Author: ShapedByTruth

eminent domain in the bible

Eminent Domain –  is the power of a state or a national government to take private property

1 Kings 21:1-16

1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Did Jesus talk like the King James?

I recently heard someone say “Jesus didn’t talk like the King James”.

Scripture does not record Jesus speaking like any English translation of the Bible.

The languages of scripture — Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek — all have distinct personal pronouns that differentiate between singular and plural.

The second person singular pronouns of thee, thou, thy, and thine which were in common in use in Old English (Anglo-Saxon 5th-12th Centuries), and fell out of common use in Middle English (12th – 15th Century) and are not commonly used in Modern English (15th Century onward).

Even after falling out of common use, these singular pronouns were used in the major English translations of Bible up through the Authorized Version of 1611 (a.k.a. King James Bible) to preserve the Greek and Hebrew distinction between singular and plural personal pronouns and adjectives.

Here is a breakdown of how these pronouns are most commonly used:

CaseSingularPluralUsage
ObjectiveTheeYouWhen the object of the sentence
NominativeThouYeWhen the subject of the sentence
PossessiveThyYourCommonly used before a noun that begins with a consonant/consonant sound (like the article, “a”)
PossessiveThineYoursCommonly used before a noun that begins with vowel/vowel sound (like the article, “an”). Also used when indicating that something is “absolute and understood”

Mockers often criticize the use of the “thees and thous”, saying it makes it difficult to read.

Far from difficult, just remember this simple rule of thumb:

T=Singular

Y=Plural

Easy right?

Now, keep in mind, every word is significant.

Luke 4:4 – And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

So, exactly how DID Jesus speak?

Take for example His discussion with Nicodemus in John 3:7

ESVKJB
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

We can see that the KJB preserves the singular and plural distinction in pronouns, where the ESV does not.

Also, compare Matthew 26:62-64

ESVKJB
And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

and compare Luke 22:31-32

ESVKJB
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

In the KJB it is clear that the “you” in verse 31 is plural and the four pronouns in verse 32 are singular.

The ESV, NKJV, NIV, and other modern translations all lose the singular/plural distinction that was present in the actual words Jesus spoke.

So, technically speaking, because the King James Bible preserves this singular/plural distinction, Jesus DID speak more like the King James than any of the modern English translations.

triquetra

Exodus 20:3-4 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Acts 17:29 – Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Yet, when the New King James Version New Testament was released in 1979, it had the triquetra prominently displayed.  The “red and yellow kill a fellow” colors should have been warning enough.
When the old and new testament NKJV was released in 1982 it still retained the triquetra on the spine and inside title page

Then in a later printing, they added an explanation of what they wanted purchasers to think it represented.

The New [Age] King James says that it uses the triquetra to symbolize the trinity.  Clearly they have not even read their own text, as Acts 17:29 clearly says not to think that the Godhead is like any art or man’s device.
There is an un-holy trinity that IS represented by the triquetra…

Embedded in the triquetra are 666…

the triquetra is a prominent new age symbol
the triquetra is a prominent symbol in witchcraft (wicca)

It was prominent in the witchcraft celebrating series “Charmed” and on the Charmed “Book of Shadows”
The triquetra is also used in occult societies such as the Masons.  The Masonic three-three-three ceremony.  Seen from above, the three men holding hands form a triquetra as represented in the serpent symbology…

and why does James R. White champion the triquetra and imply it’s symbolizing the Godhead clearly contrary to Acts 17:29

Here is the triquetra yet again, in agreement with the New King James Version, White includes the triquetra in the page next the the “Forward” the first edition of his anti-preserved scripture book

Distant Starlight

The issue of distant starlight goes something like “since we see light from stars that are millions of light years away, then it took millions of years for the light to reach us, therefore the universe is millions of years old”.

This line of reasoning is based on a not just observations, but also a large number of presumptions – some of which are incorrect…

The speed of light being constant – false, observations indicate that it was faster in the past. Experiments have also been conducted that have slowed and/or bent light.

