is the sermon on the mount. This very spiritually powerful teaching, combines simplicity in the expression of ideas (often illustrated with examples), with a depth in the sense. For example, in this Sermon, he repeatedly begins his reasoning by citing the Law that all Israelite knew (Do not murder, do not commit adultery, divorce, promises made to God and men and so on...), to give the substance or the biblical principle that supports a specific law. He has shown that from the point of view of God, it is not so much the action that more important, but rather, the intention that precedes it, especially in the case of laws prohibiting murder and adultery. Hatred and insults often precede murder, and even at this stage of non-realization of murder, from God's point of view, anyone in this situation is guilty of intentional homicide. It is the same for adultery, often the vision constructs the intention that can lead to action. For Jesus Christ, vision and intention equals action (even not fulfilled) (Matthew 5:21-23,27-30).

(The Bible condemns hatred of one's neighbor, patriotic and religious hatred (See Bible Teaching (Part 2: Forbidden in the Bible))

Matthew 24:25, Mark 13 and Luke 21 contain the prophecies of Jesus Christ concerning the end of this system of things.

(We are living the last days of this system of things, which will definitely end in the great tribulation)

2 - The book of Acts of the Apostles, is the story of the beginning of the Christian congregations, in Jerusalem, in Samaria and around the Mediterranean.

3 - The letters are written by the apostles and disciples responsible for the administration of the whole Christian congregations, from Romans to Jude. Most letters are written by the Apostle Paul (Romans to Hebrews). It is interesting to note that the letters written by James and Jude are from the two half-brothers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55, Jude 1 (brother of James)).

4 - The book of Revelation (Greek: Apocalypse): It is a written prophetic fresco, made of enigmatic visions whose general coherence resides in the resolution of the prophetic enigmas. Only God, through His Son Jesus Christ, allows the understanding and acceptance by faith (Matthew 11:25). This book contains prophecies about the end of this system of things (as Matthew 24,25, Mark 13 and Luke 21) (Revelation 6,14,19) and the blessings of the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 21 and 22).

It is very important to associate our reading of the Bible with prayer. It is important, too, to read it without religious prejudices. Often, our religious education shapes our understanding of the Bible. This religious education, even Christian, is often imbued with non-biblical dogmas with Greco-Roman origin: the immortality of the soul, the hell of fire where the dead are tortured, purgatory, limbo, the trinity. We must ask God, before each reading, to help us get rid of these prejudices, to free us to understand the mind of God written in part in the Bible (Matthew 11:25). Jesus Christ said, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). This spiritual release is in our head, in our spiritual heart, in our ability to think the Bible using our own discernment that leads us to understand the God’s thoughts through Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Jesus Christ taught his apostles to think for themselves to insight the God’s thoughts (compare Matthew 16:23 "God’s thoughts" and Matthew 17:25 "What do you think, Simon?"). This is what we must do, praying for God's help, reading the Bible, and applying it every day.

The Kingdom of God is a Heavenly Government

"Let your Kingdom come"

(Matthew 6:9)

This heavenly government of God was established in heaven in 1914, and whose King is Jesus Christ accompanied by 144,000 kings and priests who constitute the "New Jerusalem", the bride of Christ: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:1-4).

This Heavenly Government of God will end the present human rule during the Great Tribulation, and will be settled on Earth: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite" (Daniel 2:44).

What does represent the whole of this biblical vision, which is a prophetic fresco just like the Apocalypse? It is Jesus Christ who gave the main key of understanding, which, by domino effect, makes it possible to understand the framework of Ezekiel's Vision: “Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel”” (Matthew 19:28).

Through this teaching, we understand several things: the prophetic element of the Mosaic Law regarding the future worldwide administration of the Kingdom of God, as the apostle Paul wrote, under inspiration in Hebrews 10:1. The former Israel, prophetically represented the future worldwide territory, in the earthly paradise. It makes possible to understand the general meaning of the prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48, and the Revelation, namely: The prophetic description of the administrative authority of the Kingdom of God on earthly paradise, exercised by the Chieftain. The administration of the spiritual and priesthood authority exercised by the sons of Zadok (earthly priests), seconded by the nonpriestly Levites who will assist the priests in their priesthood authority.

In the book of Revelation, these two forms of authority are summarized by the function of the 144,000 heavenly kings and priests associated with the King Jesus Christ: “you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

This royal authority of the 144,000 will be relayed by the "Chieftain(s)" or the "Prince(s)", who will exercise administrative authority, in connection with the territorial and demographic management of the future resurrected people by the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 44: 3). And the priestly authority of the 144,000 will be represented on Earth by the Sons of Zadok who will administer the teaching, the judgment of the resurrected on earth, in the framework of the authority according the Temple Sanctuary. The prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48 shows how these two kinds of authorities are used by the "Chieftain", outside the Temple, and the Sons of Zadok, inside the Temple. The prophecy symbolically describes the earthly blessings of the Kingdom of God through this Great River that brings the Dead Sea back to life, which is obviously the prophetic representation of the gradual resurrection of humanity that died by the effects of the Adamic death (Ezekiel 47 : 6-10; Romans 5:12).

The Apocalypse and the New Jerusalem

"I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God

and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"

(Revelation 21:2)

The New Jerusalem, represents the earthly administration of the Kingdom of God, by the 144,000 kings and priests in heaven. This administration is described as a symbolic city on earth, in direct relationship with heaven. Here is the description:

"Now the one who was speaking with me was holding as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth and height are equal. Also, he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to a man’s measure, at the same time an angel’s. Now the structure of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass. The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedʹony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. Also, the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl. And the broad way of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass" (Revelation 21:15-21).

Before understanding concretely what this measurement of the city and its description means, let's pay attention on the dimensions: It is a cube of twelve thousand stadia on a side, by its height, length and width (12000x185 (m)=2220 (km)). A cube has six faces, if we reason in area, which is not the case, in the measurement that interests us. The measurement is expressed in perimeter or in horizontal and vertical parallel lines:

- Base of the cube: four sides of the same length.

- Top of the cube: four sides of the same length.

- Height of the cube: four sides of the same length.

Thus, the total of the straight lines is twelve. A straight line is twelve thousand furlongs (stadium). We have the following equality: Twelve thousand furlongs multiplied by twelve equals one hundred and forty thousand. We have exactly this equality in Revelation 7:4-8, hence its connection with Revelation 21:15-17 (see the symbolism of numbers in the Bible).

The unit of length is a Roman stadium (185 meters). In that case, a stadium is equal to the earthly ministry (the race properly completed on earth) of aChristian with heavenly hope(see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (the winner of the race (in the stadium Roman) received a crown (see verse 25, compared with Revelation 2:9; 3:11)); 2 Timothy 4:7; see Revelation 14:20). The 144,000 cubits represent the whole perimeter of the cube. This would mean that the measurement would represent the preparation of a construction of a city or its completed construction in the present case. But also by its vertiginous height, the relations with Jehovah God, the heaven with the earth, the New Jerusalem acting as an umbilical cord. However,this measurement also expresses a judgment during the millennial reign, made on the basis of the "law of the temple" written in the "scrolls" mentioned in Revelation 20:12 (Ezekiel 43:10-13: This text links the measure of the house with the "law of the temple", like the New Jerusalem).

The measurement of the wall is expressed only by its height, very small compared to the general height of the city itself, that is to say 144 cubits, a measurement of man that is to say of angel, according to the Revelation. The thousand is replaced by the cubit (if referring to 144,000), which is a measurement of human length (the length of a forearm, to the elbow). While the length of angels, could refer to the 144000 who will live in heaven (144000 (length of angel) cubits (length of man)). The wall has twelve gates, but its height is twelve times twelve cubits. These are several ways to demonstrate that it will be impossible to pass through this wall without authorization, both by its extent, its number of guarded doors, and its height.

The wall itself and its height may well represent the earthly replica of the New Jerusalem sent down from God (See Revelation 21:1-4); the 144,000 in the heavens would represent the cube of 12,000 stadia, while the wall would represent the earthly part of the city, its foundation or base, the walls and gates acting as protection.

The tent of God mentioned in Revelation 21:3 is associated with the descent of New Jerusalem to earth. It would be logical to think that it represents the lower part, or the base of the city on earth, the wall, a protective structure for the city on earth. The tent of God on earth, as we have seen above, could constitute a group of humans in the service of the worship of Jehovah. It should be represented by earthly princes and priests. In Revelation 7:15 it is mentioned that the tent of God will be over theGreat Crowd, implying that this group will be directly subordinate to earthlyprincesandpriestsinthe administration of Jehovah's worship and the earthly governance.

The measurement of the New Jerusalem is like to that of the Temple Sanctuary, made by the apostle John (Revelation 11:1,2). The measurement of the temple sanctuary made by the apostle John, seems to indicate that the divine standards written in the Bible, must be applied, within the temple sanctuary, that is to say the Christian congregation.The fact that it is John, a human, who makes the measurement, indicates that these Christian standards are maintained by the pastoral work of the priests or overseers of the Christian congregations. This is confirmed in Revelation 2 and 3, when the glorified Jesus Christ gives his instructions, sometimes very severe, to the seven human angels in charge of the seven congregations.

Thus, these two measurements represent a judgment (Matthew 7:2 (Jesus compares judgment to a measurement) and Amos 7:7-9 (Jehovah compares his judgment to the use of a plummet)). Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:28 described the period of "re-creation" or earthly resurrection as a earthly judgment of all of humanity being resurrected. However, in the case of New Jerusalem, this time it is an angel who measures with an angel's measure. This time, in the earthly paradise, it will be measures certainly applied by humans, under the direct supervision of angels.

This idea of ​​the judgment of humanity, expressed by Jesus Christ, stands out symbolically by the presence of the twelve precious stones at the entrance to each of the twelve gates of the city, allowing or preventing entry into this city. What does it mean ? Every gates have the inscription of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, this seems to allude to the twelve tribes of Revelation 7:4-8, therefore the 144,000. The gates give access to the trees of life or not (Compare Revelation 22:2,13,19 with Genesis 3:24). Now in Matthew 19:28, Jesus Christ said that the 144,000 would be established as judges of the 12 tribes of Israel. It therefore seems logical that these gates represent the authority of the 144,000 to judge who will be worthy to enter the city or not. Since these gates are part of the wall, it is logical to think that it is the earthly princes and priests, who will notify on earth what the144,000will have decided in heaven (themselves supervised by the twelve apostles (Matthew 19:28)) (See Matthew 18:15-17 and then 18-20).Earthly princes and priestsare referred to respectively in the prophecy of Ezekiel 40-48 as "chieftain" (princes) and sons of Zadoc (earthly priests).

The presence of an angel at each door, or twelve angels, seems to describe them as the executors of God's judgments (Revelation 7:1,2; 12:7; 14:18-20; see also Matthew 13:41,49).They will be decided by the 144,000 in heaven, notified by princes and priests on earth, and effectively enforced by angels. This would also explain that the measurement is made by an angel, to the measurement of man (applied to humans (reed)), that is to say of angel (applied by angels (the gold symbolizes the heavenly matter that covered all the furnishings of the Holy and Most Holy in the temple sanctuary)) (Revelation 21:15-17).

