Category Archives: Prophecy and Ethics

Keys to Prophecy: God Works in Our Lives, Part II of III

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God does “intervene” into our affairs.

That is the basis of our prayers.

“7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.”
Mtt 7:7-8 WEB

The prayers of Daniel delivered him in time of need.

Some call this “miraculous” and want to deny its existence.

First let me point out that miraculous is not really a Bible word. The normal Bible words for these things are the words “signs,” “wonders,” and “powers;” and sometimes men translate such words as “miracles” in our translations. Scripture uses such words to describe God’s actions that appear in ways that are undeniably from God.

Also Scripture clearly recognize that God may favor us and make things “go our way,” or even at times oppose us, all with no clear indication of the source.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the adjective “miraculous” this way:

“occurring through divine or supernatural intervention, or manifesting such power …”

This definition makes ALL of God’s actions “miraculous.” In a commonsense way, this is not true, even in Scripture. We may pray for a job, and God may arrange it, all with no visible manifestations of spectacular power.

Many events in history (yes even secular history), or in nature, or in day to day events are the product of God’s interventions, and make plain power and decisions beyond what is humanly possible. The includes everything from the birth of a child to the violence of a tornado, to the exploding of a supernova.

This does NOT mean that you or I can deploy
God’s power as if we were Elijah deciding
when it will rain, or Peter telling a a lame
beggar to arise and walk.

You and I cannot deploy rain clouds over North America, but God can, and may in response to our prayers. The apostles and prophets had special powers from God which we do not have.

But God’s power still exists and works in our world all the time, and we can ask for His help. And His answer is,

“If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.”
Jn 15:7 WEB

And how powerful might this be?

“20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ”
Eph 3:20-21 WEB

What then should we do?

We should study God’s word, prophecy and all, so that we might understand God’s intentions in the world, and then make our requests, as being in line with what God wants in both the overall situations on earth, and also in line with what God desires for our individual lives.

“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Phil 4:6 WEB

We should then pray and not faint, Lk 18:1.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Keys to Prophecy: Prophecy is a Moral Issue

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It has never been anything else. It is about
believing God!

Eight of the ten spies sent into Canaan verified the productivity of Canaan in those days, but doubted God’s promise of victory.

Many fail in salvation because they do not believe prophecy! That includes 1.) the children of Israel who died in the wilderness during Moses’ time, because they did not believe the prophecies of their conquering the land of Canaan, and 2.) the Pharisees and Sadduccees of the first century AD, who did not believe the prophecies of Jesus the Christ, the one and only Son of God.

Prophecy has NEVER been idle information about
what might happen.

Unfortunately that is the way many view prophecy. That is to say, many have been persuaded to treat prophecy as inscrutable statements of what might happen, and which no one can ever figure out. These are false views of Scripture and of prophecy. Peter says,

“We have the more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts:”
2Pe 1:19 WEB

Someone is mixed up! Either Peter is, or we are. Perhaps we are the ones who are mixed up.

God has plans for history, and for both the
righteousness and the wicked.

We need to declare the whole counsel of God to men, just as Paul did.

“… for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
Acts 20:27 WEB

That means among other things:

1. We should use ALL Scripture for doctrine/teaching

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine …”
2Tim 3:16 KJV

The word “doctrine” here in the KJV is a translation of the word didaskalia and it is the normal word for a teaching. This does NOT mean that we are under Moses Law, which would mean we are separated from Christ.

“you are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.”
Gal 5:4

Still, even Moses law is to be used for teaching/doctrine. There are many New Testament examples of this. For instance, in 1Corinthians chapter 9 Paul uses Deut 25:4, a regulation from the law of Moses about how to treat oxen, to prove that ministers of the gospel should be paid. We are not bound by the regulation as such, but that regulation teaches truths that are binding on us.

2. We should use prophecy as an integral part of teaching

A conservative estimate is that 30% of the Bible is prophecy. That is a great deal of “the whole counsel of God” to neglect. We are to “keep” the prophecies of Revelation, and there is a blessing for keeping these words.