Time is rigid – false, rate of passage of time is impacted by gravity and the speed at which an object is traveling

Uniformitarianism – assumption that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the universe now have always operated in the universe in the past and apply everywhere in the universe.

Naturalism – assumption that nature is “all there is” and everything can be explained using natural laws.  Being that there are supernatural, spiritual, and multi-dimensional components to reality, then we can expect existence of phenomena that defies our ability to explain based on our current understanding of natural laws.

The question to ask concerning assumptions is: “How do you know?”   How do you know that light has always traveled at the same rate?  How do you know that the decay rate of a particular radioactive material has always been the same?  How do you know there is nothing beyond the natural laws?

The fact of the matter is that even “big bang” supporters have a distant starlight time-travel problem of its own and there is yet a satisfactory model to explain observations.

Gen 1:14-19 – And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Ps 104:2 – Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain (Isaiah 40:22; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 45:12; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 32:17; Jeremiah 51:15)

Light-travel time: a problem for the big bang
http://creation.com/light-travel-time-a-problem-for-the-big-bang

‘Ripples’ of galaxies—another blow to the big bang
http://creation.com/ripples-of-galaxies-another-blow-to-the-big-bang


Does Distant Starlight Prove the Universe Is Old?

https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/starlight/does-distant-starlight-prove-the-universe-is-old/

Distant Starlight—The Anisotropic Synchrony Convention
https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/starlight/distant-starlight-thesis/

Distant starlight and Genesis: conventions of time measurement
http://creation.com/distant-starlight-and-genesis-conventions-of-time-measurement

Distant Starlight and the Big Bang
http://www.icr.org/article/8767

Starlight and the Age of the Universe
http://www.icr.org/article/starlight-age-universe/

Distant Starlight and the Age of the Earth
http://www.icr.org/radio/248

spiritual cabinet of 12

Beast World Government and Spiritual Cabinet of 12

[developing…]

There will thus be the Spiritual Cabinet of twelve whose rightful head would be none other than “Christ” himself. . . .

He whom the Christians know as Christ, the Jews know as Messiah, and the Orient knows as Maitreya, Islam knows as the Mahdi or 12th Imam, may eventually be recognized as one and the same Being.

In this way could a “World Religion” develop quite naturally, and in harmony with a World Government.

a mark IN their right hand, or IN their foreheads

Rev 13:16 KJB – And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Compare the other translations at this link:
http://biblehub.com/revelation/13-16.htm

Rev 13:16 ESV – Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

You will find most all of the modern translation say the the mark will be “ON” the right hand and forehead.

One possibility to consider is that the mark may not be some form of tattoo, barcode, or device placed ON the hand or forehead.  Could these modern, new-age, one-world so-called bibles be preparing people for a mark that would instead be IN their hand or forehead?

Since they are expecting something to be “on” their hand or forehead, would they be willing to accept an implanted device, injected serum, or something that changes DNA?

it shall bruise thy head

Gen 3:14-15 – And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Emerging Church

This has been invading many churches of all types over the last several years and has been popping up more and more even among those who have been historically strong bible teachers.

We have a responsibility to prove all things and try the spirits as seen in these verses:

Ezekiel 33:6 – But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

1 Thess 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Eph 5:10-11 – proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them

Following are notes I have collected so far concerning the Emerging Church.

Emerging Church


Sometimes known as the “Emergent” or “Emerging” church, it goes by many names and boasts being defined by a lack of definition and rules (a.k.a. CONFUSION)

Instead of a focus on belief and what they believe, they emphasize experience, mystical practices, spiritual disciplines, conversation, seeker sensitive, purpose driven, relational, hipster, and what they consider “being relevant and accessible”.

Emergents are characterized by not having a statement of faith or being nailed down to any one belief.

Emergents typically divert the “conversation” by saying they are protesting against regimentation, dress codes, formality, traditions, etc…

They also marginalize anyone critical of them as being “religious”, “legalistic”, “traditional”, or “archaic”.

However, orders of service and what music is used for worship is not the real issue.

The issue is that they introduce liberal theology, corrupt doctrine, doubting of scriptural authority, and mystical/new-age practices.

