An outline and a no-nonsense synopsis of the matter of the distribution of God's Spirit
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How does one receive the Holy Spirit? And how can one know whether or not one has received it? Further: Does the Father in Heaven give his Holy Spirit only to those he chooses, at a time when he chooses, or is he somehow "forced" to give it to people who are baptised by some preacher or church? Also: Who has the authority to baptise – or, whose baptism is valid? Churches and preachers baptise people, but they are not notably changed and no obvious signs or fruit of the Spirit are seen in their lives. Why is that? Is the Spirit of God at all given to humans, at this present time?
These are important questions that demand an explanation. They deserve careful attention and must be considered in depth. This essay takes a closer look at the biblical teaching regarding the Holy Spirit, and gives an outline and a no-nonsense synopsis of the matter of the distribution of God's Spirit, in the past, today, and in the coming days of the future.
Most "Christians" somehow take it for granted that they have received the Holy Spirit. Then, many people have been caused to think that if one belongs to "the true church", then one can receive the Holy Spirit. (Many preachers have deceived people by claiming that their church supposedly is the "true" one, or "God's" church, or whatever.) Which church would be the "right" or "true" one, in such a case? The answer: None of them is. The essays ea01d.htm, eg06b.htm, ea02d.htm and ea03d.htm have more on that matter.
A note: Some translations have "the Holy Ghost", instead of "the Holy Spirit". "Ghost" was an earlier English word with the same meaning as the Latin-based word "spirit" which later replaced "ghost". (In Old English, the word was gast, meaning "soul", "spirit", "life", "breath".)
In the Greek text of the New Testament, the relevant words are pneuma, "breath", "blowing" or "wind" ("spirit"), and hagios (agios), "holy", the literal meaning perhaps being something like "devoted", "dedicated" or "separated". Examples: to pneuma to hagion, "the Holy Spirit" (Mark 3:29 and 19 other passages), hagion pneuma (Luke 12:10 and 12; also 1 John 5:7 but there that wording is a spurious addition). The Greek NT text contains several other combinations of the word pneuma and hagios.
Both the Old and New Testaments show that when people received the Holy Spirit, there were clear signs, special manifestations. Today, no such signs are seen, except false signs where people start babbling "glossolalia", fall backward, laugh uncontrollably, or whatever.
A note: Literally, the word glossolalia means "speaking in tongues" – it comes from the Greek nouns glôssa which meant "tongue" (and also "language") and lalia which meant "talk", "chatter", "discussion" (from laleô, "to talk", "to say", "to babble" and so on). When the saints (people of the first century) received the Holy Spirit, they also received an ability to speak in languages they had not previously known. That enabled them to proclaim the Good Message to all kinds of people. However, the "glossolalia" of our day has nothing to with that.
In other words: We know that the Holy Spirit was given in the apostles' day, but the challenging question is, does anyone who lives here on Earth today have the Holy Spirit?
Yes, we know that Jesus said this, to his disciples:
Luke 11:13 Then if you being evil know to give good gifts to your children, how much more the Father out of Heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him. (LIT)
But, that was something Jesus said, not to people of our day but to his own disciples and possibly to some others who were listening to him at that time. Also: Those people did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately. Nor was it promised to all, or under all circumstances. Those of his disciples who came to be a part of God's first-fruits harvest, had to wait for the giving of the Holy Spirit. It was only given on Pentecost, a day of first-fruits which in the Old Covenant's rituals had symbolised and foreshadowed that event. After that, the Holy Spirit continued to be given, during a number of years which followed and during which God's first-fruits harvest was reaped.
Pentecost was called "the feast of harvest, of the first fruits of your labour, of what you sow in the field" (Exodus 23:16). Those disciples and the others who in those days received the Holy Spirit, were God's spiritual first-fruits harvest. The symbolism of the day of Pentecost was connected to them.
In the "end time", before Jesus' return, the Holy Spirit will be poured out again. That is when the great multitude will be sealed with the Holy Spirit, just as the saints were sealed with the Holy Spirit in the apostles' day. But, the sealing of the great multitude has not happened yet. It seems that, just as those who formed God's first-fruits harvest had to wait until a specific time for receiving the Holy Spirit, so will the larger, "end time" harvest also have to wait until a specific time.
