Apostolic Study Bible

[Lafon]

Speaking candidly I must confess that I wasn't expecting widespread agreement with my assessment of the corruption in the numerous commentaries and explanatory notes of the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible that I've discovered thus far, only two of which I have noted.

In fact, it would have come as a surprise should any accept as laudable any of my findings or even the scriptural references that I have employed to substantiate my charge. I've advanced sufficently in age and my God-given understanding of the truth of the esoteric "mysteries" of the Bible to that place where I believe myself to have heard every rebuttal or refutation possible to the limited amount of information I've disclosed herein about the issues I've addressed.

Seldom am I surprised when confronted with the likes of those who seem to derive pleasure in misrepresenting my comments, taking the liberty to add to them, yet failing miserably to offer anything worthy of consideration or response in rebuttal.

If all of the commentary and explanatory notes which appear in the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible had been compiled into a single stand alone Volume, and had not been made such an integral part of the sacred Writ, I would have absolutely NO problem with it. However, when any part of mortal man's biased, and generally carnal-minded interpretations are made a part of the same volume wherein the Most High has decreed that His sacred "Oracles" would be recorded, then that's where I "draw the line in the sand." Such a thing is just not acceptable to me!

When one places an eyedrop of raw liquid sewage into a large barrel of pure wine, the results will be a large barrel of raw liquid sewage. Such are the words of mortals when intermingled amongst the pure Word of the Lord!

When the very first decree, distinctly separate altogether from the sacred Writ, and one which was written at the hands of mortal men like ourselves, was dispatched to the saints for guidance concerning matters of "spiritual" significance during the 1st Century, I think it important to note that it was NOT issued for distribution UNTIL it had been sanctioned by the Holy Ghost (see Acts 15:28).

I find NO such "authentification" by the Spirit recorded anywhere in this "corrupted publication," nor have I sensed such within myself regarding any of the commentaries and explanatory remarks that have been included as "footnotes" in the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible. Instead I find one error after another!

As a result I feel compelled to consider all of its "added features" with skepticism and suspicion. Instead, I find that there are twenty-eight named individuals, described as "credentialed Apostolic scholars," apparently certifying to the merits of the numeroius addendums which appear therein. (Reminds me of the Mormon Bible, wherein the names of men who were perhaps renown in their day, appear on its opening pages, and attest to the veracity of its contents.)

If the publicarion and distribution of this Bible had been delayed, awaiting confirmation of its "added" contents by the Holy Ghost, I am confident you would not be reading these words, for it would not have been necessary for me to compose them (and I would yet be almost $100 richer)!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

lol...I haven't cracked open a bible in a long time. All my bibles and study are on computer

Heh heh, You are technologically way ahead of us.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Speaking candidly I must confess that I wasn't expecting widespread agreement with my assessment of the corruption in the numerous commentaries and explanatory notes of the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible that I've discovered thus far, only two of which I have noted.

In fact, it would have come as a surprise should any accept as laudable any of my findings or even the scriptural references that I have employed to substantiate my charge. I've advanced sufficently in age and my God-given understanding of the truth of the esoteric "mysteries" of the Bible to that place where I believe myself to have heard every rebuttal or refutation possible to the limited amount of information I've disclosed herein about the issues I've addressed.

Seldom am I surprised when confronted with the likes of those who seem to derive pleasure in misrepresenting my comments, taking the liberty to add to them, yet failing miserably to offer anything worthy of consideration or response in rebuttal.

If all of the commentary and explanatory notes which appear in the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible had been compiled into a single stand alone Volume, and had not been made such an integral part of the sacred Writ, I would have absolutely NO problem with it. However, when any part of mortal man's biased, and generally carnal-minded interpretations are made a part of the same volume wherein the Most High has decreed that His sacred "Oracles" would be recorded, then that's where I "draw the line in the sand." Such a thing is just not acceptable to me!