The wall is built of jasper (Revelation 21:18). The sparkle of the jasper stone very accurately reflects the glory of God. Similarly, the dominant sparkle ofNew Jerusalemis jasper (compare Revelation 4:3, (dominant color emanating from the throne is jasper) with 21:11 (dominant color emanating from New Jerusalem is jasper)). The sparkle of jasper could symbolize the glory of God's sovereignty, expressed by the administration of New Jerusalem on earth.

What do the twelve precious stones mean? They represent the twelve names of the apostles, which are linked with the twelve names of the tribes of Israel, which constituted the foundation of this nation. And the text that obviously seems to solve the riddle is Exodus 28:15-21 where it is written about the breastpiece of judgment:

"And you must make the breastpiece of judgment with the workmanship of an embroiderer. Like the workmanship of the ephʹod you will make it. Of gold, blue thread and wool dyed reddish purple and coccus scarlet material and fine twisted linen you will make it. It should be foursquare when doubled, a span of the hand being its length and a span of the hand its width. And you must fill it with a filling of stones, there being four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz and emerald is the first row. And the second row is turquoise, sapphire and jasper. And the third row is leshʹem stone, agate and amethyst. And the fourth row is chrysʹo·lite and onyx and jade. Sockets of gold should be in their fillings. And the stones should be according to the names of the sons of Israel, the twelve according to their names. With the engravings of a seal they should be, each one according to its name, for the twelve tribes".

Thus the twelve precious stones of the foundation of the wall must probably allude to the "breastpiece of judgment", which was the foundation of divine justice on earth, the name of the precious stones being different for some, because different from the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. More concretely, in Matthew 19:28, when Jesus Christ says that the 144,000 will judge the 12 earthly tribes of Israel, he is specifically addressing to the twelve apostles. This would mean that it is particularly the twelve apostles in heaven who will be responsible for the judgment, who will act as chief judges, notifying to the 144,000 in heaven, acting as gates in the wall, who is to be prevented or allow to enter into the city (Ephesians 2:20-21).

In Revelation 21:22 it is written: "And I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is". The New Jerusalem on earth will not need a visible building or an appointed place for the temple sanctuary of Jehovah and Jesus Christ (alluding to the presence of a temple in the ancient earthly Jerusalem). Jehovah and Jesus Christ, will be the temple sanctuary, Jesus Christ the Holy (see Revelation 1:12-16) and Jehovah, the Most Holy (Revelation 11:19).

Only 144,000 ?

Jesus Christ told to his faithful apostles that they would reign with him in the heaven, to rule over the earth where the future humanity will be the "Twelve Tribes of Israel" (see Matthew 19:28). This idea that humans who will have the privilege of living in heaven, will rule over the Earth, is written in the book of Revelation: “you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Nevertheless, the book of Revelation repeatedly shows that the number of those who will live in heaven will be only 144,000, taken the humanity: “Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1-5). The context of the book of Revelation confirms that it is a literal and not a symbolic number. For example, this number is found for the first time in Revelation 7: 4-8: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4-8).

And the context of this important information makes us understand that this is a real and not a symbolic number. Indeed, after Revelation 7: 4-8, the prophecy continues in verses 7: 9-17 describing thegreat crowd that will survive the great tribulation. This time, regarding this group, the prophecy gives this detail: “After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). A “great crowd which no man was able to number” in this case the number of people is not known. We therefore understand that the information before, regarding the precise number of 144,000 humans who will live in heaven is to be taken literally.

It is written in The book of Revelation that 7000 humans will complete the 144000 in the heavens just before the Great Tribulation: “In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and 7,000 persons were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13). The "tenth of the city" that falls, represents all of the 144,000 who died on earth to live in heaven, while the 7,000 people "killed" (just before the great tribulation) represent those who will complete the 144000, with their heavenly resurrection: “Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

This group of humans will be the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away”" (Revelation 21:1-4).

Life and Death

Everlasting Judgment 

Everlasting Life

The Life

Jehovah God is the Creator of life, He is the Source of Life: "With you is the source of life; By your light we can see light" (Psalm 36:9; Hebrews 3:4; Revelation 4:11).

Jehovah God created the first man and the first woman: "And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person" (Genesis 2:7,22 (creation of Eve, the first woman)).

The word "soul" applied to both man and animals, comes from the Hebrew word "neʹphesh [נֶפֶשׁ]", the Greek, "psy·kheʹ [ψυχή]" and from the Latin "aʹni·ma" (Genesis 1:20,21,24 (Bible verses where the word "soul" is applied to animals)). It is easy to understand, given the biblical context, that the soul refers to the living being itself, for both man and animal. Therefore, the soul refers to bodily shape of animal and human being.

Still in the biblical context, the word soul can be poetically applied to the "ego" (latin), that is oneself: "How long will my soul have anxious concern, With grief in my heart each day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? (…) My soul has been sleepless from grief. Strengthen me according to your word" (Psalms 13:2; 119:28).

The soul can allude to life itself: "Just as her soul was going out ​(for she was dying)" (Genesis 35:18) (This quote is according to the death of Rachel, giving birth to her son Benjamin). “Whoever finds his soul will lose it, and whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it. (…) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Really, what good will it do a man if he gains the whole world but loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?" (Matthew 10:39; 16:25,26). The New Testament was written in Greek, which means that the word "soul" is translated from the Greek word "ψυχή (psukhê)".

The expression "living soul" shows in itself that the soul can die or be destroyed (the opposite would have been a pleonasm in the case of the concept of "the immortal soul"): "putting to death the souls who should not die and keeping alive the souls who should not live (…) The soul who sins is the one who will die" (Ezekiel 13:19; 18:4,20). Many other biblical texts show that the soul can die and, of course, cannot survive (in an invisible way) its own death...

According to the Bible, the soul is different from the spirit ("ruach" in Hebrew and "pneuma" in Greek). The spirit (connected with the soul) refers to the "breath of life". Therefore, the breath, the air, the wind is an impersonal energy which animates the human soul and that of the animal soul. In Genesis 2:7 it is written: "And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life". The Hebrew word for "breath of life" is "neshamah", which is synonymous with the word "ruah" or the Greek word "pneuma". Indeed, in the Septuagint (Greek biblical text, translated from Hebrew), the expression "neshamah" from Genesis 2:7 was translated as "pnoe" (spirit, breath).

The word "spirit" can refer to spirit beings like God (John 4:24), spirit creatures (1 Kings 2:21,22) and the resurrected Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45). In Genesis (6:3), the expression "my spirit" is a way of referring to oneself.

It is important not to mix up the different meanings of the word "spirit"; the breath of life which animates the soul is an impersonal energy, while the word "spirit" applying to God, to the risen Jesus Christ and to the angels, are beings animated by a personal energy, endowed with a conscience and intelligence.

The Death

It is God himself who defines it. Comparing Genesis 2:17 with 3:19, where it is written that if Adam disobeyed the commandment regarding to the forbidden fruit, he would surely die. At end, Adam disobeyed. Here is what it is written inthe judgment of Godagainst Adam and Eve: "In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19). Therefore, death is the opposite of life, and the return to nonexistence (Psalm 146:3,4; Ecclesiastes 3:19,20; 9:5,10).Jehovah God, in his judgment, evokes the return to dust which is more generally designated in the Bible by an expression of symbolic place such as Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek), or even the "sea" where de very many humans perished (Revelation 20:13). Therefore, it is not difficult to understand and accept this simple biblical teaching point, death is absolute inexistence. The soul dies and the spirit or the vital energy disappears: “Do not put your trust in princes Nor in a son of man, who cannot bringsalvation. His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish" (Psalms 146:3,4).

The Second Death, The Fiery Lake, The Gehenna

The expressions "second death" and "fiery lake", which have been misinterpreted, have led to frightening and unbiblical human dogmas such as fiery hell and purgatory... They are in the book of Revelation: "The one who conquers will by no means be harmed by the second death" (Revelation 2:11; 20:6,14; 21:8). In Revelation 20:14, there is the connection between the second death and the fiery lake: "And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire". It should be noted that this place is just as symbolic as are (generically) the death and Hades (place of the dead). In what part of the biblical history does the "fiery lake" come from? The book of Revelation mentions both the Ten Plagues of Egypt and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, even to the point of using a cross-referenced expression such as "Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11: 8). The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is biblically associated with fire and everlasting judgment (Hebrews 6:2; 2 Peter 3:7).

Therefore, this lake of fire mentioned in Revelation, probably alludes to the panoramic vision that Abraham had of the Dead Sea, after the destruction of all the cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, on its seaside perimeter (the city of Zoar having been spared by God for the sake of Lot (Genesis 19:23)). Here is the account of the awe-inspiring sight of the Dead Sea shortly after the destruction: "Now Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before Jehovah. When he looked down toward Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah and all the land of the district, he saw quite a sight. There was dense smoke rising from the land like the dense smoke of a kiln! So when God destroyed the cities of the district, God kept Abraham in mind by sending Lot out from the cities he overthrew, the cities where Lot had been dwelling" (Genesis 19:27-29). Therefore, the "lake of fire" probably refers to the sight of destruction over almost the entire seaside perimeter of the Dead Sea (an inland sea as a great lake). This destruction symbolizes death, the result of everlasting judgment, that is, without the possibility of resurrection.

The expression Gehenna of fire, used by Jesus Christ, has exactly the same meaning of everlasting destruction or death without the possibility of resurrection. Where was Gehenna? It was located in the south of Jerusalem, outside the city walls. It was simply the dumping ground for the city of Jerusalem, which existed in the time of Jesus Christ and was called, the Valley of Hinnon (Ge Hinnom) or Gehenna. The rubbish of the city were thrown and burned there, as well as the corpses of animals and criminals after their execution, unworthy of a burial (even, in the biblical collective imagination, unworthy of a resurrection ("With the burial of a donkey he will be buried, Dragged about and thrown away, Outside the gates of Jerusalem"(Jeremiah 22:19)).

The translation of the Bible into Latin has created confusion in the understanding of the condition of the dead. As we have seen, it is important to differentiate between the Hebrew word Sheol and the Greek word Hades, on the one hand, with Gehenna on the other. In some translations of the Bible, these three words have been translated as the original Latin word hell (infernus). In doing so, it created confusion in the understanding of the word gehenna, becoming an unbiblical teaching of the existence of a fiery hell.

Jesus Christ used the word "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire," as a real place known to all his contemporaries, to illustrate the everlasting judgment and the idea of ​​destruction without the possibility of resurrection, the second death. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ referred to this place three times, without necessarily specifying its meaning. Why ? Quite simply, even in Galilee 100 km north of Jerusalem, this place of destruction was well known and did not require any description or explanation (Matthew 5:22,29,30). Gehenna is associated with a fire that does not put out, why? For the obvious reason that such a place, near a city would have represented a danger to the health of most inhabitants, if it had not been fueled by a permanent or constant fire, based on sulfur, in order to decompose all the waste of the city more quickly (Mark 9:47,48).

Does the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation represent the place of Gehenna? Yes, as to its symbolism of everlasting destruction. No, as to the geographical allusion to this place; Gehenna was not a place like a lake or an inland sea. Moreover, this expression does not appear directly, or even in an enigmatic way, in the book of Revelation.