A note regarding "sealing": The Holy Spirit was the "seal" that the saints received; see 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30. That sealing began when the first person received the Holy Spirit. The first-fruits were sealed in the apostles' day. In the "end time", the great multitude will be sealed with the Holy Spirit; the essay et03c.htm has more on this.
For many people, these things can be very hard to cope with. After all, most churches claim that if one is a member in some particular church, then one supposedly belongs to God and is given the Holy Spirit.
More: Many preachers have even claimed that their followers supposedly are "the first-fruits" or "the 144,000". But in reality, it is the saints, people of the apostles' day, who are that.
The matter of "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23 and many other passages) is discussed later in this essay.
People are baptised by churches and preachers, but that does not lead to notably changes in those people, and no obvious signs or fruit of the Spirit are seen in their lives. What does that mean? Is the Spirit of God at all given to humans, at this present time?
Who has the authority to baptise – or, whose baptism is valid? When preachers and churches baptise people, does that force God to give the Holy Spirit to those people? Were it so, then preachers could sell the Holy Spirit, "a tenner per person". But it is not that way. It is the true Father who is in Heaven who decides to whom he gives the Holy Spirit – and when.
There was a man who wanted to connect money and the Holy Spirit:
Acts 8:18 But Simon having seen that the Holy Spirit is given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, 19 saying, Give to me also this authority that to whomever I may lay on the hands he may receive the Holy Spirit. 20 But Peter said to him, May your silver be with you into perdition, because you thought to get the gift of God through money. (LIT)
Why did this Simon (of Acts 8:9-24) want to have such a "power"? We do not know, but one possibility is that he desired to use such a "power" for his own purposes; perhaps financial or similar. But, as the above-quoted passage shows, the apostle Peter almost cursed that man Simon.
There are those who claim that anyone can baptise. Were it so, then why was that magician Simon asking for such a "power"?
Could it be that one requirement is that the one who baptises, or at least the one who lays his hands on the baptised person, must himself have the Holy Spirit? Or, must have some other, special "qualifications"?
Was it only the apostles who could immerse (baptise) people? The New Testament shows that it was not only the apostles. But, the next question is, who could lay the hands on the baptised persons? Because, the New Testament shows that the Holy Spirit was (nearly always) given, only after the laying on of hands. (See Acts 8:17 for an example, including the context.)
Acts 19:6 records how the apostle Paul laid his hands on baptised people, who then received the Holy Spirit, which was witnessed by special signs. 1 Timothy 4:14 talks about the "gift" (obviously, the Holy Spirit) which Timothy had received, "with the laying on of the hands of the eldership".
The problem is that the New Testament, as we know it, does not say very much about these things. One can read all through the New Testament, without finding any clear guidelines that would have been given to the saints, in regard to these things.
Acts 18 to 19 records how Apollos was proclaiming the Good Message (in a not fully perfect way), and that the Holy Spirit was not given to people when he baptised them but only later when the apostle Paul baptised them and laid his hands on them.
Then we have Acts 8:5-12-17. But, that passage is not quite as clear as one might think at first sight. It is not even clear which Philip that was (the one of Acts 6, or Philip the apostle), nor is it fully clear who really had done the baptising mentioned in verse 12, Philip or someone else. What is clear is that those people received the Holy Spirit only when the apostles laid their hands on them (verse 17).
1 Corinthians 1:14-16 records that Paul himself did not baptise all members of the fellowship in Corinth but only a few of them. So, who baptised the others? The answer is that we do not know. Were the other apostles there? Possibly, but we do not know that. Or were they baptised by men who were not apostles? Possibly, but we do not know that.
There is also the event with Ananias (Acts 9). That was when Paul was converted. It is clear that Ananias laid his hands on Paul, but that could have been only in a "healing" connection where Paul received his eyesight back. If one reads that passage with care, one will notice that it does not actually state who baptised Paul, or who after that eventually laid his hands on him.
