Is Torture a thing of the past?

     Following the recent Senate report relative to the CIA’s activities on torture, it appears that many feel that torture is ‘not what America stands for, it’s not who we are.’ 

     Just what is torture?  Let’s look at several definitions.  Webster states that ‘torture’ is synonymous with torment.  It means to inflict intense pain for various reasons including to punish or to coerce.

     Definitions offered by the Geneva Convention and the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) are nearly the same as follows.

     “…‘torture’ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him…information or confession, punishing him for an act he…has committed…or for any reason…when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a pubic official or other person acting in an official capacity.”

     Several key points can be summarized as follows:

·        Torture is severe pain intentionally inflicted by another

·        The purpose may be to obtain information, to punish, or for any reason

·        Torture can only be done with the consent of one acting in an official capacity

     Now let’s examine the Biblical definitions and application of torture, or torment.

     Similar to the English meaning of torture/torment the Greek as found in the Bile also means to inflict/afflict with pain or cause to suffer for varied purposes including punishing, or forcing one to divulge the truth.

     Followers of Christ were/are being tortured as punishment for their faith.

     “…others were tortured, not accepting deliverance…Still others had…scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two…”  Hebrews 11:35-37

     Tortured in the above is synonymous with scourging.  And remember Pilate had Jesus scourged.

     “So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged (tortured) Him.”  John 19:1

    

     Hades or hell is the place of torment for the self righteous between physical death and their subsequent bodily resurrection preparing them to stand before the great White Throne judgment.

     Jesus explained hell’s torment to His disciples.

     “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate…So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”  Luke 16:19-23 

     The rich man was of the world and lived his earthly life to the fullest with little or no concern for the beggar at his gate who desired only to be fed with the crumbs from the rich man’s table.

     When the two died, the rich man found himself in hell and the beggar went to paradise.  When the rich man realized the torment of hell he asked to be relieved of his pain, but was rejected.

     “Then he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’”  Luke 16:24

     The rich man was told that while he was living on earth he had access to God’s standard of justice and plan of redemption but rejected it. 

     “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.’”  Luke 16:25

     Then the rich man was told that it was impossible for him to get to Lazarus or for Lazarus to get to him.  At the time of physical death, one’s destination has been settled forever. 

     Then the rich man asked Abraham to warn his brothers about hell, but was told that his brothers also had access to God’s justice and redemptive plan through the prophets and written word.

     “…I (wisdom) have called and you refused; I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.”  Proverbs 1:24

     To be continued.

After two decades of teaching Statistics and Economics at ORU and NSU Walt now teaches Bible at FBC Claremore and the Claremore Veteran’s Center.

"...the fullness of the time..."

     The exact date of Jesus’ birth is not recorded in the Bible.  However, that historic event is presently known as ‘Christmas’ and is celebrated on the 25^th day of December which approximates the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, which is celebrated for eight days beginning on the 25^th day of the Jewish month Kislev. 

     The Jewish month Kislev covers the present calendar period from late November to late December. 

    

     The Festival of Lights, also known as the Feast of Dedication, began during the time of the Maccabees to celebrate the cleansing and rededication of the temple which had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanies. 

     The significant point, however, is that the appearance of Christ on earth was according to God’s precise plan and occurred at the exact time predetermined before the foundation of the world.

     “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman…”  Galatians 4:4

     It would take volumes to explain the significance of ‘…His Son born of a woman…’  We’ll do that in the future.

     The Greek word for ‘fullness’ is pleroma and in the present context it means fulfillment, or completion.  Other synonyms include to accomplish, ratify, end, and goal.

     And even though the exact date of Jesus birth is not part of Biblical history, we can be sure it was as precise as the timing of the future release of the four angels at the river Euphrates.

     “So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.”  Revelation 9:15

     That’s precise.

   

     Many limit Christmas to a religious holiday; however, that is a myopic viewpoint.  The appearance of Jesus Christ is so much more.

     The Old Testament prophet Isaiah introduced the future Messiah as the government leader or ruler.

     And God speaking to David through the prophet Nathan provided more detail on Christ’s place in human history; past, present, and future.

     “When your (David’s) days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom…and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…your throne shall be established forever.”  2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16

     The Hebrew for ‘kingdom’ means dominion, reign, royal rule, and sovereignty.

     Nathan’s words to David were partially fulfilled in Bethlehem.

     “And behold, you (Mary) will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  Luke 1:31-32

     The ultimate fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy is described in the Revelation.

     “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”  Revelation 11:15

     And then near the very end of the Bible Jesus confirms both His deity and humanity as relates to King David.

     “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David…”  Revelation 22:16

     At the end of every Sunday morning service at the Claremore Veteran’s Center the residents sing their theme song, i.e. ‘Mary did you know.’ 

     Below are several of the key lyrics of that powerful song.

“Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

 This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am!”

     Yes, Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, but He is so much more.  He will be the supreme Ruler of all mankind.  He will destroy the enemy and rule all nations with a rod of iron during His millennial reign following the great tribulation.

