Tuesday, November 26, 2013

"To Protect and To Pass On"

The Home School Legal Defense Fund has a video, "To Protect and To Pass On"... It's a good and inspiring video. And as I watched it and pondered the principals it put forth, it occurred to me that that concept is not just a good idea for a free republic, it's the prime purpose of the Church Jesus founded...to protect and pass on the Gospel message, in order to bring people into the family of God and teach them Truth, not error.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit deposited the entirety of that message in the Apostles
(Matt28:18ff, John14;26, Eph3). Those Apostles were thus entrusted and empowered to not only pass on that message, but also to protect it from those who would alter it (Gal1, 2Cor11, 1john2:18-26).  They hand-picked successors for continuing and expanding that mission, specially ordaining them to the task (Acts1, 1Peter4:14, Titus1). They, and their successors have, since Jesus ascended, protected and passed on the complete Gospel, which includes the Scriptures they authored (as attested by the early Christian writings).

Down through the ages they and the successively ordained men (bishops & presbyters) have, collectively, protected the Gospel from heretical movements such as the Judaizers (Acts), gnosticism, Sabellianism, Montanism, Nestorianism, Arianism, Pelagianism, Albigensism (Catharism), Waldensians, and others. All those movements were aberrations of the Gospel (even if they had some truths within them) and were refuted and condemned, else souls would be threatened (Gal1, 2Cor11, 1john2:18-26). It is thanks to the organized, visible leadership of Jesus' Church, bolstered by His Holy Spirit, that those egregious errors of doctrine were challenged and rejected. Without such a hierarchical leadership, moved by the Holy Spirit, those errors could not have been successfully combated and would have lead many many souls astray from the true Gospel.

That Church was, by the 2nd century, known as the "catholic" church (as attested by Ignatius of Antioch), distinguishing it from heretical movements. And, despite occasional and various episodes of bad men and bad behavior in positions of power in the hierarchy of that Church, the uncorrupted Gospel message continues to be protected and passed on to all generations (Jesus promised as much, Matt16:18). Over the ages, particularly the last several centuries, allegations have been stated that the Catholic Church killed 50 million believers or that the church persecuted scientists and suppressed the sciences, and other rumors. Yet, a little research reveals those rumors to be false.

After the Exodus out of Egypt, the first generation of Israelites failed their charge to protect and pass on God's ways to their children. Generation after generation, it was the same old story (but, thankfully, the priests and prophets did pass on God's teachings) up until the Son of God became a man. Then Jesus built His Church on the foundation of the Apostles (Eph2:20,Matt19:28,Luke22:29-30), guided by the Spirit, so that that historical error could not be repeated. The Apostles and their visibly appointed successors have protected and passed on God's salvation plan, the entire Gospel message, to their "children" (all those who will hear the message).

This is why I remain a Catholic: To know the Gospel preached by Jesus and His Apostles.


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Kingdom of God = Kingdom of Heaven = the Church

The Kingdom of Heaven is often thought of as existing only in Heaven.

The reign of Jesus, seated on David's throne is often thought of as the "millennial kingdom" (1000 years, though not all followers of this idea insist that it will be a literal 1000 years) of the future, just prior to the final judgment. (This is called millennialism or millenarianism ).

The Kingdom of David was the Kingdom of Heaven (aka Kingdom of God) manifested on earth. This idea is given to us by Scripture as follows...

1&2Chronicles calls the Davidic monarchy the "kingdom of the LORD". The Davidic king sat on "the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel" (1Chronicles28:5). It was "the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David" (2Chronicles13:8). The Kingdom of God extended from Heaven down to Earth, with the king seated on David's throne. The earthly kingdom suffered exile by the Babylonians and the king's generational descendancy was interrupted (Kings, Chronicles). The Prophets of the Old Testament prophesied that an heir would take the throne and restore David's Kingdom. The Prophets' main theme was the restoration of the kingdom.