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.”
Rev 1:3 WEB

Or again,

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.”
Mk 16:16 WEB

This is a prophecy, a “will be,” future. If you believe this prophecy (and you should), then you will BE baptized, and the prophecy says you “will be saved.” Alas, many do not believe this prophecy.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Lord reveals His Secrets, Amos 3:7

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“6 Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city,
Without the people being afraid?
Does evil happen to a city,
And Yahweh hasn’t done it?
7 Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing,
Unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:6-7 WEB

Of course, Liberalism believes in a “god” who does NOT intervene in His creation, so they would say there is nothing to reveal! However, Scripture consistently points to a God who constantly intervenes in our lives, makes sure we have food and clothes, may assist us or hinder or stop us in our endeavors. In fact James says,

“For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.””
Jas 4:15 WEB

So here is an all seeing God who guides events according to His purposes, and it is certainly consistent with the Bible message overall.

It is perhaps appropriate to admit that probably
MOST do NOT believe Amos 3:7!

This is a picture of an over-ruling God who constantly acts in history. And for God to let us know what He is doing? Many Christians even act blind, as if they have no idea what God does. But Amos 3:6-7 is a prophecy of what God will do, and says He does nothing unless He reveals it to His prophets. Further, Jesus says Scripture cannot be broken, Jn 10:35. Many other passages says essentially the same.

So how should we take these assertions.

God reveals through examples the ways He interactss
with men throughout history.

We read, or we should be reading, the accounts given the prophets of the ways God responds to certain types of actions. It is revealed to us how He acts in certain conditions. We know,

… “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Jas 4:6 WEB

And we know,

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
But victory is with Yahweh.”
Prov 21:31 WEB

So it is with many things.

But there are exceptional things which WILL
happen in history.

Things in which God will act in special ways, or allow stunning things to happen. Of these it says,

“Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing,
Unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7 WEB

Most of what we see in life and history is common, repeatable things, which happen in one form or another, time after time, and are revealed by God’s prophets. They may not be common to us, but they are common things in Bible history,

And of the astounding things which will lead up to the end of this present universe … these also are revealed by God’s prophets.

Are there still any things known only to God?

Yes. They belong to God. But the things revealed are sufficient so that we can be prepared, Deut 29:29. But we do need those revelations.

Instead of acting blind, we should,

“Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, …”
2Cor 5:11 WEB

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Lord Reveals His Secrets, but NOT to Everyone

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There are mysteries in Christianity, things which have to be revealed, things which you cannot just figure out.

Why do you speak in parables? Jesus’ disciples
asked, Mtt 13:10.

The truth is, just as the occult teaches, that not everyone deserves to know all of the secrets of eternal life!

“He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.””
Mtt 13:11 WEB

If you have any ears you should listen to these things, Mtt 13:9. The occult handles such things through not telling most people the core beliefs of their religion. In the gospel these things are handled in a different way. We are supposed to tell everyone what they need to know. Tell them, whether they will listen or not, Ezek 2:5. Even so, they truth is that people filter themselves out from life.

“Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1Cor 2:14 WEB

We declare openly the very mysteries of life.

The One, Jesus the Christ, who created all life.

“3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Jn 1:3-4 WEB

The very wisdom of the ages we declare.

“6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown [teleios in Greek]; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, ”
1Cor 2:6-7 WEB emphasis added

If you have some understanding of eternal things,

God will give you even more.

“For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance,”
Mtt 13:12a WEB

You might compare this to our muscles. If you use your muscles they will grow and increase in strength. On the other hand,

“but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.”
Mtt 13:12b WEB

It is a use it or lose it sort of things. Similarly, if you never use your muscles, they can atrophy to the point you cannot use them at all.

If we decide we really don’t like this, don’t really
want to do this, we CUT OURSELVES off,
from further understanding.

“14 … ‘By hearing you will hear,
And will in no way understand;
Seeing you will see,
And will in no way perceive:
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous,
Their ears are dull of hearing,
They have closed their eyes;
Or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart,
And should turn again;
And I would heal them.’”
Mtt 13:14-15 WEB

If this is our case, our understanding
stops right there!

