ARCHAEOLOGY/ HISTORY
ALLAH THE MOON GOD
Information is based on the links given at the end of the article
Archaeologists have unearthed a large number of  artifacts in which a deity with a crescent moon on top of its head symbolized worship of the moon god. According to archaeological discoveries, the Islamic god, "Allah", originates from the ancient Arab moon god known as "Allah". This is a surprise to many, for most Muslims and non-Muslims alike are under the impression that "Allah" is  an Islamic name for Yahweh/Jehovah. Modern day Muslims have been unwittingly deceived. ("Islam" is the name of the religion, "Muslim" / "Moslem" is the person who lives the religion).

     In reality, according to archaeological and historical records, Allah was the moon god married to the sun goddess, and together they had three daughters: goddesses Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat. (The first two names are feminine forms of  "Allah").  The worship of these three goddesses played a major part in the worship at the Kabah in Mecca. The pagans prayed toward Mecca and the Kabah because that is where their gods were stationed.  The worship of the moon god extended far beyond the Allah-worship in Arabia. The entire fertile crescent was involved in the worship of the moon.

This partially explains the early success of Islam among Arab groups that traditionally worshiped the moon god. Since the idol of their moon god, Allah, was at Mecca, they prayed toward Mecca. Archaeologists have discovered temples to the Moon-god throughout the Middle East. Evidence shows the temple of the Moon-god was in full swing even during the Christian era.

According to numerous writings  the actual name of the Moon-god was "Sin", but his title was Al-iIah, which means "the deity," the most superior of all other gods.  The Moon-god's title "Al-ilah" was condensed to "Allah" before the Islamic religion came to be.  The pagan Arabs used "Allah" in the names they gave to their children. The Quraysh tribe into which the Muslim prophet Muhammad was born was particularly devoted to Allah, the moon god, and especially to Allah's three goddess daughters who were viewed as intercessors between the people and Allah. This may explain why both Muhammad's father (Abd-Allah)  and uncle (Obied-Allah) had "Allah" as part of their names, showing the devotion that Muhammad's family had to the worship of  the moon god.

The symbol of the worship of the moon god in Arabian culture and elsewhere throughout the Middle East was the crescent moon. Interestingly, the symbol of Islam is also the crescent moon; a crescent moon sits atop their mosques,  is found on the flags of Islamic nations, and the Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, which begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon.

While devout modern Muslims believes the rituals and doctrines of Islam are entirely heavenly in origin and thus cannot have any earthly sources, Middle East scholars have demonstrated beyond all doubt that the rituals and beliefs in Islam can be traced back to pre-Islamic Arabian culture. To read more on this fascinating bit of history, click on the following links:
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/moongod.htm
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/islam.htm
http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-photos-moon-worship-archealolgy.htm
http://www.british-israel.ca/Islam.htm
http://answering-islam.org.uk/Shamoun/ishmael-baal.htm

BIBLE TOPIC
GOD'S HOLY NAME, PART II:
 Is "Jehovah/Yahweh" the old testament name for Jesus?
During our research, we happened across an article written by someone else that tackled this topic. Upon reading the article we found it to be comprehensive and biblically sound, and we would be hard pressed to do a better job of conveying the information. Therefore, with the writer's permission, we've chosen to reprint the article in this month's eNewsletter. This article (and a similar one linked at the end of the article) can be found online at:
http://reslight.net/saviors.html

ONE SAVIOR OR TWO SAVIORS?
Does Isaiah 43:11 prove that Jesus is Yahweh?
A Restoration Light Publication

"I -- I am Yahweh, and besides me there is no savior [yasha`, Strong's #3467]."
Isaiah 43:11
World English Bible translation

Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; And you will know no god but me, And besides [Hebrew, Biltiy, except, lest, but, save, withou] me there is no savior [yasha`].
Hosea 13:4
World English Bible translation