The everlasting life in heaven and on earth

There will be an earthly resurrection that will begin after the great tribulation. Jesus Christ foretold it prophetically: "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15). The righteous will be resurrected for the everlasting life, while the unrighteous will be judged on the basis of their behavior during the 1000-year reign (and not on the basis of their past behavior): "And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds. And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Haʹdes gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds" (Revelation 20:11-13).

Only 144,000 humans will go to heaven with Jesus Christ: "And I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads" (Revelation 7:3-8; 14:1-5). The Great Crowd mentioned in Revelation 7: 9-17, are humans who will come out of the Great Tribulation and live forever in the Earthly Paradise: “After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. (…) ASo right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one that knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9,14).

The Paradise will be on Earth: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away" (Isaiah 11,35,65; Revelation 21:1-5 ).

We are living in the last days of this system of things

"Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"

(Matthew 24:3)

The explanation of Matthew 24 allows us to better understand when the period of the destruction of Babylon the Great occur, followed by the great tribulation which will last only one day according to the prophecy of Zechariah 14:7 ("one day") . The question of the disciples followed a surprising statement of Christ about the temple in Jerusalem: "In response he said to them: “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2). The verse 3, quoted above, tells us that Jesus Christ and the disciples were on the Mount of Olives at the east side of the city of Jerusalem, overlooking the Temple Mount. So, "Do you not see all these things?", hints at the panoramic view of the entire old city and the temple below.

In the question of Matthew 24:3, there are three important words that allow us to understand its meaning  and the answer of Christ: The "sign" (σημαίνω (sēmeion) (Strong's Concordance (G4591)), which has the sense of indication by "things that will take place". The "sign" refers to two groups of events, stated by Christ: events which show that Christ is present and that he has begun to reign in the heavens (since 1914) (Matthew 24:4-14 and 24:23- 28). The "sign" of the nearness of the end and the end itself (Matthew 24: 15-22 ("sign" focused on the city of Jerusalem) and Matthew 24:29 at 25:46).

So the question is based on future events that would show that we are during the time of Christ’s presence, and the impending end of this system of things. Christ's answer has two main parts. This end is the great tribulation mentioned in Matthew 24:21,22. And the events which announce the nearness of this end, are described in Matthew 24:15-22, as for the answer focused on Jerusalem and Matthew 24:29, regarding the worldwide events, which will lead to the coming of Christ, described in Matthew 24: 30,31 and 25:31-33. It can be considered to be the second important part of Christ's response (the first being connected to the sign of his presence).

The great tribulation will be the end of this system of things

"For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again"

(Matthew 24:21)

What is the Great Tribulation? To put it very simply, this is the time when Jehovah God, through his Son King Jesus Christ, will end to this system of things (Revelation 14:15-20; 19:11-21 ). Other biblical prophecies refer to the Great Tribulation as the "Day of Jehovah": "Blow a horn in Zion! Shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of Jehovah is coming! It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick gloom, Like light of dawn spreading out on the mountains" (Joel 1:15; 2:1,2; see also Amos 5:18-21; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah chapter 1 and 2:1-4; Zechariah chapters 12, 13, 14).

How long will the Great Tribulation last? After careful reading of all the prophetic texts mentioning the "Day of Jehovah" or the "Great Tribulation", it can be said, without a shadow of a doubt, that this day will last only ONE DAY. The clearest prophetic text over its duration is that of Zechariah and the Book of Revelation, both of which describe the Day of Jehovah as one day, or the only date of one day: "And it will become one day that is known as belonging to Jehovah. It will not be day, nor will it be night; and at evening time there will be light" (Zechariah 14:7).

This text alone shows that it is a 24-hour day, and not a period of few days, because it is written that at the time of day, it will be neither day nor night, and that at the time of evening there will be light. However, the most explicit text is that of the book of Revelation, where this Day is connected with a date on the Jewish calendar. In Revelation 11:18, it is written: "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth" (Revelation 11:18). This text refers to the time of the Great Tribulation, when God "will bring ruin to those who ruin the earth". However, what is even more interesting, is that verse 19 repeats this time in enigmatic way, connecting the Day of Jehovah withe the vision of the ark of his covenant: "And the temple sanctuary of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary. And there were flashes of lightning and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail" (Revelation 11:19).

Why has God allowed suffering and wickedness?

God has allowed the suffering in order to respond to the challenge of Satan the devil based the legitimacy of the Sovereignty of God (Genesis 3:1-6). God has allowed the suffering in order to respond to the accusation of the devil against the integrity of human beings (Job 1: 7-12; 2: 1-6). Satan the devil is responsible for the suffering (1 John 5:19). God doesn’t cause the suffering. He only allows this suffering for a determined time (Santiago 1:13; Revelation 21:3,4). The suffering is the result of four major factors: Satan the devil can be directly responsible of suffering (but not always) (Job 1: 7-12; 2: 1-6). The suffering is the result of our general condition of sinner inherited from Adam, thus resulting in old age, disease and death (Romans 6: 23; 5: 12). The suffering can be the result of bad human decisions, in connection with our inherited sinful condition inherited from Adam (Deuteronomy 32:5; Romans 7:19). The suffering may be the result of "time and the unexpected event", which makes that the person is at the same time, in the wrong place at the wrong time (Ecclesiastes 9:11). The Fate is not a biblical teaching, there is not a fatalistic force which would control our “free will” to do good or to do evil. On the basis of free will, as a gift of God, we decide to make "good" or "bad" by choice (Deuteronomy 30:15).

Who is Satan the devil?

Jesus Christ described the devil very concisely: “That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie" (John 8:44). Satan the devil is not the abstraction of evil, but a real spiritual person (Matthew 4:1-11). Likewise, the demons are also angels who have become rebels who have followed the example of the devil (Genesis 6:1-3, to compare with the letter of Jude verse 6: "And the angels who did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place, he has reserved with eternal bonds in dense darkness for the judgment of the great day").

When it is written, "he did not stand fast in the truth", it shows that God created this angel without sin and without any trace of wickedness in his heart. This angel, at the beginning of his life had a "beautiful name" (Ecclesiastes 7:1a). However, "he did not stand fast" in his integrity, he cultivated pride in his heart, and over time he became "devil", which means slanderer, and Satan, opponent; his old beautiful name, his good reputation, has been replaced by one of the everlasting disgraces. In the prophecy of Ezekiel (chapter 28), against the proud king of Tyre, it is clearly alluded to the pride of the angel who became "devil" and "Satan": "This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “You were the model of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eʹden, the garden of God. You were adorned with every precious stone —Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysʹo·lite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; And their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub. You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Through his act of unrighteousness in Eden, he became a "liar" who caused the death of all of Adam's offspring (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Currently, it is Satan the devil who rules the world: "Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out" (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19) .

Satan the devil will be permanently destroyed: "For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly" (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20).

How to please God

"He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?"

(Micah 6:8)

We have to think of our personal behavior in terms of relationship with God. When we have a friendship, as part of that relationship, we pay attention to have a behavior that is in harmony with it. This part of the Bible study will be based on human behavior that pleases and does not please God. Then, in the article based on Christian maturity, we will see how to always improve this precious relationship with Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ.

There are behaviors that Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ condemn. It is important to know them, and to gradually make the necessary changes to please God and his Son. The attitude of Jesus Christ towards sinners who lived in his day enables us to better understand how merciful and patient Jehovah God his Father is. Jesus Christ compassionately strove to help sinners to return to the righteous path of God. Let us take several examples showing both his compassion, his patience and his steadfastness.

The Gospel of Luke chapter (19:1-10), Jesus Christ comes to Jericho and there is a great crowd to welcome him. And among that crowd there is a little man, trying to see that famous Jesus. So he climbs on a tree which is on the way. Zacchaeus is a tax collector known for his dishonesty. As Jesus reaches at his height, he lifts his head and tells Zacchaeus, surprising every one, that he will come to eat at his home. It is written that people are shocked that Jesus go to eat at the home of such a sinful man. At the end of the narrative it is written the reason that Jesus did this. After Zacchaeus announced that he repented of his sins and that he would concretely make reparation for it, it is written: "For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).

The Gospel of Matthew (9:9-13), informs us that Jesus selected Matthew, a tax collector, as an apostle to follow him. For his farewell, it is likely that he organized a meal with his now former coworkers, as it is written: “Next, while passing along from there, Jesus caught sight of a man named Matthew seated at the tax office, and he said to him: “Be my follower.” Thereupon he did rise up and follow him. Later, while he was reclining at the table in the house, look! many tax collectors and sinners came and began reclining with Jesus and his disciples.  But on seeing this the Pharisees began to say to his disciples: “Why is it that your teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?” Hearing them, he said: “Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do. Go, then, and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.””.

Let’s take a last example: It is written, in the Gospel of John chapter 4, that Jesus was very tired and he sat down near a well to rest. A Samaritan woman approached to draw water. Jesus started the conversation with her. During the spiritual conversation, Jesus told this woman that he was the Christ, something he rarely did (John 4:26). So Jesus did her a great honor by telling her this. However, in verse 18 of that same chapter, we can read that she lived in sin, for she was with a man without being married (John 4:18). From these three examples, among others, we see that Jesus Christ did not hesitate to rub shoulders with sinners to encourage them to take the straight path of God. With this in mind, the following Bible recommendations are written.

The insult, the hatred, and the murder are forbidden

Jesus Christ formally forbade the hatred, the insult, and the murder: "you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not murder; but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna" (Matthew 5:21-22).

Jesus Christ showed how to avoid this extremity, by trying as much as possible to resolve the personality conflicts: "If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift" (Matthew 5:23,24).

Also in this same chapter, Jesus Christ said to love our enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). The verb "to love" in this context, is to be taken in the sense of a reasoned love, without necessarily being marked with affection towards our enemy. For example, when someone insults us or behaves badly towards us, the love based on Bible principles will prevent us from responding to insult with insult, or hatred with hatred. In this way, the vicious circle of hatred by hatred will be broken, by the virtuous circle requested by Jesus Christ: that is, to respond to the hatred of our enemy, by self-control, a love based on decorum, good manners , good education and common sense (Galatians 5: 22,23 "the fruit of the holy spirit"). Maybe this way of acting can encourage him to change his attitude towards us.

During his arrest which would lead him to death, Jesus Christ forbade the use of weapons, nor even to defend him or defend his cause: "Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword"" (Matthew 26:52). The murder and the homicide are forbidden, for both personal reasons, and even out of religious or state patriotism. This statement of Christ is a reminder of what it is written in the prophecy of Isaiah: "And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).

No longer learning war obviously supposes not to practice both combat sports or martial arts, even those, tinged with religious propaganda which would consist in saying that it is only with "defensive" purpose. Transforming a human body into a "defensive weapon" can quickly become "an offensive weapon" which can injure and until to kill... Christians should not see violent sports performances or films extolling gratuitous violence. This is completely detestable in the eyes of Jehovah God: "Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, And anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates" (Psalms 11:5).

The theft and lying are forbidden

Regarding the theft, here is the biblical command: "Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need" (Ephesians 4:28). And as for lying, it is written, "Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices" (Colossians 3:9).