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Occult Secrets

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Occult means hidden, and religiously is generally about secret or semisecret religions. Sometimes they had a public presence, but the details were secret. In New Testament times these were called “mystery” religions. Secrets were at the very center of their existence.

The Core Religious Secrets

Sometimes mathematical or scientific or political secrets were involved, but at the center of their teachings were religious secrets. Secrets revealed from “the gods,” but which were too high and holy for the average man. These were things needed for salvation, but only specially selected “better people” were good enough to learn these things.

When they encountered Christianity, they would say that Jesus was good, but that there were other higher truths which were necessary for salvation. These tended to be religions of the well-to-do, the rich and the famous.

Methods of Indoctrination

The teaching was mainly by powerful religious dramas in which the initiate participated. The initiate knew only his own lines, but until the initiation he did not know where the drama was leading, or rather, where it was leading him.

The secrets of whatever religion was involved, were revealed in stages or levels. In the beginning levels the dramas were intended to be emotionally impressive, but generally did not teach any serious secrets. The initiate was then covertly observed to see how he reacted, and whether he was capable of keep a secret! (Some people just cannot keep their mouths shut, and tell everything they know. If the initiate was like that, then he never advanced to higher levels of initiation.)

If the initiate proved receptive, and could keep secrets, then he was advanced to higher and higher levels of initiation. When he was fully instructed, then in Greek he was called a “perfect,” teleios.

The Political Realities of Such Groups

Such groups were ready made for political intrigue and duplicity, and almost always became involved in politics. With the different levels of indoctrination, the lower level men really never knew what the order was truly about. If they stayed, they were trusting that they were involved in some good higher calling, OR that regardless of the objectives of the order, that they would be on the inside of some lucrative enterprise that would bring them high level friends and advancement.

Such groups have often been the covert movers and shakers in whatever society they were involved. Some of these groups were what we now call “gnostics,” which roughly means, “those who know,” or at least think they know!

The Spiritual Realities

Especially the books of Ephesians and Colossians were intended to refute the claims of such groups. Paul says that their claims to higher knowledge are false. He says of the Christ he teaches,

“whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [the Greek word here is teleios] in Christ Jesus;”
Col 1:29 WEB emphasis added

In other words, true salvation in Jesus Christ is for ALL. It is not just for men, or white men, or certain “better” men, but for ALL MEN, and it is all publicly revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: Persecution

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Many are caught unawares by persecution
and behave badly

Jesus knew how Peter would act, and told him it was coming.

“Jesus said to him, “Most assuredly I tell you that tonight, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.””
Mtt 26:34 WEB

It is an advantage to know it is coming. You can think, practice in your mind how you will act, you can “prepare your minds for action,” 1Pe 1:13 WEB. But if it hits you all of sudden, you may be so surprised that you will not act in any sensible manner.

Peter clearly did not know himself very well, didn’t really believe what Jesus said would happen, and so was caught unaware, and reacted poorly.

Jesus was going to show Paul “how many things he
must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:16 WEB

Surely that was a great advantage to Paul in steeling in his mind for what was to be. Similarly, the church at Smyrna was given warning.

“… Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. ”
Rev 2:10 WEB

It is good to have warning, and to then pay attention to the warning.

The Storm Clouds of trouble normally give
signs of coming

There were plenty of signs of trouble in a German politician by the name of Adolf Hitler. Despite being financed by German and British and American financiers, most should have known better, and many did. Some listened and read and watched what was going on, and took appropriate warning, and fled in time. Many though, both Christian and Jews, were not watching as they should have been, and were trapped into bad circumstances that they were unprepared to resist or avoid or cope with.

It is a great advantage that American churches
have been given warning

American’s have been living in a fairly land that does not really exist. They have been foolishly ignorant and misinformed as to the anti-Christian nature of their “establishment,” their media, and many of their corporations and leaders and organizations. The true nature of much of Western “Liberalism” is being revealed and much of it is neither pretty or liberal.