Trinitarians and believers in the "oneness" doctrines as well as some others often point to the above scripture as proof that since Yahweh says there is no savior besides him and since Jesus is called "savior", then it is assumed that Jesus has to be Yahweh.
Yahweh is identified in the scriptures as the Father of Jesus. -- Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:43-45; 26:64; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Acts 2:34; 7:55: Rom. 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:13; 10:12,13; 1 Peter 3:22.
Additionally, the holy spirit reveals through the scriptures that the ONLY true God of the Bible is the Father, Yahweh. -- John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6.
The holy spirit further reveals that Jesus was sent by Yahweh, speaks for Yahweh, represents Yahweh. Jesus is not Yahweh whom he represents and speaks for. -- Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9,10; Luke 13:35; John 3:2,17; 5:19,43; 6:57; 7:16,28; 8:26,28,38; 10:25; 12:49,50; 14:10; 15:15; 17:8,26; Hebrews 1:1,2; Revelation 1:1.
Evidently the Father (Yahweh) and the Son (Jesus) are two separate beings, not one and the same.
Then, how is it that there is no savior besides Yahweh if Jesus is also a savior? Are there two saviors?
The word translated savior in Hosea 13:4 and Isaiah 43:11 is Strong's Hebrew #3467 [yasha`]. In both scriptures Yahweh is denouncing Israel for turning to idols. It is in this context, when Israel is looking to the false gods for deliverance, that Yahweh says there is no savior for Israel besides him. Yahweh reminds them of when he delivered them from Egypt, when they dwelt in the wilderness. (Hosea 13:5) Now, he says, they have forgotten their God who delivered them. (Hosea 13:6). The point is that Yahweh was saying that none of those idol-gods could save Israel; that he was their only God and Savior.
This is similar to Deuteronomy 32:12, where we read: "Yahweh alone did lead him [Israel/Jacob - verse 9], There was no foreign god with him." If we take this out of context, and only quote the first part, this could lead one to believe that there was no one else but Yahweh that led Israel. And then in Exodus 12:15 we read: "It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts." Yet we also read: "Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water." (Exodus 15:22) Does this mean that Moses and Yahweh must be the same being? Absolutely not! Moses was sent by Yahweh. Therefore we read: "You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Psalm 77:20) "By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved." (Hosea 12:13) Thus Yahweh acknowledges that he used others to deliver them from Egypt, yet by this he claims to the their deliverer, since he was the one who sent Moses and Aaron, and he is the one who gave Moses the power to deliver.
The scriptures abound with cases where Yahweh uses various servants but is given the credit for their actions, since he was the directing force. -- Exodus 3:10,12; 12:17; 18:10; Numbers 16:28; Judges 2:6,18; 3:9,10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24,25; 14:6,19; 15:14,18; 16:20,28-30, 2 Kings 4:27; Isaiah 43:11, 45:1-6; etc.

Actually a thorough examination of the scriptures reveal that there are many saviors.

Yahweh saved Israel in past times of dangers, especially when the Israelites began to worship the idol gods of the heathen. How did Yahweh do this? Judges 2:16 tells us: "Yahweh raised up judges, who saved [yasha`] them out of the hand of those who despoiled them." And Nehemiah 9:27: "Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors [Hebrew,Yasha`] who saved [Hebrew, Yasha`] them out of the hand of their adversaries." Some of the saviors sent by Yahweh included: Othniel - Judges 3:9; Gideon - Judges 6:13,14; 8:22; Gideon's 300: Judges 7:7; Samson - Judges 13:5; David - 2 Samuel 3:18. Yahweh sent these saviors who acted in his name and with his power and authority. Such saviors were not "apart from" Yahweh, since they were sent by Yahweh. We have given only a few examples; many more can be found by using using a Hebrew concordance.
What is the conclusion that we should come to? The word translated "besides" in Isaiah 43:11 is the Hebrew word Bil`adey (Strong's #1107, apart from, except, without, besides). In Hosea 13:4 a similar word is used, Biltiy. Neither word carries with it the absolute exclusiveness that many which to read into the English translation. In the context of both scriptures, the reference is to the idol-gods that the Israelites kept turning to for deliverance. These idol-gods are definitely apart from Yahweh. Saviors sent by Yahweh are not "apart from" Yahweh, or "without" Yahweh. Nevertheless, by their being sent by Yahweh and coming in his name signifies that Yahweh is still the only ultimate savior, thus it could still be said that there is no savior besides (without, apart from) him.
There is no savior apart from Yahweh, but being the savior, he does appoint others as saviors with whom he is with, and in this manner he sent his son as savior of the world. However, this does not deny that he is the only savior, since he is the one who is the ultimate author of the salvation he provides by means of his Son. It is as Samson stated to Yahweh: "You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant." (Judges 15:18) And Yahweh spoke of David: "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (2 Samuel 3:18) And Psalmist said: "You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Psalm 77:20) Likewise, God sent Jesus that "the world should be saved through him" (John 3:16,17) so that "the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) The salvation from God by means of Jesus is not apart from Yahweh, for Yahweh is the one who has provided the salvation.
Additionally, Jesus was sent by and came in Yahweh's name: (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; John 17:3; 4:34; 5:30; Matthew 21:9; 23:39) This further emphasizes that Jesus was not a savior "apart from" Yahweh, for he was sent by Yahweh. Like the saviors before Jesus, Jesus received his power and strength from Yahweh. -- Psalm 2:2,7,8; 110:1,2; Isaiah 9:6,7; 61:1; Luke 1:32; Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 7:13,14; John 17:1,3; Acts 2:36; Hebrews 1:2,6.
Additionally the saints are all called saviors, as they are part of the seed of Abraham with Jesus that will bless all the families of the earth during the Millennial rule.. -- Obadiah 21; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:29; Revelation 20:6; See also Daniel 7:22,27; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:4,6; Psalm 82:6; Isaiah 2:2-4.
Therefore just because Jesus is called "savior" that does not mean that he is Yahweh. Yahweh remains the only ultimate savior, to Israel, to the church, and to the world, since he is the one who has made arrangements for and sent a savior of the world.