Jesus came along, proclaiming "the kingdom of heaven is at hand". The Kingdom was present, not a future development, with Jesus doing what He did: "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." (Matthew12:28). The phrases "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God" are freely exchanged in usage in Matthew's Gospel, even in consecutive verses "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:23-24). In the parallel scene in Mark's Gospel "kingdom of God" is used for both instances (Mark 10:23-25).  Comparing parallel accounts in the Gospels Luke and Matthew we see "kingdom of heaven" in Matthew5:3 and "kingdom of God" in Luke 6:20.  Jesus was recognized as king of "the kingdom of our father David" (Mark11:10). So, Jesus was heir to the throne of (and now & forever rules over) the Davidic Kingdom of Heaven. (The queen of that kingdom was not a wife of the king but the king's mother. This is why Mary is, in Scriptural fact, queen of Heaven. The true one, not a false pagan one.)

The Kingdom of God (aka Kingdom of Heaven), with King Jesus enthroned over it, is here and now. It's not a future construct as an earthly reign lasting literally one thousand years. It is the restored/renewed/transformed Kingdom of David. This restoration is what the Prophets foretold. Isaiah 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!


Their main theme was that God would draw all people back to Himself. Isaiah called this message "good tidings" (which is "good news", in Old English was "godspell" which has morphed into "gospel" (in Latin is evangelium)). (The message of the Gospel, then, is that the Davidic kingdom of God is restored.) The restoration would reunite the 10 lost tribes (the Northern Kingdom) with the 2 (the Southern Kingdom), making Israel whole again. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom is here and brought the lost tribes back into the fold by drawing in the Gentiles (the lost tribes had been assimilated into the gentile peoples). He transformed the Davidic Kingdom of God into the Church which He built on the foundation of the Apostles (Eph2:20). Since the Church is rooted in the Davidic Kingdom, it bears similar characteristics: It has a descendant of David as king (Jesus). The king appoints a vicar to administer the kingdom (Old Kingdom: Isaiah22:20ff -> New Kingdom (Church): Matthew16:19). The king has a cabinet of ministers (Old Kingdom: 1&2Kings;1&2Chronicles  -> New Kingdom (Church): Luke22:29-30). The original & the restored kingdom is all twelve tribes (Old Kingdom: 2Sam5;1Kings4 -> New Kingdom (Church): Luke 6:12-16, 2:10, 2:36 ) . The kingdom is international (Old Kingdom: 1&2Kings;1&2Chronicles; Psalms -> New Kingdom (Church): Luke 2:32,13:29,24:47)

In the New Covenant, God's family=Church=Kingdom. OT refers to the people of God as the assembly (ecclesia in Greek). In the NT "ecclesia" is translated to "church". Jesus built His Church on the foundation of the Apostles and set them on "12 thrones" to judge the Kingdom. In Ephesians 3, Paul points out that God's ways are made known to us through that Church...
and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. "
So, all revealed Truth comes to us through that Church. (This is opposed to the non-Catholics' idea that Scripture contains all revealed Truth. In fact, the Bible came from the Church, the Church does not spring forth from the Bible.)

Matthew 19:28 "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
King Jesus sat on "the throne of his glory" when He ascended (ie Ephesians 1:19ff). There can't be a king unless there's a kingdom, so the Davidic kingdom of Heaven was renewed. This verse in Matthew (paralleled in Luke) tells us that Jesus installed the Apostles to "judge" the "twelve tribes". The reunification of Israel, being a sign of the New Kingdom coming to fruition, happened with the inclusion of the gentile folks who had assimilated the 10 lost tribes. Jesus emplaced the Apostles to "judge" this kingdom ( His Church) after He ascended.

Other kingdom-prophesies:  Isaiah 9:5-6; 49:6; 55:3; Ezekiel 34:23-25,30; 37:25


The description of the Kingdom being 1000 years is figurative, not literalistic. In the culture & time & literary genre round numbers mean something besides a strict numeration. 10 means perfection. 3 means the most or the greatest. ("Holy, holy, holy is the Lord" means He is the holiest of all.) 1000 = 10x10x10. So, 1000 means the most perfect of all. The New Kingdom is the most perfect because King Jesus the God-Man is enthroned over it and His Spirit indwells the Kingdom and it's inhabitants.