Acts 10:44 records how certain non-Jewish people received the Holy Spirit without a preceding laying on of hands or immersion. But, that was a very special occasion, one that seems to have been intended and needed for making the apostles realise that not only the Jews were "acceptable" to the Lord but also people from the other nations.
A note: When one reads Acts 10, one should note that even on that occasion, the receiving of the Holy Spirit was marked and followed by special signs.
The examples recorded in the New Testament of how and when the Holy Spirit was given, show that for the most part, at least one of the apostles was present on those occasions. But on the other hand, the New Testament text does not state that only the apostles were to baptise, or that only they were to do the laying on of hands. The New Testament text simply does not tell us how that was, nor does it contain any clear instructions regarding those things.
An important note: There are no true apostles here on Earth, in our day. The essays ea08b.htm and ee01c.htm have more on this.
It is obvious that persons of the Simon of Acts 8:9-24 kind, cannot function as "distributors" of the Holy Spirit. And again, even though the Bible does not expressly say this, it would seem logical to think that the one baptising and then laying hands on the baptised person, must also have the Holy Spirit.
It is hard to find easy answers to these burning questions regarding baptism. The Bible does not make those things clear the way one would wish. However, one thing is clear: Since this world's churches are a part of a great Deception Machine and have nothing to do with the true God who is in Heaven, one has to steer one's way clear of them, far away from them. Churches are not of God. The essay ea01d.htm has more on Matthew 16:18 and the "true church" dogma. The essay eg06b.htm explains the actual origin and meaning of the word "church". The essay ea02d.htm has more on Galatians 4:26 and the dogma about some church supposedly being a "mother of all saints". The essay ea03d.htm has more on the "church eras" dogma. The essay ea04c.htm takes a closer look at the word and concept "worship".
There is a wide-spread misunderstanding regarding this matter. Many misinterpret a wording that is found in the 1769 KJ version, in Paul's letter to the saints in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (KJV-1769)
Many misunderstand the word "earnest" in this passage. It is important to understand that the noun "earnest" in 2 Corinthians 5:5 does not mean that the saints would have received "only a limited amount" of the Holy Spirit, or "only a down payment" of the Holy Spirit. The word "earnest" does not refer to the amount of the Holy Spirit they received; the apostle Paul was talking about something else. (The Greek word in question was arrabôn. There is more on that word, below.)
Other translations of Paul's words to the saints in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. (NASB-95)
2 Corinthians 5:5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (ESV)
Explanation: In this kind of context, the word "earnest" means something of value that is given by one person to another, to bind a contract or an agreement. The earnest, whatever it may be, is given in full, as a guarantee of that whatever had been promised or agreed upon, will be delivered or done, afterwards.
In this symbolism, the Holy Spirit was seen as the "earnest" or "pledge" which the saints received, that is, a security or guarantee that certain other things would also be given to them, according to the promises.
So, the saints received the Holy Spirit as a "pledge" or "security". But, what did the word pledge, refer to – what was it all about? Pledge, security, guarantee or down-payment – of what?
The Greek word in question was arrabôn. It occurs only three times in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5 and Ephesians 1:13. The archaic English noun "earnest" came from arrabôn, and carried the same meaning, which was "something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract". Quoting the Merriam-Webster dictionary, main heading "Earnest":
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ernes, ernest, from Old French erres,
plural of erre earnest, from Latin arra, short for arrabo,
from Greek arrhabôn, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew 'erabhon, pledge
Date: 13th century
1: something of value given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain
2: a token of what is to come: PLEDGE
The last of the NT passages where arrabôn occurs, shows that the Holy Spirit was given to the saints, as a guarantee of that they would in full receive the (heavenly) Inheritance which they had been promised. We read:
2 Corinthians 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee [arrabôn]. (NKJV, comment added)
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee [arrabôn]. (NKJV, comment added)
Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee [arrabôn] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV, comment added)
When the saints received the Holy Spirit, they became betrothed to Jesus. In those days, betrothals were binding – in short: A betrothal was a marriage contract. Only a major breach (unfaithfulness) on the side of one party, could release the other party from that contract. The Holy Spirit was given to the saints as a pledge, just as a betrothed woman in those days was given a valuable pledge, as a guarantee that their betrothal (marriage contract) with Jesus would not be broken.