OBJECTIONS:
Someone has objected to the above on the grounds that only the savior Jesus bears God's name, claiming that since the name Jesus means "Yahweh saves", that Jesus is Yahweh. Of course, the word Jesus, taken from the Hebrew for Joshua, can be rendered in meaning as "Yahweh saves", "Yahweh is Savior", or "Savior of Yahweh" [the latter meaning a Savior sent by Yahweh, not that Yahweh needs to be saved]. Although many wish to somehow make this appear to mean that Jesus is Yahweh, there is nothing in the name Jesus that makes Jesus not a savior sent by Yahweh, but rather the opposite, since Jesus is the savior sent by Yahweh. Yahweh is thus the ultimate savior who uses his Son Jesus as the means of salvation.
We further note it is not totally true that only Jesus (of Nazareth) is the "savior" bearing this name, for Joshua, son of Nun also bore this name and was sent also by Yahweh to deliver the nation of Israel into the promised land. If one would think that Jesus *is* Yahweh because his name contains the shortened form of Yahweh, that is, "Yah", then the only conclusion to be reached is that Joshua, son of Nun is also Yahweh, since he bears the same name.
Additionally, at least three other persons in the Bible bore the same name: (1) 1 Samuel 6:14,16;(2) 2 Kings 23:6; (3) (sometimes translated as "Jeshua") Ezra 3:8; Nehemiah 12:26; Haggai 1:1,12,14; 2:2-4; Zechariah 3:1-9; 6:11. Furthermore, there are others in the Bible that are called by the same name as Jeshua. Are we to believe that these are all Yahweh, since they supposedly bear the name of Yahweh?
See the following links concerning Joshua (CT Editor's note: We do not necessarily agree with every statement found in the links):

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia under Joshua:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08524a.htm
Smith's Bible Dictionary under Joshua and Jeshua:
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/SmithsBibleDictionary/smt.cgi?number=T2493
Christ Presbyterian Church, Foundation Class, Lesson 4
http://www.christpresnewhaven.org/sts/biblestudy/foundations/christology_name.html

Addendum 1: "Our Savior" in Titus 1:3,4
Titus 1:3,4: but at the proper time manifested, {even} His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. -- New American Standard
The argument is being made that the above scripture definitely shows that Jesus is God Almighty, since both are being referred to as the "our savior." In reality all we see here is that both God (the Father) and Jesus are referred to as "our savior". God is our savior in that he sent Jesus be die for us. Jesus is our savior in that he was sent by God to die for us.
It is the Father (Titus 1:3), who "saved us" (Titus 3:5) "through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Titus 3:6). Since "God" here refers to the Father, then to read into this text that Jesus is the God being referred to, one would conclude from this that Jesus is the Father God. There is certainly nothing here about these as two persons of God. Of course, trinitarians do not believe that Jesus is the Father, but our oneness neighbors do.
In actuality, however, there is nothing in this that proves that Jesus is Yahweh.

Addendum 2: "The Lord" in Titus 1:3,4
but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. -- New King James Version
One argues that the usage of the "Lord" is presented with "God the Father" in Titus 1:4. It is claimed that it would seem like blasphemy to call that which is not Yahweh "Lord" in the context conjoining him with Yahweh.
The Received Text has Kyrios "Lord" in it (without the definite article); the Westcott and Hort text does not have it. Thus we have two different readings: one as shown from the New American Standard in Addendum 1, and the other as shown above from the New King James Version. Regardless, there is nothing blasphemous in calling Jesus "Lord", since it is God who made him both Lord and Christ. -- Acts 2:36.
Jesus is conjoined with God the Father because he is his son, and it is through the Father's son that our salvation comes.

Permission is given to duplicate this document in its entirety, including this statement, for not-for-profit usage in Bible studies and general distribution.

A similar article written by the same people can be found at:
"Jesus is not Yahweh"
http://reslight.net/jesusnotyahweh.html

This information courtesy of:
Restoration Light Bible Study Services
P.O. Box 16892
Philadelphia Pennsylvania  19142
http://reslight.net
reslight@yahoo.com

BIBLE Version Critique
THE DOUAY-RHEIMS BIBLE
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=63&lang=2
It was difficult to figure out which were the virtues and which were the flaws in this version, for many of the features can be seen both ways depending on the reader's point of view. For example, this bible version contains apocryphal books such as Tobit, Judith, and Sirach, among others. Some scholarly students may consider this novelty as a virtue just for the experience of reading it, and conservative protestants may consider this as a flaw because of the lack of validation of these books.

As for concrete flaws, many of the traditional spellings of names are altered, which can be confusing. Although this isn't as apparent in the online version as it is in book bound version, you can see this by comparing the scripture at Hosea 1:1 in the Douay-Rheims with various other bible versions. This situation follows for many bible names. Also, the chapter/verse divisions are somewhat different from other versions, which can be confusing when searching for a scripture. For example, the usual Psalms 83:18 becomes Psalms 82:19 in the Douay-Rheims. 

