Bible Study

Jimmy Swaggart is the Judas Iscariot of the 21st Century!

Jimmy went in cahoots with Jerry Falwell and railroaded Jim Baker to Prison for not having enough condos to accommodate all the partners who sent in money to apply towards weekend rentals.

The very same thing that the airlines do every day and don't get in trouble for bumping their paid customers off a plane, or booking more people than they have seats for. Why haven't Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart gone after the airlines and had these employees arrested for Fraud and imprisoned?

Even Nashville sold more tickets than they had seats, to one of their events. No one went to prison over that! Where was Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart when that happened?

That is all the IRS could get against Jim Baker.

Jerry Falwell went in and couldn't believe what Jim Baker had created with his church and brought Jimmy Swaggart in to testify against Jim Baker.

Jimmy Swaggart knew He was a traitor to the Christian Organizations around the world and lost his Christianity and sought after Prostitutes to easy his pain. He got caught on his first time out and was ousted by his church.

He got down on his knees and prayed for his church to forgive him because he was fired from the only line of work he knew.

Jerry Falwell is just as bad in my opinion. He turned on his college and friend Jim Baker because of jealousy. Jerry was an evangelist who preached on Political affairs, not what the bible says.

If you want to follow Jimmy Swaggart, be my quest. I have nothing good to say about Jimmy Swaggart nor Jerry Falwell.

As far as Jim Baker goes... he was entitled to a percentage of the donations his ministry brought in, just like any other preacher. Jim Baker received a lot of money in his ministry so he was entitled to a lot of money as his pay. What he done with his money was his business.

I caught it also! He might have snow on the roof but the fire for God still burns.

Richard,

You probably should have rested your case some time ago?

I got you pegged now Darmstrong, how have you been doing?

I believe it was once doubting Thomas who probably carried the Gospel into India. No doubt he probably carried a lot of Jewish customs with him or at least a few might have wore off on his new disciples.

What a difference the resurrection of Christ made on these first century apostles. They literally became new men in Christ.

As Thomas said.... My LORD and my God.

John 20

26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

This is what Easter should be about.

Ever read any of the early works of Augustine or Chrysostom?

-- Posted by parkerbrothers on Fri, Apr 3, 2009, at 10:03 PM

Yes, and I haven't found anything about a Jewish napkin folding custom. Can you be more specific?

Hi Michael,

Just discovered your blog today and really enjoyed reading through the various comments.

Had never heard the history of the "folding of the napkin" but had wondered why it was mentioned specifically in the scriptures.

Seems there are a lot of critical comments about the napkin story, but you seemed to take them in stride.

Keep us posted on the Bible Study - times, places, level of interest, etc.

darmstrong,

Perhaps understanding would have been a better word for me to use instead of the word opinion?

We all actually just see dimly now but at least we can realize we all are straining our eyes in an attempt to see Him.

If any of you wants to learn about the true history of the church try reading The Baptist Story Sermons On The Trail Of Blood by A.A. Davis.

He spent allot of time studying the church history and the different doctrines of the different churches out there. And explains the one that stayed true to the new testament church and those that didn't. So you want to know the real history of the church read this book.

The napkin custom is probably in the top 25 items of usual probing I am inclined to do in order to better understand who, when, and what was happening almost 2000 years ago as the Promise arrived.

-- Posted by parkerbrothers on Fri, Apr 3, 2009, at 8:05 AM

Then you should be able to cite a single source that I can verify: a book, website, or anything that mentions this custom.

The core doctrines we do agree on without any variance.

The list of things I posted earlier like music, dress codes, and a few others we may not wholly agree on , but that does not effect our friendship, nor our worship of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

By the way , the only "biblically sound person on everything" is and always will only be Jesus Christ!

People differ on their views of the rapture, tribulation, the mark of the beast and several other things.

They see them the way they understand them, does that make them wrong? NO!

BORN OF A VIRGIN

DIED ON A CROSS

ROSE ON THE THIRD DAY

HE IS COMING BACK

you believe that and follow the bible to the best of your ability and we are brothers and sisters IN Christ!

I even know people who argue on whether Mary was a lifelong virgin or if Paul was married or not and have seen churches split over it, sad, sad!

I don't believe you will find any two people who agree on every word in the bible, believe yes, agree no€!

That is what makes studying it so interesting, for something you believed for along time, then suddenly you wonder!

I will leave with a question

If I perceive right you are a believer in God's word, you read and study your bible.