It is important to understand the point of view of God, on theft and lying. When Adam and Eve sinned by the impulse of the temptation of the devil, there was the lie of the devil and the theft of the fruit belonging to God, by Adam and Eve (Genesis chapter 3). Regarding this biblical narrative, Jesus Christ associated the lie of the devil with homicide: “you are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie” (John 8:44). Through this lie of the devil, sin entered the world through the disobedience of the first man, Adam. The result was that death, spiritually and genetically, extended to all of his offspring (Romans 5:12; 6:23). To this situation which seemed hopeless for the whole of mankind, it was necessary for Jehovah God, the Father, to consent to the death in sacrifice of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Yehoshuah Mashiah), to save the humanity (John 3:16,36).

From this perspective, we understand better, the words of Jesus Christ when he connects the lie to homicide or murder. In the case of the devil, but also for the earthly son of Satan, who constantly sought to kill him (John 5:18; 7:1). Sometimes people say there are "little" and "big" lies. The problem is, that the "necessity" and the scale of the seriousness of the lies, are often set by the liars themselves. However, to get back to the important idea, it is necessary to know the point of view of God on this issue through the biblical accounts. A simple statement from Christ shows that humanly establishing such a scale of gravity is a mistake: "The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much" (Luke 16:10). This can be illustrated by the example of Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, who sold their property to give the money to the Christian congregation in the days of the apostles. However, the record informs us that they withheld some money from the sale for themselves, while leading the apostles to believe that they had given all of it. The result is that God put them to death for telling such a lie (Acts 5:1-11). The biblical observation is simple: lying can have disastrous consequences not only for the victims, but also for the liars themselves.

The apostolic decree of Jerusalem

(Acts 15)

Always remaining on the register of Christian conduct, it is appropriate to ask whether Christians should practice the law given to Moses, or the Torah. The purpose of this apostolic assembly, mentioned in Acts 15, was to answer the important question. Whether Christians were then and are now, under the authority of the legislative constitution given by God to Moses, to the nation of Israel fifteen centuries ago. All of these laws, given on the Mount Sinai, are called the Torah by the Jewish people. Although the Torah also includes the Book of Genesis, the Ten Commandments, and the hundreds of other laws, are written in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The answer will be in several parts, presented as simply as possible, favoring conciseness to allow a good understanding. One should first understand that the purpose of the Law was double.

1 - The law led to Christ (Galatians 3: 24,25)

The purpose of the Law given to Israel was to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. The Law has taught the need for liberation from the sinful condition of humanity (represented by the people of Israel): "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned—. For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged against anyone when there is no law" (Romans 5:13).

This Law of God uncovered the sinful condition of humanity, represented in that time by the people of Israel: "What, then, are we to say? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! Really, I would not have come to know sin had it not been for the Law. For example, I would not have known covetousness if the Law had not said: “You must not covet.” But sin, finding the opportunity afforded by the commandment, worked out in me covetousness of every sort, for apart from law sin was dead. In fact, I was once alive apart from law. But when the commandment arrived, sin came to life again, but I died. And the commandment that was to lead to life, this I found led to death. For sin, finding the opportunity afforded by the commandment, seduced me and killed me through it. So the Law in itself is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good" (Romans 7: 7-12).

Therefore, the Law was a "tutor", "guardian", a teacher or an instructor leading to Christ: "So the Law became our guardian leading to Christ, so that we might be declared righteous through faith. But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian" (Galatians 3: 24,25). The perfect Law of God, having uncovered the sinful condition of humankind through the transgression of man, showed the necessity of a sacrifice. It would lead to the redemption of the transgressing human by his faith in Jesus Christ Ransom because of his faith (and not the works of the Law). This sacrifice would be that of Christ: "Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many" (Matthew 20: 28).

2 - The law is a prophetic shadow of the good things to come (Hebrews 10:1)

The law has a prophetic value which enables us to understand the thought of God (by means of Jesus Christ) regarding the future: "For since the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things" (Hebrews 10:1; 1 Corinthians 2:16). It is Jesus Christ who will make these "good things" come true: "For those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ" (Colossians 2:17). One of the best-known realities of the law in Christ is the command to celebrate the Passover on 14 Nisan (of the Jewish biblical calendar), which then became the celebration of remembrance of the sacrificial death of Christ on the same date (Exodus chapter 12; Luke 22:14-20).

Two precise statements of Christ, make us understand that the nation of Israel of the time, was the pattern or prototype of the future humanity in the earthly paradise: ""Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, In the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel"" (Matthew 19:28). "However, you are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:28-30). The two texts which mention the 12 tribes of Israel, represent the future humanity in the earthly paradise, composed of the great crowd that will come out of the great tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17) and the earthly resurrected (John 5:28 , 29; Acts 24:15).

The other sheep

"And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd"

(John 10:16)

As we carefully read John 10: 1-16, we notice that the central theme is the identification of the Messiah as a true shepherd for his disciples, the sheep.

In John 10: 1 and John 10: 16, it is written: "Most truly I say to you, He that does not enter into the sheepfold through the door but climbs up some other place, that one is a thief and a plunderer. (...) And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd". This "sheepfold" represents the territory where Jesus Christ preached, the Nation of Israel, in the context of the Mosaic law: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a Sa·marʹi·tan city; but, instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:5,6). "In answer he said: “I was not sent forth to any but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”" (Matthew 15:24). This sheepfold is also the "house of Israel".

In John 10:1-6, Jesus Christ presented himself before the gate of the sheepfold. This happened at the time of his baptism. The "doorkeeper" was John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13). By baptizing him, he became the Christ. John the Baptist opened the door for him and testified that Jesus is the Christ and the Lamb of God: "See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29-36).

In John 10:7-15, while remaining on the same Messianic theme, Jesus Christ uses another illustration by designating himself as the "door", the only place of access in the same way as John 14:6: "Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"". The main theme of the subject is still Jesus Christ as Messiah. From verse 9, in the same passage (he changes the illustration again), he designates himself as the shepherd who grazes his sheep by making them "go in or go out" to feed them. The teaching is both centered on him and on how he cares for his sheep. Jesus Christ designates himself as the excellent shepherd who will give his life for his disciples and who loves his sheep (unlike the hired shepherd who will not risk his life for sheep which do not belong to him). Again, the central point of the teaching of Christ, is Himself as a shepherd who will sacrifice himself for his sheep (Matthew 20:28).

John 10:16-18: "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my soul, in order that I may receive it again. No man has taken it away from me, but I surrender it of my own initiative. I have authority to surrender it, and I have authority to receive it again. The commandment on this I received from my Father".

Reading these verses, according to the context, Jesus Christ announces a revolutionary idea at that time: he would sacrifice his life not only for his Jewish disciples (in the sheepfold), but also in favor of other disciples who would not be part of this sheepfold of Israel. The proof is, the last command which he gave to his disciples, regarding the preaching, is this: "You will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). It is precisely during the baptism of Cornelius that the words of Christ in John 10:16 began to be realized (See the narrative of Acts chapter 10).

Thus, the "other sheep" of John 10:16 apply to non-Jewish Christians in the flesh. In John 10:16-18 it is described the unity in the obedience of the sheep to the Shepherd Jesus Christ. He also spoke of all of his disciples in his day as a "little flock": "Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). By Pentecost in 33 C.E., the disciples of Christ, numbered only 120 (Acts 1:15). In the remainder of the Acts narrative, we read that their number was a few thousand (Acts 2:41 (3,000 souls); Acts 4:4 (5,000)). Be that as it may, the new Christians, whether in the time of Christ, as in that of the apostles, represented a "little flock", comparing with the whole population of the nation of Israel and then to the other nations of that time.

The decision of the apostles

"Hence my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. (…) For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!"

(Acts 15:19,20,28,29)

Thus, the Christians are no longer under the authority of the Mosaic law, for as the apostle Paul wrote under inspiration, Christ is the end of the law: "For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness" (Romans 10:4). Therefore, in accordance with the context of Acts 15, Christians are no longer under the covenant of circumcision, or other legal obligations such as the Sabbath (Acts 7:8 (circumcision); Colossians 2:16 (Sabbath)). However, it is important to repeat this teaching point of Christianity: if we are no longer under the letter of the law given to Moses, we are under the symbolic and spiritual spirit or meaning of the Law. So that if the Christian is no longer under the obligation of circumcision in the flesh, of the Sabbath or of the tithe, he remains, as in the past, under the obligation of the spiritual meaning of these laws. What does it mean concretely in the behavior of the Christian?

The spiritual circumcision: It was Moses himself who defined it: "You must now cleanse your hearts and stop being so stubborn" (Deuteronomy 10:16). The circumcision in the flesh means what corresponds to the heart, being itself a source of life, obedience to God: "Above all the things that you guard, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The spiritual uncircumcision is the disobedience to God and to his Son Jesus Christ, as the disciple Stephen observed: "Obstinate men and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the holy spirit" (Acts 7:51-53). The symbolic heart being the spiritual inside part of the human, the symbolic foreskin, is the impure element to be removed, which are the bad motives, the bad reasoning: "However, whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and those things defile a man. For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man; but to take a meal with unwashed hands does not defile a man" (Matthew 15:18-20). So the apostle Paul sums up very well the matter regarding the circumcision or the uncircumcision in the flesh: "Was any man called circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any man been called in uncircumcision? Let him not get circumcised. Circumcision does not mean a thing, and uncircumcision means not a thing, but observance of God’s commandments does" (1 Corinthians 7:18,19).

The spiritual Sabbath: Regarding the law of the Sabbath, obviously every human must have a rest. However, this natural necessity is no longer governed by law, but by common sense and personal or family convenience. As it is written at Colossians 2:16, if a Christian wants to keep a "Sabbath" or a "new moon", which was another form of the Sabbath, he can do it, without being judged. But the opposite is also true: this same Christian must not judge those who do not do like him, and even less must not impose on an entire congregation an obligation of a weekly Sabbath that does not have Christian foundation. The apostle Paul says that the spiritual Sabbath is to enter into God's rest, which means his approval: "For the man that has entered into God’s rest has also himself rested from his own works, just as God did from his own. Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, for fear anyone should fall in the same pattern of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:10,11).

The spiritual tithe: Regarding tithe, there is no record in the Acts of the Apostles and in the inspired letters, showing the obligation of a tithe for Christians. It is all about a collection of money to help other Christian brothers and sisters who were visibly in great material difficulty: "Now concerning the collection that is for the holy ones, just as I gave orders to the congregations of Galatia, do that way also yourselves. Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering, so that when I arrive collections will not take place then" (1 Corinthians 16:1,2). It is obvious that this collection of money was done on the basis of voluntary donations and without obligation imposed by anyone. Of course, every conscientious Christian must contribute, towards the financial costs of a congregation, but this must remain a voluntary act. So spiritual tithe is more linked to the desire to give the best to God, it is also linked to a generous heart (Malachi 3:10).

Jesus Christ said about a widow who had given very little money: "For all these dropped in gifts out of their surplus, but this [woman] out of her want dropped in all the means of living she had" (Luke 21:1-4). Another woman who gave an "alabaster case of perfumed oil" with an estimated value of 300 denarii, or about one year's salary, Jesus Christ said, "She did what she could" (Mark 14: 3-9). This is the definition of spiritual tithe: "to do what we can" for God and His Son Jesus Christ and our neighbor.