When one places an eyedrop of raw liquid sewage into a large barrel of pure wine, the results will be a large barrel of raw liquid sewage. Such are the words of mortals when intermingled amongst the pure Word of the Lord!

When the very first decree, distinctly separate altogether from the sacred Writ, and one which was written at the hands of mortal men like ourselves, was dispatched to the saints for guidance concerning matters of "spiritual" significance during the 1st Century, I think it important to note that it was NOT issued for distribution UNTIL it had been sanctioned by the Holy Ghost (see Acts 15:28).

I find NO such "authentification" by the Spirit recorded anywhere in this "corrupted publication," nor have I sensed such within myself regarding any of the commentaries and explanatory remarks that have been included as "footnotes" in the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible. Instead I find one error after another!

As a result I feel compelled to consider all of its "added features" with skepticism and suspicion. Instead, I find that there are twenty-eight named individuals, described as "credentialed Apostolic scholars," apparently certifying to the merits of the numeroius addendums which appear therein. (Reminds me of the Mormon Bible, wherein the names of men who were perhaps renown in their day, appear on its opening pages, and attest to the veracity of its contents.)

If the publicarion and distribution of this Bible had been delayed, awaiting confirmation of its "added" contents by the Holy Ghost, I am confident you would not be reading these words, for it would not have been necessary for me to compose them (and I would yet be almost $100 richer)!

Your opinion is welcomed. However, just know the measure in which we judge other is the measure by which we will be judged. In other words, two people judged for the same sin may not receive the same judgment. One who is more sharp with his/her criticism of others will be judged worse for the same sin than the one who judged others less.

Just saying.

[shazeep]

yes, it should also be noted that the Holy Spirit was once compared to a leaven's worth. Lafon--or anyone--do you think Acts 15:28 is indicating unanimity of the Apostles on the matter, or pointing to something else? And ps, we're still waiting (with 'bated breath, i am) for the 'holy city' ref on that other thread! (tho i forget which one @ the moment! )

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by shazeep

yes, it should also be noted that the Holy Spirit was once compared to a leaven's worth. Lafon--or anyone--do you think Acts 15:28 is indicating unanimity of the Apostles on the matter, or pointing to something else? And ps, we're still waiting (with 'bated breath, i am) for the 'holy city' ref on that other thread! (tho i forget which one @ the moment! )

Was the decision concluded by those at that first "general council" unanimous? Absolutely! The words of acts 15:28, that is, "and to US" clearly indicates that! A careful reading of the entire chapter will reveal that the ONLY issue being discussed was that of whether the commandment of circumcision was applicable to the Gentiles. The end result was, of course, a resounding NO, as evidenced by verse #29.

I also stated my opinion of the identity of "THE Holy City" in a previous post: it is that "Holy City" located in the heavens where our Lord currently sits on His throne, with the twenty and four elders seated on throne round about. And it was there under the altar that are to be found ALL of the souls of those whom Matthew wrote about their being awakened from the "sleep of death," an event which would have taken place about 40 days AFTER our Lord's resurrection, at which time they ascended together with Him into the heavens, where there they were seen by many, including John when he was granted the ability to look into the spiritual realm and view the events taking place there(read Revelation 4-6).

That's my opinion. Others are free to agree or disagree, of course! Apparently many do not.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Your opinion is welcomed. However, just know the measure in which we judge other is the measure by which we will be judged. In other words, two people judged for the same sin may not receive the same judgment. One who is more sharp with his/her criticism of others will be judged worse for the same sin than the one who judged others less.

Just saying.

Thanks, Mike. Of course I readily acknowledge that, at the same time I am fully cognizant of the gravity of the implications of our Lord's admonishment written in Matthew 12:34-37, namely,

"... out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

I construe even the words one writes to fall within the purvey of this admonition, as they should for they are "part and parcel" of man's "works" by which we are to be judged (Matthew 16:27).