(Of course, that did not refer to a marriage of the kind humans have. It was a marriage on a different level. Consider this: Also the Old Covenant was a "marriage"; several bible passages describe it as such. The Lord married the nation of Israel. In the same way, the saints were, as a "spiritual Israel", betrothed into a marriage with Jesus.)
Point: A betrothed woman was not given an "earnest" of a pledge. No, the valuable pledge she was given was something that was complete in its entirety. In the same way, those whom the Father chose and called, were given the Holy Spirit as a Pledge. That Pledge was not "a small amount" of the Holy Spirit or only a tiny portion of it, but the Holy Spirit in full. (Either one has it or does not have it; there is no "in-between" state. See also John 3:34 which records how Jesus said, "for God does not give the Spirit by measure".)
So, the Holy Spirit was given to the saints, as a pledge of the saints' betrothal with Jesus. Then, consider this: In old customs, a man who betrothed a woman, promised to give her a home, sustenance, clothing, protection, and more. More: A wife became a sharer of the man's property, including his inheritance. If one keeps these things in mind, then the mention in Ephesians 1:13 of the Holy Spirit as a pledge of the saints' inheritance, becomes easier to understand.
Through their betrothal with Jesus, the saints became sharers of Jesus' inheritance. They had been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge of that inheritance (Ephesians 1:13) – a truly great inheritance.
(The essay eb05b.htm has more on the New Covenant's Promises, on what the saints really were promised.)
Today, many preachers baptise people "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit". But what was done in the apostles' day, among the saints? Here are some relevant bible passages in the book of Acts:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (VW-2006, highlighting added)
Acts 8:16 For as yet He had not fallen on any of them. They had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. (VW-2006, highlighting added)
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (VW-2006, highlighting added)
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (VW-2006, highlighting added)
Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (VW-2006, highlighting added)
Please note that all those passages say, "in Jesus' name".
But what about this passage:
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and instruct all the nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (VW-2006)
The above-quoted version has it as, "into the name". Some other translations have it as "in the name"; here is one example:
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (NKJV)
Which is correct? That is hard to say. A note: Those words "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" seem to appear in virtually all NT manuscripts, but some say that they are not mentioned in the writings of the so-called "early church fathers" (that is, early Catholic writers). Consequently, there are those who wonder whether those words could have been added by some early copyist. They base that suspicion on the fact that they have not found those words quoted or mentioned in any of the letters and documents which were written prior to the time when the books of the New Testament were compiled into a whole, during Constantine's rule. (Constantine: The emperor who was the de facto founder of the Catholic Church, and who worshipped Mithra the "sun-god".)
A note: Some have tried to "solve" the problem with Matthew 28:19 by claiming that the saints were baptised "in Jesus' name" (as if, "according to Jesus' instruction"), "into the name of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit". But, that kind of reasonings are really beside the point here.
There were several reasons, of course. One is that the receiving of the Holy Spirit gave lasting life to the saints – even if and when they died, they still had life, in and by that God who had given them his Spirit, raised them up to a new life as immortals in the heavenly sphere. (The essays eb04c.htm, eb05b.htm and ex11b.htm study what the Bible says about the saints and Heaven.)
More – Paul wrote, to the saints in Rome:
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (VW-2006)
Again, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, was given to the saints as a pledge, as a token of their betrothal to Jesus. (The New Covenant is a marriage covenant, just as the Old Covenant was. When the saints received the Holy Spirit, they became betrothed to Jesus.)
Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (VW-2006)
2 Corinthians 11:2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (NRSV)
And, to the saints in Ephesus:
Ephesians 4:30 [...] the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. (NRSV)
The Holy Spirit was the "Seal" which was given to the saints (2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30), and also the "Pledge" and "Sign", regarding their betrothal to Jesus. (The essay ec09b.htm has more on the "covenant sign" matter.)