All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching

(2 Timothy 3:16,17)

The three examples above demonstrate that it is necessary to read the law given to Moses (In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) (the Torah): to understand the simple and whole instructions of the apostles at the conclusion of the council of Jerusalem. Moreover, the apostle Paul, who knew of the law given to Moses, wrote that all (biblical) writing is useful for teaching us: "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17). The instructions of the apostles are of three main categories which will be explained to know what is written in the law given to Moses:

1 - The exclusive worship to God, especially on what not to do: "to abstain from things polluted by idols".

2 - The sacred value of life and blood, which in the law given to Moses, was closely linked with the worship to God, in its atonement value. The apostolic instruction clearly says not to use blood for food and not to eat meat that is not properly bled: "To abstain from blood and from things strangled".

3 - To be holy before God, by his behavior, particularly on the aspect of morality: "To abstain from fornication".

The Exclusive Worship to Jehovah God

It was Jesus Christ (Yehoshuah Mashiah) who said that we must worship his Father Jehovah God (Yehowah Elohim): "Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service" (Matthew 4:10). It is simply, a reminder of the first of the ten commandments: "I am Jehovah your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. You must not have any other gods against my face" (Exodus 20:2,3).

It was Jesus Christ (Yehoshuah Mashiah) who said that we must worship his Father Jehovah God (Yehowah Elohim), without a graven image or worship object, such as crosses, images, statutes and medals, in effigy of Christ or of the Virgin Mary and other "saints" or other pagan gods: "Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth" (John 4:23,24). He only recalled the second part of the first commandment, which condemns idolatry in all its forms: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion" (Exodus 20:4,5).

It is again Jesus Christ (Yehoshuah Mashiah), who spoke of "true worshipers", which supposes that to be into this category of "true" worshipers we must worship his Father, Jehovah God (Yehowah Elohim) in accordance with the "truth" written in the Bible (John 17:17).

How do we understand the expression "things polluted by idols" in our modern day? These are "things" linked with religious practices contrary to the Bible, such as for example the celebration of festivals having pagan roots, such as Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, Halloween, All Saints' Day (to speak only of those most celebrated in the Western world). The list of these pagan festivals is not complete.

Get rid of past religious practices condemned by the Bible: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”  “‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.’”  “‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

It can be religious rituals before the slaughter or the consumption of a meat. Obviously, as the apostle Paul wrote under inspiration, while being vigilant, the Christian should exercise common sense and discernment, without compromising at the same time with his conscience: “Eat whatever is sold in a meat market, making no inquiry because of your conscience, for “to Jehovah belong the earth and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat whatever is set before you, making no inquiry on account of your conscience. But if anyone says to you, “This is something offered in sacrifice,” do not eat because of the one who told you and because of conscience. I do not mean your own conscience, but that of the other person. For why should my freedom be judged by another person’s conscience? If I am partaking with thanks, why am I to be spoken of abusively over that for which I give thanks?” (1 Corinthians 10:25-30).

The apostle Paul reminded us of the second part of the first commandment: "Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct,  idolatry, practice of spiritism" (Galatians 5:19-21). To stop practicing idolatry means destroying or getting rid of any object or image linked to some form of idolatrous worship, crosses, statues for religious purposes (Matthew 7:13-23). Christians should not practice spiritism in its various forms, divination, magic, astrology... And destroy all objects connected to the occultism (Acts 19:19,20).

The sacred value of life and blood

The apostolic decree in Acts 15 repeats Jehovah God's firm decision regarding human life and blood. In the law given to Moses, God formally forbids the consumption of blood and murder. Since the postdiluvian era, some 800 years before the Mosaic Law, these formal prohibitions on consuming blood and killing have been repeated: “Every moving animal that is alive may serve as food for you. As in the case of green vegetation, I do give it all to you. Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat. And, besides that, your blood of your souls shall I ask back. From the hand of every living creature shall I ask it back; and from the hand of man, from the hand of each one who is his brother, shall I ask back the soul of man.  Anyone shedding man’s blood, by man will his own blood be shed, for in God’s image he made man" (Genesis 9:3-6). This law on human life and blood was during the covenant made between Jehovah God and Noah and his family, representing the new humanity after the universal flood. Therefore, it concerns all nations.

This command was in the Mosaic law: "As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident who is residing as an alien in your midst who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood, and I shall indeed cut him off from among his people" (Leviticus 17:10). After repeating this prohibition, this time Jehovah explained why He absolutely did not want the blood to be consumed: "For the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I myself have put it upon the altar for you to make atonement for your souls, because it is the blood that makes atonement by the soul in it. That is why I have said to the sons of Israel: “No soul of you must eat blood and no alien resident who is residing as an alien in your midst should eat blood" (Leviticus 17:11,12). The blood has an atonement value and could only be used for the sacrifices (for clean animals) which symbolized the restitution of life to God, at that time, on the sacrificial altar. This restitution of life is the shedding of blood on the ground, of an animal whose flesh was going to be consumed: "Only the blood you must not eat. On the earth you should pour it out as water" (Deuteronomy 12:16).

The Christians Respect the Sacred Atonement Value of the Blood

The sacred value of the blood (especially the human blood), would be understood better by knowing how the atoning value of the blood of Christ saves us. And of course, this prohibition of the consumption of blood has been repeated at the beginning of Christianity in the time of the Apostles of Christ:

“Therefore, my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, 20but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood (…) For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”” (Acts 15:19,20,28,29).

The Christian must eat only the meat of a properly bled animal. He must not eat the meat of a strangled animal which blood has remained its body. He should not eat black pudding, stew of meat with blood (civet), industrial foods that contain blood, like plasma.

As well, this Christian law about the blood, prohibits that a human being spills the blood of another human being by killing him. The human blood belongs to God and not to the any “Homeland” (or a nation), in the framework of any patriotic human cult. God forbids spilling human blood in the name of the “homeland” or in the name of God: “Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). “They said: “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God” (Matthew 22:21). Jehovah God forbids the vengeance of the blood, because henceforth, this vengeance belongs to Him: "They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10). "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah"" (Romans 12:19). God will avenge innocent blood, in the great tribulation, through the King Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21).

Blood and Medicine

According to the Apostolic Decree, the prohibition of the consumption of blood was repeated (Acts 15:19,20,28,29). This decree applies directly to the prohibition of food with blood and also to the therapeutic use of blood: such as blood transfusion, or the transfusion of plasma, platelets, red or white blood cells. Are there medical alternatives to transfusion? Yes, there are. Nevertheless, these products must be available in the part of the world you live. For this, you must talk to your doctor, your surgeon or anesthetist, who may help you in this way. You can seek help from a mature Christian in the Christian congregation who respects this biblical law on blood. He may be able to tell you the names of hospitals, doctors, surgeons and anesthesiologists, who would respect your conscience regarding blood and who use substitutes for blood transfusion, available where you live. He may be able to help you prepare for your interview with the anesthetist who should be involved in the surgery. Or you can get help from a spiritual brother or sister in Christ, who has already been through this situation, in order to advise you and reassure you because the process is not always easy. If the anesthetist or surgeon refuses to operate without a blood transfusion, the mature Christian could, perhaps, tell you the name of another surgeon, or anesthesiologist, or even a hospital or a private clinic, which would agree to operate on you without blood transfusion.

This is obviously general and not full advice which does not cover emergency situations created by an accident or natural disaster. However, it is important to prepare yourself mentally for this situation in order to know what kind of decision you will take in the event that your life or that of a close member of your family would be in danger. In this case, no Christian outside your family should interfere and judge the decision you would take consciously before God: "So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God" (Romans 14:12). It is written in verse 4 of the same chapter: "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

There are other medical therapies, which are also personal decision-making based on discernment, wisdom and soundness of mind. It is important to talk to your doctor, the surgeon or the anesthetist (in the case of an operation). If you need spiritual help in connection with medical treatment, do not hesitate to consult a mature Christian who respects this biblical law on blood and who will try to bring out the biblical principles. Pathologies and corresponding therapeutic possibilities, are so numerous that they cannot be presented in detail in this article. Searching the Internet can be a great help. Information, communication and consultation, all with the help of God, asking for with prayers, are the main points that will enable you to take the best decision to respect the biblical principles regarding your medical treatment: "But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong" (Hebrews 5:14). "When there is no skillful direction, the people fall, But there is success through many advisers" (Proverbs 11:14). "So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him.  But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all" (James 1:5,6).

The avenger of blood

The Mosaic law had a legislative procedure for the avenger of blood, to show that in the eyes of God, both volontary and accidental homicide represents a serious act. It should first of all be specified, that we are no longer, as Christians, under this legal procedure because Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10: 4). It is forbidden for Christians to apply this judicial process of revenge because now it is exclusively for God to apply it. However, these legal provisions allow us to better understand the thinking of God, regarding the sacred value of life and blood (1 Corinthians 2:16).

For God, both voluntary or an involuntary manslayer is a very serious act. In the old Mosaïque Law, there was the law of the avenger of blood. Of course, we are no longer, as Christians, under the authority of this set of laws. Nevertheless, we can learn from God's way of thinking about the sacred value of human life: "You should choose cities convenient for yourselves to serve as cities of refuge, where the manslayer who unintentionally kills someone should flee. These cities will serve as a refuge for you from the blood avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly. The six cities of refuge that you provide will serve this purpose. You will provide three cities on this side of the Jordan and three cities in the land of Caʹnaan to serve as cities of refuge. These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites, for the foreign resident, and for the settler among them, for anyone to flee there who unintentionally kills someone" (Numbers 35:11-15).

Verses 16-29, it is written about the provisions that allowed to accidental manslayer to find protection in these cities of refuge. Verses 22 to 25, especially, it is written that a court would rule whether he was a willful homicide or not. In the case of accidental manslayer, he was allowed into the city of refuge to protect himself from the blood avenger until the death of the high priest. Even if this disposition was merciful, it was a very serious obligation because it was so to speak, this man was under house arrest (city of refuge), maybe even until the end of his life, because he had to wait for the death of the high priest. In the case of a murderer, the blood avenger, the closest relative of the victim, could put him to death without incurring a bloodguilt before God (verse 19-21).

We are no longer, as Christians, under this legal procedure because Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4). However, these legal provisions allow us to better understand God's thinking about the sacred value of human life and blood (1 Corinthians 2:16). The Christian is no longer allowed to take revenge, especially by using violence: "Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good" (Romans 12:17-21).

Since Jehovah God closely associates the sacred value of blood with the sacred dimension of human life, prohibiting murder, therefore, God forbids shedding blood in the name of the Fatherland and in its Name: "Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword"” (Matthew 26:52). "Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God" (Matthew 22:21).

"He will render judgment among the nations And set matters straight respecting many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, Nor will they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4). To no longer learn warfare, obviously means not to practice at once, combat sports or martial arts, even tinged with religious propaganda which would be to say that it is for a "defensive" purpose. Transforming a human body into a "defensive weapon", can quickly become "an offensive weapon" that can hurt or kill... Christians should not feast on violent sports shows or films extolling gratuitous violence. This is completely detestable to Jehovah God: "Jehovah examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one; He hates anyone who loves violence" (Psalms 11:5).

Jehovah God forbids the vengeance of blood, for henceforth this vengeance belongs to Him: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?”" (Revelation 6:10). "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah"" (Romans 12:19) . God will exercise the vengeance of the innocent blood at the great tribulation through King Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21).

