Monthly Archives: March 2018

Identity Theft

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Identity theft has become a global crime that affects multitudes of people worldwide. It is not merely a masked bandit with a gun, but it is more like the big bad wolf that threatened Goldilocks in the stories we heard in our childhood. It is disguised to appear as the sweet little grandmother, innocently calling us to come nearer so it can eat us up.

Identity of a True Jew

As Christians we also must be warned against the false identity claims of “those who say they are Jews and are not.” God has warned the Churches against this identity theft in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9:

Revelation 2:9-11 KJV – “9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.- 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Revelation 3:9-13 KJV – “9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

How Can We Be Sure

Seeing that there are some today who claim the title “Jews,” how can we be sure whether or not they are claiming a false identity. The Word of God gives us the answer:

Romans 2:28-29 KJV – “28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.”

Circumcision must be that of the heart, and not of the flesh. Christ is the only One Who can minister this circumcision:

Romans 15:8 KJV – “8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers”

Colossians 2:8-13 KJV – “8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”

Colossians 3:9-11 KJV – “9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.”

It is clear from these Scriptures that no one is a Jew unless he is a Christian.  He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches!

 

Tests of a True Prophet

Teaching,

In Ezekiel’s day, false prophecy was such a problem that the Lord made another rule: The prophet should be proven in his own generation:

“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, “the Days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?” Tell them therefore, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; “I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel:” but say unto them, ‘The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.'”

“Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, “The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.” Therefore say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; “There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God,'” (Ezekiel 12:21-28).

Christ Submitted To These Tests

Jesus prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem and the wrath of God upon the Jewish nation, Matthew chapters 23 and 24; Mark 13. Christ was willing to submit to this test of a true prophet for He declared that all these prophecies should be fulfilled “in this generation,” (Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30). If “these things” had not happened in that generation, Christ would have been proven a false prophet. But they did happen. Jerusalem fell in 70 AD; Christ was proven to be a true Prophet, and therefore the Son of God, and the promised Messiah.