Only a few years ago perhaps most American’s did not believe that persecution could “really happen here.” Now those illusions are being stripped away.

These things are are to our advantage if … we will learn our lessons and watch.

“We must through much tribulation enter the
kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 KJV

This is still true, and always has been. The world is still not our friend, and it never really has been, 1Jn 2:15-17.

“Behold, I have told you beforehand.” Mtt 24:25 WEB

Jesus did tell us in advance, of the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, of the end of this present universe, of persecution, and of this present world. If we will watch, that information can be used to our advantage.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: False Christs

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Jesus said there will be many false christs

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.”
Mtt 24:5 WEB

Some religious people act, almost as if there is no such thing as a “false christ” or an “antichrist,” when Jesus says plainly that “many will come … saying, ‘I am the Christ.’” In fact, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is an antichrist, 1Jn 2:22. Would not any false christ be an “antichrist,” no matter how you define the term, and Jesus does say that there will be many.

Some of these are locals of hidden origin, who soon fade away. Others have longer runs, but none to date have reached the scope of the “beast” described in Revelation 13, who “overcomes” the church, and has authority all who live on this earth, Rev 13:7. Rome NEVER “overcame” the church! Instead the church conquered the mighty Roman empire as prophesied in Dan 2:44, and many other passages, and as happened in history.

False christs are not just “end of the age” things

Many have claimed the “true” son of David. See “Lab Work ” in Prophecy Principles.

My first volume, Prophecy Principles, points that most of European royalty has been for centuries discreetly claiming to be descendants of Jesus Christ through Mary Magdalene! Some of them have also made claims as if they were the “current” “living Christ,” and examples are given in Prophecy Principles. This sure casts a new light on the phrase, “the divine right of kings.” This is not just about a few occult weirdos, even as Jesus also makes clear.

Christ’s Kingdom is NOT of this world!

This is a key point if you are to keep your bearings among the many outrageous claims which are often made.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.””
Jn 18:36 WEB.

Rather, it is of the world to come, the new heavens and new earth: heaven. But the false christs are seeking a kingdom in this world. Further, never loose sight of the fact that,

Jesus will never actually be on earth again!

We will meet Him in the air.

“16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, … The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord FOREVER.”
1Thes 4:16-17 WEB emphasis added

You may or may not like these verses, but they not vague. Don’t believe it if they say the Christ is here or there, Mtt 24:23.

“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it.”
Mtt 24:26 WEB

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 KJV

Watching changes behavior. You look at events differently. It changes how you act. To not be watching is the caught unawares …

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: False Prophets

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There WILL BE many false prophets

“But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.”
2Pe 2:1 WEB

Jesus gave us warnings also.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.”
Mtt 7:15 WEB

Some of the false prophets to come will be
incredibly convincing.

Some of the past false prophets and christs of the Christian Age are discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles in the section on “Lab Work.”

Clearly one will come very close to the very end of our age, “whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 2Thes 2:9 WEB. Also one is called “the false prophet,” Rev 16:13. He is evidently the same one of whom it says “He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.” Rev 13:11 WEB. Of this special false prophet it says,

“He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.”
Rev 13:13 WEB

Some of these will be so convincing they will almost be able to convince those who are chosen of God.

“For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”
Mtt 24:24 WEB

Yes, some will be dramatically convincing, but it doesn’t seem to speak of such things as a “just at the end” thing, but rather as an age long thing. So this is about things any of us might run into at any point in the Christian Age.

There have been and ARE many false prophets

You see them all along in history, making claims as spokesmen for the Most High God Himself, but teaching things contrary to that which God has already said. At times they have absolutely ruined the church of our Lord in various locales and countries. Sometimes claiming inspiration they have raised arms and money but have been swiftly suppressed. At other times they have been able to command the financing to become world class conquerers, suppressing all opposition wherever they have gone, wiping out the church of our Lord in some places, and leaving the church to lead a hobbled existence for centuries in other places. These are not minor things in history, nor have they been small influences where they have touched the church of Lord.

How do you steel yourself for overwhelming
tests of faith?