The Human Body is a Spiritual Temple

The Apostle Paul and also the Apostle Peter emphasized that on an individual level, the human body represents a temple to worship God: "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). "But I consider it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you with reminders, knowing as I do that my tabernacle is soon to be removed, just as also our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me" (2 Peter 1:13,14).

It is forbidden to put one's life in danger unnecessarily and that of others. The Christian must abstain from practicing dangerous sports, which can cause wounds, to see the death of the imprudent one and that of others (for example the life of the rescuers who would come to assist him), which would constitute a bloodguilt before God: "The shrewd person sees the danger and conceals himself, But the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences" (Proverbs 27:12).

It may be added that a careless attitude, such as driving a vehicle dangerously, which could not only put us in danger, but also endanger the lives of others, even involuntarily mortal wounds, could constitute a bloodguilt before God : "If you build a new house, you must also make a parapet for your roof, so that you may not bring bloodguilt on your house because of someone falling from it" (Deuteronomy 22: 8; Exodus 21:29). Even if we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, and therefore not allowed to apply such a sentence, this law shows God's point of view on murderous negligence...

In the introduction, we have seen that the human body is a spiritual temple to be cared of it (1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Peter 1:13,14, Romans 12:1). Therefore, suicide is forbidden. In addition, all forms of drug use that destroy the body and its mobility, creating physical dependence is prohibited. The Bible condemns the excess of alcohol and not its moderate consumption. In the Bible, the excesses of the table are condemned: "Do not be among those who drink too much wine, Among those who gorge themselves on meat" (Proverbs 23:20 condemnation of excess; 1 Timothy 5:23: moderation in the consumption of wine).

The abortion is a homicide against the unborn child

According to the Bible, the voluntary abortion of an embryo or fetus is strictly forbidden. In the Bible, the child to be born, in the belly of his mother, has his own individuality before God, from conception, whether in the form of an embryo or a fetus: "Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; All its parts were written in your book Regarding the days when they were formed, Before any of them existed" (Psalms 139:16). The New World Translation of the Bible (TMN), uses the word "embryo". The comparison with other translations has confirmed the accuracy of this word. The "Interlinear Hebrew Bible" (OT), based on the Manuscript, Leningrad's Westminster Codex with vowels, translates as "embryo". According to the KJV and the YLT Bible Translations, it is translated as "Unformed Substance" or "Substance". There is no doubt that the Hebrew text describes the baby to be born from conception, as soon as it is hardly an "embryo". Here is what we read in the Mosaic Law, concerning the aggression, even accidental, of a pregnant woman:

"If men should struggle with each other and they hurt a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but no fatality results, the offender must pay the damages imposed on him by the husband of the woman; and he must pay it through the judges. But if a fatality does occur, then you must give life for life" (Exodus 21:22,23). This law does not fix a minimum number of weeks of gestation, to consider that such an accident, in case of abortion, is a proven homicide on the child. The use of abortion pills is an act of voluntary abortion. The Bible does not prohibit birth control, decided by the couple (they must not provoke the abortion). Abortive methods used as contraception, are condemned in the Bible.

God Forgives if there is Sincere Repentance

The narrative about King Manasseh, which has shed much blood, is the demonstration of how far Jehovah's mercy can be applied to sincere repentance. In the biblical narrative, it is written about wickedness of King Manasseh: "Ma·nasʹseh also shed innocent blood in very great quantity until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other, besides his sin of causing Judah to sin by doing what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah" (2 Kings 21:16). Because of his bad deeds, God punished him: "Jehovah kept speaking to Ma·nasʹseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So Jehovah brought against them the army chiefs of the king of As·syrʹi·a, and they captured Ma·nasʹseh with hooks and bound him with two copper fetters and took him to Babylon" (2 Chronicles 33:10,11). However, for as incredible as it may be, this king ended up sincerely repenting of his evil deeds and obtaining Jehovah's mercy: "In his distress, he begged Jehovah his God for favor and kept humbling himself greatly before the God of his forefathers. He kept praying to Him, and He was moved by his entreaty and heard his request for favor, and He restored him to Jerusalem to his kingship. Then Ma·nasʹseh came to know that Jehovah is the true God" (2 Chronicles 33:12,13). What is the reason for this biblical example?

Many men and women have made irreversible mistakes, such as killing many humans (in the context of conflict) or taking part in abortions, sometimes even late. Many of them think that it is impossible that God would forgive them. Add to this a deep feeling of remorse and indignity. Regarding Jehovah's immense mercy, this is what it says: ""Come, now, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They will be made as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson cloth, They will become like wool"" (Isaiah 1:18). This verse is especially addressed to those men and women who sincerely repent before God, asking for forgiveness: God forgives sincere repentance on the basis of the precious blood of Jesus Christ: "My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s" (1 John 2:1,2). Moreover, Jehovah God will resurrect the millions of dead who were victims of the many genocides (John 5:28,29). What is irreversible for man, is not for God (Matthew 19:26 "to God all things are possible").

It is possible that even if the mercy of God applies to sincere repentance, a feeling of remorse and indignity will continue to harass them. However, they must know that God is greater than hearts: "By this we will know that we originate with the truth, and we will assure our hearts before him regarding whatever our hearts may condemn us in, because God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. Beloved ones, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have freeness of speech toward God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we are observing his commandments and doing what is pleasing in his eyes" (1 John 3:19-22).

"Rejoice with the wife of your youth"

(Proverbs 5:18)

Jehovah God created man and woman with the capacity to procreate life, through sexuality, as part of the marriage covenant made by God between a man and a woman, sealed before God and men: "And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth”” (Genesis 1:27,28). When God united the first couple, Adam and Eve, by asking them to have children, they had to have sex. Thus, the forbidden fruit, mentioned in Genesis 2:17, did not represent the sexual relations, allowed by God, within the framework of the marriage between a man and a woman.

The Bible describes the sexuality with both a great deal of frankness and delicacy. It describes the first stage of seduction between a man and a woman. For example, when God presented Eve to her husband Adam, before so much beauty, he spoke a poem to define her: “Then the man said: “This is at last bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh. This one will be called Woman, Because from man this one was taken"” (Genesis 2:23). Verses 24 and 25 define the law of marriage between a man and a woman as a sacred relationship, and as the most intimate in human relationship: “That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh. And both of them continued to be naked, the man and his wife, and yet they did not become ashamed” (Genesis 2:24,25).

The book of the Song of Solomon, describes the preliminary love, before marriage, between a young man shepherd in love with the Shulamite, herself, at the same time in love with him. This preliminary love can be sealed by an engagement which represents a promise of marriage, but which does not allow sexual relations. Here is part of the poetic and romantic dialogue between the Shulamite and her shepherd bridegroom: “A black girl I am, but comely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Keʹdar, yet like the tent cloths of Solʹomon. Do not you look at me because I am swarthy, because the sun has caught sight of me. The sons of my own mother grew angry with me; they appointed me the keeper of the vineyards, although my vineyard, one that was mine, I did not keep. “Do tell me, O you whom my soul has loved, where you do shepherding, where you make the flock lie down at midday. Just why should I become like a woman wrapped in mourning among the droves of your partners?” “If you do not know for yourself, O you most beautiful one among women, go out yourself in the footprints of the flock and pasture your kids of the goats alongside the tabernacles of the shepherds.” “To a mare of mine in the chariots of Pharʹaoh I have likened you, O girl companion of mine. Your cheeks are comely among the hair braids, your neck in a string of beads. Circlets of gold we shall make for you, along with studs of silver.”  “As long as the king is at his round table my own spikenard has given out its fragrance. As a bag of myrrh my dear one is to me; between my breasts he will spend the night. As a cluster of henna my dear one is to me, among the vineyards of En-geʹdi.” “Look! You are beautiful, O girl companion of mine. Look! You are beautiful. Your eyes are those of doves.” “Look! You are beautiful, my dear one, also pleasant. Our divan also is one of foliage. The beams of our grand house are cedars, our rafters juniper trees” (Song of Solomon 1:5-17).

The Song of Solomon is an excellent description of this preliminary love, which overwhelms man and woman into a form of ecstasy which they cannot imagine will not be eternal. Obviously, this relationship evolves, solidifies with the engagement, through a greater complicity, a friendship, which they wish, through the force of mutual love, to materialize through the permanent pact of marriage.

Once married, Jehovah God, the Creator of marriage, allows them to rejoice one another: “Drink water out of your own cistern, and tricklings out of the midst of your own well. Should your springs be scattered out of doors, your streams of water in the public squares themselves? Let them prove to be for you alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your water source prove to be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth, a lovable hind and a charming mountain goat. Let her own breasts intoxicate you at all times. With her love may you be in an ecstasy constantly” (Proverbs 5:15-19).

The apostle Paul, exhorted the married couples who wish to protect their marriage, not to deprive themselves of this intimacy, always in common agreement: “Yet, because of prevalence of fornication, let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife her due; but let the wife also do likewise to her husband. The wife does not exercise authority over her own body, but her husband does; likewise, also, the husband does not exercise authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not be depriving each other of it, except by mutual consent for an appointed time, that you may devote time to prayer and may come together again, that Satan may not keep tempting you for your lack of self-regulation” (1 Corinthians 7:2-5). This text shows that sexuality within a married couple, imbued with love, understanding, communication and self-giving, can prove to be a source of protection concerning the permanence of the marriage covenant (particularly for the one who has a lack of self-control).

However, it is obvious that sexuality is only one condiment of the whole relationship between man and woman. Still, the apostle Paul summed up what this general balanced relationship between a man and a woman should be in marriage: “Be in subjection to one another in fear of Christ. Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it, that he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word, that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, not having a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish. In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it, as the Christ also does the congregation, because we are members of his body.  “For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and he will stick to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This sacred secret is great. Now I am speaking with respect to Christ and the congregation. Nevertheless, also, let each one of you individually so love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband” (Ephesians 5:21-33).

Honor your father and your mother and take care of your family

"Children, be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord, for this is righteous: “Honor your father and your mother”; which is the first command with a promise: “That it may go well with you and you may endure a long time on the earth.”  And you, fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah” (Ephesians 6:1-4).

What Jesus Christ thinks about divorce and remarriage

(Matthew 19:3-9)

"And Pharisees came up to him, intent on tempting him and saying: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on every sort of ground?” In reply he said: “Did you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.” They said to him: “Why, then, did Moses prescribe giving a certificate of dismissal and divorcing her?” He said to them: “Moses, out of regard for your hardheartedness, made the concession to you of divorcing your wives, but such has not been the case from [the] beginning. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery”" (Matthew 19:3-9).

Thus, the divorce and remarriage are only allowed on the grounds of fornication, that is, sexual practices that the Bible condemns, such as adultery, homosexuality and other perverse practices. What breaks up the bonds of marriage are the death of the spouse and fornication, usually adultery. Of course, in cases of adultery, divorce is not automatic. The offended spouse can forgive. In this case, by mutual agreement, married life can resume. In this situation, the previously offended spouse will not be able biblically to reverse his decision (and if this were to be the case (when there is no other finding of adultery), he could not remarry). In the case of a repeat offense with a finding of adultery, and this time the offended spouse does not forgive, he can divorce and remarry. For those who would make the perverse calculation of resorting to adultery, or manipulation to expose their spouse to adultery, to use the expression of Christ (by the sex strike, without any reason, in order to push the spouse into the need, to the fault), in order to break up the sacred bonds of marriage, then counting on the mercy of God to be forgiven, mislead themselves: "Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers" (Hebrews 13:4).