References:

Kingdom and Church in Luke-Acts,
From Davidic Christology to Kingdom Ecclesiology:
http://www.salvationhistory.com/documents/scripture/KingdomChurchInLukeActs.pdf

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a3p3.htm#541

Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, aka Lumen Gentium:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

'He Must Reign': The Kingdom of God in Scripture  :
http://www.salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online/he_must_reign_the_kingdom_of_god_in_scripture

Malcolm Smith, a Lutheran Bishop, did a series on Revelation. I read the transcripts of all the tapes and, though he's not Catholic, he does a great job breaking down that hard-to-get book. He posits that the 1000 year reign is symbolic and began with Jesus on earth. I can't find the link where I found the transcripts, but his ministry sells the audio... I think it's a worthy investment:
http://malcolmsmith.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1449



Some verses mentioning the kingdom or throne:

Psalm 132
11 The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

Isaiah 6
1 IN the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Isaiah 9
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 16
5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Isaiah 66
1 THUS saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Jeremiah 317 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.


Jeremiah 17
24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.
Jeremiah 22
2 And say, Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

4 For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. 5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

Jeremiah 29

16 Know that thus saith the Lord of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
Hebrews 1, note verse 3:
...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;


Eucharist?: Luke14:15 "Blessed ishe that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."

The kingdom of God is more than a warm fuzzy feeling, it is also a tangible corporeal reality. Way back, it was manifested on earth as the Davidic kingdom of Israel (1&2Chronicles). During the Babylonian Exile, the Prophets prophesied "good tidings" (aka good news, aka god-spell, aka gospel) that the Davidic Kingdom of God would be restored (Isaiah52). The main thrust of the Gospel Jesus preached is that the Kingdom is restored and we have a King!. Jesus preached the Kingdom is here with His presence & activity (ie Matt12:28). Jesus is King because He is descended from King David. That's His credentials. He now reigns over the Davidic kingdom of God, enthroned in Heaven, but before He ascended He installed the Apostles to lead/teach/guard His kingdom on earth (Matt19:28; Luke22:30). Their successors have lead/taught/guarded Christians ever since then, they are the bishops of the Catholic Church.

More notes on my research into references to the throne of David and the throne of God. They show that David's throne IS the Lord's throne and that the restored kingdom of Israel (aka kingdom of God, Kingdom of the LORD, kingdom of David, kingdom of Heaven), the "millennial" kingdom, is HERE and NOW, King Jesus being enthroned in Heaven and His kingdom on earth shepherded by duly appointed men...
The Church is the restored/renewed Davidic kingdom of God (aka kingdom of Heaven, aka kingdom of Israel), see Samuels, Kings, Chronicles, Psalms, Gospels. The Kingdom was split in two by civil war in the 700's BC, and there was no sitting king from 500-ish BC on. The OT prophets foretold the return of a rightful heir to the throne and as such, the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. non-Catholic Christians believe this restored kingdom is yet in the future, the "millenial" kingdom of literal 1000 years. However, Scripture shows that Jesus effectively restored the Kingdom in His life and death and resurrection and enthronement in Heaven. "Gospel" is the modern English derivative of the older English "God spell", meaning good news or glad tidings, or good tidings.

Isaiah says that when we see the blind see and the lame walk, our God reigns, which means the Kingdom would be restored, since, logically, where the king is, there is his kingdom. Jesus healed the sick and lame and blind and restored the kingdom of Israel by calling the gentiles (into whom 10 tribes of Israel were assimilated) to join His kingdom, which He called His Church.

Micah 4 & 5 describes the Kingdom of Israel restored and including all people, not just Israelites.
Jesus' ministry, His Gospel, is themed primarily on the restoration/renewal of David's kingdom of God (The first words of Jesus' public ministry are "repent, the kingdom of God [or heaven] is at hand". Jesus called the restored kingdom of God His Church (Matt16).

Micah 4 describes the Kingdom of Israel restored and including all people, not just Israelites.