For those of you unfamiliar with this version, we recommend that you read through it online first before deciding to buy it from your local bookstore. This will help you choose whether or not this version meets your bible study needs.

Encouraging Word
MATTHEW 6:25-34
I warn you, then, do not worry about your livelihood, what you are to eat or drink or use for clothing. Is not life more than food? Is not the body more valuable than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Which of you by worrying can add a moment to his life-span? As for clothes, why be concerned? Learn a lesson from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work; they do not spin. Yet I assure you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was arrayed like one of these. If God can clothe in such splendor the grass of the field, which blooms today and is thrown on the fire tomorrow, will he not provide much more for you, O weak in faith! Stop worrying, then, over questions like "What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?" The unbelievers are always running after these things. Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides.  -- The New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition

This is a beautiful passage to remember, for we all experience moments of anxiousness concerning our physical needs. This will be especially true as we approach closer to the Great Tribulation mentioned in Matthew Chapter 24. It would be a wise thing to commit this particular passage to memory, so when such occasions arise you will have a built-in resource of Godly encouragement to see you through.

GUEST COLUMNIST
LOVE & SECTS
Submitted by : JinnVisible
The Idea of a sect existing within a true form of worship is a frightening idea to many people. Like the diagnosis of a dangerous disease in the body. The scripture at 2 Timothy 2:14-18 describes the actions of certain men in these terms as being like gangrene, a destructive disease in the body that can spread. Here the inspired word informs us of the incident and how it was driven by certain erroneous doctrines. Illustrations can bring out healthful understanding.
     The physical bodies of human beings are created by the act of sexual intercourse. There are only a very few incidents in history where this is not the case, such as Adam and Eve (dust and rib), The fathers of the nephilim (directly manifested from spirit) and Jesus in the womb of his mother (virgin conception). The human body and human condition are used in many illustrations in scripture. A new student of god`s word is shown as being like a suckling feeding on the breast of the milk of truth (Isaiah 29:9). Christ describes his own congregation as being his body. Christ exists in the spirit realm yet he connects himself with our realm by suggesting that he still has a physical presence through his remnant congregation.

     One of Christ`s followers, Luke, was a physician and wrote the gospel account bearing his name.

     Those who live in the prosperous countries today might be seduced into believing that because of the advent of the Industrial revolution and the birth of the scientific age, there is less suffering in the world due to the advancement of medical science. Of course the modern world and it`s industry have also brought new health problems (pollution / synthetic ingestants) not to mention the fact that there are more people existing on the earth now than at any other time in history. A relatively small proportion have access to modern medical science and for those who do there is a dollar attachment.
     Is it surprising that the only gospel writer that did not write his gospel as an eyewitness account and as a personal friend of Jesus was Luke ? How fulfilling it must have been for this doctor to compile and research the life of a miracle healer, who was found to be the Messiah.
     For centuries the established churches in Europe conducted inquisitions and witch-hunts. Under the guise of healthy religious purging, torture and death were dealt out for so called heretics whose crimes included attempting to translate the holy scriptures. Many of these ones, whilst being viewed at the time as blasphemous spiritual perverts, were it seems of Christ`s spiritual congregation. Revelation 17:5-6:

     And upon her forehead was written a name, a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth." And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus

This behaviour by the church is an almost exact example of how not to root out sects and spiritual deviancy.
     Instead of a panicky executioner determined to kill the offending agents, the calm, steady and considered mind of a physician is more ideally suitable for making a properly qualified diagnosis of the spiritual condition of a congregation. A wrong diagnosis could lead to a wrong treatment and be as dangerous as any malady. Although the book of Acts occurs early on in the Greek scriptures, in various and surprising ways the book does deal with many incidents of sects. Saul of Tarsus typifies the panicky executioner, overly aggressive in his methods, who changes to a more considered frame of mind. Aggressive Saul has such a complete change that he becomes known by a different name, Paul.
     Although Paul does not actually become a physician, the book of Acts that reports this change for Saul the persecutor is written by Luke ~ the physician.
     At some point after Paul's experience on the Damascus road, he became aware that during all the time he had been a Pharisee he had actually been a member of a subversive sect in the house of Israel (Acts 26:5). Paul, it appears, had alway been very serious minded; he was a strict observer of the law, yet it wasn`t until he realized that Christ had fulfilled the law that the holy scriptures came alive with personal meaning for him. Paul`s description of faith as laid out in the 11th chapter of Hebrews is not the report of a man who merely understands something; he is living and feeling it. When he writes of Noah, David, Abraham, Samuel, Joseph, Moses and Sarah, he writes as someone who is traveling the same spiritual road, because after all his years studying patriarchs (in Sarah`s case matriarch), observing the law he finally feels what it is to be alive with faith.
     How Ironic, after undergoing a spiritual renewal strong enough to pull Paul out of a sect he`s been with for many years, he is first accused of being in a sect, the moment he leaves one (Acts 28:22) . These difficulties that Paul went through served as great experience for his work in overseeing and administrating the setting up of Christian congregations.
     Today we can learn important lessons from these accounts in Acts written by the physician Luke: The insidious nature of divisive sects. Sometimes tragedy occurs when people who are living apparently healthy lives find out that they are ill only days before they die. This is what insidious means - that which is firmly established before it becomes apparent. The Levite priesthood, because of it`s constant tending of Jehovah`s temple and administration of the mosaic law, made it a very dangerous area for a sectarian attitude to develop. This is what the Pharisees were, a twisted remnant of the Levite priesthood who, because of their close proximity to power, became firmly established before they were apparent. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees !
     It has been strongly suggested that the leadership of Jehovah`s Christian witnesses have come under a similarly destructive influence. Is it possible to know the truth of the matter for certain ?
     Revelation 12:10 (excerpt) the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God
     Satan is described as being the one who is constantly accusing the brothers day and night. Does this mean that any accusation against the brothers is false ? No it does not, because the first examples of Paul dealing with a sect in a Christian congregation, was with an apostle of Christ who had engaged in this activity (Galatians 2:11). So perhaps Satan accuses the brothers - not specifically because the accusations are false, but more specifically regardless of whether it is true or not. Therefore, not every accusation against the brothers is inspired by Satan. The accusations of the prophets towards wayward Israel were not slander or resistance. The very existence of the Pharisees sets the precedent that sects are not necessarily marginal or provincial, they are capable of taking over the administration of the very house of God !
     Jehovah`s Christian witnesses have often been accused of being less charitable and loving than others who are recognizing the name of Jesus. A true love of God may sometimes appear unloving to men, such as Abraham`s agreeing to sacrifice his own son, Isaac - or Moses` mother chucking her own baby in a river. However for the most part a true love of God will reflect in a person's natural affection for their fellowman. When things go wrong with lovers of God, they often go disastrously wrong.
     When Christ spoke about the `cooling of the love of the greater number` he was talking about a disaster, a calamity. This has sometimes been presented as a general decrease of love in the world, although it is not. Jesus is markedly speaking specifically of his own followers ! No surprise then that this has been differed as a generality. What can a person  give to God that is not already belonging to God? There is one thing that God does not have, unless we give it: Our obedience. The love of God is marked by obedience.
     1 John 5:3 For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome
     This is reasonable evidence suggesting that Christ was speaking about his own followers and not the world in general, because Jesus directly relates the lack of lawful adherence, to decreasing love i.e. love of God (1 John 5:3) . It is not the only evidence. It is in the book of Matthew that Christ reportedly connects the `cooling of the love of the greater number` directly to an `increase in lawlessness`. If we look at the verses where this is spoken by Jesus we can see more evidence that he is clearly and obviously talking about his own followers.
     Matthew 24:9-14 "Then people will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
     The reason that this is often presented as a lack of love generally is because this happens very close to the end of the system. In fact it is a sign of the end. It does not suit the purposes of some men to `allow` Jesus`s words to indicate a lack of love towards God from amongst his own followers specifically as a sign of the end being close. Yet reading the above verses is there any possible way that Jesus is not talking about his own followers specifically in verses 9-14 ? Is it at all possible in any way ? Check again a third time, is it possible ? How obvious is it ? If Christ is obviously talking about his followers only one conclusion can be reached, - there is an obvious distortion taking place, - a cover up. Christ`s words distorted to suit the needs of men. Perhaps this in an odd way supports the truth about the great prophet Messiah. Jesus`s words are still as controversial today as they were two millennia ago.
     Returning to the physician`s diagnosis it seems that an atmosphere lacking in love would certainly be an atmosphere conducive to the formation of sects. The vision that the apostle John receives actually does confirm that there definitely is an influential sect in operation close to the time of the events described in that vision (Revelation 2:15).
     The apostle physician Luke reports more information about the activities of sect`s than any other book of the Greek Christian scriptures. At Acts 24:5 a new mock term is given to the followers of Christ, they are apparently`The sect of the Nazarenes`. Paul`s exposure to all of this early on gave him the experience that he needed to deal with sectarian attitudes.