“To abstain from fornication”

(Acts 15)

The fornication is sexual practices condemned in the Bible, the Word of God: The adultery, the sexual relations without being married (Man and Woman), the masculine and feminine homosexuality, the bestiality: "Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). “Let marriage be honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4).

The Mosaic law is very detailed regarding what Jehovah God considers to be unacceptable sexual practices. We can consider that, reading Leviticus chapter 18, gives us a fairly complete overview of the matter. From verses 6 to 18, there is the list of sexual relations considered to be incestuous. By the way, this law against incest was a protection of children against pedophilia which unfortunately is widespread, even within families, but also in organized criminal networks, whether in Western countries or even around certain "tourist" destinations. The King Jesus Christ will punish with the utmost severity those criminals who prey on helpless children, at the great tribulation, which is fast approaching (Revelation 19:11-21). In addition, this incest law protected the people of Israel against consanguineous marriages. They could result in fathering children with genetic disabilities, such as blindness, deafness, mental retardation and many other disabilities, inherited, a genetic dysfunction at conception or during the gestation of the mother...

Verse 19 forbids sexual relations during a woman's period. Verse 22 condemns same-sex relationships. Verse 23 condemns bestiality. In that same verse, Jehovah God adds: "It is a violation of what is natural" (Leviticus 18:23b). This very short sentence sums up very well all forms of deviant sexual practices; they are a "violation of what is natural" (that married couples, husbands and wives, exercise good discernment because God will judge even what is done in the greatest privacy (Hebrews 13: 4) "Let marriage be honorable in all, and that the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers "). And for those who would try to justify themselves by saying "we are no longer under the law": these different aspects of sexual morality are permanent, because what Jehovah considered to be detestable under the Law, it remains so. Jehovah God has not changed and does not change, his way of thinking is stable over time, all the more so under the present law of Christ which takes over what constitutes the substance of the Law. This is what is written at Malachi 3:6: "For I am Jehovah; I have not changed".

The Bible doesn’t allow polygamy, therefore, the man in this situation who wants to have God's approval, will have to legalize his situation before God: He must remain only with one woman; the first with whom he gets married (1 Timothy 3:2 "a husband of one wife"). Perverted sexual practices and also masturbation are forbidden by the Bible: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion, hurtful desire, and greediness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

The whole forbidden situations by the Biblical Principles are not in this part of this biblical study. The Christian maturity based on the knowledge of the Bible, the Wisdom of God, will help us to know what is right and what is wrong: “But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong” (Hebrews 5:14).

***

Are you a Son of God?

"For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons"

(Romans 8:14)

This question is only in the biblical context, and particularly of the letter to the Romans, the chapter 8. The answer will be based on the context of chapter 8, in order to know if, the status of "son of God" is only reserved for a category of Christians, for example, those who have the heavenly hope of being one of the 144000, or to all Christians, including those who are an earthly hope (Apocalypse 7:1-8 (144000); 7:9- 17 (the great crowd coming out of the great tribulation). In order for the reader to check by himself, the context reveals two important points:

1 - The apostle Paul does not speak at any time directly, of two categories of Christians, but rather of two categories of humans, those who live according to fleshly desires and those (the faithful Christians) who live by being led by the Holy Spirit.

2 - The apostle Paul does not evoke the hope of everlasting life, by directly making a difference between everlasting life in heaven and everlasting life in the future earthly paradise.

Let us examine the context of Romans chapter 8: "Therefore, those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation. For the law of the spirit that gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the Law was incapable of doing because it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemning sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit. For setting the mind on the flesh means death, but setting the mind on the spirit means life and peace; because setting the mind on the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not in subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him. But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you" (Romans 8:1-11).

In verses 1 to 8, the apostle Paul describes those who walk according to the flesh: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit" (verse 5). This verse sums up very well, the contrast between these two categories of humans, those who live according to fleshly desires, and those who live led by the holy spirit.

In verses 9 to 11, he is describing those who are "sons of God", by adoption, with the difference between the two categories of humans, in a different way: "However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him" (verse 9).

"So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you are sure to die; but if you put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, you will live. For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. If, then, we are children, we are also heirs—heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ—provided we suffer together so that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:12-17).

Verse 17 seems to be applied only to the 144,000: "If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together" . When the Apostle Paul wrote that those who are sons of God, are as heirs with Christ, he seems to refer to the heavenly hope to live with Jesus Christ (even if he is not directly mentioned) (see Apocalypse 14:1-5, the 144000 on Mount Sion (in the heavens), with King Jesus Christ). In addition, the previous verses seem to describe this process which allows a Christian, to know that he has the heavenly hope (to be heirs with Christ): "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children" (verses 15,16). At this stage of the study, the question that arises, is the following, if the apostle Paul applies the expression "sons of God", to the heirs with Christ (the 144000), does it not apply to all Christians who live led by spirit, and who have the earthly hope? Let us read the context of Romans 8.

"For I consider that the sufferings of the present time do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory that is going to be revealed in us. For the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now. Not only that, but we ourselves also who have the firstfruits, namely, the spirit, yes, we ourselves groan within ourselves while we are earnestly waiting for adoption as sons, the release from our bodies by ransom. For we were saved in this hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he hope for it? But if we hope for what we do not see, we keep eagerly waiting for it with endurance" (Romans 8:18-25).

Verse 19 seems to be referring, only to the 144000: "For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God" (see 1 John 3:2: "Beloved ones, we are now children of God, but it has not yet been made manifest what we will be. We do know that when he is made manifest we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is").

Nevertheless, the 20,21 verses refer to the whole of humanity: "For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God". However, some will say that this last release will take place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. This interpretation seems fair in accordance with Apocalypse 20:5a: "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended". It should be mentioned that just as the Apostle Paul uses the expression "creation" to designate the earthly humanity as a whole, similarly, Apocalypse 20:5a applies to humanity in the earthly paradise, as a whole. On an individual level, the human (the faithful Christian) who currently lives and in the future earthly paradise, led by spirit, according to the context of Romans 8, can be called "son of God" by being simply heir of God, without necessarily being a joint heir with Christ like the 144000: "If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God" (verse 17).

The very fact that the apostle Paul added, "but joint heirs with Christ", seems to support the idea that the "heirs of God" represent the whole of obedient humanity and the "joint heirs with Christ", in this context, regarding the 144000. It is completely logical, always according to the context of Romans 8, to consider the faithful Christians having earthly hope, as "sons of God" who will be his heirs, in view of everlasting life. It should be recalled that in Romans 8, the apostle Paul wrote that the "sons of God" are who live led by spirit, and this is quite the case of the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope. In addition, if it is obvious that the expression of "joint heirs with Christ" has a restrictive meaning in Romans (8:12-17), applying only to the 144000, this expression can be applied currently to the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, in the broad sense of Luke 23:43: "You will be with me in paradise". The currently faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, will be, in a broad sense, "joint heirs with Christ", because they will be with Jesus Christ in paradise...

Finally, it is also good to remember how the Model Prayer begins: "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9)... If Jesus Christ asked his disciples to begin this prayer with the expression "Our Father", it is well proof that God will not wait a thousand years to consider, right away, that the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, are their sons, the sons of God... "For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons"(Romans 8:14)…

The Casus Belli Against Human Body Integrity

in CBRN World War

(Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)

(Ezekiel 34)

The shepherds, who feed themselves

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to the shepherds, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Is it not the flock that the shepherds should feed? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, and you slaughter the fattest animal, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bandaged the injured or brought back the strays or looked for the lost; rather, you have ruled them with harshness and tyranny. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; they were scattered and became food for every wild beast of the field. My sheep were straying on all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the surface of the earth, with no one searching for them or seeking to find them”” (Ezekiel 34:2-6).

As we have seen above, the human body was created by God and given to us as a divine inheritance, to take care of it, like a temple that we inhabit and which should be inhabited by the spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16 "The Spirit of God dwells in you"). This body and the life in it, do not belong to any state or entity that would like to be globalist, nor even to any religious organization. The human body we have and the life in it, belong to God, because He is the Source and Creator of the Life (Revelation 4:11).

Jesus Christ said to pay back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (Luke 20:25). The Christian who pays back to Caesar what is Caesar's, has a respectful attitude towards the authorities of his country. In 1 Peter 2:17 it is written to fear God and to honor the king. Depending on the context, the king is the repository of the authority of the country over which he reigns. The apostle Paul, in the letter to the Romans (13:1-7), encourages all Christians to respect governments and their representatives, that could be kings, princes, presidents, ministers, deputies… This passage shows that we must respect those who are empowered to enforce the law, namely the police, the military in some countries, judges and various representatives of administrations, such as, for example, teachers, professors, principals, tax inspectors… This being said, Jesus Christ added that we must pay back what belongs to God. Our body and the life in it belong to God. Therefore, if any human government ask us for our life or the life of our children, the answer will be the same as the apostle Peter said in a court: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

In what follows, it is not to encourage the disrespect to the governmental authorities in place, but to take note of a situation which seems to be like what it is written in the prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 34, quoted at the beginning of the article, and to take the necessary measures to respect the biblical principles on the sacred value of life and blood. What are the observable facts?

The world is currently living, since November 2019, in fact, a Casus Belli, a CBRN world war (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear), against the integrity of the human body of peoples (the lost and scattered sheep). The human body has been created by God and given to us as a divine inheritance, to take care of it, like a temple that we live in and which should be inhabited by the spirit of God: "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that the spirit of God dwells in you? " (1 Corinthians 3:16). This human body and his life, do not belong to any state, nor even to any earthly religious entity.

This worldwide Casus Belli against the integrity of the human body, which God has entrusted to us, is not made with tanks, bombs and cannons. It is organized against the backdrop of international trafficking of military viruses (leaving a P4-type laboratory (officially manufacturing military viruses in the context of CBRN-type wars)) and cleverly orchestrated propaganda (social engineering), with the aim of to terrify the people. The basic principle of these death labs is to collect viruses that are normally found in nature, in the animal reign, and which are basically harmless to humans; they are usually not transmissible and if so, they are usually not fatal. These demonic laboratories work to make these viruses transmissible to humans through "sequencing" with an extremely complex manufactoring process that can take several months. The diabolical purpose is to obtain a "gain of function", that is to say, in this case, to make so that this (or these) virus to be fatal for the man, while increasing, of the lethality of this manufactured military virus (references or patents for these military viruses can be found at NIH GenBank or somewhere in the WHO archives (at least from one of these countries). By the way, the NIH has suppressed information from Wuhan labs on the genetic sequencing of the military virus, according to Watchdog's FOIA (March 30, 2022)) (What is Happening in Shanghai?) (Chinese Style Social Credit, Begins in Italy (Bologna)).

(Social Credit with Chinese Style and the 2030 Agenda: This agenda was adopted by the UN in September 2015 after two years of negotiations including governments and civil society. The 2030 Agenda is part of a globalist ideology, particularly in the countries of the NATO zone and its partners (Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...). It is in these areas of the world that the fundamentalist and sectarian ideology of "Covidism", which undermines the bodily integrity of peoples, has taken root (The situation in Shanghai (China) is an illustration of this taken to its extreme and in many respects, can give us a future glimpse of this kind of dictatorship on the scale of several united states, even world). Situations of a global “pandemic”, or of climate emergency, are ready-made pretexts to establish a dictatorship, in a progressive and hidden way, over all peoples. The “voluntary” establishment of “social credit” in Italy (Bologna and Rome (end of March 2022)), is only the beginning of this process, which is part of the future establishment, latent and perverse, of an obligation"...).