"throne" in OT, the throne of the king of Israel is the throne over the kingdom of God/heaven/LORD... synonymous terms:
    - throne of David
    - throne of Israel
    - his throne (the human king)
    - throne of the kingdom of the LORD, 1Chron28:5
    - throne of the LORD, 1Chron29:23
    - throne of thy kingdom (Solomon's, aka Israel)
    - the throne of king of Israel is God's throne... 2 Chronicles 9:8   "Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God"
    - the throne of Israel is apparently the earthly expression of the heavenly throne, the human king ruling the earthly sided of the Kingdom of God... Psalms 11:4   "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven"
    - the "throne" in Psalms often refers to the Heavenly throne, and often to the earthly throne
    - Psalms 122:5   "For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David"  These are positions of authority in the Kingdom occupied by men of the king's choosing, the ministers of the Kingdom. King Jesus set the Apostles on these thrones, Luke 22:30 "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel"
    - Isaiah 9:7 "...there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom..."
    - Isaiah 14:13  "...I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God..."
    - Isaiah 66:1   "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool..."
    - Jeremiah mentions throne of David
    - Jeremiah 33:17 shows that there will ALWAYS be a descendant to rule the kingdom of Israel. (This is affected in King Jesus, ruling over the New Kingdom of Israel, the Church. The restored kingdom cannot be present-day political nation of Israel, as there is not king there...) "For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel"
    - Jeremiah 49:38   "And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. "  Don't know what this means... must read the whole pericope to find out...
    - David's throne is the LORD's throne... Lamentations 5:19   "Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation."
    -   Ezekiel 43:7   "And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places."
    - Zechariah 6:13 ... king of Israel's throne?  look it up
    - Matthew 25:31 ... Jesus will sit on the throne in Heaven
    - Luke 1:32,33 "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." ... This tells us that the kingdom of Israel is presently being ruled over by king Jesus. We infer from this and the fact that Davidic Kingdom of God ("Israel"), has been restored and Jesus is on His throne in Heaven ruling it. Couple this with the fact that the Apostles (and by extension, their successors) were appointed by King Jesus to rule the earthly side of this kingdom of God. Modern day nation of Israel is not the restored kingdom. The true Kingdom of God is the "New Israel" as Paul calls it, the Christian Church.
    - Luke 22:30   "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. " ... Jesus emplaced the Apostles with His authority to lead/teach/guard/discipline the kingdom on earth. Parallels Matt 19:28
    - Acts 2:30   ... Jesus sits on David's throne.
    - Hebrews 1:8   "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom"  ... The throne which Jesus sits on is David's throne as evidenced by Acts2:30 and Luke1:32, AND it is God's throne, as expressed by this verse and others.  [this verse also shows that Jesus is God, BTW, so JW's must ignore this verse of interpret wrongly].
    - Hebrews 12:2 "...set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
    - Revelation 3:21   "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." ... Since we are "little Christs", Christians, we have a share in all that He is: were have Sanctifying grace within us, we are priests (non-ministerial) and can go directly to God and we can offer sacrifices to Him, and this verse shows we hav a share in His kingship. And as Paul says "we shall judge angels" (judge means "rule" (?) ).
   - Revelation mentions the throne 37 times


KJV search site:  http://www.kjvbible.net/



Monday, November 4, 2013

Pain & Suffering

Physical/emotional suffering can, and should, be offered up to God as a sacrifice. This can help us grow spiritually. That's why God doesn't always heal us. He doesn't cause suffering, but He does use it to ultimately glorify us, grow us in spirit, making us a little more like Him. That's why we should never despair in our suffering, but have joy despite it, even if not happiness. (Consider that God used the greatest effect of Sin, death, to accomplish the salvation of everyone who accepts Jesus' sacrifice.)

All Christians are priests in the new covenant (called the general priesthood to differentiate from the ministerial priesthood) and as such can offer personal sacrifices to God...
1Peter2:
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

We are directed by Paul to offer up ourselves (this would include the painful imperfections of our fallen human nature) as a sacrifice to God...
Romans 12:
1 I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Such sacrifice helps our growth in sanctity...
2Cor 4:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Our sufferings, united to Jesus' passion, living it out in our lives, can contribute to our sanctification (which is continuous as long as we live on this earth)... we can even offer up our sufferings for others...
Colossians 1:
24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

Jesus was perfected through suffering [need more study on this one]... so if our sufferings are united to His, through faith, we also can gain benefits from sufferings...
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,


Not just our suffering, but our worship and our good works and our fellowship, are offered up as a sacrifice...
Hebrews 13:
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

The sacrificial sufferings of others can serve as models for our own spiritual journeys. We are all saints, but some are entitled Saint so we know who can serve as a holy role-model for ourselves.
1Cor 11:
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1Thess1:
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.