HYMENAEUS & PHILETUS

     As a younger man Paul no doubt would have aggressively run people out of congregations. Taking on a Christian personality reduced some of Paul`s options regarding the courses of action that were available to him as an overseer. Although without hesitation Paul disfellowshipped a fornicator by letter, If Paul was not able to show clearly what the error was it seems he would have rather left the situation alone, than exercise his authority. This seems to be the explanation as to why there is no report of Paul disfellowshipping the super fine apostles. They were well liked by the congregation and he did not wish to rip out the wheat with the weeds. Again Paul`s reasonable attitude is like that of some modern physicians would refrain from treating a patient if the treatment would put the patient at risk. Although Paul tried as hard as he could to show these charlatans up for what they were, eventually he refrained at the point where it became a boastful competition. He shows how unphased he is by the possibility of sects forming at 1st Corinthians 11:19 where he suggests that the formation of sects will only serve as a dark background upon which the children of light will stand out even more obviously !
     1 Corinthians 11:18-19 For there must also be sects among you, that the persons approved may also become manifest among you.
     3 John 8 We, therefore, are under obligation to receive such persons hospitably, that we may become fellow workers in the truth
     The situation involving Hymenaeus & Philetus is often highlighted as being so destructive because these two were rebelling from unity. Whilst this may be a fact, the account more specifically states that they were rebelling from truth. Are unity and truth the same thing ? Whilst workers within a religion may certainly be workers in truth, actually `naming` the religious practices of people `The truth` suggests that whilst people continue to engage in the day to day activities of a religion they remain `In the truth`. According to this logic the super-fine false apostles also remained `In the Truth`. Waking up to this it is also obvious as to why these ones would encourage others to attend meetings that they were overseeing, so that others remained `In the truth` (i.e. remained under their control).
     Christ`s sheep would naturally wish to flock together, that is exactly the beauty of these illustrations involving sheep etc.
     So what is the more exacting understanding of why Hymenaeus & Philetus were such dangerous agents? The reasons that these two agents were so destructive rests, not specifically in the fact that they were teaching something incorrect or inharmonious, it was more the nature of the error. The apostles and disciples of Jesus believed many erroneous things even whilst they were with Christ in person. They believed he would rule as an earthly king. One insightful Christian writer drafted a mock letter from an imaginary disgruntled first century congregation member, effectively showing that if all the errors of the first century Christians were held against them it could be shown that the entire pursuit of Christianity was worthless. No, the teaching s of Hymenaeus & Philetus were no typical error or misunderstanding.

 2 Timothy 2:16-18
But shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Hy·me·nae´us and Phi·le´tus are of that number. 18 These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some.
     The above is a quote from the New World Translation. It describes the agents of this sect as subverting the faith of some. The New Revised Standard Version translates this as `the upsetting of the faith of some` as does the Amplified Bible. The New Living Translation reports - ` they have undermined the faith of some`. The King James - `overthrow the faith of some`. Contempory English Version `they destroyed the faith of some`.
     Whilst most Watchtower trained Jehovah`s witnesses are adept at using any version of the bible to show the truth of God`s purposes, most accept that only witnesses are truly Christians. In this regard it makes some sense to deal with `internal matters` such as sects with our own publication, the NWT bible. The Douay Rheims bible agrees with the NWT, `they subverted the faith of some`.

SUBVERSION

     Imagine Hymenaeus & Philetus giving seemingly uplifting counsel. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 reports that they were teaching that the resurrection had already occurred. Perhaps they referred to the cracking open of tombs during Christ`s execution at Golgotha as being the resurrection.
     Matthew 27:33 And when they came to a place called Gol´go·tha, that is to say, Skull Place
     Matthew 27:50-54 Again Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.And, look! the curtain of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rock-masses were split. And the memorial tombs were opened and many bodies of the holy ones that had fallen asleep were raised up, and persons, coming out from among the memorial tombs after his being raised up, entered into the holy city, and they became visible to many people. But the army officer and those with him watching over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things happening, grew very much afraid, saying: "Certainly this was God’s Son."
     Imagine being charmed by the faith building assurances of these men. Then one day a close family member dies, you are entirely robbed suddenly, because you have no future hope of a resurrection. As all of the first century Christians died at some point, anyone who believed Hymenaeus & Philetus and lived to see another Christian die would have been suddenly robbed of hope at the point that they most needed it, total and sudden destruction of personal faith. The reason Hymenaeus & Philetus were so destructive was not simply because they were inconclusive to unity but because their teaching robbed people of their future hope. This seems to accord with Jesus`s contempt of the sect of the Pharisees who also robbed people of their hope by shutting up the heavens Matthew 12:20

No bruised reed will he crush, and no smoldering flaxen wick will he extinguish, until he sends out justice with success .