After its spread, obviously "fortuitous" (not checked in one, or the other way), of this lethal military virus, follows a world press campaign, which will certify, that it is a question of a "leak" as a type accident in a nuclear power plant. We must know that a P4 laboratory, is one of the most secure places in the world. They will say, for example, that it comes from the animal reign, which is a half-truth, because it is both true and false, therefore false (true + false = false). A second stage follows, essentially based on propagandist social engineering, based on fear with repeated morbid messages and reports, to frighten the people and above all, to insist on the fact that there is no medical remedy, or even any molecule to be able to cure this military virus. The only solution is to wait for the messianic injectable chemical that will save the life of mankind.

This Casus Belli is accompanied by an experimentation of mass gene therapy on healthy human bodies, not sick, on an international scale, on all peoples (scattered sheep), injectable chemicals, more or less coercive (in defiance of the Nuremberg Code - 1947 (see the 10 articles at the end of the page) (The current worldwide gene therapy, is still officially, in the experimentation phase, therefore, it fits perfectly into the legal framework of the Nuremberg Code - 1947)). Those at the head of nations or groups of nations, who order repeated injections of these poisons into healthy human bodies, have links of financial interest known to all, direct or indirect.

This CBRN-type wars Casus Belli uses the media corrupted by money and coordinated with one another as a propaganda tool with the Goebbel 's process of propaganda (spokesman for the Hitler Nazi regime). It is common knowledge that they are in the pay of many corrupt billionaire oligarchs, who also influence many governments (the shepherds who have been feeding themselves). They create a false reality (a surreality), to frighten the people (the scattered sheep), with the purpose to mislead them psychologically and mentally, in the aim to make them adopt irrational behaviors, by successive contradictory decisions and completely assumed lies. By the administration of this social engineering of harassment and long-term mental torture, these shepherds who have been feeding themselves, obtain the consent by nervous and mental exhaustion of the scattered sheep, with a more or less latent coercion (See Ezekiel 34).

In Isaiah 5:20 it is written: "Woe to those who say that good is bad and bad is good, Those who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, Those who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!". This text describes very accurately the perverse and demonic inversions of values ​​of these engineers of lies and murderous manipulation (John 8:44). These shepherds who are feeding themselves, have forbidden doctors to treat the elderly with inexpensive molecules. Then these same shepherds who are feeding themselves, ask the children to risk their own health, until their life, for these same old people whom they put in danger of death by forbidding the doctors to treat them. These same shepherds who are feeding themselves, ask children to risk their own health, until their lives, for adults when it should be the opposite, namely that it is adults who should be willing to risk their lives for children, representing the future of humanity...

Many doctors, nurses, orderlies and housekeepers, working in medical care, were at the front to provide assistance to people affected by this military virus. Many have paid for it with their lives (What is happening in France regarding caregivers, firefighters and other people (in connection with the medical community), suspended and fired without pay, without unemployment, not reinstated, for refusing the experimental injection? (Video only in French language)). Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ, will not forget them at the time of the resurrection (Acts 24:15; Hebrews 6:10). The courageous men and women who have so far denounced this Casus belli, have paid for it with their lives for some, with solitary confinement and imprisonment for others and they are treated as "conspirators", a coined term by the CIA in 1965, following the Warren Commission (official account of the circumstances surrounding the assassination of JFK).

By the way, the current senatorial commissions are, in fact, real morbid plays. We observe a diabolical role-playing games between these commissions of "inquiries", which make a game of finding fault to the people summoned and questioned, and the latter who, in the end, leave as they came in, that is free to continue their sordid works. These senatorial commissions bypass the role of prosecutors, judges and courts, who should imprison and judge these murderers, these sons of Josef Mengele, who carried out these experimental gene injections of masses, which caused the death of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children around the world, and millions of debilitating consequences for those who survived. These murderous liars apply the logic of the collective suicide of peoples, like Jim Jones and David Koresh, gurus who did not want to die alone, but who wanted to be accompanied in their madness by their hundreds of followers who committed "suicide". We also live, in a logic of global, economic, diplomatic massive destruction which causes wars and the destruction of peoples. They are in the same logic of murderous headlong rush, like these two sect leaders.

As we are very close to the Great Tribulation, a prophecy from Revelation and the book of Daniel is being fulfilled before our eyes: "He also tells me: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the appointed time is near. Let the one who is unrighteous continue in unrighteousness, and let the filthy one continue in his filth; but let the righteous one continue in righteousness, and let the holy one continue in holiness"" (Revelation 22:10,11). "Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand” (Daniel 12:10). Until King Jesus Christ sweeps these scoundrels off the face of the earth during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 19:11-21), those who practice righteousness in their hearts pray this prayer to the Heavenly Father daily, Jehovah God: "Finally, brothers, carry on prayer for us, that the word of Jehovah may keep spreading rapidly and being glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be rescued from harmful and wicked men, for faith is not a possession of all people. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the wicked one" (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).

In this worldwide diabolical situation, which attacks the bodily integrity of men, women, children and even, unfortunately, that of infants, what must the Christian do, to please Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ?

Jehovah asks everyone to take care of the human body as a temple: "Therefore, I appeal to you by the compassion of God, brothers, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason" (Romans 12:1). This body has been created for a sacred service to God, that is, to conform to the purpose which he originally made at the time of the creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26-28).

Taking medication is a personal decision, weighing the risks for our life. It must be done in a medical setting, to be treated. This medication should not be done under governmental or moral coercion, for example within the framework of a congregation. If this were the case, these governmental authorities, see spiritual, would go beyond article 1 of the Nuremberg Code - 1947, which forbids medical experiments under harassment (Reminder: the worldwide gene therapy in progress, is still officially, in the experimental  process, therefore, it fits perfectly into the legal framework of the Nuremberg Code - 1947): "The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, overreaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion. (…)" (Extract from article 1, of the Nuremberg Code - 1947).

In the current context, Christians must double their vigilance. He should refrain from bringing in experimental chemicals, especially for reasons unrelated to their health and that of their own children. These experimental injectable products have so far caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people around the world, and made thousands more seriously ill (VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (www.vaers.hhs.gov)). Most of these gene injections are made for reasons that have nothing to do with the health of adults and even less that of children, but rather, under non-medical pretexts of privilege, to be able to go to restaurants, bowling or other places of pleasure, justified by completely fallacious arguments and in the form of blackmail. Others have been forced on pain of losing their jobs and source of income. The fact of requiring that in order to go to a place, to have an object or a product penetrate our body, is in no way a medical act, but an act of marking, as one would do for animals, before d to enter an enclosure ; it is a marked violation of the spiritual and sacred dimension of the integrity of the human body.

Parents should seriously consider this issue, for their children and for them, in prayer to face this strange and sometimes distressing situation. Teachers of the Word of God should think seriously, with much prayer, on this question because this situation is not trivial regarding the biblical spirituality and more generally ethics (Romans 14:12). It is quite normal to feel disoriented, perplexed and surprised when faced with this extremely perverse attack from Satan the devil and his human demons. Let us pray to Jehovah God, let us ask for his help, He is merciful. If we think at first that we have not made the best decision, it can happen to anyone. Jehovah God sees our good intentions. Let us be courageous, let us trust in Jehovah God and his beloved Son Jesus Christ and they will support us (Proverbs 3:5,6). Let us not be afraid and be strong, let us support each other, whether with family, friends, or in congregation, let us love each other (John 13:34,35).

Christian Shepherds, how have you behaved in this matter?

The world has been victim to a global experimentation with a chemical that was injected for reasons based on a false claim. Pfizer would not have tested the effectiveness of its vaccines on the transmission of the virus. However, many Christian shepherds have pressured the sheep in their congregation to be injected, based on this false claim of the "vaccine" which would prevent the transmission of the virus. Even more serious, this pressure was exerted on young people who were for the most part not in danger if they did not get injected.

Tens of thousands of people died as a result of this experimental injection. Millions of people around the world have had extremely serious consequences as a result of this experimental injection. And what about this excess of mortality observed in recent times, even among young people? However, to "weight" the seriousness of the after-effects, some analyze the situation in terms of statistics... But for Jehovah God, the death of a single innocent human being, is in no way a "statistic"... In other words, if a Christian shepherd encouraged such an experimental injection, on the scale of the congregation for which he would be responsible before Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, and that this would have caused serious after-effects, until the death of only one of his sheep, in what situation does he find himself before God and his Son?

Here is what we can read in Deuteronomy, regarding the discovery of the body of a dead man in the field: "If someone is found slain in a field of the land that Jehovah your God is giving you to possess and it is not known who killed him, your elders and judges should go out and measure the distance from the dead body to the cities that surround it. Then the elders of the city nearest to the body should take from the herd a young cow that has never been put to work, that has never pulled in a yoke, and the elders of that city should lead the young cow down to a valley running with water where no tilling or sowing of seed has been done, and they should break the neck of the young cow there in the valley. And the priests, the Levites, will approach because Jehovah your God has chosen them to minister to him, to pronounce blessings in the name of Jehovah. They will declare how every dispute involving violence should be resolved. Then all the elders of the city who are nearest to the dead body should wash their hands over the young cow whose neck was broken in the valley, and they should declare, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed. Do not hold this against your people Israel, whom you redeemed, O Jehovah, and do not let guilt for innocent blood remain among your people Israel.’ Then the bloodguilt will not be held against them. In this way you will remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst by doing what is right in Jehovah’s eyes" (Deuteronomy 21:1-9).

For Jehovah God and his Son and King Jesus Christ, the death of even one of their congregational sheep is nothing trivial according to Deuteronomy 21:1-9. It is appropriate, that in each Christian congregation, the shepherds make their examination of conscience, regarding this affair and draw the consequences... Do they fulfill, yes or no, still the conditions of Christian shepherds (Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7) ?

The ten points of the Nuremberg Code - 1947

1 - The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, overreaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment. The duty and responsibility for ascertaining the quality of the consent rests upon each individual who initiates, directs, or engages in the experiment. It is a personal duty and responsibility which may not be delegated to another with impunity.

2 - The experiment should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods or means of study, and not random and unnecessary in nature.

3 - The experiment should be so designed and based on the results of animal experimentation and a knowledge of the natural history of the disease or other problem under study that the anticipated results will justify the performance of the experiment.

4 - The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.

5 - No experiment should be conducted where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects.

6 - The degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solved by the experiment.

7 - Proper preparations should be made and adequate facilities provided to protect the experimental subject against even remote possibilities of injury, disability, or death.

8 - The experiment should be conducted only by scientifically qualified persons. The highest degree of skill and care should be required through all stages of the experiment of those who conduct or engage in the experiment.

9 - During the course of the experiment the human subject should be at liberty to bring the experiment to an end if he has reached the physical or mental state where continuation of the experiment seems to him to be impossible.

10 - During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probable cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill and careful judgment required of him, that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject.

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