What if Scholars, found a manuscript that dated back to the time of Jesus within 5 years after his death, and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that is was written by Peter, Paul, or even John, or maybe even Mary, and their writings was different than what we have now, with views on what is acceptable and what is not, would you change your beliefs then?

Richard,

I have discussed the Jewish napkin custom with both these guys and many, many other topics over the last few years. The napkin custom is probably in the top 25 items of usual probing I am inclined to do in order to better understand who, when, and what was happening almost 2000 years ago as the Promise arrived.

Study and learn, then help propel the Good News. There is another beautiful promise that is soon coming.

That is where the freedom in Christ comes in that Paul talks about all through the book of Romans!

Actually I have had conversation with the last week with an Isreali family in the boat business in south Florida and also a Palestinian investor who know well the custom.

-- Posted by parkerbrothers on Thu, Apr 2, 2009, at 6:28 PM

LMAO, So how did the subject of mealtime customs of first century Jews happen to come up in both of those conversations last week? Come on, do you really expect me to believe that?

God or Jesus did not give us the English Bible KJV or none of the other translations.

What we have are Jewish manuscripts for the Old Testament and Greek for the New[ which was written by Jews].

People have forgotten the Jewishness of Jesus and the apostles.

To read the bible from a Jewish perspective opens up all kinds of information that cannot be gotten from our translated versions.

The scriptures say to study and and show yourself approved to God[ 2Tim 2:15]

Judaism does not need Christianity, but Christianity needs Judaism.

Whoever does not praise the Jews for their contributions[ our bible] and bless them, I feel they are walking a thin line with God.

You can see Jesus in everything the Jews did from the tabernacle, the feast, meals, clothing.

If you ever get a chance pull up PERRY STONE AT http://www.voe.org/ and watch some of the episodes of Mannafest, then come back and we will have a Jewish discussion. SHALOM!

Hey micheal if the bible is all you believe then why do you have an english version of the jewish bible and concern youself so much about the jewish perspective through it. The jewish perspective according to the bible is they are blinded to the truth by Christ and they are still looking for the savior. They only believe and follow the old testament unless a miracle has happened and they do get saved.

The Bible is all I need to believe.

you and parker brothers business is your own business. havent you heard of don't ask, don't tell?

-- Posted by lazarus on Wed, Apr 1, 2009, at 7:47 AM

lazarus,

The relationship we have been referring to is a personal relationship with Christ.

Haven't you heard of do ask, do tell?

If you are fortunate enough to have this relationship we are taklking about you will tell.

"You call it a religion, I call it a relationship!"

you and parker brothers business is your own business. havent you heard of don't ask, don't tell?

parkerbrothers,

I was simply pointing out that it wasn't true. Doesn't the truth matter? Nevermind, I forgot this is a religion we're talking about.

michael,

You are correct. Jesus knew exactly what Peter and John needed to see. Imagine the two trying to comprehend the Resurrection with all the thoughts running through their minds.

The changed lives of the apostles after the resurrection and the later falling upon them of the Holy Spirit left no doubt in my mind they knew well what they had witnessed.

They had seen the Promise fulfilled in their very own lifetime right before their eyes. They finally understood the passion of Christ.

The TALLIT, or prayer shawl, called the napkin or fringes, in the

KJV Holy Bible, is so sacred and personal, that Jewish men, even

today, are often buried in it. All Jewish men just then, as Jesus

and Lazarus, were buried with the tallit about their head. There are

many scriptural proofs that Jesus always had his Tallit. In John

11:44 we see where Yeshua raised Lazarus from death, and that

Lazarus had been buried in his Tallit. John 11:44 says - And he that

was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his

face was bound about with a napkin (Tallit). Jesus saith unto them, Loose

him, and let him go. Yeshua told those nearby to loose the cloth

from around his head. That NAPKIN is his TALLIT. Each man has a

personal and SPECIAL way of folding his tallit. Many Jews today, who

when leaving their house for a short time without their tallit, will

make sure the fringes are pointing at the doorway. For over three

years Peter and John had seen how Yeshua would fold His tallit.