How do you make sure you are not among the deceived? How do you cope with attempts to drag you into evil schemes? Running away from overwhelming odds is acceptable.

“But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next …”
Mtt 10:23 WEB

But even going to town requires gas and money. To flee to another country requires some forethought and preparation, or … you will trapped where you are.

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 KJV

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: Testing

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It is definitely true that if we know we are being tested, we tend to do better. Sometimes we are lax or not even thinking about whether we are doing wrong or not. This is especially when we do not think of our encounters in life as tests, or even, heaven forbid, seductions to doing what is wrong.

The First Test, the Temptation in the Garden,

was a disaster for our race. This in the context of being in immediate fellowship with God. The first offender, the woman, knew what correct behavior was, and repeated that to the serpent, and still listened to the misleading explanations of the serpent. When they are first faced with their sin, the woman already knows and says straightforwardly, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Paul tells us,

“… Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
1Tim 2:14 KJV

But the man, though seeing the deception, did not actually do any better, all of which had disastrous consequences for the entire world. Often it is that we, like them, do not truly realize the consequences of our actions.

Temptation, seduction, comes when the potential offense
is something we might enjoy.

Clearly God tests us. Also clearly from James, God does not tempt us, to try to seduce us into evil.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Jas 1:13 WEB

So where is the key?

“But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”
Jas 1:14 WEB

So it is, as the old joke says, “I can resist anything … anything at all … except temptation!” The truth is that we as humans, often do not do well under temptation/testing. How can we turn this bad record around?

Watching would be part of the key to doing better.

“Take heed,” “be careful,” “watch,” are all parts of the same ideas. Even if you think you are doing better than in the past, it may not help.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.”
1Cor 10:12 WEB

Yes it is true, the temptations which we face are not unique, but are common to all men, and God does protect His own, 1Cor 10:13. Still,

Jesus said to make it a one-two defense.

“Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mtt 26:41 WEB

This implies that we may need help beyond our individual capacities, if we are to overcome. We need both awareness of our situations, and to pray to the Father for assistance lest we be overcome! Jesus says to ask for protection. “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Mtt 6:13 WEB

Watching changes our behavior, our reactions, and
can help protect us from what we cannot avoid.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: Be Alert

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Watching is an important thing in the Christian life, and there are many things to watch out for.

It is sometimes called different things

Some translations may say to watch. Other may say to pay attention, or to take heed, or be careful. There are many things to be careful about. The Israelites of Moses day were warned,

“Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you: ”
Ex 34:12 WEB

The Canaanites of ancient times had been especially embroiled in many harmful and irresponsible religious practices, dangerous religious practices. Something to watch out for.

Images as something of which to beware

Now images of things can be very helpful in life generally. It can help to identify a certain person by looking at a drawing or photo of the person. Images can be very helpful in doing things. Thus we have the success of how-to videos on internet, and so on.

Images, reenactments of historical events in movies and plays, on the other hand, can often cause simplistic views of past events. Simplistic views that can mislead or even be out-and-out false. So often the views of movies cause us to see past events in false ways that mislead us, and cause us then to have false views of the present. Professional propagandists in our media and movies know this, and often work hard to distort our views of the past so as to help the aims of the paymasters in the establishment of our nations. Lies, deceptions, half-truths, fake news.

And images of God? … or of Jesus?

The Jews were warned of these thing,

“Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.”
Deut 4:15 WEB

We do not know what God looks like. False images can give false ideas. So they were further warned.

“You shall NOT make for yourselves an idol, NOR ANY IMAGE OF ANYTHING that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them,”
Ex 20:4 WEB emphasis added

We are warned that such things can lead us astray. Don’t do these things!

And we don’t know what Jesus looked like

There are no physical descriptions of Jesus. Short, tall, long hair, short hair? We don’t know. We know much about his life, from various first century reporters, but His appearance? The closest clues are from the prophet Isaiah, some six centuries earlier.

“Like as many were astonished at you (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),”
Isa 52:14 WEB

And again,

“… he has no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
Isa 53:2 WEB

And it will change YOU if you watch out for these things.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901