     Separation of church and state?  Bah – Humbug!

     Merry Christmas to all!

      After two decades of teaching Statistics and Economics at ORU and NSU, Walt now teaches Bible at FBC Claremore and the Claremore Veteran’s Center.

The Majority hates the Minority

     Profound differences between the worldly majority and the kingdom minority can actually be expressed as hatred.  Scriptural synonyms for hatred include enmity, persecution, and hostility.

     And remember it all began with the curse pronounced on the serpent after he deceived Eve in the garden.

 

     “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her Seed.”  Genesis 3:15

    

     The hatred is the greatest between the ruler of the majority and the king of the kingdom, i.e. between the devil and the Seed of the woman, Christ Himself.

     Such animosity and hatred is extended to the followers of the ruler of the world and the citizens of the kingdom and is being accelerated during the present age. 

     Jesus warned His disciples of the hatred they would face, and the reason for it.

     “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”  John 15:19-19

     As Jesus prayed to His Father, He reiterated the world’s hatred for His chosen.  He also stated that He would send them into the world as light.

     “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”  John 17:14, 18

     Jesus’ chosen ones have become children of God while the majority of mankind was/is under the influence of the wicked one.

     “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”  Romans 8:16-17

     But on the other hand:

     “…and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  1 John 5:19

     John reminded the church (kingdom) that the world did not know or understand Christ or His chosen.

     “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him…Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.”  1 John 3:1, 13

     James had a similar message to professing Christians (hypocrites) but didn’t possess saving faith.  Such were committing spiritual adultery.

     “Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  James 4:4

     Kingdom citizens should not take lightly the granted authority of the ruler of the world.

     “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities…against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12

     The Seed of the woman, however, will prevail and preserve His chosen.

     “…for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”  John 14:30

     “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  1 John 3:8b

     And in God’s precise pre-ordained timing in the future:

     “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”  John 12:31

     The devil, who deceived them…was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10

     How about today?

     The redeemed minority has been defined as well as the worldly majority.

The leader of the world has been identified as Satan and the leader of the kingdom has been identified as Jesus Christ, the Seed of the woman.

     Now the philosophy and ideology of the present day can be examined to see which leader is being followed. 

     Simply stated, is America as a nation more closely allied with the tenets of the world and its leader or the kingdom and its leader?

     Or does America even recognize the difference between the two?

After two decades of teaching Statistics and Economics at ORU and NSU Walt not teaches Bible at FBC Claremore and the Claremore Veteran’s Center.

    

Is Coalition Building Wise or Foolish?

     When the leaders of the United States consider confronting an enemy nation, do they consult God’s word or seek alliances and coalitions with other nations?  The answer is fairly obvious. 

     A consensus from other nations is sought primarily to justify our actions and convince the electorate that the correct action is being taken.  Another reason is to convince ourselves that combined military strength will certainly prevail to accomplish our purpose.

     Remember the Apostle Paul reminded those of the present age that God’s dealing with Israel provided examples for us. 

     “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning…”  Romans 15:4

     “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:11-12

     The ‘them’ in the above specifically describes God’s dealing with the Israelites during the 40 year period between the Exodus and entering Canaan.  It describes the consequences of disobedience to God’s commands and instructions.

     The Israelites wanted to return to Egypt, the very nation in which they were enslaved for 400 years.  Many generations later they would seek to build a coalition with Egypt for their protection against new enemies.

     In the 14^th year of Hezekiah’s reign over southern Judah approximately 700 BC the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s army began to overtake several of Judah’s cities.  They were about to enter Jerusalem when Sennacherib sent word to Hezekiah that it was foolish for him to trust Egypt for help and protection.

     “Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: ‘What confidence is this in which you trust?  You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words.  And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?  Now look!  You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it.  So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.’”  2 Kings 18:19-21

     Sennacherib really did make a valid point, i.e. it was utter folly for Judah to place their trust in a coalition with Egypt and to trust in their military strength for security. 

     God utterly renounced such thinking.

     “Woe to the rebellious children…who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit…who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!   Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow Egypt shall be your humiliation.”  Isaiah 30:1-3

     Judah was not only placing their confidence and trust in man instead of the One who created man, but was placing their trust and security in an enemy nation.  They were further placing their trust in Egypt’s military strength for protection.

     God’s response?

      “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!... Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.  When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together.”  Isaiah 31:1, 3

     Is there a time in recent history when America turned to God for counsel for protection against an enemy nation instead of focusing on building multinational coalitions?

     Even now, is America relying on such a coalition to confront ISIS?  Is America even now seeking counsel with Iran; a nation with the expressed goal to eliminate Israel?

     Mr. President, congressional leaders, military advisors and all who profess to be Christians; where is God in this challenge?  If you have consulted Him, please let the people know.

     And if God has not been consulted, then be prepared for the consequences; they are sure to come.

     The end has already been written.