Yeshua, the Messiah, also was put in the tomb with His prayer shawl

about His head. The TALLIT, which the KJV Holy Bible calls the

napkin, is one of the many great infallible proofs, as Jesus showed

Himself ALIVE after his death on the cross. In John 20:6-8 we

read, "Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the

sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was

about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped

together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other

disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and

believed." As Peter and then John entered the empty tomb, they saw

something that immediately convinced them that the resurrection of

Yeshua was irrefutable fact. This is just a single small example of

the richness of the proof of the resurrection. It also shows why

Gentiles should rejoice that the Jewish Roots of the Gospel are

being restored by the modern Messianic movement.

Yeshua knew that when Simon Peter burst into the tomb and found it

empty, Peter would think the Romans had somehow disposed of the

body. That is why Yeshua, at the time of His resurrection, on

Saturday, the Sabbath, Nissan 17, three days and nights after His

death on the cross on Wednesday, Nissan 14, folded His Tallit.

Yeshua took the time to precisely fold His prayer shawl, His TALLIT,

and lay it apart from the other grave wrappings. When Peter saw the

tallit, as only Yeshua would fold it, he knew that the Romans did

not take the body; because, if they had, NO WAY would they have

folded, or even known how Yeshua folded His tallit. One MUST be

alive to fold that tallit, Yeshua's way, as Peter and John knew very

well.

One thing every Tallit owner knows, is that every man

always folds his Tallit the same way every time. The only one in

that sealed tomb was Yeshua. The Yeshua folded tallit, conclusively

and positively announced to His disciples, He IS ALIVE!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the doctrine that

gives Christians the strength to endure great tribulation. The

Christian faith has proven strength and endurance as no other faith;

because, of its foundation in the doctrine of the Resurrection.

Conclusion:

If He was raised to life and left us this proof that he was alive and folded His own Tallit, we should realize His promise that He would come and fetch us so that we may be with Him.

I printed this with permission from a friend of mine who does Jewish studies who has taught me more than you will ever know. SHALOM!

blueanjell,

if you would look at 2 Timothy 3:16 you will find it saying that that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. And doctrine and the teaching of it is don,t what creates unity. Because there is to many different doctrines. We can only be united by Christ and Christ alone. Our salvation through the lord and following of his teaching is the only thing that can truely unite us as christians.

You asked what is a true chriatian organization? A true christian organization is not an organiztion it is an assembly called by Christ for the regenerated. it is called a church which has Christ as their head not a human being. They are achurch that has their roots going back to Christ and preaches what Christ tells them soley from the bible. There is a good book all of you should read it is titled The Baptist Story Sermons On The Trail of Blood Acollection of sermon put together by A.A. Davis sermons written by Rev. Dr.J.M. Carroll. You can learn alot about the history of the church and others that call them churchs like the cathlics but are not true churchs.

I want it to be a open discussion, we don't all have to agree on everything!

-- Posted by michaelbell on Sat, Mar 28, 2009, at 9:52 AM

the only way to return to the unity ( and there MUST be unity )of true worship, the faith of the apostles, and the favor of God. is to believe what the Bible actually teaches .If it teaches a doctrine, then and then only should it be accepted. If it is speculation, human theory, some man's idea, it should be rejected. And when one's own belief conflicts with the Scriptures, the psalmist's course was the wise one: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Trust in that Word.--Ps. 119:105.

While the houses of twentieth-century religion may look alike from the outside, the Bible, the blueprint, shows misfit construction, false fronts and showy windows foreign to plan. The need to lean together in interfaith self-support is caused by major structural weaknesses. True Christianity never needs to compromise doctrine or principle to gain strength. It has no brotherhood with false teachings, and needs no support from other doctrines. It does not need great numbers to have strength, because its is the firm structure the psalmist spoke of: "In God have I put my trust."--Ps. 56:11.

It heeds the warning: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God's temple have with idols? . . . 'Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,' says Jehovah, 'and quit touching the unclean thing,' 'and I will take you in.'" (2 Cor. 6:14-18,)

God commands separateness from differing doctrines, rather than unity with them. The unity of true worship is internal, among its brotherhood; rather than external, with other denominations. The true Christian organization will HOLD FIRMLY TO THE TRUTH , just as firmly as did the apostles. Associating with false doctrine is forbidden, We must believe NOT what man says or what we think BUT what GOD says and ONLY what GOD says .

Jesus Christ did not teach that all religions are simply different roads leading to the same place of salvation. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." (Matthew 7:13, 14) failing to worship God the way GOD says it should be done is very destructive .

SOOOOOO we're allowed to have our own beliefs ? we're allowed to Not agree but all be in one big association ? Not according to GOD"S word (.2 Cor. 6:14-18,)

Michael,

I think you are very correct in asserting the importance of the Jewish aspect when teaching on Christ. Much more is understood when you learn about the actual enviroment of the time period pertaining to a subject.