Having stated this, I am also reminded of the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). This is what I am persuaded to believe I have, and am doing. If not, you would NEVER have been privileged to read the words I've composed and posted here, for they would NOT have been published.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Thanks, Mike. Of course I readily acknowledge that, at the same time I am fully cognizant of the gravity of the implications of our Lord's admonishment written in Matthew 12:34-37, namely,

"... out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

I construe even the words one writes to fall within the purvey of this admonition, as they should for they are "part and parcel" of man's "works" by which we are to be judged (Matthew 16:27).

Having stated this, I am also reminded of the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). This is what I am persuaded to believe I have, and am doing. If not, you would NEVER have been privileged to read the words I've composed and posted here, for they would NOT have been published.

Amen. Like I said, ...just saying.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Exactly. Which is why we cannot be unkind to others who may understand things differently than we do now. I believe we are all on a journey, and that our focus should be on JESUS who is truth, and our hearts should be grounded in faith, and in the tenets of Heb. 6:1.

There are many other things that are "up in the air", and perhaps never to be settled for certain until the hereafter. While I enjoy many of these discussions, to a point, I have to leave things alone, because there are some things that I may see one way very clearly, and someone another way, but does that mean one is wrong, and the other right, or could it mean that we are both wrong, or it could mean that we are both right? Again, the answer to that "rhetorical" question will never be known for sure in this life.

Kept, I know you meant to say Hebrews 6:1 AND 2, for 6:1 is only a part of the teachings of Christ Jesus. And, I agree that our focus MUST be upon Jesus, but there's more to our "walk with God" than "believing" in Him and having our hearts, that is, our minds (Matthew 12:35) grounded in faith.

An important, yea, essential part of "faith" is "works," without which we are not "justified" (James 2:24). And .... "works" MUST include doing that which His inspired word commands, one of which is to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). "Contend" means we must always be ready to argue in debate to make one's position about a matter to be known, while "earnestly" implies doing something with vigor, or refusing to yield in one's determination to succeed.

I state these things that I may point out to you the error in your expressed position regarding this matter. You state that

the answer to that "rhetorical" question will never be known for sure in this life.

Are you unable to recognize the negativeness of your very own words? You leave absolutely NO room for discovery of that which, at first glance, admittedly, might appear to be "rhetorical." However, when I first read our Lord's question, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth" (Luke 18:8), I paused to ponder - What is the answer? Surely our Lord does not engage in rhetoric!

There MUST be an answer, and according to the words of Proverbs 25:2 the responsibility rests with ME to find it! I did just that, and I have published what He revealed to me because I knew that by reliance upon my flawed carnal reasoning I would never locate the answer.

You see, if we DON'T acknowledge our inability to accomplish some things, and display our "faith" in Him to reveal the answers to us, then we, in essence, are saying that our Lord did not really mean it when He advised us to "ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). The emphasis is NOT upon what He will do, rather it must begin with what we are to do.

When we ASK, we receive! When we SEEK, we find! When we KNOCK, it opens! If we fail to exercise "faith" in Him to help us to do these things, believing that we will succeed, then it will be as you've concluded ... "the answer will NEVER be known in this life," although it was there in His written word all the while, but we didn't think ourselves worthy of knowing it!

Hey, I am a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords, and would He keep any good thing from me? Of course not!

Lastly, the words of Revelation 10:7 advise us that as the seventh angel "shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." At its essence this is advising us that at that moment ALL of the mysterious sayings concerning the "works" of God we find written in the sacred Writ will become known to all. But wait! That's not all that the "mighty angel" said to John! Note there is this small addendum to his statement about these "mysteries," for he also said, "as he HATH DECLARED to his servants the prophets." What does that statement imply?

Well, simply stated, it is advising us that ALL of the intimate details of EVERY "mystery" pertaining to God and His "modus operandi" or manner of doing things relating to mankind, was relayed to His servants the prophets, whom He commanded to record them in a book we know as the Bible, so that we can read and prayerfully study its contents, and in so doing, display our faith in God to reveal such knowledge to us.