Emergent leaders

Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, Marcus Borg, Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, Leonard Sweet, Bob Buford, Brennon Manning, Eugene Peterson, Donald Miller, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Jim Willis, Tony Campolo, Richard Rhor, Andy Stanley, John Ortberg, Frank Viola, Laurie Beth Jones, Ruth Haley Barton, Shane Claiborn, Dan Kimball, Shane Hipps, Spencer Burke, Peter Rollins, Steve Chalke, Rick Warren, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Jay Bakker and many others
http://bereanresearch.org/emergent-church/

Emergent Practices


Since true biblical spirituality and order is done away with and labeled too “traditional”, it is replaced with ancient mystical ritualistic disciplines.

Mystical practices and disciplines are encouraged though each gathering of emergent church adherents employ a different mix of practices including: symbolic, multi-sensory worship; centering prayer; prayer beads; icons; spiritual direction; labyrinths; and lectio divina.  

They usually start with seemingly innocent “prayer” disciplines such as “praying the psalms” or repeating phrases over and over (vain repetitions Matt 6:7) and slowly introduce more and more practices.

Breath Prayers – Similar to the Catholic Church, the Emergent Church encourages the use of a mystic practice referred to as contemplative prayer or breath prayers.  A Breath prayer is a short phrase or sentence that is repeated throughout the day.  It’s like a mantra.  While the Catholic Church encourages it’s adherents to pray the rosary every day to increase their treasury of merit, the Emergent Church encourages it’s adherents to repeat breath prayers throughout the day to create an experience for the believer.   

“Many Christians use “Breath Prayers” throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence, or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath.” – Rick Warren

Meditation – Unlike Biblical meditation which engages the mind and chews on and digests scripture — the mystical meditation practiced by the Emergent Church is a form of transcendental meditation that is about disengaging the mind.   

“Get in touch with your lungs by closing your eyes. Visualize in your mind a tennis court” 8.“Hold your Bible and breathe meditatively. The breathtaking, nay, breathgiving truth of aliveness is more than Methuselean in its span: Part of your body right now was once actually, literally part of the body of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Esther, David, Abigail, Moses, Ruth, Matthew, Mary, Like, Martha, John, Priscilla, Paul… and Jesus. 9. Keep breathing quietly while holding your Bible. You have within you not just the powers of goodness resident in the great spiritual leaders like Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, Lao Tzu You also have within you the forces of evil and destruction.” Resident in each breath you take is the body of angels like Joan of Arc and devils like Gilles de Rais, Genghis Khan, Judas Iscariot, Herod, Hitler, Stalin and all the other destructive spirits throughout history” – Leonard Sweet, Quantum Spirituality.

Lectio Divina – divine reading, a.k.a. spiritual formation, the silence, but is best known as contemplative prayer. This is a growing trend in evangelical churches. The prayer ritual stems from teaching associated with Catholic mystics such as Meister Eckhart, Ignatius of Loyola, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila. Contemplative prayer was reintroduced by Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, William Meninger, Basil Pennington and other mystics. The aim is to achieve an altered-state-of-consciousness.

Prayer Labyrinth – used to facilitate prayer, meditation, spiritual transformation, and/or global unity. A labyrinth is a path which leads, via a circuitous route, to the center of an intricate design and back out again. A labyrinth’s route is unicursal; that is, it has only a single path. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is designed for ease of navigation

Ignatian Examen – One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius Loyola made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit of self-reflection that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.

Bono and the Emerging Church
Bono and U2 are the poster children of the Emergent Church and many think that U2 is a Christian group.

More than once I’ve heard of people who experienced and “epiphany” (in reality an initiation) during a U2 concert and saying that they consider their experience during a U2 concert as demonstrating to them what “true” worship should be.

Watch this short trailer for a documentary about Bono and what he truly believes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAXhJKlUrok

If nothing else, we need to be prepared to recognize these false teachings (Matt 10:16) so that we 1) don’t get trapped in them, and 2) can help others keep from being deceived by it.