A note: 2 Corinthians 11:2 which was quoted above, mentions virgins. The essay eb07d.htm has more on the five foolish and five wise virgins of the parable of Matthew 25.
That is a tough question, however one which one simply must face. If one is honest and open-minded, one has to conclude that at this time, there are no real signs of the Holy Spirit, here on Earth.
Of course, some churches have certain kinds of "manifestations" and "signs", and claim that those things supposedly are connected to the Holy Spirit. Often those "signs" include people falling backward, or babbling aloud in some meaningless gibberish, or laughing uncontrollably, or other strange, emotional things. But such "signs" are not of the true Father who is in Heaven, nor is the true Holy Spirit connected to those "signs".
This may be a tough thing to face, but again, it seems that the Holy Spirit is simply not given in our day, perhaps not until the "sons of oil", the two witnesses, come forth. The essay et01e.htm has more on the two witnesses and the nature and timing of their work. The essay et03c.htm has more on the great multitude who will be sealed in the "end time". (Again: The Holy Spirit is the "seal". That is how it was with the saints also; see 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30.)
A side-note: Many quote Galatians 5:22-23. It is important to realise that those two verses do not in any way contain a complete list of all the attributes and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Here are some examples, taken from various bible-passages, of what the Holy Spirit produced in the saints (or, for them):
Access to the Father, adoption, being quickened, comfort, counsel and might, discerning of spirits, faith (and faithfulness), fear of the Lord, fellowship, gentleness, goodness (generosity), grace, guidance, healing, holiness, hope, joy, judgment, justice, justification, knowledge, languages and interpretation of languages (some older translations have "tongues" instead of "languages"), liberty (freedom), life, longsuffering (patience), love, meekness (humility), miracles, peace, pledge, power, prophecy, rebirth, renewal, revelation, righteousness, sanctification, signs, sound mind, supplications, strength, temperance (self-control), truth, understanding, unity, washing, wisdom.
And, there probably was much more. Again, the short list in Galatians 5 only mentions a small part of the "fruit" of the Spirit. Also, and this is important: That passage just shows what Paul told the saints in Galatia, regarding how things would go among them, if they were led by the Holy Spirit, or if they followed the pulls of the flesh instead. Point: Paul wrote that letter to those saints, people of his own day who lived in Galatia. His letter to them does not talk about people of our day. (That is so, with all of the New Testament. The essay eg02c.htm has more on this.)
Again: In both the Old and New Testaments, when people received the Holy Spirit, there were certain special signs and manifestations which witnessed that the individuals in question had received the Holy Spirit. Sometimes there was a visible manifestation in the form of tongues of fire, but often it happened that the person who had received the Holy Spirit prophesied, and spoke in languages which they had not known earlier.
Some churches claim that their members "prophesy". But, what kind of "prophesying" is it that they actually have or perform? Is it real and true? Or, is it deception (perhaps also self-deception) or uncontrolled action of people in a frenzy? Amazing as it may be, in our day, the "signs of the Spirit" often consist of people faking that they have "signs". This is because in some churches, one is not accepted as a "real" member unless one has produced certain expected "signs". So, people are pressed into faking those required "signs". It is extremely alarming when people begin their "religious life", by lying, by faking the presence of the Holy Spirit. (The essay eo05c.htm has more on lies and lying.)
But again, it seems that there are no true "signs" to be seen today. What does that mean? Is it only the signs that have been discontinued, or is it simply that in our day, the Holy Spirit is not being given at all? This writer has no certain answers to these questions, but it certainly seems that the Holy Spirit is not being distributed here on Earth, at this time. The reader is encouraged to give very close and prayerful attention to these very important things, and to consider them with extreme care. The essays eg03c.htm (on "sainthood"), eb02c.htm (on "calling" and "election"), eb03d.htm (on "predestination") and et03c.htm (on the 144,000 and the great multitude) can be helpful reading in that connection.