Believe that, and invest whatever time and energies might be required to attain that knowledge, and one is assured of success. Choose otherwise, and remain among those who find the content of many passages of the Bible "hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).

Thus we discover, it is truly our decision! Think and "look" at things negatively, as you appear to have done regarding our Lord's question, and remain ignorant, although the answer is right there in His written Word for your discovery, OR think positively, exercising your faith in Him and His promise to give you that answer, and you shall find it. Yes, it's up to you!

Tendered with the prayerful hope that you will give due consideration to the value of my counsel. I pray you'll be blessed.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Kept, I know you meant to say Hebrews 6:1 AND 2, for 6:1 is only a part of the teachings of Christ Jesus. And, I agree that our focus MUST be upon Jesus, but there's more to our "walk with God" than "believing" in Him and having our hearts, that is, our minds (Matthew 12:35) grounded in faith.

An important, yea, essential part of "faith" is "works," without which we are not "justified" (James 2:24). And .... "works" MUST include doing that which His inspired word commands, one of which is to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). "Contend" means we must always be ready to argue in debate to make one's position about a matter to be known, while "earnestly" implies doing something with vigor, or refusing to yield in one's determination to succeed.

I state these things that I may point out to you the error in your expressed position regarding this matter. You state that



Are you unable to recognize the negativeness of your very own words? You leave absolutely NO room for discovery of that which, at first glance, admittedly, might appear to be "rhetorical." However, when I first read our Lord's question, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth" (Luke 18:8), I paused to ponder - What is the answer? Surely our Lord does not engage in rhetoric!

There MUST be an answer, and according to the words of Proverbs 25:2 the responsibility rests with ME to find it! I did just that, and I have published what He revealed to me because I knew that by reliance upon my flawed carnal reasoning I would never locate the answer.

You see, if we DON'T acknowledge our inability to accomplish some things, and display our "faith" in Him to reveal the answers to us, then we, in essence, are saying that our Lord did not really mean it when He advised us to "ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). The emphasis is NOT upon what He will do, rather it must begin with what we are to do.

When we ASK, we receive! When we SEEK, we find! When we KNOCK, it opens! If we fail to exercise "faith" in Him to help us to do these things, believing that we will succeed, then it will be as you've concluded ... "the answer will NEVER be known in this life," although it was there in His written word all the while, but we didn't think ourselves worthy of knowing it!

Hey, I am a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords, and would He keep any good thing from me? Of course not!

Lastly, the words of Revelation 10:7 advise us that as the seventh angel "shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." At its essence this is advising us that at that moment ALL of the mysterious sayings concerning the "works" of God we find written in the sacred Writ will become known to all. But wait! That's not all that the "mighty angel" said to John! Note there is this small addendum to his statement about these "mysteries," for he also said, "as he HATH DECLARED to his servants the prophets." What does that statement imply?

Well, simply stated, it is advising us that ALL of the intimate details of EVERY "mystery" pertaining to God and His "modus operandi" or manner of doing things relating to mankind, was relayed to His servants the prophets, whom He commanded to record them in a book we know as the Bible, so that we can read and prayerfully study its contents, and in so doing, display our faith in God to reveal such knowledge to us.

Believe that, and invest whatever time and energies might be required to attain that knowledge, and one is assured of success. Choose otherwise, and remain among those who find the content of many passages of the Bible "hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).

Thus we discover, it is truly our decision! Think and "look" at things negatively, as you appear to have done regarding our Lord's question, and remain ignorant, although the answer is right there in His written Word for your discovery, OR think positively, exercising your faith in Him and His promise to give you that answer, and you shall find it. Yes, it's up to you!

Tendered with the prayerful hope that you will give due consideration to the value of my counsel. I pray you'll be blessed.