Actually I do not see how you can teach effectively without employing such a tool.

I don't think you could teach very well on whale harpooning by discussing everyday life at Times Square in Manhatten. I think I would want to know about the Eskimo customs and way of life myself.

michaelbell,

I'm assuming you didn't research that little story about the "folded napkin". Look at the different translations for that verse, and then try to find anything about any Jewish custom like that. It is a complete load of nonsense.

I understand that it was written just to be an inspirational story, but the truth should matter.

Even so, it was in a tomb. So using that analogy, it would mean that he's returning to the tomb.

I'm pretty sure that acccording to the bible, the real significance of the burial cloth was that there wasn't a body under it. That's all that verse is trying to imply.

yep it is really neat to know the traditions of the jewish customs. I love learning things like that. Your bible study is a great idea, please don't hear that i was saying it is not. I have seen many folks just preach and not a word of what they said get in their own heart and they do not do or serve the people they preach to. I know you do the word you say..

Remember it all comes down to this: matt. 25: 37-45.

Posted by 4fabfelines on Sat, Mar 28, 2009, at 9:17 PM

4fabfelines,

You can look at those verses and hopefully see what Christ so frequently referred to as the important thirst and hunger. His references were almost always of a different nature than the belly and mouth that I believe you are seeing.

The water and meat He usually referenced did not enter the mouth and find temporary home in the stomach.

His entered the ears and found home in the heart.

Hi Michael! Have you read any of Deitrich Bonhoeffer's books. He is awesome. Right after i got born again i read "The cost of Discipleship", it changed my life..I have a extra copy if you'd like one.

I have a book of his poems he wrote in prison for speaking out against Hitler.The SS Black Guards had so much respect for this man of God, they smuggled his letters out of the prison so that others could get the gospel.

Remember it all comes down to this: matt. 25: 37-45.

We do best by serving others, not preaching...

St. Francis of Assisi said , "preach the Gospel, if necessary use words."

darmstrong,

I think Michael explained it well enough again?

Why not come and add your valuable input and thoughts from study?

I think study of any type is beneficial for a student to a certain point. I personally have walked away from study groups that have become bogged down in personal beliefs, instead of, sticking to the textual contexts as promised from the onset. Being a "Christian" is important if in fact you try to follow "His" (Jesus) teachings. I am not a "Paulist" nor am I a fan of "John, the Elder" or "John, the Prophet", but, I listen anyway.

A feudal study group is non-productive and people quickly become entrenched in personal dogmatism and try to prove a point regardless of who it hurts. It is far better to say "your correct" or "ok" and move on, if, that is a personal belief of someone, than to lead others astray through fruitless arguing.

You say, your study and intend to teach from a "Jewish perspective". I take that to mean "not from Jesus standpoint" but from the books of "the Law and the Prophets" which was the only scriptures available to the early "followers of Jesus". The books of "the writings" were not considered scriptural by the Jewish people, until after the Council of Jamnia around 90 A.D.. The early Christians only had "Jewish Scriptures" for the first two hundred years and then, we see other writings are declared "scriptural".

I am not sure one-sided current events are factual enough for small group study as they pertain to the "books in the bible". Without seeing all the facts surrounding an event "it cannot be pointed to as factual happenings", until analyzed fully. Agreed, current events do raise some frightening speculations.

What "books" will be your references of choice? Including please, which biblical translation.

Hey parkerbrother,

You say he is always biblical well I would like some one to show me where in the bible that it says a pastor should not be in full time service over his church and should not be compensated by the church for his time. You can show that then I will believe you in saying he is always biblical

See what I was saying you focus to much on the trivial details that has no bearing on the christian faith. Yes Jesus was born a jew but he was more than a jew. Yes he was a man to but more importantly he was GOD. We should be focusing more on His true diety as GOD than on his his race. We should be focusing more on his teachings and what he taught us and how we should be more like him. Not focusing on the jewish perspective of this. We should be focusing on Jesus's perspective on only his.

Hey Mike bible study with you would be great if you would actually teach the bible not your beliefs. Cause God called us to teach the bible Not beliefs. And he called us to carry the Gospel to the world, not a bunch of unnessecary details that you tend to focus to much on. And in case some dont know Paul said the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurection of Jesus Christ.