We read:
Revelation 7:2 I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, 3 saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads." (NRSV)
2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30 show that the "seal" which the saints received, was the Holy Spirit. (Saints: People of the apostles' day.) Obviously, the Holy Spirit will be the "seal", also when the great multitude will be sealed, in the "end time".
This indicates that in the "end time", the Holy Spirit will be given to people in a very special manner. It may be that that sealing will only take a short time, and that it will occur shortly before the earth-shaking event when Jesus comes and sends down his angels who then gather up those who are sealed and take them up to him.
Now, what John described (see Revelation 7), was a vision. Things in visions are not always literal; often they are symbolic instead. And then, it might even be that the angelos whom John saw in that vision, was a human messenger (the Greek word angelos, αγγελος, simply meant "a messenger"). However, most probably a messenger who already had the "seal", the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, the two witnesses, or one of them.
The essay et01e.htm has more on the two witnesses. The essay ec08c.htm has more on Jeremiah 31:33 and the Holy Spirit.
Again, one must face this tough question: Is the Holy Spirit at all being given, at this time? It does not seem that way.
Thus: If someone feels that he should be baptised, where could he or she find a fitting baptiser? The heart-breaking answer is: At this time, probably nowhere. As the Bible says, this whole world is deceived; that deception very much includes this world's religions and churches. And again: It would seem that the one baptising and laying on the hands, must himself have the Holy Spirit. Where would one today find a person who has the Holy Spirit, here on Earth?
So, what can one do? Perhaps reading this can help:
Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (VW-2006)
For, even though those words were said to people in Jesus day and not to anyone in our day, this writer thinks that a similar opportunity will in due time be given to all people. So, one must keep asking.
A note: Even the "first-fruits harvest", those who were sealed with the Holy Spirit in the apostles' day, had to wait until a certain time, to receive the Holy Spirit. It was not given before a specific time. (After that, it continued to be poured out for a few years, during which time the first-fruits harvest was reaped.)
There might be a similar period of waiting and a "set time", also for the "latter harvest", those who will be sealed by the Holy Spirit in the "end time" (that is, "the great multitude"). That sealing (pouring out of the Holy Spirit) might be connected to the work of the two witnesses. The essay et01e.htm has more on the two witnesses. The essay et02c.htm has more on Elijah (the former Elijahs and the one to come).
And then, one must also remember what Jesus said to his disciples, that they should pray without giving up, until they actually received what they were asking for. Even though that was something he said to them and not to people of our day, there is an obvious application of that principle, also for people of our day. In the meantime, one should live as if one already was responsible for one's actions, just as the saints were after they had received the Holy Spirit. And again, one should keep praying for the Holy Spirit continually.
Also: One can be guided by God and his Spirit, and the Holy Spirit can be with one, even when it has not yet come to live "in" one. That is how it was even with the apostles. It is important to continually ask for God's guidance and correction.
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If this page did not contain what you were looking for, see the links below, and the key-word index and the table of contents, or use the search function.
Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
A printable word-search puzzle with words related to the fruit of the Spirit: puzzle35-p.pdf – A large print version, and many more bible-based word-mazes. → ep01.htm
What does the Bible say about calling, election, sanctification and justification? → eb02c.htm
What does the word "righteous" really mean? What does the Bible say about righteousness? → eg08b.htm
Religion must not be skin-deep only. Believers must take the matters of faith seriously. → eb12b.htm
Predestination. The destiny of humans: Is it already fixed and decided, as some have claimed? Are all people, or some individuals, "predestined"? → eb03d.htm
2 Corinthians 5:17 mentions a "new creation", or "new creature" as some translations have it. Apparently, some claim that passage to mean that the saints were "all done and ready", without anything to worry about. Is that true? What did the apostle Paul really mean? → eb06b.htm
Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". What was Jesus talking about? What is the immortal assembly or ekklêsia which he said he would form, and where is it located? Is it an earthly religious organisation in this world – a church – or is it a heavenly assembly that has as its members the saints who have become immortals? → ea01d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
What does the Bible say about resurrection? How many resurrections do the Scriptures talk about? → eb09c.htm
What does Galatians 4:26 mean? It talks about the heavenly Jerusalem and is a part of an allegory regarding the two covenants. Why have some preachers then claimed that it refers to some church? This essay finds the facts regarding the allegory of Galatians 4:21-31, and shows what the different things named in it pictured and symbolised. → ea02d.htm
What is the biblical teaching regarding the great tribulation? When is it, and what is it like? Who are subjected to it, and who are allowed to escape from it, to a place of safety? Also: Does Matthew 24 point to the future, the "end time", or to the events of the first century, or to both times? What do the Scriptures in actual fact say about that subject? → et04c.htm
Church eras – do they exist? Are there seven "eras of the Church", as some have claimed – "Sardis era", "Philadelphian era", "Laodicean era" and so on? Is there any biblical basis for that dogma? The question in a nutshell: The seven assemblies mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 – were they contemporary assemblies of saints in the days of John (as the book of Revelation describes them), or are they, as some have claimed, successive "eras of the Church of God" that exist in later times and continue to our day? → ea03d.htm
Jesus warned his disciples about false prophets, teachers of falsehood, deceivers and deception. He said that many would be deceived. → eo09e.htm
The identity and timing of the 144,000 and the great multitude of Revelation 7, and the first-fruits or virgins of Revelation 14:1-4 – who those groups really are, and when they came or come into existence. → et03c.htm
What the Bible says about titles of men in the religious context. A few comments regarding certain ecclesiastical titles, such as apostle, bishop, deacon, doctor of theology, evangelist, father, minister, pastor, priest, prophet, reverend, and so on. → ea08b.htm
What does the Bible say about elders? What was their role in the saints' fellowships? Also, was there a "hierarchy" with "ranks"? → ee01c.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
Worshipping God. What does the Bible say about worship, when it comes to New Covenant times? Serving God is something important, for many believers. There is a custom to gather for worship services. Indeed, for many people, worship is the same as going to church or attending church. But, where does the word "worship" really come from, and what does it mean? And, what about praise and giving thanks and "offerings", and so on? In what way and when and where should believers be serving and worshipping God? → ea04c.htm
What does the Bible say about Heaven? What does it look like? Were the saints to go there, and if so, for how long? What about others? → eb04c.htm
The Promises spoken to Abraham, and the saints' heavenly Rest and Inheritance. How the earthly Land of Israel symbolised and foreshadowed a Promised Land in Heaven. Also, how the words Promise, Inheritance, Rest and Land in certain bible passages point to the same thing. → eb05b.htm
A clarification of the actual nature of the sabbatismos or Rest of Hebrews 4:9. → ex11b.htm
Covenant signs, including the sign of the New Covenant which shows who really are God's people. The Old Covenant's sign was the circumcision of males. What is the New Covenant's sign, seal or token? → ec09b.htm
Gentiles, pagans and heathen or heathens – what do those words mean? This exposition makes it plain and clear what the concepts "gentile", "pagan" and "heathen" actually refer to, in the Bible. → eg01c.htm
Where can one find New Covenant's law or rules, in written form? Also, notes on Jeremiah 31:33 and the Holy Spirit. → ec08c.htm
Matthew 25, the parable of the ten virgins. The five wise virgins, the five foolish ones, the lamps and the oil. → eb07d.htm
The two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Also: Similarities between their work and that of Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist. → et01e.htm
What does the Bible say about lying? Should believers lie? A study regarding lies, liars and self-deception. → eo05c.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
The concepts "saint" and "sainthood" analysed. Does the Bible define or clarify who is a saint and what sainthood consists of? Also: Are there saints here on Earth, in our day? What do the Scriptures say concerning these things? Further: What is the etymology of the word "saint", and what does it really mean? → eg03c.htm
On Elijah of the Old Testament and John the Baptist and the coming Elijah or Elias who is mentioned in the New Testament. → et02c.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
filename.htm
Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
search.htm
An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
– A
– B
– C
– D
– E
– F
– G
– H
– I
– J
– K
– L
– M
– N
– O
– P
– Q
– R
– S
– T
– U
– V
– W
– X
– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
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This page was created or modified 2010-02-28.