Bro. Lafon, I truly enjoy your sweet spirit and attitude with which you express your thoughts, and I thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I do believe that the doctrines of Jesus Christ in Heb. 6:1-2 (it was a general reference why I did not add the 2nd verse) are the ones that we do need to contend for. However, our faith in Jesus Christ is ultimately the one thing that will lead us in the right path. It may be that we all believe something now that perhaps is not exactly right. After all, we look through a glass darkly, as Paul wrote. We may "think" we understand completely, but yet we are still looking through the glass darkly. We are seeing shadows. We cannot see into the next life. We cannot look at the whole scope of events that have taken place in this world and understand everything perfectly. Therefore, there may always be something amiss in our understanding of God.

Yet... we must continue in the doctrine of Christ as we have been given by the apostles, and continue in faith. And if my brother understands something differently than me, I will not hate him or talk bad about him, but pray that both of us come to a better knowledge and understanding of Christ.

My point remains that we should not speak unkindly about those who we think may not have as "perfect" an understanding as I, because it could be that we both have something more to learn in the discussion. And Lafon, I am not saying that you have done this, because you are very kind in your manner of speaking, yet it appears that you do believe that you possess the only right interpretation of certain passages, according to how you dissected the bible the UPC put out. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I find it interesting to hear you out. Blessings to you my friend, and I hope that you are feeling well

[Lafon]

Regarding Jesus' question of Luke 18:8 - "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

Is there a scripturally authenticated answer? Absolutely, and it is a resounding NO!

There will be NO one "living" upon the earth at the moment of His coming who possess "faith" in the "man," Christ Jesus, either as Lord or Christ!

First, there will be NO "living" saints resident upon the earth, for the words of Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:7, advise that the coming anti-Christ will be given power to slay them PRIOR to His coming:

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and law: and they shall ber given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of times."

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:.." (see also Revelation 11:7

Second, the "spiritually" blinded Jewish people, the majority who will be resident upon the earth at the moment of our Lord's return, will NOT possess "faith" in Him as Lord and Christ (that is, their promised Messiah), for the prophecy of Zechariah 13:6 plainly reveals that they will be utterly astonished to see Him ...

"And one shall say unto him, 'What are these wounds in thine hands?' Then he shall answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'"

The Jews, of long standing, have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of God manifested to them as a triumphant King, and because of the rejection of the Christ child as such, when they will see Him descend from the heavens and His feet alight upon ther mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east (Zechariah 4:4), they will suddenly realize that that same Jesus, whom their forefathers caused to be crucifized, and whom they have denied these many years since as their Messiah, "they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10).

Lastly, it could perhaps go without noting that those Gentiles who will be resident upon the earth at this momentous occasion will not possess "faith" in Him as being the "Son of man," for because they previously "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (II Thessalonians 2:10), God will have sent a strong delusion upon their minds, therein causing them to believe the lies of the coming anti-Christ, honor him as if he were God, and receive his "mark" which rendered them, much like the Jews, incapable of recognizing Him as the "Son of man."

Thus we find revealed the answer to our Lord's question, for there will be NO one "living" upon the earth at the moment of His coming, that will recognize and have "faith" in Him as the "Son of man." No, NOT one! Oh, please do not misunderstand me. There will be those who WILL be those among the Gentiles, just as the Jews, AFTER His coming that recognize Him, but there will be NONE among them who will have "faith" in Him!

Many, including the saints of God, have believed and taught that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning to "save" His saints from destruction by the coming anti-Christ. Nothing is farther from the truth! The Lord is returning to the earth to fulfill the promise made to the Jews that He would rescue the 2nd time from the bondage of Egypt (see Isaiah 11:11-12:6). BTW, this is the "covenant" which the coming anti-Christ will falsely claim that he has come to "confirm" with Israel in his efforts to deceive them into believing that he is their promised Messiah.

Yes, I know, there will be many, especially those who embrace the teachings which proclaim an "alleged" rapture of the church, as well as Preterism, who will reject these things, however, this is what I am persuaded to believe the Spirit has revealed to me, and so I tender it here for the reader's prayerful consideration of its merits. It is also chief among the many reasons why I am so adamantly opposed to the commentaries which have been made an integral part of the UPCI KJV Apostolic Study Bible!