{"id":6461,"date":"2016-02-13T22:33:16","date_gmt":"2016-02-13T16:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=6461"},"modified":"2022-12-22T15:21:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T21:21:23","slug":"condemnation-or-judgment-part-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=6461","title":{"rendered":"Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

I fell for the September 2015 prophecies on YouTube<\/a> that Jesus would return<\/a> or the great tribulation<\/a><\/em> would begin.\u00a0 So I interrupted my regular study cycle and focused exclusively on my Romans study for a time.\u00a0 Be that as it may I never thought I would return to continue this study.\u00a0 But as I read, especially the New York Times article<\/a>, about the capital of the Islamic State I was reminded of my own thoughts about the thousand years<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

About forty years ago I expected the millennial reign of Jesus Christ to look a lot like Raqa<\/a>, Syria looks today\u2014all over the planet.\u00a0 I thought justice was punishment.\u00a0 I thought Jesus would return to earth as a righteous, omniscient Judge who regarded anger and lust as murder<\/a> and adultery<\/a>, both capital offenses.\u00a0 I had heard of Jimmy Carter\u2019s Playboy<\/a> confession<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“I try not to commit a deliberate sin. I recognize that I’m going to do it anyhow, because I’m human and I’m tempted. And Christ set some almost impossible standards for us. Christ said, ‘I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.’<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do–and I have done it–and God forgives me for it.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And I heard the scandalized reactions of my people<\/a> to his confession.\u00a0 It is a major reason I pursued the woman who became my first wife.\u00a0 I\u2019m better when I can focus my sexual energies on one woman.<\/p>\n

President Carter had much more confidence in Jesus\u2019 forgiveness than I did (Hebrews 10:26, 27 NASB):<\/p>\n

For if we go on\u00a0sinning willfully<\/a> after receiving\u00a0the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,\u00a0but a terrifying expectation of judgment and\u00a0the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I reasoned that mass executions would be a daily ritual in the millennium, at least until all of the people like me were exterminated (or raptured<\/a>?).\u00a0 Confronted by that memory I looked up \u201creign of Christ\u201d online and found an article<\/a> by John F. Walvoord<\/a>.<\/p>\n

John in his vision in Revelation does not occupy himself with the details of the millennial kingdom but only with the fact and duration of it. The character of Christ\u2019s reign on earth is fully described in many Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 2:2-4<\/a>; 11:4-9<\/a>; Psalm 72<\/a>, and many others.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz. \u00a0In the future <\/em>the mountain of the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/a>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills<\/em>.[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The words translated future are \u02bcach\u0103r\u0131\u0302yth<\/a><\/em> (\u05d1\u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea) y\u00f4m<\/a><\/em> (\u05d4\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd) in Hebrew or \u1f10\u03c3\u03c7\u1f71\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 (a form of \u1f14\u03c3\u03c7\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) \u1f21\u03bc\u1f73\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 (a form of \u1f21\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1<\/a>) in the Septuagint<\/a> in Greek.\u00a0 At present Mount Zion<\/a> is 2,510 feet high and Mount Everest<\/a> is 29, 029 feet tall.<\/p>\n

Perhaps Zion\u2019s prominence is more spiritual than literal: All the nations will stream to<\/em> [the mountain of the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) temple<\/em>], many peoples will come and say, \u201cCome, let us go up to the Lord\u2019s<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4vih<\/a><\/em>, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) mountain, to the temple of the God<\/em> (\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/a><\/em>, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9) of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.\u201d\u00a0 For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup><\/em>h\u00f4vih<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) will issue edicts from Jerusalem<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Or perhaps the \u02bcach\u0103r\u0131\u0302yth<\/em> y\u00f4m<\/em> or \u1f10\u03c3\u03c7\u1f71\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2\u00a0 \u1f21\u03bc\u1f73\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 comes to pass after another prophesied event (Revelation 16:17-20 NET):<\/p>\n

Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: \u201cIt is done!\u201d\u00a0 Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake \u2013 an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.\u00a0 The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed\u2026Every island fled away and no mountains could be found.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He <\/em>[ye<\/sup><\/em>h\u00f4vih<\/em>] will judge disputes between nations<\/em>, Isaiah\u2019s prophecy continued, he will settle cases for many peoples.\u00a0 They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.\u00a0 Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war. \u00a0O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) guiding light<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

A shoot will grow out of Jesse\u2019s root stock<\/em>, Isaiah prophesied, a bud will sprout from his roots.\u00a0 The Lord\u2019s spirit <\/em>(r\u00fbach<\/a> ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, \u05e8\u05d5\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) will rest on him \u2013 a spirit <\/em>(r\u00fbach<\/em>, \u05e8\u05d5\u05d7) that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit <\/em>(r\u00fbach<\/em>, \u05e8\u05d5\u05d7) that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit <\/em>(r\u00fbach<\/em>, \u05e8\u05d5\u05d7) that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4). \u00a0He will take delight in obeying the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4).\u00a0 He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.\u00a0 He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m being a bit subversive quoting the first three verses of this chapter.\u00a0 My people believe they apply to Jesus\u2019 first appearance on earth.\u00a0 Only verses 4-9 apply to the thousand years<\/em>.\u00a0 My only point is that it is difficult to make that distinction in this passage alone, except perhaps for the next part of verse 4: \u00a0He will strike the earth with the rod<\/em> (sh\u00eabe\u1e6d<\/a><\/em>, \u05d1\u05e9\u05d1\u05d8) of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0And that brings me back to Raqa<\/a>, Syria:<\/p>\n

It’s called Heaven Square, but after the Islamic State group started using the roundabout in Raqa for gruesome public executions it earned a new name: Hell Square.<\/em>
\n In the year since the jihadist group announced its “caliphate” last June, its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa has been transformed into a macabre metropolis.<\/em>
\n Human heads are displayed on spikes at the central roundabout and crucified bodies hang for days to terrorise local residents, said Abu Ibrahim Raqqawi, a Raqa resident and anti-IS activist.<\/em><\/p>\n

“From the first moment of its control over Raqa, IS adopted a policy of horror and terror, resorting to executions, beheadings, cutting off hands and legs, and crucifixion,” said Raqqawi, who uses a pseudonym\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

It touts the implementation of its version of Islam, with life coming to a halt five times every day for prayers and all residents required to declare their assets and pay “zakat”, Islamic alms.<\/em>
\n It also revels in meting out punishments for crimes ranging from collaboration with Syria’s regime and theft to “witchcraft” and homosexuality.<\/em>
\n The group regularly carries out beheadings, but also stones victims to death or throws them from building tops.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m not particularly concerned with cosmetics here.\u00a0 Whether Jesus orders the wicked to be executed<\/em> in \u201cgruesome public executions,\u201d or secretly in concentration camps or antiseptic hospitals, is immaterial.\u00a0 What concerns me is whether this is the Justice <\/em>[that] will be like a belt around his waist<\/em>, the integrity <\/em>[that] will be like a belt around his hips<\/em>.[6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Consider by contrast the impact of his presence on animals (Isaiah 11:6-9a NET):<\/p>\n

A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along. \u00a0A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together.\u00a0 A lion, like an ox, will eat straw. \u00a0A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand. \u00a0They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>Why?\u00a0 For there will be universal submission to the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup><\/em>h\u00f4vih<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea<\/em>.[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 To order the wicked to be executed<\/em> sounds strangely incongruous to me.\u00a0 But I\u2019m biased.\u00a0 I\u2019m not an ancient widow<\/a><\/em> descended from Israel, plagued by an adversary<\/em> and an unrighteous judge<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 I\u2019m an old white American male, one of the most privileged people on the planet.<\/p>\n

