Sunday, February 10, 2008

Eye for an eye, or tooth for a tooth, but I say ....

Went to my nephew's birthday party yesterday and my Dad stated that it was really bad that we're spending all of this money on Defense which could go to education and health issues instead. I stated that we'd all love to do this, but we can't redirect that money UNTIL we have peace and the only way we can have peace is having a strong defense. One day we will, and here's how I come to this conclusion.

Today's Our Daily Bread talks about "An Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth" and how in an inner city Pastor suggests that some people change that phrase to say "Two eyes for one eye," or taking revenge for any hurt that you might have felt. While most people might agree, the real reason for the "two eyes" is that you want to prevent the other person from EVER bothering you again, hence the overkill in seeking justice.

But let's take a look at this. Any "Eye for an Eye" really means that you get equal "compensation" for any wrong that you've been done to as the victim, but this also means that you have to have the "Rule of Law" and mass education of all of the people that this is what is going to be done in certain circumstances. The Jews as a nation do this as a rule, but in some countries this may not be the case both in mass education and in the rule of good laws.

What most people do when they move from "an eye for an eye" to "two eyes for an eye" is no longer justice but revenge. God has always said that only He will compensate revenge while we can only look for justice.

However, when you have "I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." and you tell the person in today's world to do this, you're telling them a lie!! Let me explain.

The Gospels in the Bible are 90% of today's Christians as what today's Christians are suppose to do, this is hogwash!! From a Theological point of view, look at the tone of three different areas of the Bible concerning justice and the handling of disputes, etc: the Old Testament, the Gospels and Revelation 20 in the New Testament, and the rest of the New Testaments from Acts to Jude, not including some parts of Revelation, but as a whole include Revelation with the Gospels. What do you find? Especially between the OT and the Gospels what do you find?

You find that the tone of justice in the Gospels is much harsher in for everyday life toward each other and the details with which we're "all accountable" toward others. You go from "eye for an eye" to "turn the other cheek" when seeking justice. But how is this possible? How can you move from one approach to the other?

You move to this position because there is a stronger and more specific "Rule of Law" that EVERYONE in the world is abiding by. When is this applied? This tougher rule of law is ONLY applied during the Millennial Reign of Christ in the Gospels and in Revelation 20. If you study all of the Millennial Scriptures in the Bible you'll see that there will be perfect peach because of this new "Rule of Law" and justice, but it can NEVER be applied to us today. (Most Christians are familiar with the Scripture "the lamb shall lie down with the lion" which give you the picture of how the Millennium will be characterized. This is why most Christians are upset by things, they've been taught wrong Biblical truths and when to apply them to their circumstances.

So how does this tougher "Rule of Law" pertain to Theology? We're going to have perfect peace, prosperity, and our environment will be perfect in this world, but in the end people will rise up once more to try and defeat Jesus Christ. Why? Because even with perfect peace and prosperity for 1000 years the end of the Millennium will show that this is not the answer to people's problems, but faith in Jesus Christ as a personal Lord and Savior is the only answer for each person. Even with the Thousand Year Reign of Christ will not change people hearts about Him even though the external will be for everyone to view, but only the Holy Spirit will change people once they recognize that they need Him as their Savior. While those of us still in this Church Age have NOT seen Jesus Christ, we believe the Bible and have become Christians WITHOUT seeing Him, In the MIllennium we'll ALL see Jesus Christ and know Him, but some will NOT trust Him which is why there is the a Last Rebellion in Revelation 20:7-9 with probably millions or even billions of people on "the Great Plain" of the earth (And for those liberals that are worried about Global warming, God will take care of it all.)

So, the application of the Gospel's "turn the other cheek" is not for today, but only "an eye for an eye" UNTIL the new age begins, which is getting closer and closer to my day and time.

Are you ready for:

1. The Rapture, the taking out of all of the Christians,
2. The 7 Years of Tribulation, where all Hell will break loose here in earth and over half of the world's population will be killed.
3. Battle of Armageddon, where all of the non-believers in Christ will be killed and sent to Hell, to begin a new age with only believers where perfect peace will reign called
4. The Millennium Reign of Christ, one thousand years of peace, followed by
5. The Last Rebellion,
6. And a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Jesus Christ does not want you to lose an opportunity here. Trust Him as your Savior, you'll be glad you did.

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