Now let us remain calm and reasonable like the conscientious physician. Robbing people of their future hope was a mark of Two sects of the first Century, Pharisees and  Hymenaeus & Philetus.
     Could suggesting Christ has already arrived in kingdom glory, that we are now living in a spiritual paradise rob people of their future hope of these things, in the same way that Hymenaeus & Philetus did it? It`s difficult to say for sure. The super-fine apostles seem to have continued working a subversion of Christianity i.e. continuing in meetings and activities and leadership of the congregation yet without truth. A form (version) of congregational activity that was operating below (sub) truth, a (New World Translation) bible described subversion.
     John`s third letter shows that Diotrephes threw people out of the congregations for things that he could not accept because he enjoyed being in charge (3 John 9-10). Paul showed that he would not do the same thing after having already done these things in a sect before he was a Christian.
     Remaining with the calm minded physician`s attitude we must understand, Jesus did cleanse the temple yet did not mount an insurgent take over of the Pharisees - though he was entitled to. We must remain reasonable. Reasonable, passionate and truthful; not becoming fearful of men simply because Hymenaeus & Philetus are mentioned from the platform to make us question our loyalty. Our loyalty is to spiritual truth, not habitual practices and activities organized by men and described as `the truth`. Are we to accept that truth and unity can be fundamentally exchanged like the Father and the son are in trinity doctrine?
     Perhaps we should ask ourselves: Would we be prepared to stand on a beach full of sunbathers preaching on our own, in a town square preaching on our own even going door to door preaching on our own such as some of the adherents of Christendom do? The setting up of websites confirming Jehovah`s right to rule and the coming of Christ`s kingdom. Perhaps there has been an underestimation. Even if a Christian believes that there is no current widespread influence of an internal sect within the organisation of Jehovah`s witnesses, Jesus own words suggest a lack of love amongst his followers toward the end. John Confirms the existence of an influential sect towards the end of our time. Paul`s experiences with the Corinthian congregation and his own life within the sect of the Pharisees shows that a sect may not be small and marginal but in actual control of God`s organisation.
     Is the suggestion that we have become ineffective to act as Jehovah`s witnesses without the comfort of the magazines to leave with householders, counting as our own`preaching work`? Have we become lazy cowards that can be held to ransom for our own salvation through Christ? Will we greet strangers in the street with the words `Jehovah invites us` instead of `hello`? Will we write scriptures on the pavement in chalk such as the founder of the Watchtower society C.T. Russell did in his youth? Is it that we have nowhere else to go to except the Watchtower or alternatively that we have we no-one else to go to except Jesus? Do we preach about Jesus primarily to make converts the way a virus multiplies itself and a tumor grows or do we observe Jesus` command to put the love of God before the love of fellowship and preach to make disciples of Christ, following God above making proselytes to an organisation ?
New world translation
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one you make him a subject for Ge·hen´na twice as much so as yourselves
New Living Translation
Matthew 23:15 Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are.
    In summary the importance is not to do with whether we believe there is a powerful sect operating and influencing the leadership of Jehovah`s Christian witnesses. The Importance is ~ are we prepared to deal with such an occurrence should it ever happen ? Notice that at the end of Christ`s words concerning the cooling of love from his own followers, he gives no guarantee that an organisation will prevail, he says `he who endures` who will prevail, the individual not an organisation. Do we have the courage to believe him? The individuals that prevail this system will be numerous, a great crowd. Jehovah`s strength and blessings will always remain upon the true followers of his son.
     It is left to the skilled reason of the individual physician to make his or her own diagnosis.
     Psalm 105:4 Search for Jehovah and his strength. Seek his face constantly

NEWS BYTES
(AgapePress)
The head of a pro-evolution think tank has issued a retraction for factual misstatements and false allegations she made in an article attacking a California man who wants the scientific weaknesses of Darwin's theory of evolution taught in public school science classes. Read more....
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/282005g.asp

(Worthy News)
- Nigerian Pastor Faces Arrest for Harboring Convert from Islam. Having already detained him twice, police demand he produce Christian that militants abducted. Read more....
http://www.worthynews.com/christian-persecution/nigerian-pastor-threatened.htmL

(CrossWalk.com)
- A ministry that provide humanitarian aid to thousands in India is reaching out to children of lepers in that country. Currently there are an estimated four and half million victims of leprosy in India. Read more...
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1368435.html

(Maranatha Christian Journal) - The nation's highest court has upheld a Colorado court's ruling that said jurors erred when they consulted biblical law to sentence a murderer to death. Read more...
http://www.mcjonline.com/news/05a/20051003c.shtml

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE
THE  ISHMAELITES
Ishmael was the first son of the patriarch Abraham through his wife's servant, Hagar. His wife, Sarah, gave permission for Abraham to father a child with Hagar as a surrogate mother for Sarah (Genesis 16:1-3 ). Hagar became jealous of Sarah once she learned of her own pregnancy (Genesis 16:4 ). As a result, she treated Sarah so badly that Sarah drove Hagar away. (Genesis 16:5-6 ).  Yahweh sent an angel to Hagar to advise her to return to Sarah and apologize for her actions (Genesis 16:7-9). The angel then informed her that her child was to be named Ishmael, and that he would become a multitudinous nation (Genesis 16:10-12). (God repeated this promise to Abraham as well some time later, even specifying Ishmael will become the father of twelve tribes Genesis 17:18-21). Hagar did just so. Abraham was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:16). When Ishmael was thirteen years old, he was circumcised because he was a part of Abraham's household (Genesis 17:22-27). After Isaac, (Abraham's son through Sarah by a miracle of God)  was born, the animosity between Sarah and Hagar grew to such a point that Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, and Yahweh told him to listen to her on the matter (Genesis 21: 8-13). Hagar and the boy left for the wilderness, thinking they were going to die of thirst, when God's angel came to help them. Ishmael matured into an archer (Genesis 21:14-20). True to God's word, Ishmael did come to have twelve sons (Genesis 25:13-16, 1 Chronicles 1:29-31) during his one hundred and thirty-seven year life span (Genesis 25: 17). His descendants settled in the land of Havilah, near Shur, all the way to Assyria (Genesis 25:18). Geographically speaking, this stretches from the northern Sinai Peninsula almost all the way to the Ararat Mountains to the northeast, a distance of  roughly 800 miles/ 1200 kilometers. The Ishmaelites became known for wearing gold nose rings (Judges 8:24).  The Ishmaelites played an important part in the lives of the Israelites. For example, when Joseph's brothers threw him in the well, a caravan of Ishmaelites came along and bought Joseph as their slave. This action eventually brought Joseph to Egypt where he ended up saving the entire region from a severe famine (Genesis 37:23-28, 39:1). Also, Esau took a wife from among the Ishmaelites, her name was Mahalath (Genesis 28: 8-9).