<\/a>So, \u201cmy persistent prayer<\/a> for justice is for the mercy on which everything depends, for it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on <\/em>[You] who shows mercy<\/a> <\/em>(\u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u1ff6\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, a form of \u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>),[8]<\/sup><\/a> and, [You have] consigned all people to disobedience <\/em>(\u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u1f77\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/a>) so that<\/em> [You] may show mercy <\/em>(\u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u1f75\u03c3\u1fc3, another form of \u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u03ad\u03c9) to them all<\/em>.\u201d[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe I am, or have been, free to disregard his mercy.\u00a0 I can see how those who believe they are free to disregard it, but have not, could distinguish themselves from those who do not yet rely on his mercy, and approve of their deaths.\u00a0 I did, too, when I believed in that freedom<\/a>.\u00a0 Now when I realize that the words translated order<\/em> are r\u00fbach<\/em> \u015b\u00e2ph\u00e2h<\/a><\/em> (\u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05d7 \u05e9\u05c1\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d5; \u201cwind\u201d or \u201cbreath of the lip,\u201d or \u201cspirit of the language\u201d or \u201cspeech\u201d) I wonder if Jesus is returning to order the wicked to be executed<\/em> or to preach the Gospel to them\u2014very effectively.\u00a0 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?<\/em>[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Septuagint<\/a> reads: \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u1f71\u03be\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b3\u1fc6\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u1ff3 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c3\u03c4\u1f79\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03bb\u1f73\u03c9\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u1fd6 \u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6; \u201cand he shall strike the earth with the word of his mouth, and with the breath through his lips he shall do away with the impious.\u201d[11]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 To realize that the rabbis translated the wicked<\/em> (r\u00e2sh\u00e2\u02bd<\/a><\/em>, \u05e8\u05e9\u05e2) \u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6 (a form of \u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u03ae\u03c2<\/a>) led me inexorably to, But to the one who does not work, but believes <\/em>(\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>) in the one who declares the ungodly<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6) righteous, his faith <\/em>(\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) is credited as righteousness<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I believe in the one who declares the ungodly<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6) righteous<\/em>; again, my bias.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know when to believe He ceases to be the one who declares the ungodly<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6) righteous<\/em>.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how to stop believing He is the one who declares the ungodly<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u1fc6) righteous<\/em>, as long as He fills me with the faithfulness<\/a><\/em> (\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2) of the fruit of his Spirit.\u00a0 If we live by the Spirit<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>), let us also behave in accordance<\/em> (\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, a form of \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) with the Spirit<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1).[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Given my bias I\u2019ll look into the meaning of r\u00e2sh\u00e2\u02bd<\/em> next, just who the wicked<\/em> are.<\/p>\n

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 10<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 11<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 12<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Romans, Part 89<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Isaiah 2:1, 2a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Isaiah 2:2b, 3 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Isaiah 2:4, 5 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Isaiah 11:1-4a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Isaiah 11:4b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Isaiah 11:5 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Isaiah 11:9b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Romans 9:16 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Romans 11:32 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Romans 6:3 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> http:\/\/ccat.sas.upenn.edu\/nets\/edition\/33-esaias-nets.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Romans 4:5 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Galatians 5:25 (NET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I fell for the September 2015 prophecies on YouTube that Jesus would return or the great tribulation would begin.\u00a0 So I interrupted my regular study cycle and focused exclusively on my Romans study for a time.\u00a0 Be that as it … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1945,2719],"tags":[3151,1271,3146,3147,3148,3149,3150,3142,3143,3145,3144,1694,1352,752,544],"class_list":["post-6461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-condemnation-or-judgment","category-section-three","tag-galatians-525","tag-hebrews-1026-27","tag-isaiah-111-4","tag-isaiah-114","tag-isaiah-115","tag-isaiah-116-9","tag-isaiah-119","tag-isaiah-21-2","tag-isaiah-22-3","tag-isaiah-24-5","tag-revelation-1617-20","tag-romans-1132","tag-romans-45","tag-romans-63","tag-romans-916"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6461"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19899,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6461\/revisions\/19899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}