Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

:confused::shocked:

Are you reading a different Mavos then I am? I didn't quote 1 Corinthians 13 nor was I thinking of it at all. Sorry. I didn't "regurgitate" anything.

I will ignore the rhetoric and veiled personal insult and just say that I believe that the two Witnesses represent the witness of the Church throughout the age, which witness may be consummated in the appearance of two actual Prophets in the time of the end, and far from being a demon Christ was God in the Flesh.

I don't see prophecy and miraculous gifts in that passage from Daniel. I see the knowledge of the true interpretation of Daniel, specifically some of the hard bits, becoming available and abundant in the time of the end. Besides, I do not believe we are in the time of the end.

No. The Pentecostal movement thinks the it's already here. The Pentecostals and the Fundamentalists are different camps. Fundamentalists tend to be King James Only Cessationist Baptists. I am not a fundamentalist. If I have to be put into a camp, I'm Reformed.

Really I have absolutely no desire to argue over the issue of Continuationalism verses Cessationism. Neither do I care to argue over the idea of continuing revelation. I have stated what I believe. I'm a very cautious Cessationist and I absolutely do not believe in continuing revelation. I believe that continuing revelation undermines the authority of the scriptures. Seeing that the Holy Spirit was fully poured out at Pentecost I do not believe, nor do I see a need for, there to be a second outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That is my belief at the present. You may disagree. Go ahead. I do not want to debate it at this time.

Besides I don't know what your problem is. Seriously. Even if visions and the gifts continue, it makes no difference to me at this point at all. I am advocating the testing of the Spirits. "Do not believe every spirit." You know, I could have sworn I read that somewhere before!! Oh yeah, the Bible! There is always the chance that a vision or spiritual experience may be demonic. It might not always be the case that it is demonic. The WT says these types of things are ALWAYS demonic. I'm not saying that. I simply said it is a possibility. It's one of the probable options. To deny that it is a possibility is foolish and quite frankly stupid. A vision or spiritual experience has one of three sources that I can see: (1) God (2) Demons (3) Yourself. All are possibilities. It could be God. It could be a demon. It could be last night's dinner. It could be your own imagination. Test. To automatically assume a vision or experience is form God is really stupid. Test it.

So my argument is not "There is no chance it came from God so it must be a demon". That's not what I'm saying. Since I don't want to get into a debate on continuing revelation, I will assume it continues for the sake of argument. Upon that basis, what I'm saying is "It could be from God. It could be a demon. It could be something else. Quadruple check, and then Quadruple check it again, to be absolutely certain."


Matt

Oh, I thought that was a little funny - I didn't really think it meant Republican per say, but that religion(JWs in particular, to us) is really quite political - even when they say they aren't. Neutrality towards war is only one aspect of politicism, Phariseeism... but I could be wrong about that - it's just how it struck me. ;)

:peace:

Okay Matt, I apologize for the sarcasm. It's something I need to work on. I get a little riled up when there are suggestions that people might be "possessed" or getting their information from "demons" when the messages are wholesome and fully in line with God's purposes. It is without a doubt because of Watchtower indoctrination at an early age and growing up around JW's.

Personally, I KNOW in my heart and soul that the gifts of the Spirit are very prevalent today and intensifying DAILY, through PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and direct contact with beautiful, spiritual people. They EXHUDE the love of God, they judge NO ONE, and they express GRATITUDE for all that they have and they know they are lacking nothing. I have been working on being like that and I can tell you that I have never been happier and I finally know what my purpose is on this earth.

I'm just wondering, how anyone expects that people will only be saved because of their faith, a la Romans 1, to have any kind of "revelation" of what's really true before Armageddon comes and wipes out all the evildoers. Is it really all about fear? Does God really want to SCARE everyone into loving and obeying him? Would we want fear-based love or love-based love from OUR own kids? How is that going to happen without LOVE being poured out from God on humanity?

Love and Peace,
Jimmy C.

Dear Abe,

you asked if I took this message also personally? Yes I did.

Sometimes I would find myself rooting within myself, for the tea parties standing up and speaking against the bad corruption on top, and the things of this world. My mother in law is a Congessional Aid President for the Republican Party for Congressman John Mica here in Florida. She is constantly talking about the calls she receives daily, and how the rightwings will take the country back. I was being warned by Jehovah to not root at all even in my heart one bit. He was making known to me, that everything on this earth will be crushed very soon, with not one head left of the 7 heads. He has shown me, that very soon, satan and all his followers, will soon be sealed away. There is nothing man can do to prevent the sinking ship from sinking. So we must let it all go, and have complete faith to stand and just watch it all play out.

Jehovah has also had to speak sternly to me, for not speaking up, and letting fear of man get in the way, the same way Jonah acted when He was to warn Ninevah. He speaks to me in dreams, and he told me that unless I act, He would take my lampstand away. I was to tell that unless they sold everything, and give it to the poor, God's anger will not turn from them. He will heal them if they do repent, and turn back from their backsliding ways. They are to sell everything and give it to the poor, for these are the fruitages and sacrifices He finds worthy and acceptable to Him.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Luke 18:22

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Yet lackest thou one thing - Namely, to love God more than mammon.

In Christ,
New Heart