Some people see what they perceive to be a discrepancy because the bible regards Joseph as to having been sold by Ishmaelites (Genesis 39:1), but also states that he was sold by Midianites (Genesis 37:36). "Apologetics Press" has written an article explaining the reason for this confusion. Due to the copyright requirements, we have re-produced the article in its entirety:

This item is available on the Apologetics Press website at: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/551

AP Content :: Alleged Discrepancies

Ishmaelites or Midianites?
by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

While enjoying a meal and listening to their brother Joseph cry out from the pit into which they had cast him, the sons of Jacob (minus Reuben) noticed a group of merchants coming from Gilead. Rather than killing Joseph and concealing his body, the band of brothers chose to “ sell him to the Ishmaelites” (Genesis 37:27). The Ishmaelites, in turn, took Joseph down to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (39:1). Skeptics charge that the author of Genesis erred when writing about the details of Joseph being sold into slavery. They insist that a clear contradiction exists because Genesis 37:36 says that “the Midianites” sold Joseph “in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard” (emp. added), whereas Genesis 39:1 indicates that Joseph was sold to Potiphar by the Ishmaelites.

The casual reader of the Bible might be troubled by the different names given in Genesis 37:36 and 39:1. After a thorough study of the Scriptures, however, one easily can see that the names “Ishmaelites” and “Midianites” are used interchangeably. The book of Judges records that after Gideon and his 300 mighty men defeated their enemy:

The men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.... Then Gideon said to them, I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder. For they [those whom Gideon and his men had just conquered—EL] had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites…. Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian (Judges 8:22,24,26, emp. added).

After Gideon had delivered the Israelites from the hand of Midian, he requested the golden earrings that the Israelites had plundered. Plundered from whom? From those whom Gideon and the Israelites had just conquered. And who were they? Like Moses, in his inspired historical narrative concerning Joseph, the inspired writer of Judges referred to the people of Midian as Ishmaelites.

The Midianites and Ishmaelites mentioned in Genesis chapters 37 and 39 were the same group of traders. This is not a contradiction; nor is it proof that Genesis was written by different authors. As Keil and Delitzch concluded:

The different names given to the traders...do not show that the account has been drawn from different legends, but that these tribes were often confounded, from the fact that they resembled one another so closely, not only in their common descent from Abraham (Gen 16:15 and 25:2), but also in the similarity of their mode of life and their constant change of abode, that strangers could hardly distinguish them, especially when they appeared not as tribes but as Arabian merchants, such as they are here described as being (1996).

REFERENCES

Keil, C.F. and F. Delitzsch (1996), Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (Electronic Database: Biblesoft), new updated edition.

We are happy to grant permission for items in the "Alleged Discrepancies" section to be reproduced in their entirety, as long as the following stipulations are observed: (1) Apologetics Press must be designated as the original publisher; (2) the specific Apologetics Press Web site URL must be noted; (3) the author’s name must remain attached to the materials; (4) any references, footnotes, or endnotes that accompany the article must be included with any written reproduction of the article; (5) alterations of any kind are strictly forbidden (e.g., photographs, charts, graphics, quotations, etc. must be reproduced exactly as they appear in the original); (6) serialization of written material (e.g., running an article in several parts) is permitted, as long as the whole of the material is made available, without editing, in a reasonable length of time; (7) articles, in whole or in part, may not be offered for sale or included in items offered for sale; and (8) articles may not be reproduced in electronic form for posting on Web sites (although links to articles on the Apologetics Press Web site are permitted).

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VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT
CUBIT:
A cubit is a unit of linear measure, from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger of a man. This unit is commonly converted to 0.46 meters or 18 inches, although that varies with height of the man doing the measurement. There is also a “long” cubit that is longer than a regular cubit by a handbreadth. (Ezekiel 43:13)

Source: World English Bible Glossary

Cubits were a commonly used measurement throughout the scriptures, as shown:
Noah's Ark measurements: Genesis 6:15-16, The Ark of the Covenant: Exodus 25:1-28

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
BIBLE PHRASES
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bible-phrases-sayings.html
This site is an interesting find: It lists several dozen phrases used in the English language that originate from the bible itself. This site lists the phrase along with the word-for-word verse the phrase originates from. Although this particular site is mainly for fun and not so much for study, it makes for great conversational topics and enriches your knowledge of biblical passages.